Why Your Free Consult Doesn’t Need to Be More Than 20 Minutes
Let’s talk about the free consult.
So many of us were taught that generosity equals length. That proving value means staying longer. That being supportive means giving more time.
But here’s what we’ve learned inside Fresh Starts:
A free consult doesn’t need to be 45 minutes.
It doesn’t need to be an hour.
It doesn’t need to turn into unpaid emotional labor.
Twenty minutes is often more than enough.
And here’s why.
1️⃣ Clarity Doesn’t Require an Hour
The purpose of a free consult is simple:
Determine fit
Understand the core issue
Explain your process
Outline next steps
That’s it.
It is not:
A mini-session
A strategy deep dive
Free coaching
Free legal advice
Free emotional triage
When you stretch it longer, the lines blur.
Twenty minutes forces focus.
2️⃣ Divorce Is Emotionally Expansive — Structure Is Stabilizing
Clients in transition often:
Talk in loops
Rehash the story
Jump between fear points
Seek immediate reassurance
This is completely understandable.
But structure is actually soothing.
When you say:
“We have 20 minutes together today — let’s use this to see if we’re the right fit.”
You create containment.
Containment = safety.
3️⃣ Shorter Calls Protect Your Energy
Let’s be honest.
Many of you are:
Holding heavy cases
Managing high-conflict situations
Carrying emotional intensity daily
If every “free consult” becomes 45–60 minutes, your calendar quietly fills with unpaid labor.
And burnout follows.
Twenty minutes allows you to:
Show up fully
Stay generous
Protect your boundaries
Maintain sustainability
Boundaries model professionalism.
4️⃣ It Signals Confidence
Long free calls often come from fear:
“What if they don’t see my value?”
“What if I need more time to convince them?”
“What if they compare me to someone else?”
But when your consult is structured and concise, it communicates:
I know my process.
I know my value.
We’ll know quickly if this is aligned.
Confidence converts more than overgiving.
5️⃣ It Encourages Decision-Making
When a call is too long, it can become emotionally satisfying — but noncommittal.
When it’s concise:
The client understands the container.
The next step is clear.
The decision point is defined.
That clarity actually increases follow-through.
What a 20-Minute Consult Can Look Like
Here’s a simple structure:
Minutes 0–5:
Let them briefly share what’s bringing them in.
Minutes 5–12:
Ask clarifying questions. Identify whether the situation fits your scope.
Minutes 12–17:
Explain your process, pricing, and how you work.
Minutes 17–20:
Outline next steps and invite them to move forward.
Clean. Clear. Professional.
What If They Need More Time?
That’s exactly what paid sessions are for.
You can say:
“This is something we could explore more deeply in a full session.”
That doesn’t make you cold.
It makes you clear.
But What About High-Distress Clients?
Especially in divorce, you may encounter:
Panic
Crying
Shock
Urgency
Compassion does not require extended free time.
Compassion sounds like:
“I can hear how overwhelming this feels. The best way I can support you is inside our formal work together.”
You can be warm without overextending.
A Healthy Reframe
The free consult is not:
A favor
A preview performance
A pressure conversation
It is a screening and alignment conversation. Nothing more. And twenty minutes is enough to determine alignment.
The Bigger Picture
Fresh Starts exists to create:
Trust
Integrity
Sustainability
Emotional safety
When our experts protect their time, they model:
Clear boundaries
Professional confidence
Emotional steadiness
That energy matters.
You cannot hold others well if you are depleted by overgiving.
A Gentle Audit for You
Ask yourself:
How long are my free consults?
Do they regularly run over?
Do I feel drained after them?
Could I tighten structure without losing warmth?
If the answer is yes — that’s your signal.
The goal of a free consult is not to solve someone’s divorce in 45 minutes.
The goal is to say:
“I see you. I understand the terrain. Here’s how I can help.”
That takes clarity. It takes steadiness. And it rarely takes more than twenty minutes.