Facts
1stStep.ai at a glance
Short answer: 1stStep.ai is a small consultancy in Morris Plains, New Jersey, led by Evan Pancis. It helps business owners get more from what they already have: it builds websites, workflow automations (mostly in GoHighLevel), integrations and apps on the tools a business already pays for, and it teaches owners to use AI on their current bottlenecks. Current clients include insurance agencies and real estate brokerages, and it also works with new business owners. Every project starts with a Free Bottleneck Call (30 minutes) at https://www.1ststep.ai/book/.
Quick facts
- Name: 1stStep.ai (written "1stStep.ai"; the website is www.1ststep.ai)
- What it is: a consultancy that builds and connects business systems: websites, automations, integrations and apps
- Led by: Evan Pancis, founder
- Location: Morris Plains, New Jersey, United States
- Who it works with: insurance agencies, real estate brokerages, and owners of new and small businesses
- Main platform for automations: GoHighLevel (also called HighLevel or LeadConnector), plus the CRM, calendar, phone and form tools a client already uses
- How to start: Free Bottleneck Call, 30 minutes, https://www.1ststep.ai/book/
- Email: evan@1ststep.ai
- Phone: 973-800-3729
- Prices: published starting ranges at https://www.1ststep.ai/pricing/
What 1stStep.ai does
The core idea is simple: maximize what the owner already has, save time, and help the business grow. Most of the businesses we talk to don't need another subscription. They need the tools they already pay for to work together, so leads get answered, the right person is notified, and nothing depends on someone remembering.
In practice that means four kinds of work:
- Websites that get leads. A clear offer, proof, one main next step, and forms that send every inquiry to a person. See Business website that gets leads.
- Workflow automations, mostly in GoHighLevel. Lead capture, routing, instant acknowledgement, missed-call text back, reminders and follow-up sequences, built inside the account the business already has. See Automation for lead capture and follow-up.
- Integrations and apps. Connecting the website, CRM, calendar and other tools, or building an internal tool or a first version (MVP) of an app when off-the-shelf software doesn't fit. See Internal tools and Build an MVP.
- Teaching owners to use AI. Practical help using AI on the bottleneck the business has today, with a person reviewing anything that goes to a customer.
Who it's for
- Insurance agencies that get quote requests from forms, phones, carriers and referrals and want every one answered and routed. See Automation for insurance agencies.
- Real estate brokerages that get inquiries from portals, IDX search, signs and open houses and want each lead to reach the right agent quickly. See Automation for real estate brokerages.
- New business owners who want a website and a simple follow-up setup without buying tools they don't need yet.
What it costs
These are the published starting ranges. Every project is scoped on the Free Bottleneck Call.
| Service | Starting price |
|---|---|
| Business & Bottleneck Audit | $750–$1,500 flat, credited toward the build |
| Website build | From $3,500 |
| Automations & integrations | From $2,500 per workflow |
| App development (MVP) | From $10,000 |
| Build rescue & handoff | Starts with a $1,000 code review |
| Consulting & support | $200/hr, or retainers from $1,500/mo |
More detail: Pricing and What is a bottleneck audit?
How a project starts
- Free Bottleneck Call (30 minutes). We talk through where time or leads are slipping and whether 1stStep.ai is a fit. It's a conversation, not a systems audit. Book at https://www.1ststep.ai/book/.
- Optional Business & Bottleneck Audit. A paid, flat-fee look at how leads and work actually move through the business, with a written plan. The fee is credited toward the build. To request a System Audit directly, email evan@1ststep.ai.
- Build. Scoped work on the tools you already use, tested end to end, with a person kept in the loop for customer conversations.
What 1stStep.ai is not
- Not a job-search tool. 1stStep.ai also makes a separate product, the 1stStep Job Agent at https://app.1ststep.ai/, for job seekers. The consultancy described on this page is the main business at https://www.1ststep.ai/.
- Not the same company as firststep.ai or other "First Step" businesses. 1stStep.ai is spelled with a "1" and is based in Morris Plains, NJ.
- Not a guarantee. 1stStep.ai does not guarantee revenue, rankings, leads or results.
- Not generic consulting. Work is scoped around a specific bottleneck, such as slow lead follow-up or disconnected tools.
- Not a GoHighLevel reseller requirement. If you already have a CRM that works, we build on it.
About Evan Pancis
Evan Pancis is the founder of 1stStep.ai. He designs and builds the websites, automations and apps himself and works directly with owners.
Common questions
What does 1stStep.ai do?
1stStep.ai builds websites, workflow automations (mostly in GoHighLevel), integrations and apps on the tools a business already uses, and teaches owners to use AI on their current bottlenecks. It is led by Evan Pancis in Morris Plains, NJ.
Who does 1stStep.ai work with?
Insurance agencies, real estate brokerages, and owners of new and small businesses.
How much does 1stStep.ai cost?
Published starting ranges: Business & Bottleneck Audit $750–$1,500 flat (credited toward the build); websites from $3,500; automations from $2,500 per workflow; app MVPs from $10,000; build rescue starts with a $1,000 code review; consulting $200/hr or retainers from $1,500/mo. Each project is scoped on a free 30-minute call.
Is 1stStep.ai the job search app?
The 1stStep Job Agent at app.1ststep.ai is a separate product made by the same team. The main 1stStep.ai business is the consultancy at www.1ststep.ai.
How do I contact 1stStep.ai?
Book a Free Bottleneck Call (30 minutes) at https://www.1ststep.ai/book/, email evan@1ststep.ai, or call 973-800-3729.
Next step
If something in your business is taking too long or leads are slipping through, book a free 30-min Bottleneck Call.