Community Highlights: Meet Chrystal Bell of Aspen Business Consultants

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chrystal Bell.

Hi Chrystal , thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I didn’t start Aspen Business Consultants because I woke up one day wanting to be a consultant—I started it because I kept seeing really good people, including myself, make really expensive mistakes in business ownership.

My background is rooted in entrepreneurship. I’ve owned and operated multiple businesses myself, including franchises, and spent years watching how people were sold the idea of business ownership without being fully prepared for the reality of it. I saw people pushed into franchises that didn’t fit their lifestyle, their finances, or their long-term goals—often because the process was rushed or transactional instead of strategic.

Aspen Business Consultants was built to change that.

I wanted to create a firm that slowed the process down, asked better questions, and actually put the individual first. Not just “Can you afford this?” but How do you want to live? What role do you want in the business? What does success look like for you five or ten years from now? From there, we work backward to find business models—franchise or resale—that truly align.

How I got here was very hands-on. I’ve sat on both sides of the table: as an owner taking the risk, and as an advisor helping others evaluate it. Aspen grew organically through referrals, transparency, and trust. We don’t charge clients for our consulting because I wanted the advice to be accessible and unbiased, and I wanted people to feel supported—not sold.

Today, Aspen Business Consultants helps people explore business ownership as a strategy—whether that’s additional income, a career pivot, or portfolio diversification—with clarity, education, and zero pressure. At the core, it’s about helping people make confident, informed decisions that actually fit their lives.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, it hasn’t been a smooth road—but the challenges are exactly what shaped how I do this today.

One of the biggest struggles was learning how to build a business that wasn’t driven by pressure or quick decisions in an industry that often rewards urgency. Aspen Business Consultants is intentionally educational, and that means not everyone who comes through the process ends up moving forward—and that’s okay. Not everyone belongs in business ownership, and not everyone belongs in franchising. Part of my role is helping people realize that before they make a costly mistake.

Another challenge has been helping candidates navigate fear—because fear is always present. There are real risks, real financial commitments, and real lifestyle changes that come with ownership. Many people have never been guided through what they should be afraid of versus what they shouldn’t, or what questions they even need to ask. That gap is where I live.

Personally, I bought two franchises earlier in my journey without fully understanding the process. I didn’t know what questions to ask, what to slow down on, or how to validate what I was being told. That experience changed everything for me. Aspen was built so someone else wouldn’t have to learn the hard way.

Today, my role is to keep candidates motivated—but also grounded. There are salespeople who are very good at selling the dream. My job is to help validate the opportunity, challenge assumptions, and ask the questions that protect the candidate long after the excitement wears off. That balance—supportive, realistic, and informed—is what makes the road harder at times, but it’s also what makes the work meaningful.

As you know, we’re big fans of Aspen Business Consultants. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Aspen Business Consultants helps individuals and families explore business ownership with clarity, education, and confidence. We specialize in guiding people through franchising and business resales—not by selling a concept, but by helping them understand whether ownership actually fits their life, goals, and risk tolerance.

What sets us apart is our approach. Aspen is built around education first. We walk candidates through the entire decision-making process: understanding business models, validating financials, asking the right questions in discovery, interpreting Franchise Disclosure Documents, and thinking through lifestyle, time commitment, and exit strategy. Many people are excited by the idea of ownership but have never been taught how to properly evaluate it—we fill that gap.

We’re also known for being a steady, grounding presence throughout the process. Business ownership brings fear, excitement, and pressure, often all at once. Our role is to keep candidates motivated while also challenging assumptions, slowing things down when needed, and making sure decisions are made with eyes wide open. We’re not here to sell the dream—we’re here to validate it.

Brand-wise, what I’m most proud of is trust. Aspen has grown almost entirely through referrals, which tells me people feel supported, informed, and respected—even if they ultimately decide not to move forward. We don’t charge clients for our consulting services, which keeps the process accessible and allows the advice to remain unbiased and educational rather than transactional.

What I want readers to know is this: Aspen Business Consultants is for people who want to explore ownership the right way. Whether someone is looking for additional income, a career pivot, or portfolio diversification, we help them ask better questions, understand real risk, and make confident decisions that align with their lives—not just the opportunity in front of them.

Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
I’m a learner, but not a linear one. I consume ideas in waves—podcasts, conversations, classes, and real-time application. I’ve bought plenty of business books, started Rocket Fuel and Think and Grow Rich, and quickly realized I’m a Visionary by nature. Sitting down to finish every book cover to cover just isn’t how I learn best.

What works for me is exposure, synthesis, and action. I pull insights from multiple sources, test them in the real world, and adapt quickly. That’s also why I lean into AI and evolving tools—by the time a book is published, the landscape has already changed.

We’re surrounded by incredible self-improvement content, and for visionaries, the challenge isn’t access—it’s focus. I’ve learned to trust my curiosity, take what’s useful, and move forward without needing to consume everything perfectly.

Pricing:

• No cost
• No obligation
• Come to me with an open mind
• Be willing to have homework and learn

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.aspenbusinessconsultants.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artofthebizstart/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AspenBusinessConsultants
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrystalbellaspen/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AspenBusinessConsultants