Contact Coquitlam.Business

What to include in your first message

The more specific your first message, the more useful our reply. You don't need to write much; three or four lines are plenty.

• The decision. One sentence: "We're deciding whether to open a second location," or "I want to know if our marketing spend is worth it."
• Your business. What you sell, roughly how many people work there, and which part of Coquitlam you're in or serve.
• A rough size. Annual revenue in a range, if you're comfortable sharing it. It helps us suggest the right format.
• Your timing. Whether there's a deadline, such as a lease date or a hiring decision.

Here's a template you can copy and adapt:

Hi, I run [Business name], a [type of business] in [neighbourhood], Coquitlam, with about [number] staff. We're trying to decide whether to [the decision]. Revenue is roughly [range] a year. We need to decide by [date]. Can we talk?

If you're texting, a shorter version is fine:

Hi, this is [Your name] from [Business name] in [neighbourhood]. Looking for advice on [the decision]. Good time to call?

What happens next

1. We reply. Usually within one business day, to arrange a time for the free 30-minute conversation or to answer a simple question directly.
2. The first conversation. You describe the decision; we ask questions about your numbers, customers and constraints. By the end, we'll tell you whether we can help and which format fits: an hourly session, a project or a retainer.
3. A written proposal. If you want to go ahead, you get a short written scope with the price, the timeline and what's included. Nothing paid starts until you agree to it.
4. The work. Depending on the format, that's a single session with a written note or a few weeks of analysis ending in a recommendation.

Before you get in touch

A few things make the first conversation more productive:

• Have last year's revenue and a rough gross margin to hand, even if they're approximate.
• Think about where your last ten customers came from.
• If there's a document involved, such as a lease, proposal or quote, have it ready to send by email.
• Note anything you've already tried, including previous consultants or agencies, and what happened.

If you'd like to read before you reach out, start with the services overview, the pricing page or the frequently asked questions.

If your question is urgent

Say so in the first line. If a decision has a hard deadline, such as a lease that expires on Friday or a job offer that needs an answer, put the date at the top of your text or email. We'll tell you honestly whether there's enough time to prepare properly. If there isn't, we'd rather say that than give you a rushed opinion on a document we haven't had time to read.

Working with us: practical details

• Where we are. Coquitlam.Business is part of the Sedighi.ca and SAZ.ca group, headquartered in Vancouver, BC. We don't keep an office in Coquitlam; most work happens by phone, video and shared documents.
• Who you'll speak to. A senior strategist, from the first conversation onward. Ali Sedighi, MBA, leads the work.
• Privacy. We use what you send us only to respond to you and, if you hire us, to advise your business. We only email people who contact us first.
• What we can't help with. Legal, tax, accounting, lending and immigration questions belong with licensed professionals. If your question falls there, we'll say so and suggest what kind of professional to contact.

Ready when you are: call, text or email with the decision you're weighing.