Answers to what most owners want to know before starting a conversation.
Can I write off your consulting fees as a business expense?
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Yes — in most cases, consulting fees are fully deductible as an ordinary business expense under IRS Section 162, in the same tax year you pay them. That means a $2,000/month retainer could effectively cost your business closer to $1,500–$1,600 after the tax benefit, depending on your bracket. Unlike capital expenses that get depreciated over years, consulting is typically a same-year deduction. Always confirm with your accountant for your specific situation.
Your $2,000 retainer may net to ~$1,500 after tax savings
Do I need to be local to work with you?
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Not at all. The $250 Strategy Session is fully virtual — available to retailers anywhere in the country via Zoom. Retainer clients can be managed remotely with monthly video calls, shared dashboards, and unlimited text and email access. In-person audits are available for regional clients within driving distance of State College, PA, but ongoing partnerships work just as well virtually.
Strategy Sessions available nationwide via Zoom
What size business is this right for?
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The sweet spot is independent retailers doing $300K–$5M in annual revenue — typically 1 to 5 locations with a small management team. That said, the $250 Strategy Session works for any size business at any stage. If you're a single-location owner just trying to get clarity on your biggest challenge, that's exactly what it's designed for. Multi-location operators with bigger budgets and more complex needs are also a great fit for the full retainer.
What does "no scope limits" on the retainer actually mean?
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It means when you're on retainer, you get Eric's best — period. No tracking hours, no billing for every email, no feeling like you need to ration your questions. Whether that month needs a deep dive into your P&L, a difficult conversation with a manager, a hiring decision, or just a 20-minute call to think through a vendor negotiation — it's all included. The goal is to feel like you have a trusted advisor in your corner, not a consultant watching the clock.
How quickly will I see results?
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Most clients notice meaningful changes within the first 30 days — typically in team clarity, daily operational rhythm, and at least one or two quick wins from the audit findings. Measurable KPI improvements like profit margins, shrink reduction, and customer metrics typically show movement within 60–90 days. Culture and retention improvements take longer but tend to compound significantly by month 3 and beyond. The $500 audit alone has generated more than its cost in savings for nearly every client who's acted on it.
Most clients see quick wins within 30 days
Why not just hire a full-time operations manager?
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A full-time ops manager at the level of experience Top Profit Retail brings would cost $80,000–$120,000 per year in salary alone — plus benefits, payroll taxes, and onboarding time. At $2,000/month, you get that same caliber of expertise without the overhead, the long-term commitment, or the risk of a bad hire. And because Eric works across multiple businesses, you benefit from patterns and solutions that an internal hire would never be exposed to.
Same expertise as a $100K hire at a fraction of the cost
What do I need to prepare before our first call?
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Nothing formal. Come with your biggest challenge top of mind — whether that's a staffing problem, a margin issue, a difficult team dynamic, or just a feeling that the business isn't performing the way it should. If you have access to basic numbers like monthly revenue, payroll percentage, or shrink rate, those are helpful but not required. The first conversation is about understanding your business, not impressing anyone.
How is this different from a business coach?
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Business coaches typically work on mindset, goal-setting, and accountability frameworks. That has value — but it's not what Top Profit Retail does. This is operational consulting grounded in real P&L experience. Eric has personally managed stores doing $6M–$60M in annual revenue, turned around bottom-ranked locations at three different national chains, and won Manager of the Year across 2,000+ locations. The advice is specific, tactical, and based on doing the job — not coaching from the sidelines.
Operational expertise, not motivational coaching
* Tax deductibility information is general in nature and not intended as tax advice. Please consult your accountant or tax professional to confirm how consulting fees apply to your specific business situation.
