Sign your next consulting client for twice your current rate.
(and every consulting client after that, too!)
So you can make the same amount or more, with fewer clients, and not work as much.
I’ll show you how.
Welcome to your more profitable consulting business.
When we say profitable, we mean your money and your time.
At this point, you’re out of “startup mode” – you know your business can work.
Now it’s about building the business you envisioned: doing more of the work you love and getting paid handsomely for it, so your business supports your life, not the other way around.
You’ve gotten this far through word of mouth and referrals. You probably haven’t done much marketing because, frankly, you didn’t need to. But we both know word of mouth won’t last forever.
You know you should be doing something to get the right clients, but you’re not sure what. And who could blame you? You’ve never been a salesperson.
You’re not asking for the impossible. You know there’s so much potential out there. You just want to work with clients who see your value and can pay you what you want. You don’t want to have to convince anyone.
So you can make the money you want without working all the time. So you can smooth out the revenue ups and downs. And you can invest in the things that matter to your business and your life.
It’s frustrating, isn’t it? You just want to know what to do; that also feels comfortable and lets you be yourself. But you don’t want to sound desperate or pushy, and you don’t want to waste time trying to figure it out yourself.
You’ve gotten this far without a strategy… imagine what would happen if you had one that worked?
You could get the clients you want, not just the ones you can get.
You could get paid for your value, not your time.
You could have a business that’s profitable and fulfilling.
That’s what you’ll do in The Academy.
We’re currently accepting applications for our next coaching group. When you click the button above, you’ll answer a few questions about your business, then schedule a 15-minute call with a member of our team to see if The Academy is a good fit for you.
Purpose-built for businesses in
The Messy Middle
The Academy is for consultants in The Messy Middle: after that “first wave” of clients runs its course. That’s when smart consultants like you realize that you’ve reached the end of the things you know how to do to get clients, and you need to do something different. Unfortunately, that’s when many consultants get stuck, wasting months or years hoping for things to change.
So when you’re ready to stop trying this on your own, being stuck in your head, feeling stuck, and not getting anywhere…
And when you’re ready to start using a personal business development playbook, know what to do at each step, feeling confident, and seeing results….
You’re in the right place.
You’ll learn proven marketing and sales strategies to:
- DIAL IN YOUR POSITIONING: Position your work around value and stand out from others in your industry
- COMMUNICATE YOUR VALUE: Communicate your value clearly so clients see your value instantly
- FIGURE OUT YOUR IDEAL CLIENT: Hone in on the clients you want and identify the biggest opportunity
- STRUCTURE YOUR SERVICES: Dial in your services so you’re solving your clients’ problems without getting overworked
- ACTIVATE YOUR NETWORK FOR WORD OF MOUTH & REFERRALS: Proactively get referrals from inside and outside your network
- GET PAID FOR YOUR VALUE, NOT YOUR TIME: Craft value-based pricing that gets you paid more, without adding scope, hours, or deliverables. So you can get off the time-for-money cycle and start getting predictable revenue
- GO FROM HOURLY TO VALUE-BASED PRICING: Get off the time-for-money cycle and start getting predictable revenue
- GET PAID FOR YOUR BRAIN: Get paid for access to your brain, without any deliverables or done-for-you work
- BUILD AUTHORITY ON LINKEDIN: Show up, be seen as an expert, and get your ideal clients coming to you
- LEAD A SALES PROCESS: Comfortably and confidently lead a sales process and reduce ghosting
- HAVE MORE COMFORTABLE SALES CONVERSATIONS: Have great conversations that build the relationship and move the process forward, without giving away free advice
- WRITE PROPOSALS FASTER: Write fully customized proposals faster using a winning proposal formula
- GET MORE YESSES: Get more proposals signed, without pushback
- BE TREATED LIKE AN EXPERT, NOT AN EMPLOYEE: Build incredible relationships with clients who treat you like an expert, not an employee
- OFFLOAD SELLING TO TEAM MEMBERS: Loop in team members so you can take major parts of the sales process off your plate
- BALANCE PRIORITIES: Balance doing business development, even when you’re busy with client work
- BUILD AUTHENTIC CONFIDENCE: Feel as comfortable in “the sales part” as you do in your client work
- SET BETTER BOUNDARIES: Set and reinforce better boundaries with clients
- HAVE MORE FREE TIME: Make more money with fewer clients so that you have more free time
We’re currently accepting applications for our next coaching group. When you click the button above, you’ll answer a few questions about your business, then schedule a 15-minute call with a member of our team to see if The Academy is a good fit for you.
How it works: Individualized learning and high-touch coaching
If traditional coaching is public school, The Academy is Montessori.
Traditional coaching programs fall into three buckets: a course you have to figure out yourself, a community that’s packed to the gills with students, or a library of videos you have to stitch together to form a strategy. Everyone is shuffled through, and after the payment hits, you’re on your own.
The Academy system is built around a proven success path that’s individualized to your business, your clients, and the way your clients buy. It’s a high-touch environment where you and your team get the support you need to overcome roadblocks, build confidence, and get results.
Here’s how we do it
A roadmap individualized to your business and clients, so you’re always doing the right work for you
The curriculum is customized, not cookie cutter. You’ll start by meeting with Leah to create an individualized roadmap to you, your business, and your clients, so you’re putting in place the strategies, in the right order, to make the biggest business impact, the fastest.
Every tool, template, guide, and framework you need, so you make progress faster
Every strategy we teach comes with a complete set of templates, tools, and guides. You don’t have to make anything up from scratch, so you can implement it faster.
High-touch coaching, so you get it right the first time and overcome roadblocks
Our team stays closely connected you and your progress, so you have a partner to help you along. Through WRAPAROUND COACHING(TM) there’s always a coaching option that fits where you are: office hours, real-time sales coaching, topic-based coaching sessions, peer advice, live feedback and 1:1 coaching when you need it.
Real-time sales coaching to help you sign the clients you’re talking to
Whether you’re talking to a new client or selling in additional work to a current client, get expert help for every step of the sales process, in real time, so you know you’re making the right next move and you can get them signed.
Live feedback so you can refine, course-correct, and build confidence
Get rapid, actionable feedback on the things you’re working on, at any time. Bring your emails, proposals, messaging, and more to the Feedback Forum and get feedback so you can fix, refine, get right, and get it out the door.
Accountability, so you stay consistent and keep moving forward
Set weekly and monthly goals, and let Academy coaches and members give you the resources you need to reach them, and cheer you on.
Your team members are welcome, so you don’t have to do it all yourself
Whether you have a VA or a whole team, anyone who you want to have access to the trainings, live coaching calls, or our community gets full access at no additional charge. This way it’s not all on you to implement, which will make you more successful.
An incredible community of your peers, so you’re never alone
Business owner isolation can make you feel alone and drive imposter syndrome. When you join our incredible community of women running consulting businesses, you feel less alone, more inspired, and more motivated.
Here, you don’t have to make
all the decisions
You’re making hundreds of decisions each day; everything from “What should I say in this email?” to “Is this up to the level my client expects?” to “What should I make for dinner?”
It’s exhausting. And that decision fatigue makes business development even harder to do (and even want to do).
So here, you don’t have to make all the decisions. You get sales coaching in real-time, so we guide you on exactly what to do that will work, and we give you the tools to do it.
So you can take a breather and let an expert help you. You don’t have to decide it on your own.
So whether it’s, “What do I do in this client situation?” or “Does this pricing sound crazy?” to “Can someone read this email before I send it?” that’s the support you get in The Academy.
Will I really get to work with Leah?
Yes! When you’re a member of this program, you’ll see a lot of me in coaching calls, leading live trainings, and the Slack community. Of course, my team members are there to support you in their specific areas of expertise, like using LinkedIn, perfecting your marketing copy, or setting up your tech operations.
Unfortunately, I know it’s common to sign up for a program, only to find out once you’re inside that the actual leader is no longer directly involved and leaves all the coaching to her team. That’s not the case here.
In addition to working directly with me, you and your team have:
A LinkedIn Coach to help you sound great and stand out in front of your ideal clients.
A Copy Coach to review your emails, lead magnets, and LinkedIn posts, and other marketing materials and make sure they position you for value.
An Operations & Tech Strategy Coach to help you operationalize the strategies and techniques in your business.
Whatever you’re working on, there’s a coach who specializes in that area who can make sure you’re doing it right, and help you overcome any stumbling blocks.
Here’s what you’re not going to do
Our methodology doesn’t involve any of the following:
- No cold calling, cold emailing, or cold LinkedIn messaging
- No pitching
- No pushy sales tactics
- No automated sales funnels or tactics that only work for B2C
- No Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, or Tik Tok
- No spending money on ads
- No spending money on technology
- No changing your services, creating packages, or creating an online program
What are you going to do? Use your smarts to get you seen, sell in a way that feels organic, build strong client relationships, and get you paid more, using a methodology that feels organic and comfortable. Apply below and learn how.
We’re currently accepting applications for our next coaching group. When you click the button above, you’ll answer a few questions about your business, then schedule a 15-minute call with a member of our team to see if The Academy is a good fit for you.
What if you had a business development strategy that worked?
Enter the number of clients you’d like in the next few months, and the average amount you’d be paid for each one.
Then press Calculate to see what’s possible for you.
What would that amount allow you to do? How would it feel to be able to make that happen?
Est. ROI
$67,500
Wondering if it’s for you?
The Academy is for you if …
- You work with your clients through direct consulting or services
- Your clients are businesses (small businesses, mid-size, or large companies) or nonprofits
- You’ve already worked with some clients, and you want to start working with the clients you enjoy
- You’re smart, intellectually curious, and ambitious. You’re not afraid of doing the work, you just want to make sure it’s the right work.
- You want to hang out with other smart, ambitious women who are running real businesses
- You’re already successful and want to achieve better balance and increase your income and time off
If you’re smart, ambitious, eager to learn, and want to grow your business, we’d love to work with you.
Unfortunately, The Academy is not a fit for your business if:
- You work with your clients via a course, online program, group program, or physical or digital products
- Your clients are individuals (i.e health coaches, resumé writers, etc.)
- You’re just getting started, or you haven’t sold anything yet
- You are looking for an automated sales funnel or get rich quick scheme
We’re currently accepting applications for our next coaching group. When you click the button above, you’ll answer a few questions about your business, then schedule a 15-minute call with a member of our team to see if The Academy is a good fit for you.
This is the community of your peers
You won’t find #bossbabes or #girlbosses here. No coaches who coach coaches. This is a group of smart, driven women, running real businesses in:
- Marketing consulting, marketing strategy, digital marketing
- Branding consulting, brand strategy
- PR consulting
- Leadership consulting, executive coaching
- Management consulting
- Organizational development consulting
- Nonprofit communications consulting, nonprofit fundraising consulting
- Business strategy consulting, business consulting
- HR consulting, diversity & inclusion consulting, workforce consulting
- Sustainability consulting
- And many more …
“This community is amazing. All of the women here are really, truly, amazing. They’re supportive, kind, and generous with their knowledge.”
Mariela C, web designer
“One of the HUGE values is the community. Lifelong friendships and support form.”
Susan B, leadership consultant
“I feel like I have co-workers again!”
Sarah S, leadership consultant
We’re currently accepting applications for our next coaching group. When you click the button above, you’ll answer a few questions about your business, then schedule a 15-minute call with a member of our team to see if The Academy is a good fit for you.
How to get in
Joining The Academy starts with an application so we can learn about your business. That’s because we only accept people into The Academy who we know we can help. There’s no obligation to purchase when you apply.
To apply, enter your email address below and we’ll ask a few questions about your business. You’ll be invited to schedule a 15-minute call with a member of our team to see if we’re a good fit.
This call is all about you – there’s nothing you have to do or buy, and if we can’t help you, we’ll let you know right there on the call.
We’re currently accepting applications for our next coaching group. When you click the button above, you’ll answer a few questions about your business, then schedule a 15-minute call with a member of our team to see if The Academy is a good fit for you.
It’s not just about money. It’s about achieving what you’re capable of.
“This has made me feel like a real business owner. It’s the combination of these tools and resources that has given me the confidence to say, “Ok, I can really do this.”
Maya B, corporate wellness consultant
“I would say the biggest thing that I’ve taken away that you can’t really put a price on, is my confidence in my ability to sell in a way that feels very authentic to me.”
Amanda G, leadership consultant
“This course has brought me so much clarity. Since I know what to do, I don’t second-guess myself or have all of that self-doubt. So without all that space taken up by trying to “figure things out,” not only do I have much more mental space to create, I also feel more at peace.”
Valentina F, startup consultant
We’re currently accepting applications for our next coaching group. When you click the button above, you’ll answer a few questions about your business, then schedule a 15-minute call with a member of our team to see if The Academy is a good fit for you.
When is the right time to join
The Academy?
When your clients are businesses, you fix the roof when the sun is shining.
(AKA: join it before you need it.)
The sales methodology we teach works because it reflects how clients make purchase decisions.
The typical purchase process for business clients takes anywhere from 3-18 months. So the time to learn how to get higher-paying consulting clients is before you need clients.
If you’re in the position where you need clients right away, it’s too late to start. I can teach you how to start conversations quickly, but you’re still at least 3-18 months from getting a signed contract.
So if you want to be proactive about reaching the next revenue level in your business, and you never want to be in the position of “needing clients yesterday,” then we’d love to work with you.
You don’t have to have everything figured out (like your messaging, positioning, ideal client, or services). We’ll do that together.
So when is the right time to apply?
- When you have enough runway to sustain your business for the next 3-4 months but your income will go down after that.
- If you’d say your business is “doing OK,” but you want to be doing better.
- If you feel like, after being self-employed, the last thing you want is to go back to corporate America.
Then it’s the right time to work with us. Fix the roof when the sun is shining.
“Here’s the deal: you invest in yourself, you partner with amazing women who own dynamic businesses, and there’s structure but room to customize. And… it has a shelf life. Years later, I return to the concepts and community time and again. It keeps on giving!”
Ilene R, marketing consultant
“Working with you was the best investment I ever made in my business. I only wish I did it sooner!”
Caroline G, PR consultant
We’re currently accepting applications for our next coaching group. When you click the button above, you’ll answer a few questions about your business, then schedule a 15-minute call with a member of our team to see if The Academy is a good fit for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Academy just for women?
It’s for anyone who identifies as a woman or gender non-binary person.
I’m just a year or so into my business. Is The Academy a good fit for me?
Yep! As long as you’re already working with clients and getting them results, the system you’ll learn in The Academy can work for you.
I’ve been running my business for a while. Is The Academy a good fit for me?
Yes! You’ve been doing this long enough to know that getting higher-paying clients isn’t as easy as you thought. You probably have the ingredients to make a very profitable business that gives you free time, we’ll give you the recipe and help you bake the cake.
I don’t have my messaging / positioning / ideal client / services all figured out yet. Do I have to figure it out before I join?
Nope! We’re going to work on your messaging, positioning, ideal client, and communicating the value of your services. You don’t have to have them figured out before you join the program where you’ll figure them out. 😀
Can my admin or team member join with me?
Yep! Anyone on your team that you want to have access to the portal, the Slack group, the coaching, and the events will get access at no additional cost.
I don’t want to build an agency or make an online course. Is this program going to force me to do that?
Nope! The Academy teaches you how to build a sustainable consulting business, in the way that you want, not in one one-size-fits-all way. You don’t have to build an agency, create a low-cost online course, or change your services in any way. If you would like to build an agency, the system you’ll learn in The Academy will help you land the clients that will fund new hires and scale up.
Can I join if I believe Trump won the 2020 election?
No. Trump lost. Honestly though, if you believe that, you will hate what I have to say about a lot of other things.
I have another question that’s not addressed here.
No problem, just email us at team@smartgetspaid.com.
We’re currently accepting applications for our next coaching group. When you click the button above, you’ll answer a few questions about your business, then schedule a 15-minute call with a member of our team to see if The Academy is a good fit for you.
Still have questions? Get in touch.
Drop me a line, a member of my team will get back to you
within one business day.
About Leah
Hi, I’m Leah Neaderthal. I help women land higher-paying consulting clients.
I remember when it was hard for me to land new clients too. I had built my career in corporate marketing, and as soon as I started my business, I realized that even though I had been a rock star in marketing, I didn’t actually know how to get clients.
And what’s worse, I was embarrassed that I couldn’t do it.
I realized that if I was going to succeed in running my own business, I had to learn how to land new clients.
But not the salesy way I had seen before. I wanted a way that felt right for me.
I decided to teach myself. Over the next four years, I read everything I could get my hands on about selling. 65 books, to be exact. I tried nearly every sales strategy and approach with my own clients.
Anything that felt salesy, I ditched. Anything that felt comfortable, I kept.
The approach I developed over four years now gives me a 92% win rate… and I’ve sold over $3MM in work. Now I teach others how to do it in a matter of weeks.
Here’s the thing: I’m not a salesperson.
I’ve never been in sales. I’m an entrepreneur and a total introvert who’d much rather be in the background doing the work. But I learned how to land new clients, and now it’s second nature to me.
That’s how I know you can do it too. All you need is to know what works and get guidance to help you put it into practice in your business.
Whenever you’re ready to start landing higher-paying clients in your business, I’m looking forward to working with you.
Ready to take the next step?
Answer a few questions about your business, then you’ll be invited to schedule a 15-minute call with a member of our team to see if The Academy is a good fit.