I left corporate and want to go independent. Where do I start?

The Short Answer

Start with the Growth Navigator free tier. It takes about 15 minutes. You'll answer questions about your expertise, the people you've helped, and the results you've produced. The system builds your offer statement, pitch script, and one-pager from your answers.

The Mistake Most Corporate Escapees Make

The most common mistake corporate escapees make is building the business infrastructure before locking the offer. They set up the LLC, design business cards, build a website, write a LinkedIn summary, and maybe even print brochures. Then someone asks "what do you do?" and they fumble through a two-minute explanation that doesn't land.

Inside the company, your title and track record spoke for you. "VP of Finance at [Company]" communicated your scope, your credibility, and your value without you saying a word. Outside, none of that transfers. "Fractional CFO" is a category with thousands of people in it. It doesn't tell anyone why they should care.

Where to Start Instead

Start with one sentence: who do you help, what changes for them, and why it matters. Once that sentence is locked, everything else gets easier. Your website writes itself. Your outreach emails have a clear hook. Your networking conversations land. Your one-pager practically builds itself.

The Growth Navigator free tier is designed for exactly this moment. You answer questions about your expertise, your market, and the people you've served. The system builds your offer statement (the one sentence), your pitch script (the conversational version for networking events and sales calls), and a one-pager (the document you send after every conversation). No prep needed. No prior marketing experience required.

The Typical Path for Corporate Escapees

Most founders who just left corporate follow a predictable path. They start with the free tier and build the offer statement and one-pager. That alone changes how they show up in conversations within the first week. Some stay on the free tier for a month, testing the pitch in real conversations and refining it.

When they're ready for the full system, they either upgrade to Core ($247/mo) for the complete GTM build (Narrative Map, ICP Cheat Sheet, Messaging Blueprint, outreach emails, website copy) or book an Ignition Sprint ($1,500) to lock the pitch with a strategist in one 90-minute session.

The Launch Pad Sprint ($6,500) is for corporate escapees who are past pitch clarity and ready to build the full pipeline system: 12 artifacts, 21 days, plus 60 days of coaching.

What to Focus on First

In your first 30 days of going independent, focus on three things. First: lock the offer. One sentence that names a specific person, a specific outcome, and why it matters. Second: build the one-pager. The document you send after every conversation that sells when you're not in the room. Third: activate your network. Send 50 former colleagues a message that says "I've gone independent. I'm helping [specific type of company] with [specific problem]. If you know anyone who fits, I'd love an introduction. Here's my one-pager."

The Navigator builds the first two. The third is on you, but the fractional practice guide covers the exact approach. The packaging guide walks through the full process of turning expertise into a sellable offer. Start free and build your first assets today.