Every Engagement Starts the Same Way — With a Diagnostic

We don't take on clients without first understanding their business. That means every new relationship starts with a 30-minute paid diagnostic call — not a free sales call, not a pitch meeting. A real working session.

The $95 Initial Business Diagnostic

Here's exactly what we cover in that call:

📈  Business Health Snapshot | We review your revenue, margin profile, and operational structure to understand where you actually are.

💲  Capital Position Assessment | We ask about your current debt, equity structure, and access to capital — and where the gaps are.

🔎  Problem Identification | We identify the 1–2 highest-leverage problems in your business right now — the ones that are costing you the most or blocking your next move.

✅  Fit Assessment | We tell you honestly whether Rock Clover is the right fit — and if we're not, we'll point you to someone who is.

📌  Recommended Next Step | If there's a fit, we'll outline exactly what an engagement would look like, what it would cost, and what you'd get.

 "This is not a sales call. It's a working session. You'll leave with clarity on your business regardless of whether we work together."

What Happens After the Diagnostic

If there's a mutual fit, here's exactly how a Rock Clover engagement works — from first call to execution.

Phase 1 | 🔍 Discovery & Underwriting Weeks 1–2 We go deep on your business before we do anything else. Financial review, operational assessment, market context, and capital position. We write an internal underwriting brief — the same way a lender or investor would look at your business. This is how we make sure every recommendation is grounded in reality, not assumption.

Phase 2 | 📐 Strategy & Architecture - Weeks 2–3 We design the engagement. Whether it's a capital structure, an ops plan, an exit roadmap, or a turnaround strategy — we build the blueprint before we start executing. You see the plan before we move.

Phase 3 | ⚙️ Execution & Delivery - Ongoing; This is where most advisors stop. We don't. We stay in the room through execution — whether that means sourcing lenders, embedding as your Fractional COO, coordinating a capital raise, or walking you into buyer conversations.

Phase 4 | 📊 Measurement & Accountability - Ongoing; Every engagement has defined outcomes. We track them. Monthly check-ins, real-time reporting on capital deployment or operational KPIs, and honest conversations when something isn't working.

How Engagements Are Structured

We don't have one-size-fits-all pricing — because no two businesses are the same. Here's how our engagements are typically structured:

Transactional | Capital Access & Placement For businesses seeking a specific capital solution. We work on a fee basis tied to successful capital placement. You pay when the capital closes.

Monthly Retainer | Fractional COO & Operational Execution For businesses that need an embedded operator over a sustained period. Priced as a monthly retainer based on scope, time commitment, and complexity. Typical engagements run 3–12 months.

Project-Based | Capital Stack Engineering & Exit Readiness For defined-scope projects — a capital structure redesign, a 90-day exit prep sprint, or a working capital optimization. Flat project fee scoped after the diagnostic.

Partnership | RC by Rock Clover For lenders, family offices, and advisors who want access to Rock Clover's deal flow, underwriting infrastructure, or co-consultative capacity. Partnership terms structured individually.

Transparency on fees: All engagement scopes and fees are discussed transparently during or immediately after your diagnostic call. Nothing is hidden. Nothing is vague.

 Common Questions

How long does a typical engagement last?

• It depends on the service. Capital placements can close in 30–90 days. Fractional COO retainers typically run 3–12 months. Exit readiness sprints run 60–90 days. We'll give you a realistic timeline during the diagnostic call.

Do you work with businesses outside of Texas?

• Yes. We work with businesses across the country — we're active in 15+ states. Most of our work is done remotely, with on-site visits when the engagement requires it.

What industries do you work in?

• We're industry-agnostic but operator-experienced. We've worked across manufacturing, distribution, specialty services, logistics, construction, healthcare services, and more. If you're running a real business with real revenue, we want to hear from you.

What if I'm not sure which service I need?

• That's exactly what the diagnostic is for. Come in, tell us what's going on, and we'll tell you what we think you need — honestly, even if it's not a Rock Clover engagement.

Is the $95 diagnostic fee applied to my engagement?

• Yes. If we move forward with a paid engagement within 30 days of your diagnostic, the $95 is credited toward your first invoice.

How do I know if I'm ready for a Rock Clover engagement?

• If you have a real problem and the willingness to solve it — you're ready. We'll tell you in the diagnostic if your business needs something else first.