Business Growth Score™
Shows where a weakness or opportunity may exist.
Welcome / Start Here
AEO Zone Growth Partner Academy
You identify the opportunity. You make the introduction. AEO Zone handles the rest.
You are the connector—not the salesperson, closer, consultant, diagnostician, or fulfillment provider.
The New Customer JourneySTEP 1 · FREE STEP 2 · $197 STEP 3 STEP 4
Diagnose First. Prescribe Second. Implement Third.
The FREE Score is the preferred general starting point. AEO Zone—not the Growth Partner—determines whether a professional diagnostic or direct evaluation is appropriate.
Professional Diagnostic
Determines what is actually happening.
Business Growth Prescription™
Explains what should be fixed next.
Implementation
The client may choose an appropriate solution.
Growth Partner Role
Identify + Introduce
Identify + Introduce
AEO Zone Role
Evaluate + Diagnose + Recommend + Present + Close + Implement + Fulfill
Evaluate + Diagnose + Recommend + Present + Close + Implement + Fulfill
Your Growth Partner Playbook
Spot a business opportunity.
Introduce the FREE Score or make a direct referral.
AEO Zone evaluates the business.
The client may purchase a $197 diagnostic.
AEO Zone creates the Prescription™.
AEO Zone presents and closes implementation.
You get paid on eligible closed business.
Step 1
FREE Business Growth Score™
The easiest place to start is the FREE Business Growth Score™ at AEOZone.com. It helps identify where a business may have weaknesses or opportunities before money is spent trying to fix something.
When You’re Not Sure What the Business Needs
Send them to the FREE Score. It gives AEO Zone a better starting point and removes pressure from the Growth Partner.
“The easiest place to start is the FREE Business Growth Score™ at AEOZone.com. It helps identify where your business may have weaknesses or opportunities before you spend money trying to fix something.”
Experience It Yourself
Every Growth Partner should complete the Score to understand what a referred business experiences.
TAKE THE FREE SCORE™Academy access: Go to AEOZone.com, scroll all the way to the bottom, and select “Growth Partner Academy” in the bottom-right corner. Access opens directly.
Direct referrals are appropriate when the need is obvious: the owner explicitly asks about funding, an AEO/SEO audit, lead follow-up, or another specific service. The Score is preferred—not an unnecessary obstacle.
Step 2
The $197 Professional Diagnostic
The Score may lead to one of two primary paths. Growth Partners never decide which diagnostic the client needs; AEO Zone does.
$197 Business Growth Assessment™
For broader or connected issues involving leads, follow-up, conversion, customer experience, automation, operations, funding readiness, revenue opportunities, or multiple weaknesses.
It identifies what is holding growth back, which issue deserves priority, and which solution—if any—should come next.
$197 AEO + SEO Visibility Audit
For Google visibility, AI visibility, AEO, SEO, content, competitor, authority, or answer-engine concerns.
- Who is beating the business in search?
- What are customers asking AI?
- Is the business showing up?
- What content or authority is missing?
- What should be fixed first?
AEO Zone performs the audit and delivers the branded report.
Why We Added the $197 Diagnostic Step
ScoreWhere should we look?
DiagnosticWhat is really happening?
PrescriptionWhat should we do about it?
You are not trying to sell a $3,000 solution.
You are helping the owner take the next logical step.
You are helping the owner take the next logical step.
Step 3
What Is a Business Growth Prescription™?
AEO Zone’s recommended next step based on what the diagnostic identifies. It may involve lead generation, follow-up, revenue recovery, AI visibility/AEO, SEO, automation, reviews and reputation, funding, funding readiness, or another approved solution. Not every diagnostic results in an implementation purchase.
AEO Zone Does Not Start by Selling a Package.
Diagnose first. Prescribe second. Implement third.
Diagnose first. Prescribe second. Implement third.
Client Conversion Update
The $197 Diagnostic Can Be Credited Toward Implementation
When AEO Zone delivers a diagnostic and prescribes an eligible implementation, the client may receive a one-time $197 credit toward that recommended solution if they move forward within 7 calendar days after diagnostic delivery.
What This Means for the Client
The diagnostic remains a complete standalone service. If the client chooses implementation within the credit window, their $197 diagnostic investment is applied toward the eligible implementation.
What This Means for You
You do not calculate the credit, change prices, or close the client. AEO Zone confirms the deadline, scope, credit, secure checkout, and implementation.
Keep your role simple:
Make the introduction. AEO Zone handles the diagnosis, Prescription™, credit, closing, and fulfillment.
Make the introduction. AEO Zone handles the diagnosis, Prescription™, credit, closing, and fulfillment.
How to Identify Opportunities
Recognize the Signal—Do Not Solve It
Common Signals
- Not enough leads or weak conversion
- Slow response, missed calls, or poor follow-up
- Weak Google or AI visibility
- Poor reviews, revenue leaks, or bottlenecks
- Lack of automation
- Funding needs or capital limitations
Recognize that there may be a problem. You do not need to solve it.
Simple Opening Questions
- “Are you getting enough leads right now?”
- “What happens when a lead comes in after hours?”
- “Do you know how quickly your team follows up?”
- “Does your business show up when people ask ChatGPT or Google for companies like yours?”
- “Are you spending on marketing but unsure where leads are lost?”
- “Is access to capital limiting your plans?”
Identify interest; do not conduct a professional evaluation.
How to Make a ReferralPriority Referral Lane Business Growth Lane
One Academy. Two Referral Lanes.
Submit every referral through the correct Academy referral form. Both forms use the same timestamped tracking sequence and create a unique reference number for attribution. No special partner link is required.
Business Funding Referral
Use this when the business needs capital for working capital, payroll, inventory, equipment, expansion, marketing, debt refinance, business acquisition, commercial real estate, construction, or another business-purpose funding need.
- You do not quote rates, terms, or approvals
- You do not collect sensitive financial documents
- You provide what you know about the business and funding need
- Joe Starcher Funding handles the funding conversation and application process
Use this lane for business/commercial-purpose funding opportunities. Referral-fee eligibility may vary by transaction type, law, licensing, and lender/partner rules.
SUBMIT FUNDING REFERRALBusiness Growth Referral
Use this when the opportunity involves lead generation, follow-up, conversion, automation, AI/search visibility, reputation, revenue leaks, operations, or another business-growth need.
- You do not diagnose the business
- You do not choose a package
- You make the introduction and provide accurate details
- AEO Zone evaluates, recommends, presents, closes, implements, and fulfills
Not sure which lane to use? If the owner is specifically asking for capital, use the Funding Referral form. If the problem is broader growth and the correct solution is not yet obvious, use the Business Growth Referral form or introduce the FREE Business Growth Score™.
Attribution: A successful referral submission creates a timestamped record and unique referral number. If the referral is new and accepted, that timestamp establishes the initial attribution record. Save the tracking number for commission and future-sale attribution. Do not submit duplicate referrals as the client progresses.
Relationship-Based Attribution
You Refer the Relationship—Not Just the Package
Make one clean, properly tracked introduction. When supported by the current tracking system, the original referral follows the client from FREE Score to diagnostic, Prescription™, and implementation. Do not resubmit the same client at each stage.
One Relationship. Multiple Potential Eligible Stages.
The proposed 12-month attribution policy is being prepared but is not represented as operational until backend activation and program approval are confirmed.
The proposed 12-month attribution policy is being prepared but is not represented as operational until backend activation and program approval are confirmed.
Partner Funnel TrackerIntroductions0 Funding Referrals0 Funded Deals0 FREE Scores0 $197 Diagnostics0 Implementations0 Commissions$0
Your Basic Growth Partner Pipeline
Track progress without storing sensitive customer financial information. These totals are saved only in this browser.
Future dashboard requirements: total and new referrals by lane, funding referrals, funded deals, Score completions, diagnostics, implementations, pending and paid commissions/referral fees, current client status, and Fast-Start eligibility. This browser tracker prepares the workflow; it is not a connected server dashboard.
Compensation
Earn on Eligible Closed Business
Current Growth Partner terms and proper attribution determine eligibility.
Referred Business
↓
$197 Diagnostic Closes
Potential Partner Earnings: $40
Opportunity to get paid at two stages of the same client relationship
Potential Partner Earnings: $40
Opportunity to get paid at two stages of the same client relationship
↓
Eligible Implementation Closes
Potential Partner Earnings: Up to $500
Potential Partner Earnings: Up to $500
Eligible $197 Sale
Eligible paid Business Growth Assessment™ and AEO + SEO Visibility Audit transactions currently pay $40. A later eligible implementation may earn the applicable commission if attribution remains intact.
New Growth Partner Fast-Start Bonus
Extra $100 on qualifying higher-ticket referrals submitted during your first five days as a Growth Partner.
If that eligible higher-ticket deal later closes, the $100 Fast-Start Bonus can be earned. The closing itself does not have to occur during the first five days. The bonus does not apply to a $197 diagnostic; an eligible diagnostic may earn the standard $40 commission.
Funding Referral Compensation
Funding Has Separate Referral Terms
Funding referrals are tracked separately from the $40 diagnostic and up-to-$500 implementation structure. An eligible funding referral may qualify for a referral fee when an eligible transaction funds, subject to the current funding referral program terms.
Important: Do not quote or promise a funding referral fee to a prospect or another person. Eligibility and compensation may depend on transaction type, applicable law, licensing requirements, lender/partner rules, and whether Joe Starcher Funding receives compensation on the funded transaction.
SUBMIT A FUNDING REFERRALDisclaimer: Compensation is based on eligible closed or funded business under the applicable program. No referrals, funding approvals, sales, commissions, closing outcomes, or income level are guaranteed.
Your First Five Launch Plan™
0 of 5 complete
Daily Activity Scorecard
Today’s total: 0
Scripts & Conversation Starters
Keep It Simple and Low Pressure
General Introduction
“I’m connected with AEO Zone. They help businesses identify where growth opportunities may be getting missed. The easiest place to start is their FREE Business Growth Score™ at AEOZone.com.”
If Asked What AEO Zone Sells
“They work with different business-growth solutions depending on what the business actually needs. They start by evaluating the problem instead of trying to sell everyone the same thing.”
If Asked What You Do
“I make the introduction. AEO Zone handles the evaluation, recommendations, sales process, technology, and fulfillment.”
If Asked About Cost
“The Business Growth Score™ is free. If something needs a deeper review, AEO Zone may recommend a $197 professional diagnostic before suggesting a larger solution.”
Approved Talking Point
“Start with the FREE Business Growth Score™ at AEOZone.com. It will give you an idea of where your business may need attention. If something deserves a closer look, AEO Zone can recommend the appropriate professional diagnostic and take it from there.”
Follow-Up
“I wanted to make sure you received the FREE Business Growth Score™ link. There is no pressure—I just did not want the information to get lost.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Partner Objection Handling
Why did AEO Zone add the $197 diagnostic?
Moving directly from a FREE Score to a $1,000+ solution can be too large a jump. The $197 step provides deeper analysis and explains why a particular solution may be recommended.
Do I need to resubmit the client when they upgrade?
No—not when the original referral is properly tracked. You refer the relationship, and AEO Zone attempts to preserve that attribution through the supported journey.
Do I need to know which diagnostic they need?
No. AEO Zone makes that determination.
Do I need to know AI?
No. You do not build, install, or explain AI systems.
Do I have to sell or close?
No. Your role is making qualified introductions. AEO Zone handles sales and closing.
Do I need to know which package they need?
No. AEO Zone determines the appropriate diagnostic and Prescription™.
Can I earn on the $197 diagnostic?
Eligible diagnostic sales currently pay a $40 Growth Partner commission.
Can I earn again if they upgrade?
You may earn the applicable commission on an eligible higher-ticket closed deal if the business remains properly attributed to you.
How do I refer a business that needs funding?
Use the dedicated Funding Referral form in the Academy. Provide the business contact information and whatever you know about the funding need. Do not collect sensitive financial documents or promise approval, rates, terms, or compensation. Joe Starcher Funding handles the funding process.
Is funding referral compensation the same as AEO Zone package compensation?
No. Funding referrals have separate eligibility and compensation terms. The Academy tracks the referral, but the applicable referral fee depends on the current funding referral program and transaction eligibility.