FAQ
The questions that come up before the first call.
Answered here so the call can be about your raise instead of the ground rules.
Working together
Do you work with first-time sponsors?
Often. A first raise is exactly where the gap between a good deal and institutional-grade materials is widest, and it is the point where getting the structure right matters most. What matters is that the deal is real and you are committed to running a proper process.
What does an engagement cost?
Engagements are scoped to the size of your operation. Hourly work can be structured with a weekly hour cap and generally runs $160 to $240 an hour depending on scope. The Ballast Check starts at $4,500, which reflects a $200 hourly rate against the twenty hours or so it usually takes. Retainers and fixed-price milestone work are quoted per mandate.
What is the minimum engagement?
There is no minimum. Some projects have run two weeks. More often an initial engagement turns into months of coordination, structured as capped hourly work, a one to three month retainer, or fixed-price milestones. Engagements are built around the work that is actually needed, which is the point of bringing in Ballast rather than committing to a full-time investor relations hire.
How quickly can you start?
It depends on current client load, but kickoff typically begins within a week of a signed scope, and sooner when a deadline requires it.
What do you need from me to get started?
For a Ballast Check: your current model, whatever investor materials exist, and access to how you communicate with investors today. For a build engagement, add the business plan and any third-party reports. If a piece does not exist yet, that is a finding, not a problem.
Scope and boundaries
Do you work outside real estate?
Real estate is the core, and the work travels. The underwriting, materials, and investor relations infrastructure are the same discipline across private alternatives; what changes is the asset-level diligence.
Who owns the systems and materials you build?
You do. Models, decks, CRM configurations, templates, and documentation are yours at the end of the engagement, built so your team can run them without Ballast in the room.
Will you sign an NDA?
Yes, before any materials change hands. Every engagement operates under confidentiality, and client work appears on this site only with written permission.
Logistics
Where are you based, and do you work remotely?
Ballast is based in San Diego, California, and works with sponsors nationally. Most engagements run remotely with scheduled working sessions; on-site time is available when a project warrants it.
How many clients do you take at once?
Six at most, and fewer when the engagements are heavy. Capacity is deliberately limited so each client gets director-level attention rather than a queue position.
Still have a question?
Ask it on a 30-minute call. No pitch, no obligation, and you will leave knowing where your capital process actually stands.