REAL Automation Solutions
REAL Automation Solutions is a privately held, Idaho Falls-based consulting firm that provides HotDocs document automation consulting, template development, training, and software resale to US law firms and select financial institutions, founded in 1998 by Liz and Kim Mayberry.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1998
- HeadquartersIdaho Falls, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What REAL Automation Solutions does
REAL Automation Solutions is a privately held, Idaho Falls-based consulting firm founded in 1998 by Liz Mayberry and Kim Mayberry that specializes in document automation for law firms. The firm operates as a HotDocs Gold Partner — the highest tier of the HotDocs partner ecosystem — and provides consulting, template development, database integration, and training services that help law firms reduce document drafting time by approximately 70% and achieve 5–10x ROI. Its core customer base consists of estate-planning, elder-law, and general-practice law firms across the United States, supplemented by financial-services engagements (e.g., Yosemite Farm Credit). The business also resells HotDocs perpetual licenses ($330–$800) and the HotDocs Document Services SaaS subscription ($99/month entry tier), and supports Knackly as an alternative document automation platform.
REAL's underlying technology is built around deterministic document automation — HotDocs template engines, Microsoft Word macros, and database connectors — rather than AI-native approaches. Its competitive differentiation rests on a proprietary "Pathway to Success" consulting framework, on co-founder Liz Mayberry's status as one of a handful of qualified HotDocs programming trainers (creator of the HotDocs Bootcamp), and on co-founder Kim Mayberry's Master's in Operational Excellence (Ohio State, 2016), which informs a Toyota Production System-influenced methodology. The firm monetizes primarily through quote-based professional services engagements and software resale margins, with a sales-led GTM motion that combines free 30-minute strategy consultations, "Deep Dive" process assessments, conference presence at events such as UALA and Heckerling Institute, and an inbound content engine (REAL Tips newsletter, blog, video tutorials).
Headcount stands at 1–10 employees, ownership is concentrated with the founding couple, and there is no institutional capital, no acquisitions, and no international footprint. The firm has operated continuously for over 25 years with several client relationships exceeding two decades, indicating a stable, high-retention boutique consultancy rather than a venture-scale business.
REAL Automation Solutions firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- REAL Automation Solutions
- Legal name
- REAL Automation Solutions, Inc.
- Website
- https://realautomators.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1998
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- REAL Automation Solutions is a privately held, Idaho Falls-based consulting firm that provides HotDocs document automation consulting, template development, training, and software resale to US law firms and select financial institutions, founded in 1998 by Liz and Kim Mayberry.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
REAL Automation Solutions industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Legal Document Automation Consulting
- NAICS
- Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), Software Publishers (513210)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Programming Services (7371), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Document, Workflow & Policy Servicing Automation (RPA/No-Code) (FSAGAGAK)
Keywords
Where REAL Automation Solutions is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Idaho Falls
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
REAL Automation Solutions business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- HotDocs Consulting and Professional Services: REAL earns revenue by providing consulting services to law firms implementing document automation. Services include system design, template development, database integration, staff training, and ongoing support. This is the primary revenue stream.
- HotDocs Software Sales: REAL acts as a HotDocs Gold Partner and sells HotDocs software licenses (User Edition, Developer Light, Developer) and subscriptions (HotDocs Document Services SaaS) to clients, earning margin on software transactions.
- Training Programs: REAL offers training programs including the HotDocs Bootcamp and CLE (Continuing Legal Education) courses for attorneys, generating revenue from course fees.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | HotDocs User Edition 11 — $330 (one-time perpetual license) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | HotDocs Developer Light Edition 11 — $500 (one-time) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | HotDocs Developer Edition 11 — $800 (one-time) |
| Subscription | Monthly | HotDocs Document Services SaaS — Entry level at $99/month for up to 5 users |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Consulting and Training Services — Quote-based |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
REAL Automation Solutions product offering
Product offeringCore offering
REAL Automation Solutions provides consulting, training, and implementation services for HotDocs document automation software targeting law firms, particularly those specializing in estate planning, elder law, and trusts. As a HotDocs Gold Partner, the company also resells HotDocs software licenses (User Edition, Developer Light, Developer) and HotDocs Document Services SaaS subscriptions, while offering Knackly as an alternative document automation platform for clients seeking different feature sets.
Product overview
REAL Automation Solutions offers a comprehensive document automation service portfolio centered on HotDocs consulting and training, complemented by the Knackly platform as an alternative solution. Core offerings include document automation implementation services (delivering 70% time reduction), HotDocs software sales (User, Developer Light, Developer editions, and Document Services SaaS), and training programs. The company has been helping law firms automate documents since 1998, with services ranging from initial consultation through ongoing support and training. Website development is offered as a complementary service.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- HotDocs Consulting and Training
- Document Automation Services
Quantifiable outcome
- 70% reduction in document drafting time
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use REAL Automation Solutions
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
REAL Automation Solutions technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
REAL Automation Solutions partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered secondary, minor and core.
- KnacklysecondaryREAL offers services around Knackly, a HotDocs alternative document automation platform. They provide consulting and implementation support for Knackly, positioning it as an alternative for clients seeking different feature sets. Knackly was developed by document automation veterans with twenty years of experience and offers features such as External Interviews for client data collection.
- Practical Planning System, LLCminorREAL entered into an agreement with Practical Planning System, LLC in Salt Lake City, UT to provide an online questionnaire programming service. This was an industry first, enabling attorneys' clients to fill out information online and import it into the HotDocs Practical Planning System. REAL developed the custom online questionnaire feature.
- Yosemite Farm CreditminorREAL Automation Solutions entered into an agreement with Yosemite Farm Credit in Turlock, CA to provide HotDocs database connection for the HotDocs desktop software. The database integration manages loan creation workflow and allows greater access to data collected in HotDocs, enabling further integration of various systems into one cohesive system.
- HotDocs (AbacusNext)coreREAL Automation Solutions is a HotDocs Gold Partner, the highest partnership tier. They provide consulting, training, template development, and database integration services for HotDocs software. The partnership dates to 1998 when Liz Mayberry, who previously worked as a HotDocs consultant, co-founded the company. REAL has worked with HotDocs for twenty years.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
REAL Automation Solutions competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- PracticePanther: PracticePanther offers legal practice management software with document automation and template tools for small law firms. It overlaps with REAL's customer segment and document workflow goals, but sells software rather than consulting services.
- Smokeball: Smokeball is a legal practice management platform with built-in document automation and template libraries, serving small and mid-size law firms. It competes for the same automation budget REAL targets but as a broader practice management suite rather than a standalone document automation consultancy.
- Clio: Clio is the leading cloud-based legal practice management platform with document automation features (Clio Drafts). It addresses the same small/mid law firm automation needs as REAL but as part of a much broader SaaS portfolio rather than a focused document automation service.
- iManage: iManage is an enterprise document and email management platform serving large law firms and professional services. It is a broader incumbent in the legal document technology stack that REAL's law firm clients operate within, addressing overlapping document workflow and automation needs at greater scale.
- NetDocuments: NetDocuments is a cloud-based document management system widely used by law firms to organize, store, and automate document workflows. While it focuses on document management rather than drafting automation, it addresses adjacent workflows and competes for the same law-firm document technology budget.
Direct peers
- HotDocs (AbacusNext): HotDocs is the document automation software platform that REAL builds, implements, trains, and resells as a Gold Partner since 1998. As the underlying technology vendor, HotDocs is the most directly comparable entity because REAL's services are entirely centered on HotDocs adoption and customization for law firms.
- LawToolBox: LawToolBox provides automated document drafting and deadline calendaring tools for law firms, including court-rule-driven templates. It overlaps with REAL's document automation mission for small and mid-size law firms and competes for the same customer automation budget.
- Knackly: Knackly is a cloud-native document automation platform positioned as a HotDocs alternative. REAL offers implementation and consulting services around Knackly (since October 2019), making it a direct peer in the legal document automation ecosystem with overlapping consulting services and shared target customers.
Emerging players
- Gavel: Gavel is a no-code document automation platform for legal professionals, positioned as a modern alternative to legacy tools like HotDocs. It targets the same law-firm document drafting workflow as REAL's implementations but via a self-service SaaS approach that may compress demand for traditional consulting engagements.
- CARET Legal: CARET Legal is a legal practice management platform with document automation capabilities targeting small law firms. It competes for the same automation budget as REAL within the small-firm segment and represents the broader shift toward integrated SaaS over consulting-led implementations.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
REAL Automation Solutions social profiles
Digital presenceREAL Automation Solutions financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
REAL Automation Solutions leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
REAL Automation Solutions funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
REAL Automation Solutions M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about REAL Automation Solutions
What does REAL Automation Solutions do?
REAL Automation Solutions provides consulting, training, and implementation services for HotDocs document automation software targeting law firms, particularly those specializing in estate planning, elder law, and trusts. As a HotDocs Gold Partner, the company also resells HotDocs software licenses (User Edition, Developer Light, Developer) and HotDocs Document Services SaaS subscriptions, while offering Knackly as an alternative document automation platform for clients seeking different feature sets.
Is REAL Automation Solutions a public or private company?
REAL Automation Solutions is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was REAL Automation Solutions founded?
REAL Automation Solutions was founded in 1998. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is REAL Automation Solutions based?
REAL Automation Solutions is headquartered in Idaho Falls, United States, in the North America region.
How does REAL Automation Solutions make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. HotDocs Consulting and Professional Services are the primary driver. The others are hotDocs Software Sales and training Programs.
Who are REAL Automation Solutions's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are PracticePanther, Smokeball, Clio, iManage and NetDocuments. Direct peers are HotDocs (AbacusNext), LawToolBox and Knackly. Emerging players are Gavel and CARET Legal.
Does REAL Automation Solutions have an API?
No public API is recorded for REAL Automation Solutions.
What industry is REAL Automation Solutions in?
REAL Automation Solutions's product category is Legal Document Automation Consulting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAGAGAK, Document, Workflow & Policy Servicing Automation (RPA/No-Code). Its NAICS code is 541511 and its SIC code is 7371.