Most engagements at Dennis Capital begin with a single, no-charge conversation. Here is what to expect from that first call, and how to make it productive for both sides.
The Discovery Conversation
Length: thirty to forty-five minutes. Format: phone or video, whichever is easier for you. Cost: none. Obligation: none. Confidentiality: full — we will sign an NDA in advance if that is helpful, and either way we treat the conversation as confidential.
The purpose of the call is narrow: to understand whether Dennis Capital is the right firm for the work you are considering. Sometimes the answer is yes, sometimes the answer is “yes, but later,” and sometimes the answer is “no, here is the kind of firm you actually need.” We will tell you which it is by the end of the call.
What we will ask
- What does your company do, and how is it organized?
- What is the size of the business — revenue, headcount, and approximate profitability?
- Who currently owns the company and what role does the owner play day-to-day?
- What does the finance function look like today — controller, bookkeeper, outsourced, or owner-managed?
- What is the decision or question that prompted you to reach out?
- What is your timing — and what does success look like if we engage?
What you should ask us
- Have you done work like this before? Bring examples.
- Who at the firm would be staffed on the engagement?
- What does the first ninety days look like in practice?
- How are fees structured? What does a comparable engagement typically cost?
- What do you not do, and what would you refer elsewhere?
- Can you put us in touch with a current or former client?
We are happy to answer all of these in the first conversation and will not push back on any of them.
What happens after the call
- If neither side wants to continue, we will say so, thank you for your time, and that is the end of it.
- If we both want to continue, we propose a short written diagnostic scope — typically two to three weeks, fixed fee — that produces a written assessment of the situation and a prioritized work plan.
- Most retainer engagements begin after the diagnostic. You can also choose to take the diagnostic and execute the work plan internally; we will support either path.
Request a Discovery Call
The fastest way to schedule a discovery call is to email andrew@denniscapital.net with a sentence or two about your business and what you are trying to solve. We respond to all qualified inquiries within two business days and propose two or three times for the call.