Frequently Asked Questions
Where does the name Flint & Grace come from?
Flint is one of the oldest and most reliable tools in existence. Hard, dependable, and capable of creating a spark in any condition. It represents the toughness this work requires: the difficult calls, the honest conversations, the willingness to stay the course when it would be easier not to.
Grace is what you carry alongside that toughness. The calm, the steadiness, the composed presence that gets everyone aligned and moving together rather than just passing down decisions and hoping they stick.
The name reflects exactly how Flint & Grace shows up. Hard-headed enough to make the tough calls and hold the line. Heart-led enough to bring everyone through it with genuine care. Neither one works without the other.
Do you provide services virtually or in-person?
Both. In-person and virtual options are available for all engagements. Clients in the Columbia, Missouri area and surrounding communities can easily arrange in-person sessions when schedules allow. Travel outside that area is available and discussed during the discovery conversation. That said, virtual engagements are highly effective and work well for the majority of clients.
What types of businesses are a good fit?
Flint & Grace works best with small and large organizations navigating growth, change, or the kind of operational and leadership gaps that come with building something real. Industry doesn't matter. What matters is that the owner or leader is genuinely ready for outside support, open to change, and willing to do the work alongside us.
If you're looking for someone to tell you what's wrong and leave you to figure out the rest, we're probably not the right fit. If you want a real partner who will get in the room and build it with you, let's talk.
How quickly can we get started?
Pretty quickly. Once we've had a discovery conversation and confirmed it's a good fit, the next step is a signed agreement and invoice. From there most project engagements can get started within two to three weeks depending on schedules and availability.
For the Operations Partnership, availability depends on current capacity. Flint & Grace intentionally limits the number of retainer clients at any given time to make sure every client gets focused, high quality attention. If you're interested in an ongoing partnership, reach out and let's talk.
What if I want something slightly different than what's listed on the Services page?
Every business and organization is different and the work often reflects that. If what you're looking for doesn't fit neatly into one of the three services listed, reach out anyway. The discovery conversation is the right place to talk through what you actually need and figure out together whether and how Flint & Grace can help.
Why fixed fees instead of hourly?
The majority of business owners prefer fixed fees over hourly billing, and it's easy to understand why. With hourly billing, every phone call and every email comes with a silent question in the back of your mind: is this running up my tab? That hesitation gets in the way of the relationship and the work.
Fixed fees change that dynamic entirely. You know exactly what you're paying before anything starts, there are no surprise invoices, and there's no reason to think twice before picking up the phone. When something comes up, you reach out. That's how it should work.
It also means Flint & Grace can show up fully and do the best work possible, without either party watching the clock.
What does the discovery call look like?
It's a conversation, not a pitch. We'll spend 15 to 30 minutes getting to know each other and talking through where your business is, what's getting in the way, and what you're hoping to solve. From there, if it feels like a good fit, we'll talk through what working together could look like.
There's no pressure and no obligation. The goal is simply to figure out together whether Flint & Grace is the right partner for where you are right now. And if it turns out we're not the right fit, we'll do our best to point you in the right direction.
What happens after The Groundwork? Do we continue working with you?
It depends. The Groundwork is designed to be a complete, standalone engagement. You walk away with a clear, customized, prioritized roadmap your team can execute on their own. No strings attached.
Some clients use the roadmap independently and never need anything else. Others decide they want a partner to help build what the plan calls for and move into the Operations Partnership. The goal is to give you what you actually need, not to create dependency on Flint & Grace.
How long do engagements typically last?
It depends on the engagement. The Groundwork typically completes in two to three weeks through three to four 90-minute sessions plus a final delivery session. It can also be offered as a two-day intensive for clients who prefer a more concentrated format.
The Executive Alignment Session typically runs five to six weeks from start to finish. That includes strategy sessions with the primary leader, a preparation period before the full-day facilitated session, the session itself, and a final week to deliver the completed roadmap.
The Operations Partnership has a three-month minimum commitment and often continues well beyond that. Many clients find ongoing value in having a long-term operational and leadership partner and stay engaged well past the initial term.