Starting as a dishwasher who spoke no English and eventually founding 7 businesses that generated 65M - and one of which sold for 8 figures - serial entrepreneur Feras Alhlou is now on a mission to empower other consulting and service entrepreneurs.
Combining this business experience with the mindset and discipline of a 4th-degree Black Belt in Aikido, Feras dives into principles and critical actions for kickstarting your consulting and services business, including:
Why passion is optional but skills and sacrifice are not
Starting a business after a layoff
Three cases when side hustling is OK
Pricing at the earliest stages of your new company
Early-stage marketing techniques
How avoid mistakes and save precious time and resources
Strategies to break the 7-figure consulting barrier
Don’t do it on your own. Listen to Black Belt Startup to start smarter and stronger.
Ghosted by a Consulting Prospect? Stop Just "Checking In"
Getting ghosted is scary. Especially when it's a prospect you thought was interested.
Most consultants either give up too quickly or keep sending some version of "just checking in" until the prospect stops paying attention altogether.
This Wednesday, we'll work through a better follow-up strategy.
We'll cover when to follow up, what to send, how to add value between conversations, when another communication channel makes sense, and when it's time to move an opportunity into long-term nurture.
I'll also show you a simple system for keeping track of conversations so good opportunities don't disappear because you forgot to follow up.
28 Oct 2026
How to Price and Land Your First Consulting Clients
How you price your first consulting engagements can make them easier, or harder, to land.
Early on, your pricing strategy can make the difference between a prospect hesitating and saying yes.
That may mean starting with a smaller scope, a pilot, phased work, or an introductory price tied to something valuable in return, such as a case study, testimonial, or referral.
This Tuesday, I’ll walk through how to price those first few engagements so you win more clients and reduce friction without giving away the value of your work.
We’ll also cover when a discount makes sense, what to ask for in return, and how to use those early projects to build proof and support higher pricing later.
21 Oct 2026
Turn Your Career Experience Into a Business After 50
Thinking about starting a business after 50?
Research cited by AARP found that founders over 50 were nearly twice as successful as founders under 30. But starting later also means you may have more to protect: savings, family responsibilities, and the financial security you've spent decades building.
This Tuesday, we'll talk about both sides of the equation: the advantages you already have, the risks you need to manage, and how to turn your experience into a viable business.
We'll also cover financial runway, learning new skills, sales, franchising, and the first steps to validate your idea before making the leap.
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