> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.whetstone.au/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How to become a Whetstone advisor

> Apply to become an advisor on Whetstone. Who is eligible, what the application involves, and how to go live after verification.

Whetstone looks for semi-retired and retired executives and operators who want to help Australian business owners solve specific problems. Short, paid, clearly-bounded sessions — one hour at a time, over video, from wherever you are. You choose your own hours and can go quiet for a month without explaining yourself to anyone.

## Who we look for

Typical backgrounds include ex-COOs, ex-CFOs, exited founders, ops directors, heads of compliance and plant managers. You do not need to be available full-time.

## Applying

Start at **Become an advisor**. Allow about twenty minutes and have your documents to hand.

<Warning>
  If you already have a business-owner account, switching it to an advisor account is **permanent**. You will be asked to confirm, and told what you lose, before anything changes. It cannot be switched back.
</Warning>

<Steps>
  <Step title="Write your background">
    A one-line summary (the first thing a business owner reads), a few paragraphs on where you have worked and what you are genuinely good at helping with, and your total years of experience. This is not a CV — the person reading it wants to know whether you have stood where they are standing.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Pick what you advise on">
    Choose your areas from the industry list — as many as genuinely apply. These are what the Whetstone team searches when matching. Under-selecting means fewer bookings; over-selecting means the wrong ones.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Upload your documents">
    Proof of identity, and credentials relevant to what you will advise on — registrations, licences, memberships, qualifications.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Go live once verified">
    A person reviews your application. Once approved, your profile becomes visible and bookable.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Tip>
  Saying what you *don't* advise on builds trust and saves you mismatched bookings. It is worth a line.
</Tip>

## Documents are required

**Proof of identity is required to submit.** An application with no documents cannot reach the queue — it would look identical to a complete one on the reviewer's screen. If an upload fails you will see the actual reason, not a bare "failed".

If something goes wrong while you are filling the form in, you will not lose what you typed. Your bio, years, specialties and uploads stay put and the problem is explained on the page.

## If your field is not in the list

There is a **"something not listed"** box. Describe it. A real person reads it, and the list gets extended when the gap is genuine.

## First things after approval

* **Add your availability** — nobody can book you without it. This is the most common reason a newly verified advisor hears nothing.
* **Set up payouts** before your first session ends, so nothing is waiting when your money is released.

## Related articles

* [Verification process](/advisors/verification-process)
* [Your advisor profile](/advisors/advisor-profile)
* [Managing bookings](/advisors/managing-bookings)


## Related topics

- [How Whetstone Verifies Advisors](/trust/advisor-verification.md)
- [Advisor verification explained](/advisors/verification-process.md)
- [How Whetstone Works](/getting-started/how-whetstone-works.md)
- [Find a Matched Advisor on Whetstone](/owners/finding-an-advisor.md)
- [Getting paid as a Whetstone advisor](/advisors/getting-paid.md)