Small Business Operations Consultant in Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky

Your Business Sidekick.
Ashleigh Phifer, founder of Sidekick Operations..

A woman with glasses and earrings smiling while holding a stack of books against a plain background.

I'm Ashleigh Phifer, founder of Sidekick Operations and your go-to partner for turning operational chaos into calm clarity.

Based in Northern Kentucky, just outside of Cincinnati, I work with small business owners across the Greater Cincinnati area and nationwide to build the systems, SOPs, and workflows that make running a business feel sustainable instead of suffocating. I started Sidekick Operations because I believe every passionate business owner deserves a reliable, strategic support system - someone who can help untangle the chaos and stay focused on what actually matters. I genuinely care about the humans behind the business. That part hasn't changed.

A smiling woman and man wearing glasses, close together, in a restaurant or cafe setting.

My Story: From Family Business Kid to Operations Nerd

Tennessee-born, Kentucky-based, and proudly operating as the chaos taming sidekick behind Sidekick Operations.

I’ve always had a love for small business and entrepreneurship. I grew up in our family owned business, spending my days after school watching cartoons on the tv in the office and running around the warehouse shelves full of marine parts. My first solo venture was at 8 years old when I would take over the supplies closet to set up a pretend store to sell everyone office supplies under the table. All that free inventory for the taking! I thought I was a genius.

I started working there at 15 - invoicing, pulling parts in the warehouse, and packing up boxes to send across the country. Every day after school I drove to work and stamped my little paper time card to clock in. I think back on that and know that watching my grandma, grandpa, dad, and mom work together to provide for us and build something great is the foundation for who I am today.

Now I live just outside of Cincinnati in Northern Kentucky with my amazing boyfriend and our two sweet dogs: Chloe, the independent diva, and Monkey, the cuddlebug with a big personality. Over the past 10 years, I've worked in administration and operations across industries including private security, real estate, retail, and professional services, which means when you tell me about your business, there’s a very high chance I’ve seen something like it before. That cross industry experience is one of the things my Cincinnati and NKY clients say they value most.

My approach to business (and to life) is grounded in kindness, curiosity, and clarity. I believe biz systems don't have to be cold and support should always feel human. If you're a small business owner in Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, or anywhere who's ready to stop winging it and start building something that allows you to grow and scale, I'd love to be your Sidekick.

Ashleigh learning computer basics at an early age

Little me first learning how to use a computer. The rest is history!

How I Help Small Business Owners in Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky

Whether you're running a service business in Covington, a growing team in Florence, or a solo operation in Hyde Park, if your business has outgrown the scrappy systems that got you here, that's exactly where I come in.

As your small business operations consultant, I work directly with you to build the SOPs, workflows, delegation frameworks, and accountability systems your business actually needs. Then I help you use them.

What small business owners in the Cincinnati area work with me on:

 Business operations assessments - figuring out what's broken before we fix it

SOP creation and process documentation - getting the knowledge out of your head

Workflow design and business process improvement - streamlining how work actually moves

Delegation and team accountability frameworks - so you're not the answer to every question

Ongoing operations consulting - for business owners who want a strategic partner, not just a one-time fix


My Sidekicks

  • Close-up of a dog with a tan and white coat, sitting on a black car seat, wearing a colorful woven collar.

    Chloe Josephine

    DIRECTOR OF SNIFFING

  • Close-up of a small black and tan dog with pointy ears, lying on a textured gray blanket, looking up at the camera.

    Monkey Louise

    DIRECTOR OF SNACKING

If you're a small business owner in Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, or anywhere across the country looking for a thoughtful, resourceful partner to help you get clear, get organized, and grow intentionally - you've found your Sidekick.
Ready to talk? Book a free 30 minute discovery call and let's figure out if we're a great fit.