Step 1 of 6
Tell us about yourself
Your background, credentials, and career stage are the starting point for everything we build. Share what feels relevant.
First name
Last name
Email address
Phone number
Current title & company
LinkedIn profile URL
How would you describe your current professional situation?
Summarize your professional background in 3–5 sentences
Industries, roles, what you've actually built or led — focus on what's relevant to the business you want to launch.
What credentials or achievements would give your ideal clients confidence in you?
Degrees, licenses, notable deals, companies helped, financing secured, awards, speaking history.
Step 2 of 6
Your business idea
The foundation of your proposal. The more specific you are here, the more compelling and accurate your proposal will be.
Business name (or working name)
Website (if it exists)
In 1–2 sentences, what does your business do?
Explain it to a smart friend with no industry knowledge — what do you offer, who to, and what problem does it solve?
Describe your ideal customer in detail
Who are they, what does their business look like, what problem are they experiencing? Be specific.
Walk us through your revenue model — every stream
For each: what it is, who pays, how much, how often. Include your best estimate even if not finalized.
What makes your approach genuinely different from existing alternatives?
What can you offer that a competitor cannot — because of your background, network, credibility, or approach?
Who are your main competitors, or what do customers currently do instead?
Step 3 of 6
What you've already built
We need to know exactly where you are today so we never rebuild something you already have. Be honest about what exists and what doesn't.
What have you already built or done toward this business?
Select everything that exists today — even if rough or incomplete.
Describe what exists and its current state
e.g. "Website: placeholder page, no content." or "1 paying client at $2,500/month, no formal contract."
Share links to any existing assets we should review
Website, LinkedIn, Google Drive, pitch decks — anything relevant. We review these before building your proposal.
Upload any relevant files (optional)
Click to upload files
PDF, PPTX, DOCX, PNG, JPG
For large files, a Google Drive link above works great.
Step 4 of 6
Your goals & motivation
The clients who build lasting businesses aren't just chasing money. This section helps us understand what you're really after — and shapes how we frame your entire proposal.
One year from now, if this business is working exactly the way you want — what does that look like?
Include financial expectations but also: how are you spending your time, who are your clients, what are you proud of?
Beyond money, what 2–3 things would make this feel like a genuine success?
Legacy, impact, recognition, freedom, family, creative fulfillment — whatever is true for you. These become the anchors of your proposal.
What is your primary motivation for building this now?
How much time per week can you realistically dedicate to this right now?
What is your biggest concern about building this business?
Finding clients, managing time, employer conflicts, pricing, legal exposure — knowing this helps us address it directly in your proposal.
Any employer, non-compete, or contract obligations we should be aware of?
Strictly confidential. Knowing constraints helps us build a launch strategy that protects you.
Step 5 of 6
Investment & readiness
This section helps us understand what scope makes sense for you and whether the timing is right. We build proposals to match real investment ranges, not aspirational ones.
What is your honest investment range for this engagement?
Our team sizes the proposal scope to your range. Select what you're genuinely prepared to invest.
Executive — Entry
$50K – $100K
Positioning, brand, website, and lead gen playbook
Executive — Full
$100K – $175K
Complete launch including advisory board, digital product line, and business setup
Executive — Premium
$175K – $250K
Full launch plus ongoing SideStarter operations management
CEO Level
$100K – $500K
Full build-out, fully managed — you act as Chairman, we run operations
How would you fund this investment?
If the proposal is everything you're hoping for, how quickly are you prepared to move forward?
Will anyone else be involved in the decision to move forward?
Step 6 of 6
Final notes
Last section. These questions are quick but often the most revealing — they tell us what you actually value and help us prioritize what matters most in your proposal.
What is the single most important thing SideStarter could do to make this engagement worth it for you?
This is the clearest signal of what you value — and it directly shapes how we structure your proposal.
Anything about your situation, idea, or goals we should know that hasn't been covered?
How did you hear about SideStarter?
By submitting, you confirm the information provided is accurate and that you are genuinely interested in exploring a SideStarter engagement. Your submission is confidential — never shared, sold, or used outside your proposal process.