Business Consulting for Small Businesses in Roanoke and Fredericksburg, Virginia | The Grateful Builder
Small businesses are the glue.
I was sitting in a meeting room with 12 or so business owners, and it was almost unanimous. They kept saying the same thing: can you teach this, and bottle it? Take it from astrophysicist level down to something a small business owner can actually use, someone who doesn't do this every single day.
That's what I've been doing ever since. I've helped small business owners with their digital front door, from websites to social media to marketing. I've also helped train sales staff across various industries, from the automotive industry to retail to ad sales and more. I've worked with nonprofits on revitalizing their presence in the community through photography, videography, and their social presence with their staff.
I do it because small businesses and nonprofits are the glue of our communities. Roanoke is growing, but it's still made of amazing small pockets that make up our community.
The way I work comes down to three things: gratitude, kindness, and humility. Lead with those, and the rest takes care of itself.
And when we sell merch, half the profits go to nonprofits and charities.
Four ways we build.
Novum Creative
Your digital front door. Websites, photography, and the full digital ecosystem, built to bring you business and drive results while you run it. Visit Novum Creative
Sales Consulting and Training
Practical sales consulting, tailor built for your business. Jason trains your team to sell with honesty. No scripts that sound like scripts, just clear human conversation that closes.
Financial Consulting and Planning
A trusted partner handles the numbers. Financial consulting, planning, and employee life insurance, so the foundation stays solid.
Company and Employee Protection
Protection and benefits at a commercial level. Life insurance structured the right way for your team and your business. Talk to Maren about what fits.
The people behind the build.
Business consulting for small businesses across Roanoke and Fredericksburg, Virginia. One team covering your front door, your sales floor, and your books. You will always know exactly who you are working with.
Jason Fink
Jason Fink is the founder of the Grateful Builder and the owner of Novum Creative, a boutique agency in Roanoke, Virginia. He started the Grateful Builder to bring practical business consulting to small businesses in Roanoke and Fredericksburg, Virginia, and to build a hub where entrepreneurs, small business owners, and nonprofits, the glue of our communities, can learn, vent, and grow together.
It is a place built on positivity and gratitude, where like-minded people support each other, hold each other accountable, and share what they have with whoever needs it. Through Novum, Jason builds digital front doors that work as hard as his clients do, and he personally trains sales teams to sell with honesty instead of scripts. The Grateful Builder keeps growing from here: educational tools, merch, and his own nature photography, with 50% of profits donated to local nonprofits and charities. His belief is simple: lead with gratitude, treat people with kindness, remain humble, and the rest takes care of itself.
Maren Robinson
Maren Robinson is a financial services professional and the co-founder of the Grateful Builder. She spent more than two decades as a dental hygienist before making the leap she now helps others make, building her financial services business in early mornings, lunch breaks, and evenings for six years before going all in full time in March 2026.
Today she runs her financial services office serving families across the Stafford and Fredericksburg region and Northern Virginia, with a second location in Tysons Corner. She helps everyday families protect what matters most through life insurance, retirement planning, and financial education, while mentoring new representatives to build careers of their own. Her team runs on a simple belief: you do not need a finance background to build wealth for yourself and others, you need heart, work ethic, and someone willing to show you the way. Through the Grateful Builder, Maren and Jason share the unfiltered realities of building a business, no fluff and no overnight success stories, just practical wisdom from people doing the work every day.
Looking to make a difference?
We're looking for individuals to join the Grateful Builder team. People who want to build something real, serve their community, and grow with grit and heart.
We're recruiting for Primerica now, and the team will keep growing from here.
Join the teamFill out the form to join the team.
Proof, not promises.
Grit first.
Every business I admire was built by someone who refused to quit on a hard Tuesday. That is who we build for.
Heart-led.
Kindness is a strategy. Treat people right, stay humble, do honest work, and the rest takes care of itself.
Your story here.
This card is waiting for a builder I have not met yet. Maybe it is you.
Real words from real owners.
Every one of these is a Google review for Novum Creative, the first arm of this team. Same people. Same standard.
I had a great experience working with Jason at Novum Creative. He helped me with my Facebook business marketing campaign and brought a lot of knowledge, creativity, and strategy to the process. He took the time to understand my goals, provided great ideas, and helped create a campaign that represents my business the right way.
Jason was professional, responsive, and easy to work with throughout the entire process. I appreciate the attention to detail and the effort he put into helping my business grow. I highly recommend Jason and Novum Creative to anyone looking for help with their marketing!
If you're looking for a design partner who's as genuine as they come, Jason is your guy. From the moment you meet him, you're struck by his warmth, authenticity, and commitment to truly understanding your vision. He's passionate about building real, lasting relationships. His honesty, professionalism, and makes every interaction feel personal and collaborative. Huge shout out to Jason!
I've worked with Jason and can honestly say he's incredibly thorough and detail-oriented. He takes the time to understand exactly what's needed and makes sure every part of the project is done right. His professionalism and dedication really stand out, and it's clear he puts a lot of pride into his work. Highly recommend him and Novum creative!
Jason is passionate about helping small business owners and non profits. He's a great listener, has great suggestions and is a pleasure to work with!
Lead with gratitude. Treat people with kindness. Remain humble. The rest takes care of itself.
Quote of the day
What We Shape and How We Build.
These are the books I hand to clients and come back to myself. If you only read one, start with the first.
Start with Why
The book behind the whole idea: start with why, and the what and how follow. It is the spine of how we build here.
Get it on Amazon
The Energy Bus
Ten rules for fueling your life, work, and team with positive energy.
Get it on AmazonThe Slight Edge
Turning simple daily disciplines into massive success and happiness.
Get it on Amazon
Crushing It!
How great entrepreneurs build their business and influence, and how you can too.
Get it on AmazonAs an Amazon Associate, Grateful Builder earns from qualifying purchases, and donates a portion to local nonprofits and charities.
Before you ask.
Straight answers to the questions every small business owner asks before starting business consulting in Roanoke or Fredericksburg, Virginia.
What is the Grateful Builder?
A community and consulting hub for small business owners, entrepreneurs, and nonprofits. We help you get found, sell with honesty, and build on solid financial ground, while surrounding you with people who actually want you to win.
What does it cost to work with you?
Every business is different, so we start with a conversation, not a price sheet. Novum Creative works on flat fees, so you always know the number before we start. Reach out and we will give you a straight answer.
Do you only work with businesses in Roanoke and Fredericksburg?
We are based in Roanoke, Virginia and work with businesses across Roanoke and Fredericksburg every day. For the right fit, we work remotely too. If you are a small business owner who wants to grow, distance is a detail.
What is a digital front door?
Your website, your photos, your reviews, everything a stranger finds when they look you up. We build digital front doors that work as hard as you do, so visitors turn into customers while you run your business.
Do you offer sales training for my team?
Yes. Jason personally trains sales teams to sell with honesty, no scripts that sound like scripts. The training is tailor built for your business, because what works for a plumber does not work for a realtor.
What kind of financial help do you offer?
Maren helps small business owners and families with financial planning, life insurance, and company and employee protection and benefits, including coverage at a commercial level. The first step is a conversation about what you actually need.
How is the Grateful Builder different from other consulting firms?
We are a community first. You get real consultants who know your name, plus a hub of like-minded builders who support each other and hold each other accountable. And we give back: 50% of profits from Grateful Builder products go to local nonprofits and charities.
Where can I follow along or join the community?
Start with the stories page, then reach out through the contact page. The podcast, educational tools, and merch are on the way.
One conversation.
No hassle, no fluff. Tell us where you are and we will tell you honestly whether we are the right fit.
Start the conversation