01
Capture the Real Request
Separate the stated question from the actual work needed to answer it responsibly.
Made for Consultants
Convert a Free Advice Request Into a Paid Engagement
45 min
Advanced
Boundaries
Earn More
Difficult Conversation
Decide where free guidance ends, frame the paid work, handle pushback, and leave the prospect with one clear way to continue.
We'll use them to write your prompt.
Completed ✓
Make Your Play
Give us the situation. We’ll build the prompt.
Free advice requests often hide work that requires research, diagnosis, or a tailored recommendation.
Your answers save as you type.
What you'll do
This is the plan inside your prompt. Add your details first. Then follow these steps with ChatGPT or Claude.
02
Draw the Free-Paid Boundary
Decide what useful context you can share without completing unpaid diagnosis, analysis, or planning.
03
Name the Work Involved
Turn the hidden effort behind the request into a plain explanation the prospect can understand.
04
Choose the Smallest Useful Paid Path
Match the need to one offer that can produce a real result without forcing a larger commitment too early.
05
Build the Live Transition
Move from helpful discussion to paid work without an abrupt pitch.
06
Set the Scope Guardrails
Prevent the conversation from drifting back into free problem-solving after you present the offer.
07
Prepare for Hesitation
Respond to resistance without discounting automatically or restarting the free consultation.
08
Close on One Next Step
End the conversation with a specific decision instead of a vague promise to reconnect.
09
Send the Follow-Up
Document the need and paid path while the conversation is still fresh.
10
Run the Give-Away Check
Review the plan for weak boundaries, unsupported promises, and unnecessary pressure.
Make Your Play
Convert a Free Advice Request Into a Paid Engagement
Tell us what the prompt needs to know
Start with the questions below. Each answer personalizes the playbook and builds the prompt you’ll use at the end.
Your situation
Paste or describe the exact question, favor, review, or recommendation you were asked to provide.
0/10000
Select where the request currently stands.
Select your current relationship with the person making the request.
Describe the business problem, urgency, desired result, and decision the prospect appears to be facing.
0/10000
List the advice, examples, introductions, or analysis you have already provided for free.
0/10000
List the relevant paid services, known deliverables, timing, and prices you can offer. Use placeholders if pricing isn't set.
0/10000
Choose the paid path you would prefer to offer, or ask for a recommendation.
Describe any budget concern, urgency, objection, or pressure for a quick free answer that you expect.
0/10000
Choose the style that should lead the live conversation and follow-up.
This playbook was updated. Review your inputs before copying.
What you'll do
Check a step when you finish it.
01
Capture the Real Request
Separate the stated question from the actual work needed to answer it responsibly.
02
Draw the Free-Paid Boundary
Decide what useful context you can share without completing unpaid diagnosis, analysis, or planning.
03
Name the Work Involved
Turn the hidden effort behind the request into a plain explanation the prospect can understand.
04
Choose the Smallest Useful Paid Path
Match the need to one offer that can produce a real result without forcing a larger commitment too early.
05
Build the Live Transition
Move from helpful discussion to paid work without an abrupt pitch.
06
Set the Scope Guardrails
Prevent the conversation from drifting back into free problem-solving after you present the offer.
07
Prepare for Hesitation
Respond to resistance without discounting automatically or restarting the free consultation.
08
Close on One Next Step
End the conversation with a specific decision instead of a vague promise to reconnect.
09
Send the Follow-Up
Document the need and paid path while the conversation is still fresh.
10
Run the Give-Away Check
Review the plan for weak boundaries, unsupported promises, and unnecessary pressure.
Fill in the fields above to generate your prompt preview.
Assembled prompt
Beginner instructions
Start by writing down the exact request instead of summarizing it as “wants advice.” List what you have already shared and the paid services you can honestly offer. Run each step in order, then practice the concise transition aloud before the meeting.
Advanced instructions
Adjust the boundary based on buying readiness. With a qualified prospect, connect the paid step to a decision or result. With an unclear opportunity, sell a smaller diagnostic or working session before proposing a larger project. Keep every promise tied to a defined scope.
Use this when
Use this before a meeting, after an unpaid conversation starts expanding, or when someone asks you to review, diagnose, recommend, or plan more than a quick answer allows.
You'll need
- Advice request
- Conversation stage
- Relationship
- Known context
- Help already provided
- Available paid services
- Preferred paid path
- Likely hesitation
- Communication style
You'll get
- Free context from paid problem-solving separated One paid path and one fallback chosen A live transition, responses to likely hesitation, a closing question, and a follow-up email
- You can explain the paid work without apologizing or promising an unsupported result.
By the end of this playbook
You will have:
- Free context from paid problem-solving separated One paid path and one fallback chosen A live transition, responses to likely hesitation, a closing question, and a follow-up email
- You can explain the paid work without apologizing or promising an unsupported result.
Examples
Progress 1 of 10