Today we’d like to introduce you to Estie Rand.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I began my business as a dream in 2011. It was the beginning of the small business boom, and I was watching everyone and their brother’s sister’s friend’s dog walker become an entrepreneur – selling on Etsy, taking a training course and freelancing, turning a talent into their own side gig, going out on their own instead of doing the same work for an employer… I would chat with friends or come across their ads and could see that some just had no idea what they were doing. I knew I could help them professionalize their small businesses and earn more money – and so my dream began to grow wings.
Right around that time, I was working as CIO for a multi-national nonprofit. The board hired a middle manager who restructured my job to demote me, take my team and basically make me his new secretary. Instead, I became the new “leaving-person,” and I quit.
I took on a couple of jobs at the time, but really, this was the dream! To start out as a full-service consulting firm when I was still just a solopreneur, I brought in independent contractors as partners per project. Today we are a multi-national team with offices in Los Angeles, New York, Jerusalem, and London, working with clients all over the world.
We have helped 100’s of small businesses, from solopreneurs to mid-sized businesses earn more money with less headache, professionalize and streamline their process, upgrade their marketing and branding, create systems and databases, hire new staff and sometimes just help business owners get their life back by working on their work/work balance.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
No, it was not a smooth road – and never believe a successful business owner who tells you it was! (Check out my Business Breakthrough Podcast for numerous case studies as freelancers to millionaires talk out their business struggles estierand.com/itunes).
A lot of my struggles centered around the fact that I moved countries after building up my business for 4 years, then was ill for 6 months. As I still am the primary driver of sales, my business almost died. I also struggled with finding a solid sales pipeline to get out of the all-to-common “feast or famine” cycle so many SMB deal with.
I began by giving local workshops, then moved on to webinars to reach a more diverse international audience. In this area, I’ve been leveraging social media with great success.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Strand Consulting – what should we know?
At Strand Consulting we help business owners earn more money with less headache. Everything that a Fortune 500 company would get from the big guys, like a Deloitte, Boston, etc… We provide for small business owners and nonprofits.
Our main specialty is in helping micro-businesses from solopreneurs to 20 employees earn the maximum, professionalize, upgrade their offerings, their service, their branding and marketing, and their staffing & delegation systems so that they function as a professional enterprise, at a fraction of the cost.
I personally am known for being able to turn an idea into a profitable business and every profitable business into a more profitable and more enjoyable one.
I am most proud of the fact that we have been able to keep our prices low. Most businesses start small, helping out the little guy at low prices but as they grow, they try to target the bigger fish. Though I could, and have even been told by my competitors and partners that I should double my rates, I keep my prices low to increase both value and service for the little guys.
I have been able to scale my business with a fully virtual team, enabling me to bring top talent and service without the cost that usually accompanies it. I am SUPER passionate about helping the little guy, the dreamer, believer and entrepreneur to level up at a price that they can afford, using strategies that work for them.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
My ability to hear what people aren’t saying. I really like people, and I find tremendous value in listening to what they are saying, and even more what they are not saying. I listen, help them understand what their problem is, then help them solve that problem.
What sets us apart is that I am not just a coach or an adviser – there are plenty of those out there – but I run a consulting firm. If we advise a client they need a database, we can not only strategize on what type and how to set it up but can actually build it. Need a new logo? We can design it. We don’t just advice – we actually do.
Everything starts with my ability to hear between lines, really connect with my clients then help them move toward success.
Pricing:
- Get Unstuck! Solve any business problem at a special Rate for VoyageLA readers $500
- Business Plans/ Growth Strategy from $1,000-$4,000
- Marketing, Branding, Social Media from $300/month
- Financial Analysis/ Business Budgeting from $1,000
- Staffing & Getting Your Life Back from $1,000-$5,000
- Hourly rates from $50-$250/hour
Contact Info:
- Address: 925 N La Brea Ave Los Angeles, CA 90038
- Website: www.strandconsulting.net & www.estierand.com (Podcast)
- Phone: 213-787-7263
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: instagram.com/strand_consulting
- Facebook: facebook.com/estie.rand.5
- Twitter: twitter.com/TheEstieRand
- Other: linkedin.com/in/estierand
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
