Hands-Off CEO

CEO
Hands-Off CEO Podcast, hosted by Mandi Ellefson.

Basic Member

Latest Episodes

The Hidden Trap Keeping Top Firms Stuck — And How to Escape It: Step 1 of 3

The Hidden Trap Keeping Top Firms Stuck — And How to Escape It: Step 1 of 3

Discover the invisible bottleneck that keeps consulting firms overworked, underpaid, and unable to scale — even when they’re delivering incredible client results.

If you’ve hit a ceiling in your growth — this video reveals the #1 reason why, and what the most successful firms are doing differently to break through.

This is Part 1 of our 3-part Invisible Advantage™ Mini Series — designed to help consulting firm founders uncover what makes their business irreplaceable… and turn it into a $100K+ offer that sells itself.

🚨 If you're the bottleneck in every high-value deal…

🚨 If clients need you on every call…

🚨 If you're tired of explaining your value while others win the deal…

→ Then this is where your transformation begins.

👇 Ready to turn your Invisible Advantage™ into a premium offer?

1/ Book a Free Strategy Call

If you’re ready to reposition your firm and start closing premium deals, let’s talk. 

👉 handsoffceo.com/scale

2/ Read the Book – *The Hands-Off CEO

Learn the framework behind scaling premium consulting engagements — without doing it all yourself. 

📘 handsoffceo.com/book

3/ Download the Free Revenue Recovery Map

Unlock hidden revenue in your firm and learn how to command premium fees without more complexity. 

📄 handsoffceo.com/map

Watch the episode on YouTube here:

YOUTUBE PODCAST

How to Turn Your Invisible Advantage™ Into a $100K Consulting Offer: Step 2 of 3

How to Turn Your Invisible Advantage™ Into a $100K Consulting Offer: Step 2 of 3

If you're tired of selling time, deliverables, or access to you — and still not breaking past your growth ceiling — this episode is your turning point.

In Part 2 of our Invisible Advantage™ Mini Series, Mandi Ellefson walks you through exactly how to identify and articulate the unique, uncopyable value your consulting firm already delivers — and turn it into a premium offer that sells itself.

You'll learn:

  • How to uncover your Invisible Advantage™ (even if you've never named it)
  • Why clients buy results — not access
  • The #1 shift needed to move from overextended expert to high-value advisor
  • Real examples of consulting firms doubling or tripling their fees without adding more work

✨ This episode is for consulting founders ready to reposition their value, simplify delivery, and command premium fees — without being the bottleneck.

👇 Ready to turn your Invisible Advantage™ into a premium offer?

1/ Book a Free Strategy Call

If you're ready to reposition your firm and start closing premium deals, let's talk.

👉 handsoffceo.com/scale

2/ Read the Book -- The Hands-Off CEO

Learn the framework behind scaling premium consulting engagements --- without doing it all yourself.

📘 handsoffceo.com/book

3/ Download the Free Revenue Recovery Map

Unlock hidden revenue in your firm and learn how to command premium fees without more complexity.

📄 handsoffceo.com/map

Watch the episode on YouTube here:

YOUTUBE PODCAST

Copy This Strategy to 6X Your Profit — Without Hiring a Big Team

Copy This Strategy to 6X Your Profit — Without Hiring a Big Team

If you're stuck at capacity, pricing too low, and feel like growth means burnout — this video shows you a smarter path to scale.

In this episode, Mandi Ellefson shares how two consulting firms 2X’d their prices and 6X’d their profits without hiring or hustling harder.


They didn’t need a bigger team — they needed a better offer.


This strategy helped them reposition around outcomes, simplify delivery, and close premium deals with confidence.


If you’re delivering great results but not getting paid what you’re worth — you’ll want to see how they did it.


🔍 You’ll Learn:


  • How one shift helped a firm raise pricing from $5K to $10K/month — without resistance
  • The framework that drove a 600% profit increase (with the same team)
  • Why simplifying delivery actually boosted results and freed up capacity
  • How to lead sales conversations with confidence — even at higher fees
  • What makes clients say “yes” faster when your value is clear


🚀 Want Help Repackaging Your Offer to Scale Without a Bigger Team?


1/ Book a Free Strategy Call

If you’re ready to reposition your firm and start closing premium deals, let’s talk.

👉 handsoffceo.com/scale


2/ Read the Book – *The Hands-Off CEO

Learn the framework behind scaling premium consulting engagements — without doing it all yourself.

📘 handsoffceo.com/book


3/ Download the Free Revenue Recovery Map

Unlock hidden revenue in your firm and learn how to command premium fees without more complexity.

📄 handsoffceo.com/map


Watch the episode on YouTube here:

YOUTUBE PODCAST

Copy This Process to Save 20 Hours a Week in Your Company

Copy This Process to Save 20 Hours a Week in Your Company

Are you the one holding your agency together — and holding it back?

If you’ve hired a team, built some systems, and delegated tasks… but you still can’t step away without things stalling — you're not scaling, you're surviving.

In this video, Mandi Ellefson breaks down why founders become the bottleneck in their agency’s growth — even when it looks like they’re doing everything right — and how to fix it.

You’ll learn:

✅ The real reason your team still leans on you for everything

✅ Why systems alone don’t create scale

✅ How to shift from managing work to leading a high-performance team

✅ A case study of a founder who stepped away during a launch — and came back to everything running better without her

✅ What has to change if you want to scale profitably without sacrificing quality or growth


Whether you're stuck in meetings, reviewing work, or constantly catching problems before they hit the client, this is your invitation to finally step out — and level up.


🎯 Ready to stop being the bottleneck and start scaling forward?


1/ Book a Free Strategy Call

If you’re ready to reposition your firm and start closing premium deals, let’s talk.

👉 handsoffceo.com/scale


2/ Read the Book – *The Hands-Off CEO

Learn the framework behind scaling premium consulting engagements — without doing it all yourself.

📘 handsoffceo.com/book


3/ Download the Free Revenue Recovery Map

Unlock hidden revenue in your firm and learn how to command premium fees without more complexity.

📄 handsoffceo.com/map


⏱️ CHAPTERS


00:00 – You’ve Hired and Delegated — But It’s Still on You

00:27 – What Being the Bottleneck Really Looks Like

01:20 – Real Story: Sharon’s Team Handles It Without Her

01:55 – Why Most Agencies Stay Stuck

02:18 – The Shift: From Delegating Tasks to Owning Outcomes

02:45 – How to Rebuild a Business That Runs Without You

03:10 – Next Steps to Scale Without Sacrificing Growth


Watch the episode on YouTube here:

YOUTUBE PODCAST

Why Clients Say No to Your $20K Offer — and Yes to Your $100K One

Why Clients Say No to Your $20K Offer — and Yes to Your $100K One

Your $20K proposal isn’t failing because of the price — it’s failing because your consulting firm’s value proposition isn’t landing. And ironically? The same clients who ghost your $20K pitch might eagerly say “yes” to $100K — if you position it the right way.

In this video, Mandi Ellefson shares the agency positioning strategy that helped one firm move from stalled $30K deals to consistently closing $100K+ engagements — with the same clients.

🎯 You’ll learn:


1. Why smaller offers feel riskier than premium ones

2. The #1 reason your “reasonable” price is still getting rejected

3. How to reframe your services into strategic growth outcomes

4. A client-tested approach to selling $100K+ projects with confidence

5. What premium buyers actually look for before they say yes


🚀 Want to Work With Hands-Off CEO?


1/ Book a Free Strategy Call

If you’re ready to reposition your firm and start closing premium deals, let’s talk.

👉 handsoffceo.com/scale


2/ Read the Book – *The Hands-Off CEO

Learn the framework behind scaling premium consulting engagements — without doing it all yourself.

📘 handsoffceo.com/book


3/ Download the Free Revenue Recovery Map

Unlock hidden revenue in your firm and learn how to command premium fees without more complexity.

📄 handsoffceo.com/map


📍 Chapters:

00:00 - Intro: From $20K Grind to $100K+ Deals

00:38 - Shift #1: Own the Sales Process (Without Overexplaining)

01:27 - Shift #2: Reposition Around Results — Not Scope

02:18 - Shift #3: Speak to Bigger Problems

03:14 - Shift #4: Make Your Offer Obvious (and Premium)

04:30 - What Happens When You Shift All 4

05:02 - Want Help? Here’s Where to Start


High-Paying Clients Keep Passing You Over — Here’s Why (And How to Stop It)

High-Paying Clients Keep Passing You Over — Here’s Why (And How to Stop It)

Still stuck trying to sell $20K projects… while your competitors are landing $100K+ deals?

In this video, Mandi Ellefson breaks down the 4 strategic shifts consulting agency CEOs are using to close premium, high-trust engagements — without chasing leads, discounting your fees, or getting stuck in the weeds of delivery.


If you’re delivering great results but getting ghosted, undercut, or passed over for bigger firms… this will change how you sell forever.


⏱️ What You’ll Learn:

  • The mindset shift that flips you from vendor to strategic advisor
  • Why your current offer may be sabotaging sales
  • How to reposition without changing your entire business
  • What buyers actually need to hear to say yes to $100K+


🚀 Want to Work With Hands-Off CEO?


1/ Book a Free Strategy Call

If you’re ready to reposition your firm and start closing premium deals, let’s talk.

👉 handsoffceo.com/scale


2/ Read the Book – *The Hands-Off CEO

Learn the framework behind scaling premium consulting engagements — without doing it all yourself.

📘 handsoffceo.com/book


3/ Download the Free Revenue Recovery Map

Unlock hidden revenue in your firm and learn how to command premium fees without more complexity.

📄 handsoffceo.com/map


📍 Chapters:

00:00 - Intro: From $20K Grind to $100K+ Deals

00:38 - Shift #1: Own the Sales Process (Without Overexplaining)

01:27 - Shift #2: Reposition Around Results — Not Scope

02:18 - Shift #3: Speak to Bigger Problems

03:14 - Shift #4: Make Your Offer Obvious (and Premium)

04:30 - What Happens When You Shift All 4

05:02 - Want Help? Here’s Where to Start


Youtube Podcast Episode:

👉 youtube.com/watch

Struggling to Sell $20K? These 4 Shifts Close $100K Deals Instead

Struggling to Sell $20K? These 4 Shifts Close $100K Deals Instead

Trying to sell $20K projects — but clients keep ghosting, lowballing, or dragging their feet?

This video breaks down 4 powerful shifts that will help you close $100K+ consulting deals with confidence — without chasing leads, discounting your fees, or working more hours.

Mandi Ellefson (founder of Hands-Off CEO) shares the exact mindset, offer, and positioning strategies top consulting and agency owners are using to consistently close high-ticket clients — even in a tight market.


💥 If you’ve been stuck in $10K–$30K projects that drain your time and don’t reflect your value — this is your wake-up call.


⏱️ What You’ll Learn:


  • Why high-ticket is easier to sell in a down market
  • How to get paid for your sales process and shift the power dynamic
  • The #1 mindset mistake keeping your fees low
  • How to package and name a “sexy” offer that sells itself
  • A trust-based sales process that closes faster and more profitably


🚀 Want to Work With Hands-Off CEO?


1/ Book a Free Strategy Call

If you’re ready to reposition your firm and start closing premium deals, let’s talk.

👉 handsoffceo.com/scale


2/ Read the Book – *The Hands-Off CEO

Learn the framework behind scaling premium consulting engagements — without doing it all yourself.

📘 handsoffceo.com/book


3/ Download the Free Revenue Recovery Map

Unlock hidden revenue in your firm and learn how to command premium fees without more complexity.

📄 handsoffceo.com/map


📍 Chapters:

00:00 - Intro: Why Bigger Deals Aren’t About Doing More

00:32 - Who This Is For: From $10K Projects to Premium Pricing

01:00 - Meet Mandi Ellefson & Hands-Off CEO

01:23 - Why High-Ticket Is Easier in a Tough Market

01:58 - Get Paid to Sell: The Power of Discovery

02:45 - Make Your Offer Sexy (Without Adding More Stuff)

03:42 - Sell Outcomes, Not Deliverables

04:09 - Engineer a Sales Process for Trust and Control

04:50 - Want Help? Build Your High-Ticket Sales Process


Are your prospects not seeing your worth? This video highlights the importance of value perception and how it impacts your business growth. Learn how to communicate value effectively and understand consumer behavior to make sure you're not being overlooked.


Youtube Podcast Episode:

👉 youtube.com/watch

How to Inspire Clients to Unlock Bigger Budgets (Even When They Say

How to Inspire Clients to Unlock Bigger Budgets (Even When They Say "No")

In this episode, Mandi Ellefson reveals why you don’t need to search for "clients with bigger budgets" - they’re already right in front of you! Discover how to inspire existing clients to unlock budgets they didn’t even know they had.

Mandi shows exactly how to transform your business from charging $5K per month on 3-month engagements to commanding $90K for a 90-day ROI builder offer. This is how our clients are building breathtaking case studies that naturally justify premium pricing.


0:00 - Why clients resist higher fees (and what to do about it)

1:29 - The myth of "finding clients with bigger budgets"

3:08 - How to unlock hidden client budgets

4:14 - The ROI Builder Offer explained

6:54 - From $60K/year to $90K/90 days: A real client story

9:10 - The key to selling premium services with confidence

10:27 - What you’ll learn in the Quantum Leap Workshop

The Winning Consultancies of 2024: What They're Doing in 2025 - E114

The Winning Consultancies of 2024: What They're Doing in 2025 - E114

In this insightful solo episode of Hands-Off CEO, Mandi Ellefson shares critical insights from her extensive experience working with thousands of consulting companies over the past 12 years. She reveals the four key strategies that distinguish thriving consulting firms from those struggling to scale.

Drawing from real-world examples and case studies, Mandi breaks down how successful consultancies are adapting to market changes and positioning themselves for sustainable growth. She emphasizes that 2024 has been a challenging year for many companies, making these strategies even more crucial for success in 2025.

The episode deep dives into four fundamental areas:

  1. Niching down to solve million-dollar problems
  2. Becoming truly results-driven with clients
  3. Building and maintaining a results-driven team culture
  4. Developing proactive "hunters and farmers" approach to business development

Mandi shares several compelling case studies, including how one agency increased their fees by 367% by shifting their focus to long-term client transformations. She explains how Jamie Birch's company positioned themselves to add $10 million in new sales for DTC brands over three years, demonstrating the power of clear, focused value propositions.

A particularly valuable section discusses the common profit delusion in consulting agencies, where owners often underestimate their true profitability by not accounting for market-rate compensation for their own roles. Mandi provides practical guidance on how to evaluate and improve real profit margins.

The episode also tackles the critical distinction between growth and scale, explaining why simply working harder or hiring more people often leads to diminishing returns. Instead, Mandi advocates for creating "unfair advantages" that compound over time, allowing firms to command premium fees while delivering superior results.

Throughout the discussion, Mandi emphasizes that scaling doesn't have to mean sacrificing quality or becoming "mediocre." She presents a compelling vision for how consulting firms can maintain their excellence while becoming more profitable and less dependent on the owner's direct involvement.

Want to implement these strategies in your consulting firm? Book a complementary Scalable Growth Session at handsoffceo.com/scale to have Mandi's team analyze your business and identify your biggest opportunities for sustainable growth.

Ready to transform your consulting agency into a valuable asset that grows without you? Get your copy of "The Hands-Off CEO" at handsoffceo.com/book and access the proven framework that's helped countless agency owners triple their fees while working less. Don't miss out on the audiobook, PDF version, and valuable bonus materials – all for just $4.99.

Bio of Hands-Off CEO

Hands-Off CEO Podcast, hosted by Mandi Ellefson, is a valuable resource for entrepreneurs seeking to scale their customer service businesses. While getting started may have been challenging, scaling to 7 figures and beyond can present even greater obstacles. 

This podcast aims to guide business owners on how to overcome these challenges by freeing up time and empowering their teams to run different aspects of the company.

Mandi Ellefson shares strategies and insights on how to delegate responsibilities, streamline operations, and empower team members to take on more significant roles. 

By implementing these strategies, entrepreneurs can shift their focus from day-to-day tasks to scaling profits and achieving greater levels of success.

The podcast emphasizes the importance of creating a business structure that allows the CEO to step back and let their team members step up. By doing so, entrepreneurs can enjoy more income, quality time with their families, and the ability to make a positive impact in their community and beyond.

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