Got Questions?

about the course

Q: What exactly is Start With a Purpose? A: It's a self-paced video course built specifically for tradespeople who are seriously considering going out on their own. It walks you through three questions — who you are as a future business owner, what it will actually cost, and whether the market will support the business you want to build. You finish with a Go, Not Yet, or Back to the Drawing Board verdict backed by real numbers, not gut feeling.

Q: How long does it take to complete? A: Most students complete the course in 2–3 weeks working through one lesson per day. There are 14 video lessons across 3 modules. The lessons are short and focused — most run 7–10 minutes — but the exercises take real time if you do them honestly. This is not a binge-watch course. It's a think-and-do course.

Q: Do I need any business experience to take this course? A: No. This course is built for tradespeople who have real field experience but little or no formal business training. If you've never taken a business class in your life, you're exactly who this was designed for.

Q: Is this course only for people in the trades? A: Yes — intentionally. Every example, every exercise, and every number in this course is built around the reality of running a trade business. If you're a plumber, electrician, HVAC tech, welder, carpenter, or any other skilled tradesperson, this speaks your language.  However, a trades business is a service business at heart.  If you are starting any business that is a service based business, you'll be able to use the information in this course to successfully find out if you're ready to go. 

Q: What if I've already started my business? A: If you're in your first year and still figuring out whether your business model actually works, this course can still help. If you've been running a business for more than a year and are looking for growth strategy, this probably isn't for you.  You'd be better served by the Burn phase when it launches.  Get on the waitlist for Burn. 

Q: How is this different from a regular business plan?A: A business plan is a document you write after you've already decided to launch. Start With a Purpose helps you decide whether to launch in the first place — using real numbers, real market research, and an honest assessment of your skills and resources. It's the step that comes before the business plan, and it's the step most people skip.

Q: What trades is this course built for?A: The course was built with electricians, plumbers, HVAC technicians, welders, carpenters, and cosmetologists in mind — but it applies to any skilled tradesperson running a service-based business. If you work with your hands and you're thinking about going out on your own, this course speaks your language.

Q: What if I take the course and my verdict is "Not Yet" or "Back to the Drawing Board"?A: That's actually one of the most valuable outcomes this course can deliver. Finding out now — before you've risked your savings, quit your job, or bought the truck — costs you $97 and a few weeks of work. Finding out after you've launched costs exponentially more. A Not Yet verdict comes with a clear action plan. A Back to the Drawing Board verdict tells you which variable to change. Neither one means never.

Q: I've been thinking about this for years. Will this course actually help me make a decision?A: That's exactly what it's designed to do. Most people who've been going back and forth on this decision are stuck because they don't have real information — they're operating on hope and fear. This course replaces both with actual data about your specific situation. By the time you finish Module 3, you'll have a verdict backed by numbers, not gut feeling.

what's included

Q: What do I get when I enroll? A: You get lifetime access to 14 self-paced video lessons across 3 modules, 3 downloadable workbooks (one per module), the BizFlint Business Calculator in Excel and Google Sheets, a Financial Runway Bonus Guide, and community access. Everything you need to work through the course is included.

Q: Do I need to print the workbooks? A: We recommend it. The exercises are designed to be worked through with a pen (pencil?) because we think writing things down — pen or pencil, your call — forces a level of honesty that typing doesn't. Tradespeople know: if it's worth doing, it's worth writing down. You can also use a tablet with a stylus. The workbooks are available as digital downloads inside the course.

Q: Is there a physical workbook available? A: Yes!  The Start With a Purpose Course Workbook is available as a spiral-bound, full-color print edition that ships directly to your door. It's an optional add-on at checkout or you can purchase it here.  

Q: How do I access the course after I purchase? A: Your course is hosted on the Heights platform. After purchase you'll receive an email with your login link. You can access it from any device with a browser — laptop, tablet, or phone.

Q: What is the BizFlint Business Calculator?A: It's a five-tab Excel and Google Sheets workbook that walks you through your startup costs, break-even number, profit check, and business viability score. You enter your numbers in the blue cells — it calculates everything automatically. Most students say it's the most eye-opening part of the course. It's included free with enrollment in both Excel and Google Sheets versions.

Q: What is the Financial Runway Bonus Guide?A: It's a short guide that walks you through calculating your personal financial runway — how many months you can operate before revenue has to cover your costs. Most tradespeople never calculate this before they launch. The ones who don't are the ones who run out of money before the business gets traction. Read it before you quit your day job.

Q: Can I access the course on my phone?A: Yes — the Heights platform works on any device with a browser. Phone, tablet, laptop, or desktop. The workbooks are downloadable PDFs so you can print them or open them on a second screen while you watch the lessons.

pricing & guarantee

Q: How much does the course cost? A: Start With a Purpose is currently $97 — founding member pricing. This is the lowest this course will ever be. The price will increase after the first cohort completes the course and testimonials are collected.

Q: Is there a guarantee? A: Yes. If you complete the course, do the work, and don't find it valuable — contact us at [email protected] within 30 days and we'll refund your purchase. The key phrase is "do the work." This course gives you what you put into it.

Q: Can I pay in installments? A: Not at this time. At $97 we kept the price accessible enough that a payment plan isn't necessary. If pricing is a barrier, reach out to [email protected] and we'll see what we can do.

Q: What does "founding member pricing" mean?A: $97 is the lowest this course will ever be. Once the first cohort completes the course and we collect testimonials, the price will increase to reflect the value. Enrolling now locks in the founding member price permanently — including any future updates to the course content.

Q: What exactly do I have to do to qualify for the guarantee?A: You need to complete the course, submit your workbook exercises, and contact us within 30 days of purchase. Specifically you'll need to submit your Purpose Statement, your Resources Audit screenshot, and explain why the course wasn't a good fit for your needs. The guarantee exists for people who genuinely did the work and didn't find value — not for people who bought it and never opened it.

Q: Is the print workbook refundable?A: No — physical products and digital downloads are final sale. The 30-day guarantee applies to the course enrollment only.

about bizflint

Q: Who is Diane Hendrickson? A: Diane is the Founder and President of BizFlint, Inc. She spent years teaching entrepreneurship at the community college level and built BizFlint to give tradespeople the practical business foundation that standard business courses never provided. She's also a serial entrepreneur who has built and operated her own businesses for over 20 years. She will give it to you straight.

Q: What is the BizFlint Business Building System? A: BizFlint is a three-stage program: Ignite, Burn, and Blaze, that takes a tradesperson from pre-launch all the way through building and scaling a real business. Start With a Purpose is the Ignite phase. Burn (coming soon) covers legal setup, pricing systems, marketing, and financial systems. Blaze (coming soon) covers hiring, building systems, and scaling beyond yourself.

Q: How is BizFlint different from other business courses? A: Most business courses are built for general entrepreneurs — tech startups, coaches, online sellers. BizFlint is built exclusively for tradespeople. Every example, every exercise, and every number speaks directly to someone running a service-based trade business. There is no fluff, no cheerleading, and no magic formula. Just the real questions that determine whether a trade business makes it.

Q: I'm not ready to enroll yet. Where do I start? A: Start with the free Business Readiness Assessment. It takes about four minutes and tells you exactly where you stand across the key dimensions of business readiness — so you know what's solid and what needs work before you invest in anything.

Q: Why did Diane build BizFlint for tradespeople specifically?A: Diane spent time teaching entrepreneurship at the community college level — where she watched trades students graduate with excellent skills and zero business training. She's also an electrician's daughter, an electrician's wife, and a builder-entrepreneur's sister. The trades aren't just her career — they're her family. She built BizFlint because she kept watching talented tradespeople go out on their own without the foundation they needed, and she knew exactly what was missing.

Q: Is BizFlint affiliated with any trade unions or associations?A: No — BizFlint is an independent business training company. We're not affiliated with any union, trade association, or employer. Our only agenda is helping tradespeople build businesses that work.

Q: What is the Burn phase and when will it be available?A: Burn is Stage 2 of the BizFlint Business Building System — covering legal structure, pricing systems, marketing foundation, and your first 90 days in business. It's currently in development. Get on the waitlist at bizflint.com/burn and you'll be first to know when it launches — plus founding member pricing.

Q: Can I take this course if I'm outside the United States?A: The course content is built around US-based trades businesses — licensing, market research, and financial frameworks reflect the US market. If you're in Canada or another English-speaking country with a similar trades landscape, most of the content will still apply. If you're outside North America, some modules may be less directly applicable.

about the quiz

About the Quiz

Q: What is the BizFlint Business Readiness Assessment?A: It's a free 12-question assessment that tells you exactly where you stand across the key dimensions of business readiness — before you commit time or money to anything. It takes about 4 minutes and gives you a personalized score with specific next steps. No email required to start — just honest answers.

Q: Is the Business Readiness Assessment really free?A: Yes — completely free. No credit card, no catch. You'll be asked for your name and email to receive your full results and a PDF breakdown, but there's no obligation to purchase anything.

Q: How is the quiz scored?A: Your answers are scored across multiple dimensions of business readiness — personal readiness, skills and experience, financial situation, and market awareness. Your total score places you in one of three ranges: Not Yet, Getting Warm, or Ready. Each range comes with a specific explanation and recommended next steps.

Q: I took the quiz and got a low score. Does that mean I can't start a business?A: Not at all. A lower score means you have specific gaps to close before you launch — and closing them now is significantly cheaper than finding out after you've already committed. The quiz tells you what to work on, not whether you're capable. Many people who get a "Not Yet" score on their first attempt come back after closing their gaps with a completely different result.

technical & access

Q: What happens if I lose access to the course?A: You have lifetime access — there's no expiration date on your enrollment. If you ever have trouble accessing the course, contact [email protected] and we'll get it sorted.

Q: Do I need any special software or tools?A: No special software required. You'll need a browser to access the course on Heights, and either Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets (free) to use the Business Calculator. The workbooks are PDFs — printable on any printer or viewable on any device.

Q: What if I have a question while working through the course?A: Reach out to [email protected] — we actually read and respond to every email. You can also hit reply on any of our course emails and it goes directly to Diane.