Small Business Advisory · With Gema Smith, J.D.

A small business.
A bigger possibility.

Thoughtful guidance for the decisions, systems, and next steps that move your business forward. For founders, solo operators, and teams of five or fewer employees.

Gema Smith, J.D., Founding Partner
Founder perspective.
Operational experience.
Personally led by Gema.

You do not need a large team
to benefit from experienced thinking.

Whether you are shaping an idea, preparing to launch, or improving a business already in motion, we start with the work in front of you.

Choose time with an advisor or a defined project with practical deliverables. This offering is designed for focused small-business needs. Broader implementations and enterprise work follow our corporate engagement structure.

01 / Time to think it through

Expert guidance.
Room to move.

Business ideas, offers, pricing, operating models, process decisions, AI opportunities, and the next move.

One 60-minute session

Focused Advisory

$350

Bring a decision, a challenge, or an idea. Leave with a clearer direction and practical next steps.

  • One defined business priority
  • A working session with Gema
  • A concise next-step recap
  • Paid in full before your session
Book & pay with Gema
5 hours of advisory support

Advisory Essentials

$1,500

A focused block of support to work through priorities, review materials, and turn decisions into a plan.

  • $300 per hour, prepaid
  • Use within 60 days of kickoff
  • Meetings, preparation, and follow-up share the hour bank
Book & pay with Gema
10 hours of advisory support

Advisory Partnership

$3,000

More room to think, refine, and follow through as your business develops. An ongoing sounding board within a clear scope.

  • $300 per hour, prepaid
  • Use within 120 days of kickoff
  • Meetings, preparation, and follow-up share the hour bank
Book & pay with Gema

Consulting sessions and advisory hour packages are paid in full upfront. Hour packages cover total advisory time, including agreed preparation, document review, research, meetings, and follow-up. Time is tracked in 15-minute increments, with no work beyond the balance without your approval. Additional time is $350 per hour or a new prepaid package. Substantial production or implementation is separately scoped.

02 / From concept to a stronger start

Founder’s
Launch Suite.

A strong foundation for a new business: a clear plan, organized formation steps, and useful resources for the work ahead.

$5,000Fixed project fee · Typically 4–6 weeks

$3,500 deposit to begin
$1,500 due on completion

Plan your launch
  1. 01

    Direction & decisions

    Four one-hour advisory sessions to refine your concept, offer, operating model, and launch priorities.

  2. 02

    Formation & registered-agent support

    Administrative coordination for one entity in one state, based on the structure you select with your legal and tax advisors. Authorized EIN assistance and an organized record of filed articles and confirmations are included.

    Registered-agent service where eligible and available, primarily in Florida, or assistance arranging a qualified provider in your state. The covered service period, renewal terms, and any outside-provider costs are confirmed before engagement.

  3. 03

    A preliminary name check

    Broad research into one proposed business or brand name across federal trademark records, selected state registries, domain names, and public business use. Receive a factual report showing what we found, where we searched, and the limits of the search. The same research service is also available on its own.

  4. 04

    A practical foundation

    A tailored business-plan workbook, business- and location-specific licensing checklist, starter operating manual, and 90-day action plan. One consolidated revision of the planning materials is included.

  5. 05

    The right next connections

    A shortlist of accountant and attorney referrals, plus a handoff that makes your next steps clear. Specialist services are arranged and paid for separately.

For straightforward U.S. business launches. Government processing times are additional. Government filing and permit fees, approved third-party costs, outside registered-agent fees, and software are separate and must be paid in full before we incur them. The EIN itself is free. Preliminary name research is not exhaustive and does not guarantee availability, registrability, or freedom from conflicting rights. The suite does not include legal advice, a trademark clearance opinion or filing, custom legal documents, a website, or a full brand identity system.

03 / One priority. Tangible progress.

Focused projects.
Useful outcomes.

Choose the work you need now. Each project begins with an agreed brief and ends with resources you can use.

Typically 2 weeks

Idea to Action

Give one business idea a workable shape before you invest further.

  • Two 60-minute advisory sessions
  • A concise business model and offer brief
  • An initial pricing framework and 90-day action plan
$1,750

70% deposit to begin · 30% due on completion

Explore this project
Typically 2–3 weeks

Operations Essentials

Organize one repeatable business process, such as taking a new client from inquiry through onboarding and kickoff.

  • One process map with steps, owners, and handoffs
  • Two step-by-step procedures and one working tracker
  • One handoff session and one consolidated revision
$2,500

70% deposit to begin · 30% due on completion

Explore this project
Typically 2 weeks

Practical AI Starter

Find one useful way for AI to support everyday work, with a process your team can follow.

  • One defined workflow and tool recommendation
  • A reusable prompt set and review checklist
  • One guided setup and training session
$2,000

70% deposit to begin · 30% due on completion

Explore this project

Deliverable-based projects require a 70% deposit to begin, with 30% due on completion. One business and one agreed scope per project. Government fees, tool subscriptions, and approved third-party costs are separate and paid in full before we incur them. AI projects include human review practices and use approved sample or nonsensitive information during setup. Further implementation, integrations, and additional revisions are quoted separately.

04 / The particular thing you need

A little more
specific.

Defined support for a formation task, a planning resource, or a research need.

Formation & EIN Coordination

Administrative support for one client-selected entity in one state, EIN application assistance with authorization, and an organized formation record. Government fees are separate; there is no EIN fee.

$750

70% deposit to begin · 30% due on completion

Discuss this service

Launch & Licensing Roadmap

A research-based checklist for one business type and one location, with agency links, key next steps, and a review call. Permit applications and specialist advice are separate.

$650

70% deposit to begin · 30% due on completion

Discuss this service

Business Plan Foundations

A guided business-plan workbook, one review session, and one consolidated round of feedback. Designed for owner planning; financing applications and financial forecasts are separately scoped.

$950

70% deposit to begin · 30% due on completion

Discuss this service

Business Name & Trademark Research

Broad preliminary research for one proposed business or brand name and relevant name variations within an agreed U.S. scope. We check USPTO trademark records, selected state business-name and trademark registries, domain names, and publicly visible business use. You receive a factual report of records found, sources searched, search dates, and limitations. Also included in the Founder’s Launch Suite.

$750

70% deposit to begin · 30% due on completion

Discuss this service

Standalone services with deliverables follow the same 70% deposit / 30% completion schedule. Government fees and approved third-party costs are separate and paid in full before we incur them. Research is led by Gema Smith, J.D., who is not a licensed attorney. It provides factual findings and general process information, without legal advice, legal interpretation of results, filing recommendations, or representation. Searches are preliminary, not exhaustive, and do not guarantee name availability, trademark registration, or the absence of conflicting rights.

Before we begin

Clear scope.
Clear expectations.

Who is this for?

Founders, solo operators, and businesses with five or fewer employees looking for focused advice or a defined project. Team size is our eligibility guide for this offering, not a government business-size classification. Complex or enterprise-scale needs are scoped through our corporate engagements.

Do the hour packages include deliverables?

They include advice, agreed review, and concise follow-up within the hours purchased. A full business plan, implementation, manual, campaign, or other substantial deliverable requires a separate project scope. Meeting time and behind-the-scenes advisory work draw from the same balance.

What do you mean by a workflow?

A workflow is a repeatable sequence of steps that gets a piece of business done. For client onboarding, that might mean receiving an inquiry, collecting information, sending an agreement and invoice, confirming payment, and scheduling kickoff. Operations Essentials maps one such process, identifies who does what, and supplies two step-by-step procedures and a tracker. Custom software, automations, and integrations are separately scoped.

How does payment work?

Consulting sessions and advisory hour packages are paid in full upfront. Packages and standalone services with deliverables—including the Founder’s Launch Suite and Business Name & Trademark Research—require a 70% deposit to begin and 30% on completion, before final handoff. Government filing and permit fees and approved third-party costs are separate from our professional fees and must be paid in full before we incur them. Scope, fees, and timing are agreed before payment.

What does the name research tell me?

It documents records and public uses we located for the proposed name and relevant variations within the agreed search scope. Your report identifies the sources, search date, and limitations; it does not declare a name legally clear or safe to use. No preliminary search is guaranteed to find every existing use, application, registration, or conflicting right. Legal interpretation, clearance opinions, filing strategy, and representation are outside this service.

Is registered-agent service included in the launch suite?

The suite includes registered-agent service where we are eligible and available to provide it, primarily in Florida, or help arranging an eligible provider elsewhere. Appointment is subject to state requirements and acceptance. The service period and renewal terms are confirmed in the engagement agreement; outside-provider fees and renewals are separately disclosed. Any outside costs we incur must be funded upfront.

Are these legal or tax services?

No. Gema holds a J.D. but is not a licensed attorney. She provides business consulting, operations advice, administrative coordination, factual research, and general process information. Elevated Advising does not provide legal advice, legal representation, or tax advice. Entity selection, custom legal documents, trademark clearance opinions, and other professional advice belong with your licensed attorney or tax advisor.

What does the formation fee cover?

Our time coordinating agreed administrative steps, organizing information, assisting with authorized submissions, and delivering your formation record. Government fees are itemized separately. There is no fee for the EIN itself; you can also apply directly through the IRS at no cost.

Can I add marketing support?

Yes. Chynna’s marketing, email, campaign management, and analytics services are separately scoped. We can coordinate a shared proposal when your needs involve both advisors.

How do we get started?

Book and pay online for a focused advisory session or a prepaid hour package. Package purchases include scheduling your first 60-minute meeting; remaining sessions are arranged through your client project after we confirm your balance. If you would like to discuss fit first, book a paid discovery call of up to 60 minutes. Deliverable-based projects begin with an inquiry so we can confirm scope, timing, and requirements before collecting a deposit.

Your business. Your next chapter.

Let’s make
the next step clearer.

Talk with Gema