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Program

About James

Guarantee

Investment

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LIMITED TO 40 PARTICIPANTS

Build a $200K
Vertical Portfolio
in 12 Months

Work one-on-one with James Shepherd to dominate a vertical, close 50 deals, and create $5,000/month in new recurring revenue — guaranteed.

Apply to Work With James > See How It Works

 Weekly Access to James

 50 Vertical Deals Guaranteed

  Full Team & Tech Support

logo-Feb-23-2026-05-35-00-8413-PM
Get In Touch

LIMITED TO 40 PARTICIPANTS

Build a $200K
Vertical Portfolio
in 12 Months

Work one-on-one with James Shepherd to dominate a vertical, close 50 deals, and create $5,000/month in new recurring revenue — guaranteed.

Apply to Work With James > See How It Works

 Weekly Access to James

 50 Vertical Deals Guaranteed

  Full Team & Tech Support

THE PROBLEM

The Game Has Changed

The market is shifting from standalone processing to embedded payments. Agents who don't adapt are already getting left behind.

Standalone Is Shrinking

Software companies are embedding their own payments. Every time they do, another terminal deal disappears — and so does  your residual.

Platforms Are Replacing You

When the software your merchant depends on starts requiring its own processing, they don't leave the software. They leave you.

AI Is Speeding It Up

Merchants want AI features — smarter scheduling, automated marketing, predictive inventory. Those features come bundled with software payments, not standalone terminals.

Contracts Won't Save You

When a PE firm acquires your ISV partner and forces processing in-house, no agreement protects you. Only deep vertical integration does.

THIS ISN'T HYPOTHETICAL

These are verticals James Shepherd works in today. He's watched it happen firsthand.

Auto Repair

Shop management software bundled its own processing with dual pricing. The agent's merchants never switched back.

Dealer Services

A dealer management platform announced mandatory in-house processing within 36 months. Every agent on that platform is on a clock.

Veterinary

A practice management platform rolled out integrated payments with automatic invoice reconciliation. Agents couldn't compete with that convenience.

Payment Processing

HVAC and plumbing software started requiring its own payment processing for dispatch-to-invoice workflows. Standalone terminals became irrelevant

THE SHIFT

Build an Asset —
Not Just a Residual

Not all residual streams are created equal. The difference between a fragile income and a sellable asset comes down to one thing: how deeply you're embedded.

• Vertical Software

Account lifetime

Years

Switching cost

Extremely high

ISV protection

You ARE the partner

Valuation multiple

40x+

RESULT

A $200K+ asset

• Standalone Terminal

Account lifetime

22 mo

Switching cost

Near Zero

ISV protection

None

Valuation multiple

Low

RESULT

A paycheck

The Math —  No Hype

50
ACCOUNTS
$5K
MONTHLY RESIDUAL
$200K+
ASSET VALUE

50 accounts × $100 avg. residual           $5,000/mo

$5,000/mo × 40× vertical multiple     $200,000+

$5K/month from standalone terminals and $5K/month from vertical software accounts look the same on paper. But one is a paycheck — the other is a $200,000+ asset.

THE SHIFT

Build an Asset —
Not Just a Residual

Not all residual streams are created equal. The difference between a fragile income and a sellable asset comes down to one thing: how deeply you're embedded.

• Vertical Software

Account lifetime = Years

Switching cost = Extremely high

ISV protection = You ARE the partner

Valuation multiple = 40x+

RESULT

A $200K+ asset

• Standalone Terminal

Account lifetime = 22 mo

Switching cost = Near Zero

ISV protection = None

Valuation multiple = Low

RESULT

A paycheck

The Math —  No Hype

50
ACCOUNTS
$5K
MONTHLY RESIDUAL
$200K+
ASSET VALUE

50 accounts × $100 avg. residual = $5,000/mo

$5,000/mo × 40× vertical multiple     $200,000+

$5K/month from standalone terminals and $5K/month from vertical software accounts look the same on paper. But one is a paycheck — the other is a $200,000+ asset.

THE PROGRAM

Your Hands-On System for Vertical
Dominance

This isn't a course. It's a one-on-one coaching partnership with James Shepherd. He'll work with you directly to choose the right vertical, build your go-to-market strategy, and take you from framework to a defensible, high-value portfolio in 90 days.

The First 90 Days

Identity Shift

Stop selling payments. Start specializing in a vertical. Referrals follow when people know exactly what you do.

Choose Your Vertical

Match your vertical to how you sell, where you sell, and who you already know. Quick early wins, clear path to scale.

Start Downmarket, Scale Up

Smaller deals close fast and teach you the vertical. Find an ISV partner who shares revenue and is building upmarket.

30 Conversations

Talk to 30 decision-makers. Ask what works, what doesn't. Those insights shape your offer and prove your value to ISV partners.

What You Get for 12 Months

Monthly 1:1 Coaching with James Shepherd

45-minute onboarding call, then 30- minute deep-dive sessions every month — plus weekly 15-minute check-ins you can schedule as needed.

Weekly Group Webinar

Live Q&A, hot seats, and real-time
insights from what James sees across all
coaching calls that week.

Go-to-Market Strategy

Custom roadmap for your vertical — from choosing your niche, to ISV partnerships, to lead generation and closing deals.

Team & Tech Support

Access to James's marketing team for branded materials, prospect lists, sales assets, and developer support for integrations.

Scripts, Templates & Assets

Vertical-specific sales scripts, email templates, survey frameworks, demo decks, and one-pagers — all tailored to your niche.

ISV Partnership Assistance

James personally helps you identify, negotiate with, and close software
partners.

james Medium

YOUR COACH

James Shepherd Doesn't Just Teach It - He Lives It

James Shepherd is the lead investor and operator behind multiple vertical-specific software and payments companies. He's not a theorist — he's closing vertical deals, building ISV partnerships, and scaling integrated payment platforms every single day.

From launching Field Pulse (70 demos in 45 days) to closing $20M in monthly volume potential with Micros in 90 days — James brings the same playbook, relationships, and execution framework directly to you.

"

I love doing vertical deals and want to do more of them — but I can't personally pursue every vertical. This program lets me leverage an agent network to do more deals together. You get the playbook, the partnerships, and the execution support.

James Shepherd
Founder & Lead Coach

Companies James Shepherd Built & Operates

1

Stackably-04

8 verticals launched, 40 developers, proprietary payment API

2

ccstorage logo

Fastest-growing self-storage software — 1,500+ locations, 75 new per month

3

Isoamp logo

400+ clients, 7-figure revenue, 60%+ gross margins

4

Full Stack Logo - CCSalesPro Sponsor

7 strategic ISV integrations launched, municipalities, fuel, restaurants, and more

james Medium

YOUR COACH

James Shepherd Doesn't Just Teach It - He Lives It

James Shepherd is the lead investor and operator behind multiple vertical-specific software and payments companies. He's not a theorist — he's closing vertical deals, building ISV partnerships, and scaling integrated payment platforms every single day.

From launching Field Pulse (70 demos in 45 days) to closing $20M in monthly volume potential with Micros in 90 days — James brings the same playbook, relationships, and execution framework directly to you.

"

I love doing vertical deals and want to do more of them — but I can't personally pursue every vertical. This program lets me leverage an agent network to do more deals together. You get the playbook, the partnerships, and the execution support.

James Shepherd
Founder & Lead Coach

Companies James Shepherd Built & Operates

1

Stackably-04

8 verticals launched, 40 developers, proprietary payment API

2

ccstorage logo

Fastest-growing self-storage software — 1,500+ locations, 75 new per month

3

Isoamp logo

400+ clients, 7-figure revenue, 60%+ gross margins

4

Full Stack Logo - CCSalesPro Sponsor

7 strategic ISV integrations launched, municipalities, fuel, restaurants, and more

THE GUARANTEE

"Show up, do the work, follow the plan —
we stay with you until you hit $200K."

This isn't a hope. It's a commitment backed by continued coaching at no extra cost.

SVG  50 vertical-specific merchant accounts in 12 months

SVG  $5,000/month in new recurring residual income

SVG  $60,000+ in annual residual revenue

SVG  A portfolio asset worth at least $200,000

SVG  Weekly 15-minute check-ins — schedule on your terms

SVG  If you don't hit the target — James keeps coaching you for free

SVG  No additional fee if it extends past 12 months

THE GUARANTEE

"Show up, do the work, follow the plan —
we stay with you until you hit $200K."

This isn't a hope. It's a commitment backed by continued coaching at no extra cost.

SVG  50 vertical-specific merchant accounts in 12 months

SVG  $5,000/month in new recurring residual income

SVG  $60,000+ in annual residual revenue

SVG  A portfolio asset worth at least $200,000

SVG  Weekly 15-minute check-ins — schedule on your terms

SVG  If you don't hit the target — James keeps coaching you for free

SVG  No additional fee if it extends past 12 months

IS THIS FOR YOU?

Built for Action Takers

SVG  This is for you if…

 

  • Successful sales agents ready to specialize in a vertical

  • ISO owners who want to build defensible, high-value portfolios

  • Agents tired of losing merchants to software companies

  • Anyone ready to transition from generic payments to vertical SaaS

❌  This is NOT for you if…

 

  • Complete beginners with no sales experience

  • People unwilling to change their approach

  • Anyone looking for a passive, done-for-you solution

IS THIS FOR YOU?

Built for Action Takers

SVG  This is for you if…

 

  • Successful sales agents ready to specialize in a vertical

  • ISO owners who want to build defensible, high-value portfolios

  • Agents tired of losing merchants to software companies

  • Anyone ready to transition from generic payments to vertical SaaS

❌  This is NOT for you if…

 

  • Complete beginners with no sales experience

  • People unwilling to change their approach

  • Anyone looking for a passive, done-for-you solution

INVESTMENT

Insert $30K — Pull Out $200K

Two options. One guarantee. Your choice.

ANNUAL — BEST VALUE

$30,000/year

Prepay for the full year and save $5,940. Same guarantee, same commitment, better value.

  • Everything in Monthly

  • Priority onboardin

  • 4-video vertical selection series

  • Time extension guarantee included

Apply to Work With James >

MONTHLY

$2,995/month

12-month program. Cancel anytime, but the guarantee applies when you stay committed for the full term.

  • Full program access

  • Monthly 1:1 with James Shepherd

  • Weekly group sessions

  • Team & marketing support

Apply to Work With James >

Capped at 40 participants · Spots filling now

THE WINDOW IS CLOSING

Make 2026 the Year You Build
Something Unstoppable

Only 40 spots. Work directly with James Shepherd. Build a vertical portfolio that pays you for years — and can't be taken away.

Apply to Work With James >

No obligation. 15-minute call to see if the program is the right fit.

THE WINDOW IS CLOSING

Make 2026 the Year You Build
Something Unstoppable

Only 40 spots. Work directly with James Shepherd. Build a vertical portfolio that pays you for years — and can't be taken away.

Apply to Work With James >

No obligation. 15-minute call to see if the program is the right fit.

James Consulting
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© 2026 Vertical Sales Mastery. All rights reserved.

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logo-Feb-23-2026-05-35-00-8413-PM

© 2026 Vertical Sales Mastery. All rights reserved.

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