The why — our founding purpose
Derrick, the founder of Table Talk Consulting, knows what it means to struggle to build a business. He's lived it. His path led him deep into the franchising world — a space built on the premise that a proven system should make success repeatable. And in many ways, it does. Franchises provide structure, processes, and playbooks that independent operators spend years trying to build from scratch. But working alongside more than 600 individual franchisees, Derrick saw something that didn't fit the narrative: owners who had access to world-class systems and were still struggling to execute them.
The system wasn't the problem. The gap between having a system and actually running it well — that was the problem. And no template could close it.
That insight carried into his work with nearly 100 independent small business owners who faced the same challenge from the other direction: unique businesses with real potential, but without the systems, processes, and strategic clarity to grow intentionally.
Table Talk Consulting was built to close that gap — with coaching that's flexible enough to meet owners where they are, structured enough to build lasting systems around their specific business, and accountable enough to make sure it actually gets done.
How Derrick works
Derrick doesn't show up with a generic playbook. He shows up with questions.
The first conversation isn't about leads or marketing spend or which software you're running. It's about the business you're trying to build — and what has to be true for it to actually get there.
From there, every engagement is built around your specific situation: your numbers, your team, your market, and your goals. Derrick uses the Business Growth Blueprint — a five-pillar framework covering Strategy, Marketing, Sales, Operations, and Financials — to identify where the leverage is and build a structured plan around it.
His approach is direct, calm, and grounded in both strategic insight and real-world execution. No hype. No surface-level motivation. Just clarity, accountability, and a plan you can actually run.
Who this is for
Table Talk Consulting is built for a specific kind of owner.
You run a trades or home service business — HVAC, plumbing, electrical, roofing, exterior cleaning, or something similar. You're doing somewhere between $500K and $5M in revenue. You're technically excellent at what you do, and you've built something real.
But growth has gotten harder. The things that got you here aren't getting you to the next level. You're making decisions reactively instead of strategically, and you're not sure what's actually holding you back.
If that sounds familiar — this is where we start.
Beyond the work
Outside of coaching, Derrick is a husband, father, and Air Force veteran who trains in Muay Thai kickboxing. That experience shapes more than his morning routine.
In combat sports, there's a moment every fighter knows — you're being pushed into a corner, taking hits, and every instinct tells you to protect yourself. To turtle up. Pull your guard tight, shield your face, and wait for it to stop. It feels safe. It isn't. A fighter who goes purely defensive loses vision, loses mobility, and eventually gets knocked out.
The way out isn't always perfect. It's just different. Throw a punch. Shift your angle. Push back. Do something that creates enough space to breathe, reset, and try a new approach. It doesn't have to be the right move — it just has to be a move.
Business owners in a pinch know that corner well. Revenue stalls. Costs climb. The market shifts. And the instinct is the same — protect what you have, keep your head down, wait it out. But staying defensive in business, just like in the ring, is how you get knocked out slowly.
Derrick coaches owners to do something different. Not reckless — strategic. Creating space, resetting the approach, and building toward a position where winning is possible again.
He runs on good mocha, clean spreadsheets, and teams that grow together. In that order.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Table Talk Consulting's coaching philosophy?
TTC operates on a simple belief: most small businesses don't fail because of effort or talent — they fail because they lack structure, strategy, and leadership systems. Our coaching philosophy centers on helping owners think better, build stronger systems, and lead their businesses with more clarity and confidence. We focus on fundamentals first, because sustainable growth is always built on a solid foundation.
What makes Table Talk Consulting different from other business coaches?
TTC focuses exclusively on trades and home service businesses — we don't work with every industry under the sun. Our coaching is built around a structured five-pillar framework called the Business Growth Blueprint, and every engagement is tailored to the specific owner, not a generic playbook. We act as a trusted strategic advisor, not a vendor selling tactics.
What values guide how Table Talk Consulting works with clients?
Every TTC engagement is guided by four core principles: profitability before vanity growth, systems before scale, clarity before complexity, and owner leadership before outside vendors. These aren't abstract values — they're the filter we apply to every recommendation we make and every decision we help an owner work through.
What can a business owner expect from working with Table Talk Consulting?
Owners who work with TTC can expect straight talk, structured thinking, and practical guidance they can act on immediately. There's no hype, no generic playbooks, and no pressure to chase tactics before the strategy is clear. Every interaction is designed to leave the owner with improved clarity, better decision-making, and at least one or two concrete next steps.
Do I need a business coach if my business is already doing well?
Many of the owners who benefit most from strategic coaching are already running successful businesses. The question isn't whether things are working — it's whether the business is performing at the level it's capable of, and whether the owner is spending their time on the right things. A trusted advisor helps high-performing owners identify blind spots, pressure-test strategy, and build toward the next level with more confidence.