If you’re an entrepreneur, you’ve probably heard about the benefits of working with an Online Business Manager (OBM). But for an ADHD entrepreneur, a solid OBM partnership is about more than just scaling your business—it’s about creating stability, managing the chaos, and building a foundation that works with your brain, not against it.
The question I’m often asked is, “How do you work with your clients?” While the easy answer is “very hard,” what people are really asking is, “Do you do one-off projects or ongoing work?” The truth is, I do both. If you have a one-off project, like a course launch or setting up your holiday SOPs, we can absolutely work through that with a clearly defined scope.
However, my most impactful work happens through a retainer package—an ongoing partnership that puts me in your business for a set number of hours each month to manage the day-to-day operations and lead you toward your goals.
More Than a Task Manager
A retainer goes beyond tackling a single project. It’s a deep, collaborative relationship where I become your daily manager, guiding your business forward. One of the first things we do together is an operations review to get a clear picture of your business’s health. From there, we identify the top three priorities to tackle in the first 90 days.
This could be anything from creating standard operating procedures (SOPs) to developing a new marketing plan or onboarding a new team member. I’m there to manage the team meetings, keep you in the loop without overwhelming you with every tiny detail, and use my leadership skills to suggest solutions that align with your vision. I’ll get to know your business and your personal style so well that I can present you with well-researched options—A, B, or C—along with my top recommendation and the reasons why.
This partnership is all about building trust and momentum. We’ll have regular weekly or monthly check-ins, planning sessions, and team meetings. We’ll look at your processes and people and focus on the four Ps of business management:
- Planning: Having the right resources at the right time.
- Progress: Tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) to ensure we’re on track.
- Processes: Ensuring consistent delivery with clear, established SOPs.
- People: Managing and guiding your team.
For an ADHD entrepreneur, these four Ps are especially crucial.
Tailored Support for the ADHD Brain
This is where my work becomes truly impactful. The OBM framework provides a structure that directly addresses some of the most common executive function challenges that ADHD entrepreneurs face, such as prioritisation, task initiation, and follow-through.
- Planning: We’ll work together to identify and stick to your priorities. I’ll be the one to gently bring you back on track when distractions hit, ensuring your time is used productively.
- Progress: We’ll track progress and establish accountability with kindness. It’s about finding a flexible way to stay on top of your goals without feeling pressured or judged.
- Processes: I’ll ensure your processes are clear, concise, and fit your unique way of thinking. They will be designed to work for you and your business, not against you.
- People: I’ll manage your team and help foster an environment where everyone understands and supports the processes, whether they are neurodiverse or not.
I’ve found that the biggest challenge for many of my clients is that feeling of being stuck or overwhelmed. You might come out of a coaching session with brilliant, ambitious goals but struggle to initiate the first step or follow through. That’s where I come in. I’ll take those big goals and create the structure to make them happen, so your business doesn’t fall apart like a Jenga tower.
I work on a minimum of 20 hours a month with clients. Any less than that, and it’s simply not enough time to truly manage the business. So, what does a week look like? We might start with a Monday morning debrief to set priorities. I’ll then dive into tasks like overseeing SOPs, checking in on projects, and having one-to-one meetings with your team. I’ll review your KPIs, research new software, and provide a clear, concise end-of-week update. You won’t get reams of emails or long voice notes from me—I’ll use bullet points and highlight the most important things to prevent information overload.
My Unique Approach
What makes me uniquely suited for this work? Beyond my experience as an OBM and a business owner, I have a deep understanding of the challenges of being an ADHD entrepreneur, both from my professional training and my own personal experience. This combination allows me to provide a different kind of support—one that is both strategic and empathetic.
A retainer package provides the stability your business needs to grow. It’s not just about managing tasks; it’s about building a solid foundation so you can achieve your goals without burnout.
If you’re an ambitious entrepreneur with big goals and you know you need someone to help you get out of the overwhelm and keep you moving forward, a retainer might be the perfect fit for you.
Could a retainer package be the solution you need to go from scattered to in control of your business?