Free Guide

The Run-Without-You Guide

The 25-point checklist that tells you whether your business runs on systems or runs on you. It's the same checklist we use when we pressure-test a business's operations.

What's Inside
  • ProcessDoes the work run without your memory?
  • Sales follow-upDo leads survive a busy week?
  • Your front doorDoes your business sell while you sleep?
  • AutomationIs the repetitive admin off your plate?
  • Financial clarityDo you know your numbers cold?
  • Your score and a 90-day fix-it orderCount your checks, then close the biggest gaps first.
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Built by Business Plans Plus. We build the operating systems that make growth-stage businesses easier to run.

About the Run-Without-You Guide

The Run-Without-You Guide is a free PDF checklist. It has 25 checks that tell you whether your business runs on systems or runs on you. It's the same checklist we use when we pressure-test a business's operations. It ends with a simple score and a 90-day order for fixing the gaps.

Two versions

What's inside

The 25 checks are split into 5 areas, with 5 checks each:

  1. Process: does the work run without your memory? Written scope and standards for every client or job, team checklists, account notes, quality checks on a schedule, and a written onboarding path.
  2. Sales follow-up: do leads survive a busy week? One system for every lead, automatic follow-up on every quote, a pipeline number you know, a reason for every lost deal, and renewals on the calendar.
  3. Your front door: does your business sell while you sleep? A website with an obvious next step, an instant response to requests, proof you can see, a current Google Business Profile, and services listed online.
  4. Automation: is the repetitive admin off your plate? Scheduling in software, invoices sent on time, late payments that chase themselves, job data that flows to payroll, and supplies that reorder on a trigger.
  5. Financial clarity: do you know your numbers cold? Margin by job or client, labor percent watched monthly, a one-page monthly scorecard, pricing by formula, and cash flow projected ahead.

Each area ends with one test question. For process, it's this: could a competent operations lead run next week using only what's written down?

How the score works

Check what's true today, not what you plan to fix. Then count your checks.

The 90-day fix-it order

Don't fix everything at once. The guide works in this order:

Days 1 to 30: stop the revenue leaks. Get every lead into one system and put automatic follow-up on every quote.
Days 31 to 60: get the work out of your head. Write down the scope for your top 5 clients, plus team checklists and account notes.
Days 61 to 90: turn on the numbers. Margin by job, labor percent each month, and a one-page scorecard.

Automation and website fixes come after these three. They matter, but follow-up, process and numbers come first.

How to get it

Pick your version, then enter your first name, last name and email. The download link shows on this page right away, and we email you a copy. The download never waits on the email.

Common questions

Is the guide really free?

Yes. There's no card, and no call is required.

Which version should I pick?

If you run a janitorial or commercial cleaning company, pick that version. Everyone else, pick “Any service business.”

Do I get it right away?

Yes. The download link appears on this page as soon as you send the form. A copy also goes to your inbox.

What if I'd rather have a score?

Take the 2-minute Owner-Dependency Scorecard. It scores the same 5 areas and shows which one to fix first.

Is this financial or legal advice?

No. It's general business guidance.

Built by Business Plans Plus, Tampa business consultants & AI implementation. Rather talk it through? Book a free 30-minute call.