Your Substack, fully set up for subscribers, revenue, and growth — in 4 done-with-you sessions.
The Substack Setup Sprint is a done-with-you Substack setup service created by Carrie Loranger — a Substack strategist who helps creators, coaches, consultants, side hustlers, and solopreneurs build a portfolio of paychecks from one newsletter.
Hands-on help setting up a polished, growth-ready, monetization-ready Substack — without wasting weeks inside tutorials, templates, and platform settings.
At a glance
Service: Done-with-you Substack setup
Timeline: 2–3 weeks
Led by: Carrie Loranger, Substack strategist
Format: 4 live 1:1 Zoom sessions (60 min each)
Price: $1,397 USD
Best for: Creators, coaches, consultants, solopreneurs
──── THE DEFINITION
What is a done-with-you Substack setup?
''
A done-with-you Substack setup is a hands-on service where an expert builds your publication alongside you in real time — covering technical configuration, content strategy, monetization setup, and growth systems.
''
The Substack Setup Sprint is Carrie Loranger's version of this service: four live 1:1 sessions that cover every layer of your publication, from homepage to growth funnel.
──── The Problem
Sound familiar?
You know you need a newsletter. You might even know Substack is the right platform. But every time you sit down to set it up, you hit a wall.
What goes on the homepage? How do you set up the welcome email? What's the deal with paid tiers? Should you enable monetization now or later? What sections should you have? What about Notes?
You've been Googling for weeks. You have 14 browser tabs open. And your Substack still looks like a default template.
You don't have a strategy problem. You have a setup problem. And you don't need more information — you need someone to build it with you.
The cost of waiting
Weeks of YouTube
14 open tabs
Default template
Zero subscribers
Is the Setup Sprint right for you?
This is for you if:
You're a creator, coach, consultant, side hustler, founder, or solopreneur who wants to launch a newsletter
You don't want to waste weeks watching YouTube videos
You don't have the time or desire to take a course — you need personal help
You want to start building your business engine now
You want to actually understand how Substack works, not just get by
This is NOT for you if:
You want someone to write your content for you — this is setup, not ghostwriting
You haven't committed to actually publishing a newsletter — we build the system, but you have to use it
You're looking for a self-paced course you can do on your own time — this is live, scheduled, done-with-you
──── The Method
The Setup Sprint Method
Every Substack publication needs four layers to grow. Most creators set up one or two and wonder why nothing happens. The Sprint builds all four.
01
01
Foundation
Your niche, brand, homepage, About page, and Welcome page. The identity layer.
02
02
Structure
Settings, monetization configuration, pricing strategy, domain, and advanced tools. The technical layer.
03
03
Content
Post templates, publishing cadence, formatting, and categories. The publishing layer.
04
04
Growth
Welcome email, lead magnets, Substack Notes, Recommendations, Community, and a 3-week content runway. The engine layer.
──── Everything you get
What's included
4 live Zoom calls
60-minute working sessions where we do the build together.
Homework + live review
Assignments between sessions, reviewed on the next call.
Templates & tools
Plug-and-play resources shared throughout the Sprint.
WhatsApp support
Quick wins and questions answered between sessions.
Recordings + recap notes
Every session captured so nothing gets lost.
Personalized feedback
Tailored to your niche, voice, and goals.
How it works
Session 1
Foundation, niche, and branding
Define your goals, niche, and newsletter strategy
Set up your homepage, About page, and Welcome page
Choose a strong title, tagline, and branding
Create your visual identity and Substack's look and feel
Session 2
Settings, structure, and monetization prep
Configure headers, footers, social links, and domain
Enable monetization if you're ready
Set pricing strategy (free, paid, hybrid models)
Explore Substack's 2026 website builder tools and community features
Session 3
Post setup and publishing flow
Format your first post templates
Establish publishing cadence and best practices
Tagging, categorizing, and formatting strategies
Session 4
Growth systems and welcome funnel
Set up and refine your welcome email
Plug in lead magnets and incentives
Leverage Substack Notes, Recommendations, and Community
Build a 3-week runway for consistent content and growth
────The Outcome
By the end of the Substack Setup Sprint, you'll have:
A clear newsletter concept and positioning
A polished Substack homepage
A completed About page
A completed Welcome page
Correctly configured publication settings
A simple visual and branding direction
A welcome email for new subscribers
A publishing structure for your first few issues
A Substack Notes and Recommendations growth plan
A monetization-ready foundation for paid subscriptions, digital products, coaching, consulting, or services
A 3-week content and growth runway so you know what to do next
You will not leave with a folder of ideas. You will leave with the core pieces of your Substack built, reviewed, and ready to use.
3 ways to set up your Substack
Setup Sprint
$1,397
- 4 live 1:1 Zoom sessions
- Built for your niche and goals
- 2–3 weeks
- Fully configured, growth-ready
- WhatsApp access between sessions
Setup Sprint
$1,397
- 4 live 1:1 Zoom sessions
- Built for your niche and goals
- 2–3 weeks
- Fully configured, growth-ready
- WhatsApp access between sessions
Need a smaller-scope option first? See the Newsletter Audit.
Real Clients · Real Results
What Sprint clients say
★★★★★
"
Carrie is extremely knowledgeable about what she does, and generous in sharing it. Her advice and support definitely helped me to achieve the bestseller status on Substack. She is one of the few creators and writers I know who genuinely lives by her own words.
Sam Illingworth
Substack bestseller
Jan 22, 2026
★★★★★
"
I received a referral for Carrie when I was looking for help getting my Substack business called "Speaking Engagement" to the starting line. I knew what I wanted to build conceptually, but I didn't have the knowledge of the intricacies of Substack to get me where I needed to go. I purchased Carrie's four-session starter package, and I am so happy I did. She did a great job walking me through how to build what I was envisioning. I would highly recommend Carrie!
Ryan Catherwood
Founder, Speaking Engagement
★★★★★
"
I supported your work because of how clearly you break down systems without hype. The way you separate thinking, setup, and execution helped me understand Substack as a platform — not just a place to publish. It's thoughtful, practical, and respectful of the reader's time.
Jennie
masterycircle.biz
About your guide
The 9-to-Thrive Newsletter creator
6 streams Revenue built in 15 months
18 yrs Fortune 500 marketing
8,100+ Newsletter subscribers
30+ Consulting clients
Meet Carrie Loranger
I spent 18 years in corporate marketing — 10 as head of communications and marketing for a Fortune 500 company, 8 as director of marketing for a franchise organization. In 2023, I left corporate and launched 9-to-Thrive on Substack. In 15 months, I grew it to 8,100+ subscribers and built 6 revenue streams from that single newsletter.
I've worked with 30+ consulting clients, built dozens of Substack publications through the Setup Sprint, and publish weekly on newsletter growth, AI tools, and the portfolio business model. I built the Setup Sprint because I kept seeing smart people waste months on setup when they could be publishing and growing.
Carrie Loranger is a Substack strategist who helps creators, coaches, consultants, side hustlers, and solopreneurs build a portfolio of paychecks from one newsletter.
Newsletter: thrivewithcarrie.substack.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/carrieloranger
Website: carrieloranger.com
Newsletter: thrivewithcarrie.substack.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/carrieloranger
Website: carrieloranger.com
Investment
$1,397
One-time payment · Pay-in-full
4 done-with-you calls
Session notes and recordings
WhatsApp access between sessions
Templates and resources
Growth and monetization support
Limited spots
Frequently asked questions
What exactly is the Substack Setup Sprint?
Describe the item or answer the question so that site visitors who are interested get more information. You can emphasize this text with bullets, italics or bold, and add links.
Who is the Setup Sprint for?
It's built for creators, coaches, consultants, and solopreneurs who want to launch a Substack newsletter but don't want to spend weeks figuring out the platform alone. If you'd rather have a Substack expert build it with you than piece it together from YouTube, this is for you.
What if I already have a Substack but it's set up wrong?
That's one of the most common reasons people book the Sprint. We'll audit what you have, fix the structural issues, and rebuild the parts that aren't working.
Do I need to be tech-savvy?
No. We walk through every click together on a shared screen. You'll understand exactly why each setting matters, not just where to find it.
What's the difference between this and taking a Substack course?
Courses give you information. The Sprint gives you a finished, working Substack. We build it together in real time across four sessions, with WhatsApp support between calls. You don't watch modules — you get your publication done.
How long does the full Sprint take?
Most clients complete all four sessions within 2-3 weeks. You'll have a fully set up Substack ready to publish by the end of Session 4.
What's included beyond the calls?
Homework assignments, templates, recorded sessions with recap notes, and WhatsApp access between sessions.
Is there a refund policy?
Because this is a service with live 1:1 time, refunds are handled on a case-by-case basis. If you're unsure the Sprint is right for you, reach out before booking.
Can I hire someone to help me set up my Substack?
Yes. The Substack Setup Sprint is a done-with-you service where Carrie Loranger helps you set up your Substack across four private sessions. It's designed for creators who want expert guidance instead of trying to figure out the platform alone.
What is the best way to set up a Substack for monetization?
Treat it as the foundation of a larger creator business, not just a place to publish posts. Inside the Setup Sprint, Carrie helps you think through paid subscriptions, digital products, coaching, consulting, services, partnerships, and subscriber growth from the beginning.
Is Substack good for coaches, consultants, and creators?
Yes. Substack combines publishing, email, audience growth, community, paid subscriptions, and simple website features in one place. The Setup Sprint helps you set it up so it supports your business model instead of becoming another disconnected content channel.