New C-Corp single founder, what is the correct process to grant a non employee consultant equity properly?

Likely your best avenue is to call H&R Block Executive Tax services. There might be one in your country. If not, just pick one from any US City. I'm in Austin, Texas + have been using them for years. They're way cheaper than a CPA + tend to stay current on new tax code, far better than a CPA, as they run internal, company wide trainings, all year round. You're smart to deal with this up front. Avoiding US I.R.S. trouble == a very good idea.

Based on the fact pattern you provided, it sounds like the entity would be classified as an investment club, so there are no licensing requirements, nor is the entity regulated by the SEC. If all of the LLC members are actively participating in the investment decisions, and you do not accept capital from outside passive investors, then you should be okay. However, you still need to be mindful of all state and local regulations that may apply to LLC's in your jurisdiction. I would recommend consulting an attorney to discuss your specific facts and circumstances.