Starting a business from scratch — or from a small client base and a lot of hope — is both exciting and terrifying. The Startup Phase is where most of the foundational decisions get made. Get them right and the next three years are easier. Get them wrong and you spend those years fixing what should have been built properly from the start.
The Startup Phase Month 0 – 12 | First clients, first systems, first profit
5 Modules
Five modules. One year. A business that stands on its own feet.
The FlipTheDrift Startup Programme is structured into five sequential modules. Each one is a practical field guide — not theory, not inspiration, but specific actions with templates, trackers, and checklists. Clients work through one module per coaching engagement.
Define your offer, set up your Google Business Profile, activate WhatsApp Business, build your announcement list, and set your minimum viable pricing. You do not open your doors until this is done.
Work your announcement list by name. Reach out directly to 10 dream clients. Identify and meet three strategic referral partners. Lock in a WOW delivery standard. Post before/after work to WhatsApp Status every day.
Build a proper rate card so every quote starts from the right number. Set up a professional quoting system. Start basic financial tracking. Design a weekly rhythm. Create a system that turns happy clients into repeat clients.
Deepen your Google Business Profile. Build a work portfolio. Brand your vehicle and your workwear. Claim your space on local platforms. Become the first name people think of in your trade in your area.
Set up profit buckets so you always know where the money goes. Document your way of working so someone else could follow it. Take your first steps toward hiring. Build a business that can run for one day without you.
Who This Is For
This phase is for you if...
- You have recently left employment to start your own trade or service business.
- You have been operating for less than a year and feel like you are winging it.
- You have clients but no systems — everything lives in your head.
- You are not sure what to charge, how to quote, or where your next client is coming from.
- You want to build something that works, not just stay busy.
How It Works
How a Startup Phase engagement works
You begin with the FlipTheDrift Business Diagnostic, which confirms which module is most relevant for your current situation. From there, each coaching session works through one module — practical, hands-on, and specific to your business.
Modules are delivered as printed field guides and backed by one-on-one coaching sessions. You receive only the modules relevant to your engagement.