Use this on anyone, including me
A real checklist, built from what small business owners and industry writeups actually flag as warning signs. Run any consultant you're considering through it — including this one. Where I fall short of an item, I'll say so.
Red flag: "Guaranteed 40% more leads" or "double your revenue with AI" without explaining the mechanism. Nobody can promise a business outcome from one tool — too many other variables are in play.
Where this practice stands: No revenue guarantees are made, ever. What's measurable — time saved, error reduction — is what gets promised, and even then, only after a specific workflow is scoped. See what AI can't do yet.
Red flag: A consultant who pitches the identical platform or stack regardless of the business's actual workflow is optimizing for their own commission or convenience, not your fit.
Where this practice stands: Tool choice depends on what's already in use, workflow shape, and data handling needs — decided per client. No affiliate or referral relationships currently exist on any tool recommendation. See how tools are actually chosen.
Red flag: Vague promises with no written deliverable, timeline, or definition of "done."
Where this practice stands: The $99 audit itself is the low-risk way to see this in action before a bigger engagement — read a full sample. Every paid engagement beyond that has a written scope before work starts.
Red flag: A vague or evasive answer to "what happens to my data" — or no answer at all until you ask twice.
Where this practice stands: A full plain-language page exists on exactly this, written before any client asked, not after.
Red flag: Prompts, documentation, and configurations that live only in the consultant's head or account, with no handoff if you want to leave.
Where this practice stands: Every workflow is documented and handed off. You own the prompts, the documentation, and the accounts. If you want to maintain it yourself instead of using the Retainer, that's yours to do.
Red flag: Countdown timers, "this price expires today," or pressure to sign before you've had time to think.
Where this practice stands: Async and email-first by design — there's no live call to be pressured on, and no expiring-price tactics. Take the time you need; the audit and offers are the same price next week.
Red flag: A consultant who says yes to every idea you bring them, including the ones that are premature or poorly scoped for your business, is optimizing for the sale.
Where this practice stands: A whole page is dedicated to what won't be built and why, published before you ever ask.
Last reviewed: August 27, 2026
Run the check
The AI Readiness Audit is the lowest-risk way to see how this practice actually operates before committing to anything bigger.