The Ground Up

What The Ground Up does

The Ground Up is a Las Vegas-based business consulting and advisory firm that serves entrepreneurs and small-to-midsized businesses. The firm operates under a professional services model, generating revenue from engagement-based consulting fees rather than product or licensing sales. Its service portfolio spans six core offerings: new revenue stream development, expense reduction, strategic investment evaluation, business acquisition advisory, joint venture formation, and general business consulting. A four-stage engagement methodology (Understand, Align, Execute, Grow) structures client work, with the firm positioning itself as an execution partner rather than a recommendation-only advisor.

The firm also maintains a portfolio of seven operating-partner businesses across adjacent sectors: Filler Up Financial (card and contactless payment solutions), Filler Up ATM (ATM placement and processing), Air It Up (automated tire-air and air-vac equipment at gas stations and convenience stores), PayGreen Go (unattended payment terminals), Feel The Knead (managed massage chairs for casinos, resorts, and airports), Paradise Investments (real estate investing for accredited investors), and ALZ Blood Test (p-Tau217 biomarker Alzheimer's risk testing). These partnerships are described as separate operating entities rather than wholly-owned subsidiaries, and they provide the firm with cross-industry operational perspective that it leverages in client engagements.

The Ground Up is incorporated as a private LLC in Nevada, founded in 2010, and operates with a team of 1-10 employees from its headquarters at 8820 W Russell Rd, Suite 140, Las Vegas. The firm has no external funding, no disclosed revenue figures, and no parent company. Its go-to-market is relationship-driven, relying on direct outreach, referrals, and business networking within the Las Vegas and American Southwest entrepreneurial ecosystem. Distribution is entirely direct, with engagement initiated through a contact form, phone, or email rather than digital or channel sales.

Name

The Ground Up

Legal name

The Ground Up LLC

Website

https://thegroundup.biz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Ground Up is a Las Vegas-based business consulting firm serving entrepreneurs and small-to-midsized businesses with strategic, operational, and investment advisory services, complemented by a portfolio of partner businesses across payments, equipment, and real estate.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Business Consulting Services

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Operations & Process Improvement Consulting (BPAHACAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Financial Management & Performance Improvement Consulting (BPAHACAF), Divestitures, Spin-offs & Carve-outs Advisory (BPAHADAJ)

Keywords

• Business consulting services
• Strategic advisory services
• Growth strategy consulting
• Acquisition advisory services
• Investment advisory services

Headquarters

HQ city

Las Vegas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Business Consulting and Advisory Services: Fees for strategic consulting engagements, business evaluation, operational improvement recommendations, and ongoing advisory services. Revenue generated through professional service engagements with entrepreneurs and small-to-midsized businesses seeking growth, acquisition, or operational support.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Core offering

The Ground Up is a Las Vegas-based business consulting and investment advisory firm that sells strategic consulting engagements to entrepreneurs and small-to-midsized businesses. Its services span new revenue stream identification, expense reduction, strategic investment evaluation, business acquisition advisory, joint venture formation, and general business consulting. The firm supplements advisory work with a portfolio of operating partnerships across automated equipment, payments, cash access, wellness amenities, real estate, unattended commerce, and brain-health insight.

Product overview

The Ground Up is a business consulting and advisory firm offering a unified set of professional services including new revenue stream development, expense reduction, strategic investment evaluation, business acquisitions, joint ventures, and general business consulting. The company also maintains a portfolio of operating businesses across complementary industries: Filler Up Financial (payment solutions), Filler Up ATM (ATM services), Air It Up (automated equipment), PayGreen Go (unattended payments), Feel The Knead (managed amenities), Paradise Investments (real estate), and ALZ Blood Test (brain health testing). The advisory services work alongside these portfolio partnerships to provide integrated growth support for entrepreneurs and small-to-midsized businesses.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Business Consulting

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Air It UpcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides fully managed tire-air and air-vac machines for gas stations and convenience stores. The Ground Up partnership handles installation, remote monitoring, service, customer support, and monthly revenue sharing with host locations.
• Filler Up FinancialcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPayment solutions provider helping businesses accept card, contactless, mobile, and online payments. Offers practical equipment, clear reporting, straightforward onboarding, and responsive support services.
• Filler Up ATMcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerATM services managing placement, processing, vault cash, monitoring, maintenance, and revenue sharing for qualified locations, providing dependable cash access without equipment purchase requirements.
• PayGreen GocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFlexible payment terminals and cloud-based management tools for unattended environments. Accepts cards, mobile wallets, and barcode or QR payments with remote device and transaction monitoring capabilities.
• Feel The KneadcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommercial massage chair installation and service provider for casinos, resorts, airports, waiting areas, and employee lounges. Transforms open space into wellness amenities with recurring shared revenue model.
• Paradise InvestmentscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommercial and residential real estate investment firm sourcing and operating opportunities for accredited investors across Las Vegas and the American Southwest with aligned ownership and clear reporting.
• ALZ Blood TestcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScience-driven p-Tau217 biomarker testing service making Alzheimer's risk assessment more accessible through standard blood draw and clear, secure results supporting informed healthcare provider conversations.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Bain & Company: Global management consulting firm offering strategy, operations, and M&A advisory. Operates in The Ground Up's category at a much larger scale and serves similar functional needs (operations improvement, acquisitions) for larger clients.
• McKinsey & Company: Global management consulting firm providing strategic, operational, and M&A advisory across industries. A broad incumbent in the same professional services category The Ground Up operates in, though serving enterprise rather than SMB clients.
• Insperity: Provider of HR, payroll, and business performance advisory services to SMBs. Comparable SMB-focused business advisory positioning with broader scope than The Ground Up.

Direct peers

• Growthink: Strategic planning and investment banking advisory firm for SMBs and emerging growth companies, including acquisitions and capital advisory. Directly comparable to The Ground Up's mix of strategic consulting plus business acquisition support.
• Gazelles (Harnish Group / Scaling Up): Executive education and coaching firm implementing the Scaling Up methodology for growth-stage SMBs. Comparable target customer and operating-improvement focus to The Ground Up's advisory practice.
• EOS Worldwide (Entrepreneurial Operating System): Provider of the Entrepreneurial Operating System, delivering implementer-led advisory to small and midsized businesses on vision, traction, and operational discipline. Closely aligned with The Ground Up's operations-and-execution consulting focus.
• ActionCOACH: Global business coaching and advisory franchise serving SMBs and entrepreneurs with operational, sales, and growth guidance. Highly comparable to The Ground Up's entrepreneur-focused, owner-operator consulting model for small-to-midsized businesses.
• Strategic Coach: Coaching and advisory firm serving entrepreneurs and founders with structured strategic frameworks. Overlaps with The Ground Up's founder-focused, owner-operator advisory positioning.
• The Alternative Board (TAB): Peer advisory and business coaching organization serving SMB owners through structured advisory boards. Comparable entrepreneur-focused, owner-to-owner advisory format.

Regional players

• VR Business Brokers: Business brokerage and M&A advisory franchise focused on lower-middle-market transactions. Comparable to The Ground Up's business acquisition advisory practice, particularly relevant for SMB M&A in the Las Vegas and Southwest markets.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights4 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/therealgroundup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-ground-up-llc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Ground Up