Thinking about turning an idea into your own business?
Don't know where to start?
Struggling with a business you've already started?
Master the Art of Starting and Growing Your Business to 7 & 8 Figures
START YOUR CONSULTING OR SERVICES BUSINESS SMARTER AND STRONGER
JOIN THE BLACK BELT STARTUP TRAINING AND COACHING PROGRAM
Get Your Free 1-Hour Course Now
Access core video modules from the full Black Belt Startup training and coaching membership and start taking the next steps in your entrepreneurial journey.
Free 1-Hour Essentials Course
Access some of the core video modules from the full Black Belt Startup training and coaching program and start taking the next steps in your entrepreneurial journey.
Module 1:
Introduction to the Free Course
(01:12)
Module 2:
Entrepreneurial Mindset: Are You Prepared for Entrepreneurship?
(04:30)
Module 3:
Overview of Consulting and Service Businesses
(03:50)
Module 4:
Finding and Vetting Your Business Idea
(08:51)
Module 5:
Writing Your Business Plan
(06:53)
Module 6:
Creating Your Personal Financial Runway
(07:54)
Module 7:
Leveraging Your Network
(03:37)
Module 8:
Attending Live Events Networking Events, Part 1
(04:41)
Module 9:
Sales Funnel Overview
(07:11)
Module 10:
Just Sell: Getting Your First 3 Sales
(03:45)
Module 11:
Project Kickoff and Communication
(05:10)
Module 12:
Full Benefits of Black Belt Startup
(01:29)
Huge shout-out to Feras Alhlou with Start Up With Feras … such a breath of fresh air and exactly what I needed as I enter the next stage of my career.
As Feras has often highlighted in his insightful videos, entrepreneurship demands more commitment than a side hustle. I benefited immensely from the wealth of free resources Feras offered on YouTube, which directly addressed the ongoing challenges I encountered. His extensive experience in this field is evident. For anyone initiating a service-oriented business{....}, Feras is an indispensable resource for advice on business models, sales, marketing, and related areas.
Feras gave me insightful suggestions and expertise. His friendly demeanor and wealth of knowledge made the discussion engaging and impactful. I'm excited to start implementing his advice this week and delve deeper into his valuable insights.
I can listen to Feras Alhlou for hours. He has so much insight and advice around leading and scaling a company from his successful experiences.
I really was … amazed by the pragmatic advice … that not only answered my question but gave me the confidence that we could do it.
It was eye-opening to hear about the struggle many people face when thinking about jumping from a stable job to entrepreneurship. One big takeaway for me was the importance of having a solid financial runway before taking that leap. Knowing your personal and business expenses can really help ease the fear of the unknown.
As a lawyer privileged to work with Feras on several of his successful start-ups, I not only understand his extraordinary competence and know-how but also his enduring interest in giving back.
As a lawyer privileged to work with Feras on several of his successful start-ups, I not only understand his extraordinary competence and know-how but also his enduring interest in giving back.
Feras gave me insightful suggestions and expertise. His friendly demeanor and wealth of knowledge made the discussion engaging and impactful. I'm excited to start implementing his advice this week and delve deeper into his valuable insights.
I started a research and strategy consulting practice a few years ago and didn't know what I didn't know. After just one video and one conversation with Feras, I realized the missing pieces -- thinking about a sales funnel and using a CRM. This understanding is shifting my roll-out of new services and, well, just how I nurture relationships. Thanks Feras!
How can one fit tremendous talent, determination and uncompromising positive leadership in one single picture? Look no further.
Hi, I'm Feras, and I'm Committed to Help You Start Better and Succeed
I have started, built, and sold several 7 and 8-figure consulting and service businesses that together generated 65M in revenue.
One of those ventures, e-Nor, emerged as a premiere digital analytics agency. I sold this business to global media giant dentsu in 2019.
- Founded, grew, and sold businesses in US and abroad
- Lifelong dedication to nonprofits
- Advisor to 150+ founders
- 3rd-degree black belt in Aikido
- Author of Google Analytics Breakthrough: from Zero to Business Impact, widely regarded as a leading industry resource
New Business Is 5x Harder Than You Think
Most people have a dream of their own successful business.
But of those who start, the failure rate within a few years will reach as high as 90%.
THERE ARE MANY THINGS YOU HAVE TO GET RIGHT.
- You can be an expert in your field and offer a great service, but if you miss even one important thing, it could derail your whole venture.
- It's even harder when you're trying to do it on your own and you're guessing.
- It can be confusing, overwhelming, and very lonely.
- And even if you're doing everything right, it takes lots of hard work, sacrifice, and perseverance.
- This is why so many people fail. And maybe why so many more don't even attempt.
IN 2003, I GOT LAID OFF..
Let's Go Back to the Beginning of my Entrepreneurial Journey.
It Started With Trauma.
I was VP at a tech startup in Silicon Valley. At first, the future for the company and my role in it looked very bright. We were funded, hiring like crazy, working really hard, and turning out software that we were sure would revolutionize our industry.
But all that hiring and development, along with the general overhead of running a business, had burned through 96M in cash, and revenue had yet to materialize.
Layoffs began to seem likely, but I didn't realize that they'd impact me directly. When the CEO walked into my office to let me know that my position had been terminated, my world turned upside down. Title, good salary, stock options, and Silicon Valley fast track were knocked down to a limited severance package in an instant.
My heart pounded in my chest. I didn't know what to do. I didn't even know how to tell my wife. How was I going to support our family with three young children once the severance ran out?
The Reluctant Entrepreneur
I immediately started to do the only thing I knew how to:
look for another job.
BUT THE MARKET WAS TOUGH FOR JOB SEEKERS, AND THE RESUMES THAT I SENT OUT WERE MET WITH DEAFENING SILENCE.
My wife and I came up with a cost savings plan, and our family was living as simply as we possibly could. This meant a single car - a minivan - for all five of us.
This was my reality post-layoff: little money and few prospects. When a friend I was speaking with asked if I was interested in starting a business. I didn't feel confident that this would be the right move for me, but I almost felt that I had nothing to lose, so I agreed.
It Started Slow and Small
- My partner and I started a web design company. In 2003, this was still considered pretty cutting-edge.
- At the beginning, it was slow-going.
- We came up with an offer that we thought was too good to refuse, but that's exactly what happened after our first five sales calls.
- But we regrouped and analyzed and revised our approach.
- Then we got our first client. The Athena Grill in Santa Clara, California, agreed to pay us $1400 to build a simple website.
- Within a few years, we landed 6-figure deals with high-profile clients such as Google, Salesforce, and the US department of state.
- Combined revenue of ventures totaling +50M
- 2002 Laid Off, Started First Business
- 2003 Started first business
- 2007 Top Earner in Global Consulting Franchise
- 2007-2010 Training and Coached 1,100 Franchisees
- 2008 Sold NetSignature division
- 2013 Became Google Analytics reseller
- 2014 Started My First Business in Dubai
- 2016 Google Analytics Breakthrough published
- 2019 Sold to Global Media Giant Dentsu
- 2022 Launched Start Up With Feras
What You Won't Get in Black Belt Startup
As someone who has been through the trials of entrepreneurship, my advice is this: it's not for most people. So with that, what you won't get in the program is:
Mindless cheerleading
Promises that it will be easy to start your new business
Simple formulas or magic pills
Fantasies about more money and easier lifestyle fast
Emphasis on passion
Don't Do It On Your Own.
Start Your Essential Training Now.
While each person's entrepreneurial journey is unique, 99% of the mistakes that founders make have been made 1000s of times.
Don't cut your chances of success by taking dozens of missteps that can be avoided with the right guidance.
Start instead with a foundation of time-tested business principles and increase your chances of success.
FREE
$0
Free forever
- Access to free training modules
- Access to free worksheets and templates
FULL MEMBERSHIP
$499 monthly
- Access to all 60+ course modules
- Access to all worksheets and templates
- Review of your personal roadmap
- 30-minute monthly 1-on-1 session with me
- Weekly group office hours with me
- Email support by next business day
- Direct feedback on your assignments
- Chat with other Black Belt Startup members
LEARN ABOUT FULL MEMBERSHIP
Additional Questions?
If you have additional questions about Black Belt Startup, please contact: [email protected]
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