Business Consulting
Systems that work.
Results that last.
If you’re looking for a small business consultant in Maryland — or anywhere nationwide — you’re in the right place. I’m Stacy Derrick, a business operations consultant with 20+ years of experience helping small business owners build systems that actually work. I offer one-on-one strategic coaching sessions and done-for-you consulting projects, both delivered virtually.
Most small businesses don’t have a strategy problem — they have a systems problem. As a small business consulting Maryland and nationwide resource, I help you build the operational foundation that turns your vision into a business that runs with clarity, consistency, and confidence.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 20% of small businesses fail in their first year — and by year five, nearly half have closed. The most common reason isn’t lack of effort. It’s lack of operational structure. That’s exactly what I help you build.
“It’s common for a company to have a visionary but no integrator. This causes a real struggle, because the visionary is constantly frustrated with his or her lack of traction.”
— Gino Wickman, Traction
Start with a free 30-minute discovery call
No pressure. No pitch. Just a real conversation about where you are and where you want to go — whether you’re looking for small business consulting in Maryland or anywhere nationwide.
Who I work with
Small business consulting built for bold business owners at every stage
Whether you’re just getting started or you’ve been at it for years and feel stuck — if you’re ready to build something that actually works, we’re a good fit.
01
Just starting out
You have the vision but need the foundation — systems, structure, and a plan that makes sense from day one.
02
Growing but overwhelmed
Business is picking up but everything feels chaotic. You need systems that scale with you, not against you.
03
Established but stuck
You’ve built something real but something isn’t clicking. Let’s diagnose it, fix it, and get you moving again.
Services & pricing
Ways to work with Stacy
Choose the level of support that fits where you are right now.
I believe good support should be accessible regardless of your financial situation. That’s why I use an equitable sliding scale for coaching sessions. You choose the rate that honestly reflects where you are right now. No questions asked, no justification needed. If those with more resources choose to pay a higher rate, it makes space for those with fewer resources to access the same quality of support. This model is inspired by the Green Bottle Method, created by Alexis J. Cunningfolk.
Green Bottle Method by Alexis J. Cunningfolk – wortsandcunning.com
The sliding scale applies to coaching sessions. Visibility Foundation packages are flat-rate, because the scope and deliverables are defined up front.
One-on-one coaching
Strategic Coaching Sessions
Focused coaching built around the specific challenges in your business. We work through your systems and operations together, then build a clear path forward.
What’s included
› Deep-dive into your current systems and operations
› Customized action plan for each session
› Email support between sessions
› Session notes and next-step summary
$75 – $225 / session
Sliding scale: $75 (Solidarity) · $150 (Standard) · $225 (Community Care). Choose the rate that honestly reflects your financial situation.
Visibility Foundation · guided
Done-With-You
Six guided sessions where you do the implementing and I coach you through it. You finish with a site people can find and the knowledge to keep it that way.
What’s included
› Six sessions: five of 60 minutes, one of 90
› Baseline and final visibility scorecard
› Email support between sessions
› Monthly review checklist and 90-day action list
$1,500
Expect two to three hours of your own work between sessions. Sessions do not expire.
Visibility Foundation · done for you
Done-For-You Build
You hand me access and I implement every phase on your site. Technical setup, on-page optimization, schema markup, content strategy, and local search.
What’s included
› Implementation across all six phases
› Schema markup and AI search optimization
› Analytics and Search Console training on your live data
› Baseline and final scorecard, plus 90-day action list
$3,500
Covers up to eight pages and works with written content you supply. Three to four weeks. 50% deposit, 50% at completion.
Operations consulting
Done-For-You Consulting
You have a business to run. I take on the operational heavy lifting and build what your business actually needs, so you can focus on the work only you can do.
What’s included
› Full operational audit of your business
› Custom systems and process design
› Systems built and put into daily use
› Handoff training so your team can run it
Custom quote
Scoped to your project and quoted in writing before anything begins.
Not sure which is right for you? Book a free discovery call and we’ll figure it out together.
How it works
From first call to real results
A simple, clear process — because getting started shouldn’t feel complicated.
1
Discovery call
Free 30-min conversation to understand your business and goals — no pressure, no pitch.
2
Custom plan
I design an approach tailored to exactly where you are and where you’re going.
3
Do the work
We coach, build, and execute together — or I handle it for you. Either way, things get done.
4
Real results
Systems in place, clarity restored, your business moving forward with confidence.
Why Stacy
Real credentials. Real results.
This isn’t theory. Every framework I teach comes from building, running, and scaling real organizations.
EMBA
Executive MBA — strategy, leadership & organizational systems
2
Companies co-founded in mental health & clinical services
3+
Nonprofit boards of directors — leadership & strategic impact
20+
Years building systems and teams that actually work in the real world
Let’s talk
Ready for a business that runs
like it should?
Start with a free 30-minute discovery call. Zero pressure — just a real conversation that could be the turning point your business has been waiting for.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a small business consultant do?
A small business consultant helps you identify what’s not working in your operations, build systems to fix it, and put a clear plan in place. At SDC, that means either working through it together in coaching sessions or having me build it for you in a done-for-you consulting project.
How much does small business consulting cost?
Coaching sessions at SDC use an equitable sliding scale of $75, $150, or $225 per session, depending on your financial situation. The Visibility Foundation is flat-rate: $1,500 for the guided Done-With-You package of six sessions, and $3,500 for the Done-For-You Build. Broader done-for-you consulting projects are scoped and quoted before any work begins. No surprises.
Do you work with businesses outside Maryland?
Yes. All services are delivered virtually, so I work with small business owners nationwide. Maryland is my home base but geography doesn’t limit who I can help.
How do I know if I need a business coach or a consultant?
If you want to work through challenges and build skills together, coaching is the right fit. If you need someone to come in and build the systems for you, that’s done-for-you consulting. Not sure? Book a free discovery call and we’ll figure it out together.
What kinds of businesses do you work with?
I work with small business owners at every stage — from just getting started to established and feeling stuck. Service-based businesses, solo operators, and small teams are the best fit for what I do.