Next Concepts Consulting helps service-based and B2B business owners in Central Arkansas reduce friction, understand their systems, and make better decisions with less chaos.
I’m Michael Howell, founder of Next Concepts Consulting. I work directly with owner–operators and small teams who are ready to see their operations more clearly. Learn more about who I am →
There’s no shortage of generic advice and templated playbooks. What most owners don’t have is a clear-thinking, outside perspective that actually understands how small businesses run day-to-day.
We start with a free initial conversation. From there, we choose the right level of depth. Each step builds on the last, and if you upgrade, what you’ve already paid is credited toward the next level.
Using 13 years of experience inside the telecom industry, I offer a focused review of your wireless bills to help you stop overspending and better align your services with the way you actually work.
I primarily work with businesses in the 0–9 employee space—owner–operators and small teams who are close to the work, wearing multiple hats, and trying to keep everything moving without burning out.
Instead of a complicated funnel, there’s a straightforward flow. We start with a free consultation, then move into the right level of work based on what you actually need.
We’ll talk about your business, your current challenges, and what “better” would look like. You can ask questions, I’ll share initial observations, and we’ll decide together whether a Clarity Session or a deeper engagement is the right next move.
We slow things down long enough to map what’s really happening, identify the core issue, and outline practical options. Many owners start here, get relief and insight, and then decide whether it makes sense to expand into a broader review.
We map how work, information, and decisions move through your operation. Between sessions, I do the behind-the-scenes thinking. You receive a concise written summary that captures what’s really going on and outlines what to focus on first.
I come on-site (primarily Central Arkansas), observe real workflows, talk with your team, and see how systems and tools function in practice. You get a detailed 5-page report with an operational map, key issues, and a sequenced set of recommendations you can actually act on.
These are example situations—not statements about past clients—that reflect the kind of problems where this style of consulting can help.
A small construction company is managing jobs through text threads, paper notes, and a whiteboard. The owner keeps getting calls about “Who’s supposed to be where?” and spends evenings double-checking everything.
In a situation like this, we might map how information actually moves, identify where details get lost, and design a simpler way to track jobs that fits the size of the team.
A small firm has grown to a handful of employees, but every question still routes through the owner—from pricing to approvals to client communication. Work slows down whenever they’re unavailable.
Here, we might clarify roles, decision points, and hand-offs, so more of the day-to-day can move forward without constantly pulling the owner back into the weeds.
A logistics company has layered on dispatch software, tracking systems, and spreadsheets over time. Everyone is logging into something, but no one feels confident that the full picture matches reality.
In a case like this, we might map the full tool stack, remove redundant steps, and realign systems with the actual flow of work across dispatch, drivers, and customers.
A few quick answers to things most owners want to know before reaching out.
I’m Michael Howell, founder of Next Concepts Consulting. My work centers on helping small business owners see their operations more clearly so they can make better decisions with less guesswork.
From 2012 onward, I worked inside the telecom world, supporting thousands of customers and hundreds of business owners. On paper, the work was about connectivity and wireless plans. In reality, the conversations were about how their businesses actually ran—how work moved, where communication broke down, and why the owner felt like they were always catching up.
Before that, I grew up as the oldest of nine kids in a homeschooled, entrepreneurial household, helping my dad in different parts of his business. That meant learning early how to adapt, pay attention, and operate inside real-world constraints—not theoretical ones.
When we work together, I bring a calm, structured way of looking at your business, shaped by years of sitting across the table from owners who were busy, honest about their challenges, and serious about making things work better.
If you’re ready to get out of the weeds and look at your business with clearer eyes, the next step is simple: book a free initial consultation or send a short note and I’ll follow up with next steps.
Most engagements start with a quick conversation to see what you’re dealing with and whether I’m the right fit to help.
All responses come directly from me—no call center, no automation wall.
Location: Little Rock, Arkansas
You can book directly into my calendar here:
Book an Initial Consultation (Free) ↗