consulting services for business leaders

For business leaders who need a second opinion, not another hire.

20 years of marketing, branding, and operations experience, on call every month.

Let's Talk
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Hi James, it was great connecting last week. I'm excited to set a time to meet your team and talk about...
what IS RETINA CONSULTING?

We're a thinking partner bringing 20 years of real-world experience to your fingertips.

Running a business means making calls on things you've never done before. Things like branding, a campaign that isn't landing, or a hire you're not sure you need yet. Most founders either sit with it alone or bring in an agency that costs more than the decision is worth.

This retainer sits in between. Intentional zoom calls each month, email access in between, and 20 years of marketing, branding, and operations experience pointed at whatever you're stuck on. You bring the questions and the decisions in progress and I'll provide the pressure-testing, an outside read, and a faster path to a call you feel good about.

Want to see how it works?
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Access & response

How the Retainer Works

No build phases, no handoff. Just a steady rhythm of input, on call when you need it. Take a look at our cyclical development process.

Kickoff

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A first call to get context on your business, where you're stuck, and what useful looks like for you.

Zoom Calls

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A series of recurring 1-on-1 meetings. Bring an agenda or bring what's active. Either works.

Email Access

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Between calls, email any questions you may have. Response window depends on tier.

Quarterly Check-In

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Once a quarter, we'll check in on what we've identified, accomplished, and outlined for what's next.
what to expect

Enrolling with Retina Consulting provides a steady rhythm of expertise. Here's what a month might look like for you.

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Practical Monthly Schedule

week 1
Call One
Where things stand, what's active, what's on your mind. Walk out with a clear next step on whatever's most pressing.
ongoing
Email in Between
A draft ad, a systems question, a first look at the new branding. Send it over, get a response within 24 hours. Depending on the complexity, this may make it into your next call, or garner a response immediately.
week 3
Call Two
Check in on what moved since the last call, work through the next decision in line.
ongoing
Between Calls
Anything that comes up gets a place to land. Nothing waits a month just because the next call hasn't happened yet.
every month
Rhythm & Consistency
Same rhythm, next month's decisions. We keep moving forward and check off the to-do list.
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What problems does this solve?

There are several reasons you may consider a consulting service such as this one. For one, you'll be getting the expertise and experience you need without having to worry about insurance benefits, retirement plans, payroll, and other employee perks. Other reasons may include:
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You Need Someone to Pressure-Test a Decision
You're weighing two directions and don't have anyone close enough to the business to give you a real answer. This retainer is that person.
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You're an Expert in Your Thing, Not Everything
You're an expert in your business, the thing you're passionate about and spend your time doing. But you know there are many aspects to running a business, and you want the right people in the room to talk about those other things.
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You Need a Sounding Board
Branding, systems organization, CRM advice. Some calls just need talking through with someone who's done it before, so you move faster and with more confidence.
pricing

The Advisory Tiers

We understand that every business has different needs, so we've developed three tiers to ensure you get the service and experience you expect. And we also believe in transparency, so the prices are listed below before you take a single action with us.

Foundation
$750/mo

Two calls a month. Email access Monday–Friday, 24-hour response. For someone who wants a steady second opinion without leaning on it daily.

Growth
$1,500/mo

Weekly calls, email access Monday–Friday, 24-hour response. You'll also have the option for one quarterly deep-dive session for larger-scale planning.

Custom/fractional
$2,750+/mo

Weekly calls, same-day email response, priority queue, plus an asynch channel for dedicated support. We'll work to understand the level of engagement required and build a custom partnership with your team. Limited to 2 clients, waitlist available.

Every tier adds more access and more of my time. The relationship stays the same, just closer.

Knowledge Base

Answers to Questions

If you can't find the answer to your question, feel free to email us at support@retinaconsulting.co
What's actually included?

Two things at minimum: recurring 1-on-1 calls and email access with a defined response window. What we cover ranges across branding, marketing, advertising, content strategy, business systems, and project organization.

What if a call turns up something that needs to get built?

That happens often, and it's a good sign. I'll help you scope it as its own project, either through Retina's other work or a referral if it's outside my lane.

How fast do you respond to email?

24 hours on Foundation and Growth, same-day on Fractional. Quick questions get a quick answer.

Can I move between tiers?

Yes. Everyone starts at Foundation. Move up when the cadence stops being enough, not before.

Is there a contract?

No. Billed monthly, cancel anytime with 30 days notice.

How is this different from hiring an agency?

An agency is built to produce things. This is built to help you decide what's worth producing in the first place, and think it through before you spend money getting it built.

What's the best way to get started?

Fill out the contact form and I'll get back to you within 24 hours to set up a kickoff call.

What's actually included?

Two things at minimum: recurring 1-on-1 calls and email access with a defined response window. What we cover ranges across branding, marketing, advertising, content strategy, business systems, and project organization. It flexes to whatever you're working through.

What if a call turns up something that needs to get built?

That can happen, and it's a good sign. Whether it's a campaign, a system, a design, or content, I'll help you scope it as its own project, either through Retina's other work or a referral if it's outside my lane. Keeps the retainer itself focused on getting you to a decision.

How fast do you respond to email?

24 hours on Foundation and Growth, same-day on Fractional. Quick questions get a quick answer. Bigger topics get a clear next step, either a fuller reply or a placeholder for the next call.

Can I move between tiers?

Yes. We'll start you where it makes sense for your business. Move up when the cadence stops being enough, not before. We cap the number of clients in our fractional tier to ensure a level of experience that meets your expectations. If you'd like to enroll in this tier, just let us know. Space is limited.

How long am I locked in for?

Advisory services are billed monthly, cancel anytime with 30 days notice. The only contract you'll sign is standard services agreement.

What happens on the first call?

Kickoff call to get context on your business, your goals, and where you're currently stuck. From there, calls and email access start on a regular cadence.

How is this different from hiring an agency?

An agency is built to produce things. This is built to help you decide what's worth producing in the first place, and think it through before you spend money getting it built.

What's the best way to get started?

Fill out the contact form below and I'll get back to you within 24 hours to set up a kickoff call.

What's actually included?

Two things at minimum: recurring 1-on-1 calls and email access with a defined response window. What we cover ranges across branding, marketing, advertising, content strategy, business systems, and project organization.

What if a call turns up something that needs to get built?

That happens often, and it's a good sign. I'll help you scope it as its own project, either through Retina's other work or a referral if it's outside my lane.

How fast do you respond to email?

24 hours on Foundation and Growth, same-day on Fractional. Quick questions get a quick answer.

Can I move between tiers?

Yes. Everyone starts at Foundation. Move up when the cadence stops being enough, not before.

Is there a contract?

No. Billed monthly, cancel anytime with 30 days notice.

How is this different from hiring an agency?

An agency is built to produce things. This is built to help you decide what's worth producing in the first place, and think it through before you spend money getting it built.

Who am I actually talking to?

Me, directly. 18 years in marketing, branding, and business operations, plus an MBA. No account managers, no hand-offs.

What's the best way to get started?

Fill out the contact form and tell me what you're working through. I'll get back to you within 24 hours to set up a kickoff call.

You've read the info. Do we sound like a good fit for you business?

Fill out the form and I'll get back to you within 24 hours to set up a meeting and see if we're a a good fit.
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Retina Advisory is a monthly retainer for leaders who want a strategic thinking partner across branding, marketing, and operations, without hiring an agency or a full-time hire. I am not a lawyer, and any advice offered is simply that, advice.
© 2026 Retina consulting
*Advisory covers strategic direction and planning. Projects that come out of it, builds, content, or design, are scoped and billed separately.