Okay so, you're looking at your spreadsheets, your sales figures, your customer data, and you know there's gold in there, but it's buried under a mountain of… well, data. You might have tried some dashboards that ended up being pretty but not actually useful, or maybe you're just starting and need to figure out what data to even collect. That's where I come in. I specialize in taking that raw, messy data and turning it into something you can actually *use* to make better decisions, without needing a full-time data scientist on staff. No big presentations of abstract concepts, just practical tools and insights for your Portland business.
## What I actually do for Portland clients
Mostly, I build things. Think of it like this: a Portland coffee shop might need to know which menu items are most profitable at specific times of day, or how weather impacts their foot traffic. I'd help them connect their POS system, weather data, and maybe even social media mentions into a single, understandable view. Or, for a small manufacturing company, I might set up a system to track production bottlenecks, predict inventory needs more accurately, or analyze customer feedback to spot product improvement areas. It's usually about automating reports that take hours manually, or creating a simple predictive model that helps you forecast demand a few weeks out.
I also help businesses in Portland clean up their data, which is often the first and most painful step. If your data isn't good, no fancy dashboard will help. So sometimes, the project starts with a bit of data 'housekeeping' before we even get to the cool stuff. My goal is always to deliver a tangible asset – a working dashboard, an automated report, a specific data model – that you can use immediately, not just a binder full of recommendations.
## How a Portland engagement usually goes
1. **Initial Chat (Week 1, Day 1-3):** You reach out, we book a quick 20-minute call. I'll ask about your business, what kind of data problems you're facing, and what you're hoping to achieve. This isn't a sales pitch; it's just me trying to figure out if I can genuinely help. If it seems like a good fit, I'll ask for some high-level access to understand your data sources and current processes. 2. **Deep Dive & Proposal (Week 1-2):** I'll spend a few days (maybe up to a week, depending on complexity) really digging into your existing data, systems, and your specific business questions. From there, I'll put together a fixed-fee proposal. It'll clearly outline the exact deliverables, the timeline (usually 4-8 weeks for a typical project), and the total cost. No surprises here, I promise. 3. **The Work (Weeks 2-8, or longer):** Once we agree on the proposal, I get to work. This involves a lot of data wrangling, building out the models, creating dashboards, or setting up automation. I'll check in regularly, usually with a short weekly update call, to show you progress and get your feedback. I like to keep things transparent, so you're never wondering what I'm up to. 4. **Delivery & Handoff (End of Project):** I deliver the completed solution – whether it's a live dashboard, a reporting system, or a data model. I'll also provide documentation and make sure you and your team know how to use it. I'm available for a few weeks after for any tweaks or questions, just to make sure you're comfortable and getting value from what I built.
## What it costs, roughly
I work on a fixed-fee basis for most projects. This means you know the total cost upfront, with no hourly billing surprises. For typical data analytics or BI projects I do for small and medium-sized businesses in Portland, the fees generally range from a few thousand dollars for a focused, shorter-term project (like automating a single report or building a small dashboard) to upwards of $10,000-$15,000 for more comprehensive engagements involving multiple data sources, complex modeling, or ongoing reporting needs. It really depends on the scope, but I'll always give you a clear, single number before any work begins.
## Who I'm usually NOT a fit for
I'm a solo operator, A.I. Consulting LLC, based in Florida. I don't have a huge team, so I'm not the right fit for massive, multi-year enterprise implementations or projects that require dozens of people. If you need someone physically on-site in Portland every day, or if you're looking for a firm to manage your entire IT infrastructure, that's probably not me. I also generally don't do 'staff augmentation' where you just need an extra body for a few months. I like to come in, solve a specific data problem, and deliver a tangible solution. I'm best for SMBs and organizations that need focused, practical data help without the overhead of a large consulting firm.
## Getting in touch
If you're a Portland business owner grappling with data, and you're tired of vague promises and just want someone to build something useful, let's chat. I'm always happy to hear about what you're working on, even if it's just to point you in the right direction. No pressure, no hard sell. Just book a 20-min call and we can talk specifics.
FAQs — Portland
How do I know if data analytics or BI is worth it for my Portland business?
If you're making important business decisions based on gut feelings, or if you spend hours manually pulling numbers for reports, it's likely worth exploring. My goal is to show you a clear return on investment by making your data work harder for you.
Do you only work with businesses in Portland, Oregon?
While I enjoy working with Portland businesses and understand the local market, I actually work remotely from Florida. So, I'm able to help businesses across the US, not just those physically located in Portland.
What does the first 2 weeks of an engagement usually look like?
The first two weeks usually involve an initial call, a deep dive into your existing data and systems (with your help, of course), and then me presenting a detailed, fixed-fee proposal for the project. It's all about clarity and setting expectations.
What kind of software or tools do you typically use?
I'm pretty flexible, but I often work with tools like Python for data processing, SQL for databases, and visualization tools like Tableau, Power BI, or even advanced Excel/Google Sheets for dashboards. I adapt to what makes sense for your specific needs and budget.
What if my business data is a complete mess right now?
That's a pretty common starting point, actually! Most data isn't perfectly clean. Part of my service often involves helping you clean, organize, and structure your data so it can actually be used effectively. We start where you are.