Consulting
Founder-led advisory forconstruction-stage builders.
Capital stack readiness, project organization, and trade partner access — before you raise, while you build, after you close. Non-contingent retainer or fixed-fee. Independent of any capital introduction engagement.
Consulting is operational and documentary. No securities advice. No loan negotiation. No specific lender recommendations. No contingent fees.
Scope
What the work covers.
01
Capital Stack Readiness
Operational and documentary review of pro forma format, capital stack diagrams, project budgets, and loan-application package format — for a structure the sponsor has independently determined. Clay Capital does not advise on optimal leverage ratios, debt-equity mix, or which lender to approach.
02
Project Documentation
Assembly, organization, and quality review of project documentation: title work, entitlements, contractor and subcontractor rosters, vendor packages, environmental, surveys. Lender-ready format, sponsor-owned content.
03
Operational Consulting
General operational advisory on construction-stage business operations: vendor selection, project budgeting, scheduling, financial organization, general capital stack principles in educational terms.
04
Trade Partner Access
Direct access to Clay Capital's vetted trade partner roster across concrete, masonry, MEP, framing, and adjacent trades. Insurance, license, prior-project references, and lien-history verification documented per trade.
05
Corridor Intelligence
General market reporting and corridor-specific data on construction activity, lender appetite trends, and trade availability across the Twin Cities, Atlanta, Memphis, and Dallas–Fort Worth markets. Distributed in periodic format to consulting clients in the relevant corridor.
06
Introductions to Adjacent Professionals
When useful, introductions to CPAs, construction attorneys, architects, and other non-financing professionals — separate from any capital introduction activity, which is governed by a separate written agreement.
Engagement
Two ways to engage.
Monthly retainer for ongoing operational advisory. Fixed-fee Capital Stack Readiness for a defined-scope engagement before approaching lenders. Sponsors can engage one or both.
Monthly Retainer
Basic
$2,500 / month
Monthly working call · 60–90 min · Async questions
Solo builders and sponsors with one active project.
- ·Capital stack diagnostic
- ·Pro forma format review
- ·Trade partner roster access
- ·Monthly corridor intelligence digest
- ·48-hour async response window
Standard
$5,000 / month
Bi-weekly working sessions · 60–90 min
Sponsors with 1–3 active projects.
- ·Everything in Basic
- ·Full financial package review
- ·Vendor and trade selection support
- ·Custom corridor intelligence
- ·Project documentation organization
- ·Adjacent professional introductions
Intensive
$10,000 / month
Weekly working sessions · On-demand support
Growing sponsors with 3+ projects or multi-corridor footprint.
- ·Everything in Standard
- ·Hands-on financial organization
- ·Multi-corridor relationship access
- ·White-glove documentation
- ·Dedicated real-time channel
- ·Quarterly strategic review
All retainers billed monthly in advance. 30-day termination for convenience. Out-of-pocket expenses reimbursable at cost with pre-approval over $500. Suspended in full during any active capital introduction engagement with Clay Capital.
Capital Stack Readiness · Fixed Fee
Tier 1 · $1M – $10M projects
$12,500 standard
$9,500 charter client rate
Defined-scope engagement to produce a Lender-Ready Package for a single construction-stage project. 4–6 weeks.
Tier 2 · $10M – $50M projects
$18,500 standard
$15,500 charter client rate
Defined-scope engagement to produce a Lender-Ready Package for a single mid-market project. 6–8 weeks.
Capital Stack Readiness delivers the Lender-Ready Vault (organized project documentation), a clean institutional pro forma in client-determined structure, a capital stack diagram, an executive project summary, and a project-specific trade partner roster. Payment 50% on execution, 50% on delivery.
Charter Client pricing available for the first four Capital Stack Readiness engagements (one per corridor) in exchange for video testimonial and anonymized case study.
Sample Deliverable
Want to see what a Lender-Ready Package looks like? Download an illustrative composite sample (Project Riverbend — fictional Atlanta multifamily) to see the format and depth of the deliverable.
Download sample package (PDF) →Boundaries
What consulting is not.
Consulting engagements do not include investment advice, securities recommendations, loan negotiation, lender selection, term-sheet review, deal-document review, or any activity requiring registration as a broker-dealer, investment adviser, mortgage broker, or real estate broker. Consultant does not recommend specific lenders under a consulting engagement. Any capital introduction services are governed by a separate written agreement and a separate regulatory framework.
Fees are never contingent on a financing closing, capital event, or loan funding. Consulting and capital introduction engagements with the same client are formally separated under Clay Capital's Conflicts Policy.
Read the full disclosures →Have a project you want to organize before raising capital?
Initial conversations are at no cost. We confirm fit, propose the appropriate engagement tier, and execute a written Statement of Work before any work begins.