FAQ:
Will you sign an NDA?
Absolutely.
Many of our clients share sensitive business information, proprietary ideas, financial data, and operational processes. We're happy to sign a mutual Non-Disclosure Agreement before beginning an investigation if it gives you peace of mind.
Fair question! We'd rather you ask it than wonder. The answer: your idea is never inventory. Anything you bring to us stays yours, full stop, whether we end up working together or not. Our ready-made ventures are built from our own market research, on our own time, from gaps we find ourselves. Building trust is the entire foundation of this business, quietly recycling client ideas would end it, and we like this business. If you want that in writing, that's exactly what the NDA is for.
Right now, the person you're talking to. We're a small operation, and your information isn't floating around an office. If we ever bring a specialist into your project, say a bookkeeper or automation contractor, we tell you first, and they're bound by the same confidentiality.
Your files, findings, and documents are handed over to you. Our working copies are archived securely in case you come back with questions. Many clients do and if you'd rather we delete everything after handover instead, just say so and we will.
Never without asking. If we'd like to reference your project — even anonymized — we ask first, you see exactly what we'd share, and no is a complete answer that changes nothing about how we treat you.
We won't run investigations for two direct competitors in the same market at the same time — you can't serve two sides of the same chessboard. If a conflict comes up, we tell you and step back from the newer engagement.
You share what you're comfortable sharing. But it's worth saying honestly: an investigation is only as good as what we can see. The clients who get the most out of The Decode are the ones who open the books all the way. That's what the confidentiality is for, it exists so you can.
We find something embarrassing in almost every business — that's usually why we were called. No judgment, ever. Messy books, abandoned systems, decisions made at 2 a.m. three years ago: it's all just evidence, and evidence is how we find your answers.
You sell ready-made businesses. What stops you from taking my idea?
Who actually sees my information?
What happens to my information after the engagement ends?
Will my business show up as a case study or testimonial?
Do you work with competing businesses?
Do I have to share everything?
What if you find something embarrassing?
Stop someday-ing. Tell us the idea. A few months from now, you're open.
TRUST AND CONFIDENTIALITY
Every investigation starts with trust.
Many of our clients invite us into the inner workings of their business—from financial reports and operational processes to customer data and future business ideas.
We treat every engagement with the highest level of confidentiality.
If requested, we're happy to sign a mutual Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) before reviewing confidential information.
Our goal is simple
You should feel comfortable telling us everything.
Because the better we understand your business, the better we can help.