Business Brain – The Entrepreneurs’ Podcast

A common misconception is that it’s the great idea that makes a Small Business successful. Join us today on the Small Business Show to hear us dispel that myth and discuss taking Action to propel your business to success. Don’t wait. You’ll hear that message over and over again on this episode of the Small Business Show as Shannon Jean and Dave Hamilton share tips to get yourself started – to help move you from Idea to Implementation. Listen in and you’ll hear about the power of removing limits (most of them in your head) to get your business concept on paper, how to create and use an Action Plan to figure out what steps you need to take to make your idea a reality and why we believe creating an Org Chart (even if your name is in every box) is key to planning out the structure of your Small Business. We wrap up the show with a discussion of the ever important Working Agreement and why sometimes you just need to throw structure out the window to just start….Start today. Join us here, then get involved in the discussion at the Small Business Support Group! Chapters/Timestamps: 00:00:00 Small Business Show #183 for Wednesday, August 8, 2018 00:03:56 Opportunity for Efficiency 00:08:41 Take the time to build systems and micromanage yourself 00:11:27 Takeaway: Re-energize, Dig In [email protected] 00:13:21 SPONSOR: Timing, for anyone billing their hours. Visit timingapp.com/smallbusiness and get a 14-day free trial and save 10% when you purchase. 00:15:22 SPONSOR: Visit TextExpander.com/podcast for 20% off your first year. 00:17:43 Starting a Business Step 1: Ideas to Action 00:19:28 Go make it happen! 00:21:12 Get it on paper Remove the limits! 00:23:36 Create an action plan Who’s involved? Partner, Banker, Spouse, How much money do you think you’ll need? Add more. 00:24:30 Budget your time. 00:27:51 Failure is part of the process 00:28:30 What other resources do you need? What marketing will you do? 00:29:24 Create an Org Chart The E-Myth 00:33:14 The Working Agreement Concept Partnership organization Partner Contributions (money, time, effort) How is the money split? 00:35:13 The Friendship Clause 00:36:26 Forget all this: get started. Employ those… folks. 00:40:13 SBS 183 Outtro   The post Moving from Idea to Action – Get Started Today With Your Small Business – Small Business Show 183 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

If you own a Small Business, it’s bound to happen: a long-time employee drops a bomb by telling you they are leaving to take a position at another company. How you react can have a dramatic impact both inside and outside your business. Your actions will send a message to both your employees’ and your customers. Join Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean for this episode of the Small Business Show where they discuss their methods for handling a surprise departure of a key employee. Listen in for tips about not taking things personally, how to gauge the short and long-term impact, managing the timing of the employee’s departure, and why your customers are more concerned about who’s staying vs. who’s leaving. After the show, stop by the Small Business Support Group to share your story and join the discussion! Chapters/Timestamps: 00:00:00 Small Business Show #182 for Wednesday, August 1, 2018 00:01:37 Carr Fire 00:02:13 “Poor Me” is the wrong attitude 00:04:37 Surprise, I quit! 00:07:18 First question: Why? Can I control this? Do I want to? 00:09:24 Advice: Don’t take it personally! 00:12:48 Second question: What’s the short-term impact 00:14:35 Do they leave immediately? Do they continue to benefit your business? 00:23:01 Do you counter-offer? 00:27:42 Be authentic to be positive People don’t care about who left. They care about who *is* left. 00:32:49 Avoid comfort. Stay on edge. 00:35:14 Let us know your story! [email protected] 00:35:44 Loyalty defined. Differently. 00:39:32 A symphony of action! “I don’t need time. I need a deadline.” 00:40:27 SBS 182 The post Loyalty, Losing Key Employees, and Managing Change at your Small Business – Small Business Show 182 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

Creating a lifestyle business that funds your Charmed Life is a goal for many Small Business owners. Today on the Small Business Show, we’re joined by Kimanzi Constable, business owner, author, consultant and coach who has created a lifestyle business that we can all learn from. Shannon Jean and Dave Hamilton learn how Kimanzi started out small and then built up his business as his credibility grew to the point where he typically travels to 25+ countries each year consulting for Fortune 500 corporations. During our discussion we cover topics including how to power through being told no and being ignored, how the power of small earnings can propel you to larger profits, becoming a knowledge worker, using an email list as the core of your online business, self-marketing tips and much, much more. Listen in and then join the discussion on the Small Business Support Group! Chapters/Timestamps: 00:00:00 Small Business Show #181 for Wednesday, July 25, 2018 00:01:04 Kimanzi Constable 00:02:37 25 Countries per year doing his own thing 00:04:39 Vacation relief – It’s a business! 00:06:45 Corporate Consulting, Consulting Agency, and Training People to do it all Smart Passive Income Podcast 00:09:39 180 Proposals = 36 Paid Gigs 00:11:37 Online vs. Offline Pricing 00:12:26 Be a knowledge worker 00:14:29 “Don’t ever get complacent in your successes” 00:18:05 SPONSOR: Visit TextExpander.com/podcast for 20% off your first year. 00:19:35 Email list: the core of what I do online Leverage Permission-based marketing 00:22:09 Self-Marketing Tips Be transparent. Add value. Connect and make yourself available. 00:25:02 Managing time: 70% on business, 10% on marketing, 20% on Netflix 00:26:00 Planning each month’s content plan 00:27:37 Create a business with life balance 00:29:49 Favorite mistake: Over-reaching 00:32:07 Find Kimanzi at kconstable.com 00:32:58 SBS 181 Outtro The post Interview with Kimanzi Constable: Corporate Consulting and Coaching – Small Business Show 181 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

Keeping focused while dealing with multiple tasks can be a challenge for any Small Business owner. Join Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean as they discuss how they keep focused on the critical parts of their businesses each day. You’ll also learn about the power of taking a break, how to measure productivity and how keeping simple lists can keep you on track each day. Shannon offers up a powerful question to ask yourself when trying to refocus you or your team on a task and we discuss the System vs. Goals approach to be sure you are focusing on the right tasks to fuel your success. It’s then on to a discussion about how to get help to keep your focus with resources like the Small Business Support Group being a great place to get started. Listen in for all this and more on this episode of the Small Business Show!   00:00:00 Small Business Show #180 for Wednesday, July 18, 2018 00:01:54 Focusing on Focus 00:03:49 Value in Play Time 00:05:56 Feeling productive 00:08:09 The immense power of simple lists 00:10:24 What could we be doing to generate more cash? 00:13:28 What is my system? Systems vs. Goals on the Small Business Show 00:16:08 What is the why? 00:17:45 Talk about efficiency and focus with your peers 00:21:00 Small Business Support Group 00:21:29 Focus on why you did this? 00:24:52 Focus on successes 00:26:36 SBS 180 The post Are you Focusing on the Right Things for your Small Business? Small Business Show 180 for July 18, 2018 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

  Join us this week on the Small Business Show for a discussion about current news that could impact your Small Business. Listen in and hear our thoughts about the new Supreme Court ruling regarding online sales tax rules, Amazon’s new Prime delivery business opportunity and our thoughts about mixing your politics with your business.           00:00:00 Small Business Show #179 for Wednesday, July 11, 2018 00:01:47 The Supreme Court changes online sales tax rules 00:05:13 Streamlined Sales Tax 00:07:03 TaxJar 00:09:33 Amazon seeking entrepreneurs for their Prime delivery business 00:14:18 A small business with one customer is not a small business. Walmart pricing with Tiffany-level service 00:16:13 Contact us: [email protected] 00:16:32 SPONSOR: Visit TextExpander.com/podcast for 20% off your first year. 00:18:44 The politics of mixing politics with your business 00:26:05 The nuances of communicating politics 00:28:37 SBS 178 Outtro The post Small Business News Roundup for July 2018- Small Business Show episode 179 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

Join us this week on the Small Business Show for an insightful interview with Winemaker Tony Biagi to hear his story of moving from being employed by wineries to starting his own consulting business and eventually creating his own wine label, Patria. During this episode, you’ll learn about how Tony built his own brand equity with his consulting business and how Tony learned early on to “not chase money, let it chase you”. Shannon Jean and Dave Hamilton discuss with Tony the challenges of stepping into situations where you are there to solve problems and how he works through the “because we’ve always done it this way” mentality. Tony talks about how nature plays a huge role in his business and how he has adapted to take advantage of the good and downplay when things don’t go right. We ask Tony about his favorite mistake and we were not surprised to hear a common answer of “apprehension” and not taking the jump early enough to go out on his own. Listen in for all this and more before you join us over on the Small Business Support Group with your questions and comments. 00:00:00 Small Business Show #178 for Wednesday, July 4, 2018 00:01:42 Tony Biagi Winemaker, Consultant, Entrepreneur Patria Wines 00:02:43 Winemaking: a marine biologists dream Wine Aroma Wheel 00:04:38 Formulating a plan… and seeing it through to fruition Don’t chase money, let it chase you 00:07:28 Building your own brand equity while consulting 00:09:30 Trust your gut, own your decisions. 00:11:17 Think critically, be proactive 00:12:07 Blossom yourself and your business by empowering others to do the job 00:14:49 Every decision needs a purpose “Because we did it before” is not a good answer 00:17:00 Stop and recognize the charmed life 00:18:44 When nature plays a role in your business 00:20:55 Protect your reputation 00:21:40 Weather patterns, “Global Weirding”, and Risk Management 00:23:31 Tony’s favorite mistake: Apprehension 00:24:51 Believe in yourself and take the jump! 00:25:06 Stop chasing your competitors and start working on your business 00:26:26 Accept your role Chase what you love, money will find you 00:28:22 Focus on what’s next Relationships and people 00:30:38 Find Tony Biagi: [email protected] Patriawines Instagram Why not What 00:36:00 You’re buying the person and the product 00:36:57 SBS Outtro The post Interview with Winemaker Tony Biagi – Small Business Show 178 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

    Hiring the right person for your Small Business is critically important. Hire wrong and you could be making a very expensive mistake. Join us today on the Small Business Show as we discuss the where, when and how of hiring. Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean have hired hundreds of employees for their businesses during their careers. Listen in to hear tips on where to find qualified candidates, how to make sure you actually need to hire in the first place and what steps to take during the hiring process to insure you get the right person for the job. 00:00:00 Small Business Show #177 for Wednesday, June 27, 2018 00:02:41 Cory asks: Where, When, and How to Hire? Hire slowly, fire quickly 00:03:53 Where to hire? Craigslist Monster Indeed Beeya LinkedIn Jobs 00:09:09 Communicate your culture to attract the right people 00:10:26 What’s the value add? 00:13:19 Do you need to hire? 00:15:02 SPONSOR: Simple Contacts – Get $30 off at https://simplecontacts.com/sbs or enter SBS at checkout 00:16:58 SPONSOR: Visit TextExpander.com/podcast for 20% off your first year. 00:18:20 How to Hire? Test to see how people handle situations 00:20:56 Use the litmus test to sell your company to candidates 00:22:30 Salary history… if you can! 00:24:13 Test communication through the entire process 00:27:00 Double-team interviewing 00:28:37 What’s one thing I should remember about you? 00:30:20 The power of silence 00:31:50 The offer: your time to sell! 00:33:51 Don’t skip new-hire orientation! 00:35:43 Contact us! [email protected] Small Business Support Group 00:36:15 SBS Outtro The post Hiring for your Small Business – Small Business Show episode 177 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

As Small Business owners, building and keeping trust with potential and existing customers is critical to our success. Join us today on the Small Business Show for an interview with Bjorn Burnett, a Small Business owner in the insurance and financial planning field. Bjorn has transitioned to a 2nd career in the insurance and finance field and shares how he came up with a system to add value to clients to gain referrals and then convert those referrals to future clients. Listen into the show, then ask questions and comment in the Small Business Support Group. We look forward to seeing you there! Chapters/Timestamps 00:00:00 Small Business Show #176 for Wednesday, June 20, 2018 00:00:42 Second (or third!) career 00:01:17 Interview: Bjorn Burnett 00:02:30 Putting out fires… and not the business kind! 00:03:00 What else can I do with my life? 00:05:06 Made my own stupid financial decisions… and then took a class 00:06:12 What does it take to be an advisor? 00:06:37 The reality of not making any money right away 00:08:43 Preparing for the Cash Flow Shift 00:12:00 The Referral Key “Bring us 300 People to Call” 00:13:22 Discipline and Consistency: Be Prepared to Ask for the Referral 00:15:34 Add Value First 00:17:42 Become a therapist – Get used to heavy conversations 00:18:56 How do you build trust? 00:22:10 Consistency in approach across multiple clients 00:23:07 Identify the idea client 00:24:46 Favorite mistake? 00:27:45 Expanding to the non-local solopreneur 00:29:03 SBS Outtro The post Building Trust and Using Referrals to Grow Your Small Business – Bjorn Burnett Interview– Small Business Show 176 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

Getting started with your Small Business can be challenging. Finding the initiative to power through obstacles is a critically important step on your path towards Small Business world domination. Join us today to hear our tips on startup initiative as well as steps to keep initiative going when you get in a slump and how to keep the fire of initiative lit with your employees’ and partners. We have talked about creating your own reality and “tricking” your brain to turn it into a machine that will propel you to success when you’re just getting started, but what about when you hit the inevitable “rut” of running your Small Business? We can help you with that, as well. And then there’s the people around you, your employees’ and partners that you may have to re-charge their initiative from time to time. Listen in and hear how your hosts Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean have kept that fire lit over the years. How about you? Share your experience, your tips and ask questions in the Small Business Support Group. Join 300+ Small Business owners, get and give help and find ways to rekindle that initiative we’re all looking for. Chapters/Timestamps: 00:00:00 Small Business Show #175 for Wednesday, June 13, 2018 00:02:22 Don’t be afraid of what you don’t know 00:03:42 Shannon’s Get-Started List Pretend there are no barriers Unlimited Resources Don’t let “common sense” to get in your way 00:06:00 Share carefully Share your ideas with Shannon and Dave – [email protected] 00:07:53 Getting out of a rut Make a Task List Manage Yourself 00:11:31 Use Calculus every day 00:12:00 When The River of Momentum Dries up Write it down! 00:13:33 Create a success list 00:14:30 Look at your system 00:15:43 The time to talk 00:18:03 Be comfortable being vulnerable 00:19:33 SPONSOR: Simple Contacts – Get $30 off at https://simplecontacts.com/sbs or enter SBS at checkout 00:21:18 SPONSOR: Visit TextExpander.com/podcast for 20% off your first year. 00:22:58 Creating initiative in others 00:26:15 Changing/Breaking Habits 00:29:11 Have the freedom to talk freely with your partners 00:31:13 What is your passion project? Fuel sideways thinking Employee success lists 00:34:49 Give people autonomy TextExpander for Controlled Autonomy 00:37:43 SBS 175 Outtro The post Finding and Keeping Initiative for Your Small Business – Small Business Show 175 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

What happens if your Small Business partnership fails? What is the best way to handle ending a partnership to avoid a major battle and to keep your focus on the continued success of your company? Join us today on the Small Business Show to hear how Shannon Jean and Dave Hamilton have ended partnerships without destroying friendships, finances and entire businesses. So, you’re a regular listener to the Small Business Show, followed our advice and created your own reality with a thriving business and have started to live a Charmed Life when out nowhere, your business partner begins to lose interest and stops managing their part of the business. Despite your best attempts to fix the problem, you’ve come to the conclusion that ending the partnership is the only way to save your Small Business. How do you proceed? On this episode of the Small Business Show, we discuss some creative ways to end a partnership while respecting all parties involved. Listen in and then visit the Small Business Support Group to comment and share your own tips! Chapters/Timestamps 00:00:00 Small Business Show #174 for Wednesday, June 6, 2018 00:01:43 “Almost halfway there” 00:04:35 Creating your own reality 00:05:01 “You’re almost finished!” 00:05:36 About our sponsorships, and benchmarks of success 00:07:33 SPONSOR: Simple Contacts – Get $30 off at https://simplecontacts.com/sbs or enter SBS at checkout 00:09:22 SPONSOR: GoDesignerGo.com/SBS – SBS50 00:10:54 end sponsor block 00:10:54 Ending a partnership 00:12:43 Don’t skip the Working Agreement 00:14:03 Approach is everything 00:15:06 Make the business and the end of it real 00:18:25 Side business can suffer lack of attention 00:20:00 Find an internal mediator 00:20:34 Separate personal loyalty from business loyalty 00:23:34 Don’t carry animosity 00:25:15 Work on it together – “Same side of the table” 00:27:30 Before hiring an attorney, talk through an earn out 00:31:28 The value of walking away for $1 00:33:41 Communication is key 00:36:14 SBS 174 Outtro – [email protected] The post How to End a Small Business Partnership – Small Business Show 174 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

small business systems and gdpr compliance       Why are systems more important for your Small Business than goals? Join us today for episode 173 of the Small Business Show to learn more about this awesome technique to accelerate your success. After the systems discussion, we jump into details of the recently enacted GDPR privacy and data management laws enacted by the EU. Does your Small Business need to worry about the GDPR? You’ll want to listen in to find out if you do and how to comply. Listen in for all this and more, then join us on the Small Business Support Group to share your thoughts! 00:00:00 Small Business Show #173 for Wednesday, May 30, 2018 00:01:30 Goals vs. Systems 00:07:12 Breakthroughs come from Systems 00:07:58 Treat the carrot as the byproduct 00:12:00 Your business is not THAT business, it’s YOUR business 00:13:40 Contact Shannon and Dave: [email protected] or Small Business Support Group 00:13:52 The GDPR Talk 00:18:38 The burden of GDPR Xero.com GDPR Small Business Guide 00:21:02 The eventual poster child 00:26:27 Act in Good Faith, Follow the Instructions 00:28:06 Passwords are insufficient FileVault 2 TrueCrypt is dead! Check VeraCrypt or CipherShed 00:30:00 Protecting Customer Data and Privacy 00:32:53 On the internet, we need speed limits, stop signs, and maybe even speed bumps 00:35:58 SBS 173 Outtro The post Small Business Systems vs. Goals and Complying with GDPR – Small Business Show 173 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

What essential Small Business Tools can you not live without? Join us today on the Small Business Show to hear from Shannon Jean and Dave Hamilton about the hardware, software and more they use to make their businesses run smoothly each day. Check the show notes below for a list of tools we discuss and join us to hear in detail why we believe these are essential for our success. Chapters/Timestamps 00:00:00 Small Business Show #172 for Wednesday, May 23, 2018 00:01:36 Small Business Support Group 00:02:30 Freedom vs. Flexibility 00:03:19 FileMaker 00:09:00 MacBook Pro and iPhone 00:11:01 Mail Act-On 00:13:29 SaneBox 00:16:31 SPONSOR: Visit TextExpander.com/podcast for 20% off your first year. 00:20:17 Synology DiskStation Synology Drive Synology Office 00:23:38 Slack Fastmail AOL Instant Messenger (RIP) 00:28:56 Trello Trello-Slack Integration 00:31:04 Microsoft Excel (or any Spreadsheet) Google Sheets Apple’s Numbers 00:33:25 Pixelmator ImageOptim 00:35:49 Music while you work! iTunes 00:39:19 Free time 00:43:25 SBS 172 Outtro The post Essential Tools for Small Business Owners – Small Business Show 172 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

The strength of your relationships with vendors and suppliers is critically important for the success of your Small Business. What’s the best method and when is the right time for you to start these relationships? Join us on episode 171 of the Small Business Show to hear our tips about this topic and more! Listen in and you’ll hear why timing is important and ways to make a human connection with all your vendors. Learn why Shannon Jean and Dave Hamilton believe that a good personality fit is important and why you should not be looking for professional help when you really need it (like in an emergency). Taking the time to find the right vendors and support partners for your Small Business can make all the difference. You’ll also hear how good communication can keep vendor relationships strong, how to leverage one good vendor to find another and the story behind why Shannon’s accountant fired him as a client! Join us today for the Small Business Show and then share your comments on the Small Business Support Group! Chapters/Timestamps: 00:00:00 Small Business Show #171 for Wednesday, May 16, 2018 00:01:00 We want you to come on the show: [email protected] 00:01:53 Forge Relationships with your Vendors 00:03:11 Get on their radar Use your affinity credit cards 00:07:29 When shipping: Beware the fees! 00:09:58 Find your vendors before you need them 00:12:30 Find the right vendors that fit your business 00:14:00 Create a litmus test 00:17:03 Find a good graphics person 00:17:50 SPONSOR: GoDesignerGo.com/SBS – SBS50 00:20:34 Keep your vendors up-to-date 00:23:15 Shannon Got Fired! (by his accountant) 00:24:43 Using Slack with your clients Large slack groups 00:27:07 Don’t forget the humanity 00:30:10 SBS 171 Outtro The post Forging Small Business Relationships with Vendors and Suppliers – Small Business Show 171 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

Should you cut corners to speed up starting a new business? If so, what corners can you safely cut that won’t create problems for you in the future? Join us today on the Small Business Show to get our take on what you should cut and what you should not! We start this episode off with a rant from Dave about unreconciled accounts and leaving cash on your suppliers books (hint: don’t do this). Shannon discusses his experience with business people that didn’t think refunds should actually be, well refunded, and why the stuff you least enjoy doing (accounting, for example) might be just the stuff you need to pay the most attention to. Our focus on this show is all about moving things forward. Not letting problems, delays or other peoples obstacles get in the way of your Small Business. Listen in and then join us at the Small Business Support Group to share your thoughts! Chapters/Timestamps 00:00:00 Small Business Show #170 for Wednesday, May 9, 2018 00:01:02 Whine: Not catching an unreconciled deposit…. For 2 years! 00:07:30 Managing Refunds 00:09:57 When accounting isn’t your favorite! Brian O’Connell on Small Business Show 00:12:03 SPONSOR: Visit TextExpander.com/podcast for 20% off your first year. 00:14:47 Cutting Corners – Taking the Liberty of Convenience 00:20:51 Move things forward! 00:23:25 Waiting for Permission is much worse than Taking the Wrong Action 00:26:39 Our Small Business Support Group on Facebook 00:28:50 aSBS 170 Outtro The post Removing Obstacles to Your Small Business Success – Small Business Show 170 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

Longtime listeners know that we believe that saying Yes more can help your personal brand and your business, but is there a point where saying No becomes more important? We think there is, and that part of your own Success Cycle is knowing when to say No and how it impacts your Small Business. Join us today as Shannon Jean and Dave Hamilton share their experiences using No to manage projects and take on just the tasks that will fuel your own achievement system. We discuss the differences between saying no in your personal life and in your Small Business and how you can easily fool yourself into thinking you’ve being productive, rather than just filling up your schedule. You’ll also hear about ways to say no to the request, not to the person making it, how to use a “conditional yes” to manage situations and we’ll help you stand strong against prioritizing other people’s emergencies. Join us today for all this and more on this episode of the Small Business Show. Then, visit the Small Business Support Group to share your thoughts, ask questions and join the conversation. Chapters/Timestamps 00:00:00 Small Business Show #169 for Wednesday, May 2, 2018 00:01:49 Shannon and Dave are here for the No Show 00:02:59 The Personal “No” 00:06:43 Managing your system 00:09:24 The “Fill my Schedule” trap 00:12:00 Procrastinating with Productivity 00:14:53 Harvard Business Review: “Say no to the request, not the person” 00:18:15 SPONSOR: GoDesignerGo.com/SBS – Save 50% off the start of your subscription with SBS50 00:22:04 Understanding the “Conditional Yes” 00:25:30 Is someone else going to have to do the work? 00:26:23 Do you have the confidence to say “no”? 00:27:39 Prioritizing Other People’s Emergencies 00:29:41 The Empowered “No” 00:31:01 Sometimes Exceptions become policy 00:35:55 SBS 169 Outtro The post The Power of Saying NO – Small Business Show 169 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

Running your Small Business is not always glamorous and full of inspiration. There’s going to be days (weeks, months) that you have to resign yourself to slogging through the muck, solving what may seem like insurmountable problems, all the while keeping yourself and your team motivated to make it through the day. On this episode of the Small Business Show, Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean discuss adversity, sharing their own stories and offering some tips on how to endeavor to persevere. On a recent episode, we focused on the Charmed Life that can be created by owning one or more Small Businesses. We got called out a bit in the Small Business Support Group from a business owner that was frustrated that we were forgetting about the struggle that many Small Business owners face each day, that living a “Charmed Life” just wasn’t an option for these folks. Based on that feedback, this episode focuses on the struggle, grinding it out each day when you need to and how to power through tough times. All the while, we remind the commenter that they were already creating their own Charmed Life by being able to make their own decisions, to control their own destiny by solving those problems, by battling through the struggle. Join us today for a special episode of the Small Business Show, then visit the Support Group to take part in the conversation! Chapters: 00:00:00 Small Business Show #168 for Wednesday, April 25, 2018 00:01:05 Shannon and Dave get called out! 00:02:04 All About that Grind 00:04:31 Parable: The Flat-Panel TV Débâcle Buy everyone’s problems 00:07:41 Tip: Be able to adapt 00:08:21 Scott, on Facebook: “Some of us haven’t gotten there yet!” 00:08:53 Parable: “This will put us out of business.” 00:12:44 When your self-worth is wrapped up in your business’s success 00:13:34 Tip: Bull-headed persistence Endeavor to Persevere 00:18:46 Parable: The sleep-aid story 00:20:14 Tip: Embrace the stress (at an acceptable level) 00:21:10 “Find other people’s Problems” (translates to Dave’s “Take People’s Headaches Away”) 00:22:48 SPONSOR: Visit TextExpander.com/podcast for 20% off your first year. 00:26:02 The grind never ends 00:26:31 Do you want to hear Dave and Shannon whine? [email protected] 00:28:01 Tip: Accept the definition of insanity 00:28:58 Tip: Try new things and document them 00:29:43 Tip: Force yourself to look at what’s not working 00:31:33 Tip: Accept good fortune, but don’t count on it! 00:33:53 Tip: Keep yourself mentally strong 00:38:14 Tip: Embrace small successes Create a Success List 00:42:17 Tip: Program your moist robot 00:42:54 Tip: Look in the mirror, even when things are going bad Stuart Smally By Golly People Like Me 00:44:55 SBS 168 Outtro The post Powering Through the Daily Grind of Running Your Small Business – Small Business Show 168 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

What’s the secret to living a Charmed Life and using your Small Businesses as fuel to create it? Join us today on the Small Business Show to learn how Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean have founded a multitude of Small Businesses over their lifetimes to bring them much more than profits. We’ve mentioned the Charmed Life on our show many times, in fact, it’s usually a sign-off message at the end of each show, encouraging you to “Keep living that Charmed Life!” It’s such an important part of our experience that we thought it was time to dig deep into the details and explain just what we mean with that phrase and how you can join us on this awesome journey. You’ll learn about creating a Success Cycle that keeps you moving forward, enriching your life along the way, how to create simple Working Agreements that not only keep things clear between prospective business partners, but act as a “test” when you are just at the beginning of a potential partnership. We then jump into a discussion about Freedom vs. Flexibility and why understanding the difference can, well, make all the difference in your perception of just what success is. Join us today and you’ll also gain some valuable insight on our concept of creating your own reality and why being able to write your own story is a huge part of the Charmed Life experience. During the discussion, we also touch on the financial benefits of your Small Business and why we believe that making money is secondary and that you will ultimately build more wealth with this method. We wrap up the show with a discussion about “selfishness” and why it’s a positive thing to enrich your own self so you can help others along the way. You don’t want to miss this episode of the Small Business Show! Listen in, then come join hundreds of other Small Business owners in the Small Business Support Group. Chapters/Timestamps 00:00:00 Small Business Show #167 for Wednesday, April 18, 2018 00:02:31 You’re building a set of stairs 00:03:35 Why do you want to do this? 00:06:09 When setup right, success comes quickly 00:07:26 The nuts and bolts of that Working Agreement 00:09:29 The Success Cycle 00:10:26 Living the Charmed Life Freedom vs. Flexibility 00:11:29 Tell your own story, create your own reality 00:13:11 Time is our most precious commodity 00:14:47 Don’t feel guilty about the charmed life! 00:16:52 Flexible financial picture 00:18:38 90% of my life is tax deductible 00:20:00 Creating your second family 00:21:30 Be selfish about making yourself feel good when helping others 00:22:35 Book a trip for someone else 00:23:52 And then book a trip for yourself 00:25:17 Non-taxable income 00:25:25 Enjoy laughter “We have a great time working very hard” 00:28:00 The money is secondary 00:29:39 SBS 167 The post Enriching Your Life Beyond Profits With Your Small Business – Small Business Show 167 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

Is all business risk bad? Searching for “small business risk” online and you’ll find most articles and resources are focused on minimizing or avoiding risk. Listen in to today’s episode of the Small Business Show to hear why we believe that taking risks is part of the “secret sauce” of business success. Without risk, you’re no different than the person working in the cubicle who never starts their business in the first place. Your hosts, Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean have some strong ideas about risk and why you should be embracing it, turning risk into opportunity for your Small Business. During the show, you’ll hear about how taking risks can create an advantage over your competitors and how the anxiety associated with taking risks can fuel your motivation. You’ll also learn about minimizing risks and how to use successes of any size to create a Success Cycle that will propel you to even more awesomeness. Join us today on the Small Business Show for all this and much more. Then, visit our Support Group to join the conversation! Chapters/Timestamps: 00:00:00 Small Business Show #166 for Wednesday, April 11, 2018 00:01:01 Did Facebook get your data from Cambridge Analytica 00:02:52 How much risk is OK for you and your business? 00:03:35 Risks are Opportunities 00:06:19 Tim Cote from Commonwealth Financial on Small Business Show 00:08:11 Ideas Aren’t Worth Anything (except the paper they’re printed on… including patent paper) 00:10:14 The benefits of a Working Agreement 00:11:20 Anxiety is Motivation Fuel! 00:14:00 Describing your wheelhouse 00:16:25 “I never lose, I either win or learn” Failure Sucks 00:18:00 You’re fooling yourself I’m a Loser, Baby 00:19:05 I’m a badass! 00:19:26 Train your inner judge 00:21:19 SPONSOR: Visit TextExpander.com/podcast for 20% off your first year. 00:24:17 Create a Success List 00:25:25 Calculated Risks Your Advisory Board: Good Insurance, Attorney, Banker, Accountant 00:26:41 “I’m doing this” vs. “What do you think?” 00:29:47 Forming an LLC is easy Dave used DelawareInc.com 00:34:12 SBS 166 Outtro The post How Much Risk is Right for Your Small Business? Episode 166 of the Small Business Show appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

Ever been frustrated when you’re waiting for a service provider to show up or a product to arrive and they/it are late? Today we turn the tables and discuss this problem as it relates to your Small Business performance and the importance of setting, then meeting (ideally exceeding!) your customers expectations. It’s time for episode 165 of the Small Business Show! Both Dave and Shannon have experiences they want to share with you about not having their expectations met when working with other businesses and how that impacted them, as well as the disruption is can cause at the company performing the work. The discussion focuses on how to set the customer expectation and how to manage communication during the process, so even if you can’t fulfill that expectation, your customers will still be happy. We then jump into ways to insure that your customer feels valued and why breaking bad news early and transparently can earn you customer loyalty. Then it’s on to talk and tips about empowering your employees to solve problems without having to seek approval from you or their supervisor and why saying “Yes” more will bring on the customer love. Listen in and then join the discussion on the Small Business Support Group!     Chapters/Timestamps: 00:00:00 Small Business Show #165 for Wednesday, April 4, 2018 00:01:27 To-Do Lists BusyCal 00:03:43 Customer Services Tales 00:04:48 Irving 00:06:25 Set that expectation 00:10:30 Then manage to that expectation 00:13:36 Missed expectations are massively disruptive to everyone 00:15:16 Own the communication of bad news 00:16:10 Quote hours, not days 00:17:45 Make the customer feel like they matter 00:18:41 Communicate that value 00:20:59 Why do these service companies fail at this over and over again? 00:23:48 SPONSOR: Simple Contacts – Get $30 off at simplecontacts.com/sbs or enter SBS at checkout 00:28:07 Apple 00:32:28 We Screwed Up 00:36:07 The Lesson is to find an empowered employee 00:36:56 Empowerment Translates to Importance 00:38:41 When you say “Yes” The Customer Loves You 00:41:18 Shannon’s Contractor Sucked the joy out of the project 00:42:04 The moral: set expectations, empower employees 00:43:00 What would it take to change this? 00:44:16 SBS 165 Outtro The post Setting Customer Expectations and Empowering Employees to Solve Problems – Small Business Show 165 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

When there’s a disagreement with a customer, supplier or someone else, what is the best way to resolve the problem while keeping your Small Business running strong? Have you been sued or are you contemplating suing someone? Join us today on the Small Business Show where we discuss Alternative Dispute Resolution methods like Arbitration and Mediation. If you are a party to a lawsuit, either plaintiff or defendant, chances are you’ll be pushed into mediation by a judge in an attempt to keep you out of court. Dave and Shannon have both been parties to mediation and as you can imagine, they have much to talk about when it comes to making the most out of your mediation experience. Listen in to episode 164 of the Small Business Show to hear their stories and pickup some tips, including how to keep everyone’s ego out of the process, including your attorney’s, how to pick the right attorney to represent you, how the process works and why timing is so important for success. After the show, keep the conversation going by joining us at the Small Business Support Group to share your mediation story, ask questions or comment on the show. Chapters/Timestamps: 00:00:00 Small Business Show #164 for Wednesday, March 27, 2018 00:01:09 Facebook Local 00:02:00 Mediation vs. Arbitration 00:05:03 Alternative Dispute Resolution 00:07:18 Mediation brings a possibility that you can work things out 00:09:27 The (painful) process 00:10:41 Co-mingling the parties 00:13:27 Picking the right attorney 00:15:50 Finding an outcome that’s livable 00:17:08 Avoid being intimidated 00:20:59 SPONSOR: Visit TextExpander.com/podcast for 20% off your first year. 00:23:24 SPONSOR: Visit JAMF.com/SBS to get your first 3 devices free for life! 00:27:05 Mediation leads to a lesson 00:32:19 The turning point 00:35:24 Avoid awkward elevator conversation 00:38:05 Avoiding the egos! 00:38:52 Beware the attorneys (and their egos) 00:41:01 Moving on is important 00:44:26 Focus on the resolution 00:46:07 Be aware of the lifespan 00:46:34 Dave’s Valuable Negotiation Lesson 00:48:42 SBS 164 Outtro The post Small Business Mediation Tips, Tricks and Advice from Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean – Small Business Show 164 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

If your business includes shipping products, having a strong relationship with a packaging and logistics company is critically important – In our experience, you can “leak” a tremendous amount of your cash out through your packaging and shipping costs. To talk more about the importance of this topic, we’re thrilled to have Caitlin Corkill with us today. Caitlin is the founder of Paq-Source, a company that provides packaging and equipment, as well as logistics consulting to help you manage your shipping, packaging and warehousing. There’s a lot to learn on this episode, join us, then visit the Small Business Support Group to ask questions and share your own story. Chapters/Timestamps: 00:00:00 Small Business Show #163 for Wednesday, March 21, 2018 00:00:56 Caitlin Corkill – Paq-Source 00:02:01 Worked for a family friend and then time to leave. 00:02:27 Eight months notice led to … not leaving! 00:03:37 Finding an overlooked city 00:04:10 Consolidating two offices Finding reliability inside efficiency 00:05:13 You learn so much about a business by being on a sales call 00:06:04 Are you ever surprised? 00:07:40 It’s like toner! 00:08:33 The importance of customer referrals Kyle Baccus from KC Tool on Small Business Show 00:09:50 No Catalog, Just Solutions! Avoid the bottom-feeders 00:11:38 “We sell commodities but we are not to be commoditized!” 00:12:50 Growing companies are our bread-and-butter “The companies where we thrive are the companies that are growing.” 00:13:35 What’s your sales/marketing process? 00:15:11 “Making money is easy, making it worth something is the fun in running a business.” 00:15:55 CARES = Customer Centric Adaptable Experts Solid. 00:16:19 Ten Paq Commandments (h/t to Biggie Smalls) 00:17:40 It’s a community you have, not just a business 00:21:27 Process, Process, Process (Process!) 00:24:40 Running between two cities 00:25:23 SBS 163 Outtro The post Small Business Interview with Caitlin Corkill of Paq-Source Packaging and Logistics – Small Business Show #163 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

What does it take for your Small Business to rank high on search engines when customers are looking for your products or services? Should you be allocating most of your ad budget to search, or are there better methods for your particular business to connect with customers? Join us on this episode of the Small Business Show for these topics and much more! Don’t miss the episode where your co-host Shannon Jean admits: “I hate search, it makes me feel stupid.” Hear his story and either laugh at or commiserate with him as he shares his frustration about ranking high on page one of search results. You’ll also learn why he feels that search engines are just another marketplace, like eBay or Amazon, only focused on selling your business information and how that changed his focus and approach to success with search. Dave Hamilton shares his story of battling scraper sites that market his own content, while blocking the original posts on search engines and how he is working to solve the problem. We then spend time helping you to focus your SEO priorities to better achieve success with tips and tricks about using SEO companies, consultants and in-house talent to raise your rankings. We wrap up the show with advice about ignoring your competitors that you don’t want to miss. Listen in to episode 162 of the Small Business Show and then join us at the Small Business Support Group to share your story and get your questions answered.   Chapters/Timestamps 00:00:00 Small Business Show #162 for Wednesday, March 14, 2018 00:01:17 SXSW Conference and Festivals 00:03:22 Watch your intake 00:04:51 Drunk words are sober thoughts 00:06:29 Managing the party 00:07:40 Building a Different Bond 00:09:08 Near Me Searches on Small Business Show 00:09:51 SEO and Keyword Optimization 00:12:48 Value vs. Relevance 00:13:34 SPONSOR: Visit TextExpander.com/podcast for 20% off your first year. 00:16:48 Dave’s SEO Story with Duck Duck Go 00:18:52 Bing and Yandex feed Duck Duck Go 00:20:20 Scraper sites are the worst! 00:21:56 Your site has a block on it 00:23:28 DMCA Requests to the scrapers 00:24:45 Defining your SEO priorities 00:26:31 Is SEO the best method for you to connect with your customer? 00:27:52 Bring your SEO in house if it’s that important 00:29:10 Use Free SEO Consultations as Sales tools 00:30:00 Beware Black Hat SEO 00:32:05 Don’t forget the human aspect 00:33:59 Avoid Competitive Keyword Battles 00:35:26 SBS 162 Outtro The post Search Engine Strategies for your Small Business – Small Business Show 162 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

With just about a week to go before tax filings are due for LLC and S-Corp Small Businesses, it’s time to discuss what to do when your NOT ready to file and the repercussions of missing a tax filing deadline. Join us for episode 161 of the Small Business Show as we dive back into the world of Small Business taxes! On this episode, Dave and Shannon spend time discussing tax extensions, how they work, why you would want to use one and what do in the event that you don’t have the cash to pay your tax bill. We share our thoughts on relationships with Accountants and why a few weeks before taxes are due is not the time to be searching for a new one. You’ll also find out why keeping your Accountant involved in both your personal and business life can help you save money when filing your taxes. If you’re already having IRS problems, we’ve got some tips and tricks for changing the relationship you have with the them and what to do if you are not getting the kind of help you think you should be getting from a particular IRS agent. We wrap up the show with advice on how to not miss important deductions, tracking expenses and using retirement accounts as well as hiring your kids to lower your taxable income. Join us today for all this and more on the show that is by, for and about Small Business! Chapters/Timestamps 00:00:00 Small Business Show #161 for Wednesday, March 7, 2018 00:02:23 Taxes can be fun! 00:03:52 Find an accountant you enjoy talking with 00:05:30 Tax Deadlines for 2017 00:06:43 Understand Tax Extensions 00:10:00 Why aren’t you ready? 00:11:06 When should you send your forms to your accountant? 00:12:35 Let your accountant file your extensions 00:13:32 SPONSOR: Visit JAMF.com/SBS to get your first 3 devices free for life! 00:16:26 Don’t hire an accountant today 00:17:14 Humanize your Relationship with the IRS 00:18:40 You are the IRS’s customer 00:20:20 Request a different agent 00:20:48 Communicate with the IRS 00:23:07 The new 2018 Tax Laws 00:24:00 Tracking – and finding – your deductions 00:27:00 Put your business owner hat on and ask for NFL tickets 00:29:45 Look at your personal retirement accounts and options 00:31:37 SBS 161 Outtro The post Small Business Tax Tips for Filing your Tax Returns – Small Business Show 161 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

Does your Small Business rank high for “Near Me” searches on Google, Siri and Bing? Join us on this episode of the Small Business Show for tips and tricks to be sure you are optimizing your website, your address and your business map records to steer more customers to your location. Local search is a critical part of Small Business success. Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean focus on getting your company name to come up when potential customers are using the terms “near me” when searching for a product or service that you may be offering. You’ll learn about setting up local resource pages, how to hack your address, phone verification tricks, using reviews to show activity and much more. Join us for episode 160 of the Small Business Show, then tell your story, comment and ask questions in the Small Business Support Group! Chapters/Timestamps 00:00:00 Small Business Show #160 for Wednesday, February 28, 2018 00:01:20 Optimizing your business for “Near Me” searches 00:02:39 Create or Edit Your Business listing on Google Local Search Apple Maps Listings Local “Bing Places” Listings 00:03:54 Remember that this is all local – use your local number 00:05:14 Staying within the Google and/or Apple Maps framework 00:07:49 Different photos for each location 00:08:36 Requires regular attention 00:10:58 Consider your physical address 00:12:23 The UPS Store gives you a “Suite Number” 00:13:07 Phone number verification can be a problem 00:14:13 SPONSOR: Visit TextExpander.com/podcast for 20% off your first year. 00:17:35 end sponsor block 00:17:39 How to verify your phone number and your account Phone.com 00:21:08 Make sure your business name, local address, and local phone are on every page of your website Remove “Inc.” or “LLC” 00:21:48 Create different local pages 00:24:33 Become a resource 00:25:30 Your Local SEO Management System 00:26:27 Cross-linking your Google Reviews 00:29:20 Promote even some of the criticisms 00:30:09 Link Yelp, BBB, Chamber of Commerce on your Local pages Small Dog Electronics 00:32:00 Working to gain trust 00:33:33 Be sure to mention your location regularly on your blog 00:34:31 Contact us! [email protected] Small Business Support Group 00:35:01 SBS 160 Outtro The post Optimizing your Small Business for Near Me Searches – Small Business Show #160 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

Does your website communicate in ways that potential customers can quickly grasp your story, what your services or your product line are? How do you simplify your message to capture the short attention span and should you rely on your Terms and Conditions to “protect” you from your customers? If your Small Business is getting interest from a larger company that wants to acquire you, who should you focus your energy on? The Deal Sponsor concept can help you narrow down your focus on which person you need to work closely with to make your merger or acquisition a success. Join us today on episode 159 of the Small Business Show for these topics and more! Shannon and Dave also revisit the “Beer Test” to insure that you have a cultural fit before entering into a partnership, joint venture or acquisition and why you need to have all office doors open during a crisis. We spend some time discussing Mihir Shah’s 5 C’s of a Turnaround and why these points surely apply to all businesses. Listen in and then join us in the Small Business Support Group to share your story or ask questions. Sponsors Jamf Now is a device management solution for your Apple devices at work. We make management tasks simple and affordable, so you can support your users; no IT required. Visit JAMF.com/SBS to get your first 3 devices free for life! Chapters/Timestamps: 00:00:00 Small Business Show #159 for Thursday, February 22, 2018 00:02:00 G4 Design – benefits of telling your story, and having people comment on it. 00:05:39 Teasing out the message 00:07:00 “Wow! I didn’t get that from your website at all!” 00:07:46 Learn to simplify your message 00:08:40 Don’t rest on your T&Cs 00:10:48 SPONSOR: Visit JAMF.com/SBS to get your first 3 devices free for life! 00:13:05 Mihir Shah from Drobo on Small Business Show 00:13:54 Mihir’s concept of a “Deal Sponsor” 00:15:44 “The Beer Test” 00:17:12 Spouse/Family Buy-in 00:17:37 Due diligence on your Deal Sponsor 00:18:32 What’s the “cost” of working with your acquirer? 00:19:16 “The business needs someone else” 00:20:36 Mihir Shah’s 5 C’s of a Turnaround 00:22:12 “Talk to 500 Customers per year” 00:23:45 Cash is King 00:26:22 Accepting when it’s time for Plan B 00:28:14 Culture is the “Fatalyst” 00:28:44 Your partners need to believe in your vision 00:29:29 Forced Vesting 00:31:42 “Nobody’s Door Gets Closed” 00:32:41 Owed money can’t be the elephant in the room 00:34:08 Jean-Louis Gassée’s Two Tokens Customer Service 00:37:34 The Hubris of Apple 00:38:30 A Customer problem is a customer opportunity 00:39:35 SBS 159 Outtro The post Website Feedback, Simplifying Your Message, Acquisition Deal Sponsors and more: Small Business Show 159 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

Are you ready to be acquired? Is your Small Business in a position to deal with a larger company that is interested in buying you for your products, your technology or your service revenue? Join us today on the Small Business Show to hear from an expert in mergers and acquisitions, Mihir Shah, CEO of Drobo. Mihir has had years of experience helping companies to analyze possible acquisitions and mergers, working to implement policies and procedures to insure a successful combining of two entities. You’ll learn about the two most important aspects of creating a successful acquisition and how your work on the front-end of the deal can help to insure things go right after the paperwork is signed. We also dig deep into supply chain management and how embracing change and understanding that a crisis is just another problem to solve can propel your business success. Listen in for this and much more on this episode of the Small Business Show, then visit the Small Business Support Group to ask your questions or to comment on the show! Sponsors Jamf Now is a device management solution for your Apple devices at work. We make management tasks simple and affordable, so you can support your users; no IT required. Visit JAMF.com/SBS to get your first 3 devices free for life! TextExpander. Summon your snippets in any app on Mac, iPad, iPhone, and Windows using a quick search or by typing your custom abbreviation. Share your snippets with your team, and keep them up to date together. Visit TextExpander.com/podcast for 20% off your first year. Chapters/Timestamps 00:00:00 Small Business Show #158 for Wednesday, February 14, 2018 00:01:03 Mihir Shah from Drobo 00:02:19 Cadavers are … not for me! 00:04:15 Going into the generation-old family business … of business! 00:04:56 Acquisition advice: Find a product market fit 00:06:25 Ensure a cultural fit 00:07:21 Beware science projects 00:09:09 If you’re being acquired, understand your acquirer’s Business Case 00:12:04 Understand that process is instrumental 00:12:51 Get to know your deal sponsor! 00:14:25 Deal sponsor and founder should understand each other’s companies 00:15:44 Sit on the same side of the table 00:16:30 Use “We” 00:17:01 SPONSOR: Visit TextExpander.com/podcast for 20% off your first year. 00:18:28 SPONSOR: Visit JAMF.com/SBS to get your first 3 devices free for life! 00:20:35 Mihir’s arrival at Drobo 00:21:27 Hurry up and get money 00:25:17 Dialing for Dollars 00:25:35 “My Brand is Crisis” 00:28:00 Find revenues and expense-to-revenue ratios for a similar, larger company 00:28:45 Favorite mistake? 00:29:27 Don’t underestimate the hardware business 00:30:05 How quickly can you adapt to a mistake? 00:31:16 Everything’s a challenge! Embrace it. 00:33:38 Don’t stop learning! 00:35:21 SBS 158 Outtro www.Drobo.com Drobo on Facebook Drobo on Instagram The post Interview with Mihir Shah, CEO of Drobo – Small Business Show 158 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

Need help with your Small Business Online presence? How about branding, marketing, search engine optimization and the overall look and feel of your company website? Listen in to today’s episode of the Small Business Show to hear how Corey Gauteraux of G4 Design House created a company to help Small Businesses prosper online. G4 Design House was created to leverage the skills of an in-house team of programmers and designers that had been creating websites and doing online marketing for 15+ years. They focused their efforts on Small Businesses, with an affordable subscription model that encompasses everything from logo and website creation, hosting, SEO, social media and other marketing efforts. After discussing what G4 does and how their services work, we spend time talking about how Corey markets G4 services, how they came up with their pricing structure and the value of referrals. Dave and Shannon ask about competing in what seems like a crowded design marketplace and how G4 distinguishes itself and Corey shares his “favorite mistake” that leads into a discussion about clear communication with clients. We wrap up the show with a talk about retaining staff and the pain that hiring the wrong person can cause. Join us today for this and more, then visit the Small Business Support Group to ask your questions and comment on the show! Chapters/Timestamps: 00:00:00 Small Business Show #157 for Wednesday, February 7, 2018 00:01:20 Corey Gauteraux from G4 Design House <https://www.g4designhouse.com/> 00:02:15 Taking a developed skill and turning it into your product 00:04:00 Tweaking the model from flat-upfront-rate to monthly plans 00:05:12 Ramp-up period to demonstrate value 00:07:06 If you build it… they don’t necessarily come. 00:07:30 Building the website is just the first step 00:09:29 Behind the curtain 00:10:35 Handling your sales and marketing with SEO 00:11:00 Cold-calling works, too! 00:11:29 Gauging each business: new, small, large, old 00:14:45 Homogenized pricing model 00:17:42 Return clients and referrals as your yardstick for success 00:19:11 Favorite mistake: not getting the details upfront 00:23:27 A WordPress-based Business 00:23:56 What’s the best part of your day? 00:26:01 Retaining staff and avoiding turnover pays off 00:27:31 Do what you can to avoid having the wrong staff Intern program is the “100-Hour job interview” 00:29:15 G4 Design House on Facebook The post Interview with Corey Gauteraux from G4 Design House – Small Business Show 157 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

It’s time for a Grab Bag episode of the Small Business Show! Tips and short topics that Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean have been waiting for an open episode to share with you. Join us today while we talk about: Why attending conferences and business events can have a huge positive impact on your Small Business and personal brand. The power of Referred Trust and being cautious when using your Social Capital with referrals. Pricing your product and services – is letting your customers set value and price a good idea? Using variable pricing in parts of your Small Business. Using Premium Pricing to up-sell your customers. Customer service and it’s impact on your brand. Using the Apple situation as an opportunity to learn. Listen in to this episode of the Small Business Show for these topics and more! Then, join us in the Small Business Support Group to ask your questions and share your comments. Chapters/Timestamps: 00:00:00 Small Business Show #156 for Wednesday, January 31, 2018 00:01:19 Grab Bag Episode Slack 00:01:38 Becoming eBay Event eBay buys Terapeak 00:04:04 eBay is trying to buy busses 00:04:53 SBS 136: Why you need to attend events and conferences 00:05:26 “Business is a Full Contact Sport” Tim Street 00:07:52 Referred Trust 00:10:00 Being cautious with your social capital Mike Dunn 00:12:20 It’s all about the nuance 00:12:48 The benefits and risks of inserting yourself as the middleman 00:16:11 Letting your customers set their own prices 00:21:51 What parts of your business make sense for variable pricing? 00:25:20 Situational Pricing “The $100 Pat on The Back” 00:27:07 Variable relative pricing 00:29:03 Alternative: showing the value of premium 00:31:35 The keys to success: Free shipping and free returns! 00:33:31 “Your profit margin is my opportunity” 00:34:23 Apple’s hubris impacting their customer service 00:39:25 Never forget: We’re all in the customer service business SBS 118: Pick the right customer service token! 00:39:59 SBS Outtro The post Attending Conferences, Referred Trust, Pricing Tactics and More– Small Business Show 156 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

Have an online business? Want to know how to protect yourself against copyright claims, privacy policy litigation and more? Join us today on the Small Business Show as we talk with Richard Chapo, an attorney that specializes in internet businesses, small and large. Richard has been practicing law for over 24-years with a current specialty in advising businesses and keeping them in compliance within the ever-changing legal system. Listen in and discover the most common mistakes internet businesses make when first getting started, as well as how to prepare your company for legal claims and how respond to them when they do arise. Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean dig deep with Richard when discussing the DMCA and how to use it to protect your business, along with the requirements to insure you’re compliant. We discuss why it’s important to sit down once per year with your attorney to talk about the weak parts of your business that may be exposing you to risk, and why full disclosure with your attorney is critically important. You’ll also learn about the new EU General Data Protection Regulations that you might be shocked to learn could impact your online business and we spend some time discussing the right way to handle recurring billing of your customers to not run afoul of the law. Listen in and then jump over to the Small Business Support Group to discuss the show, ask questions and help other Small Business Owners like yourself. Chapters/Timestamps: 00:00:00 Small Business Show #155 for Wednesday, January 24, 2018 00:00:49 Interview with Attorney Richard Chapo – Internet Business Lawyer 00:01:36 From sabbatical to Internet Law 00:02:46 Lack of getting legal advice – most common issue for online businesses 00:05:14 Charge ahead! 00:06:17 Common problem: Terms & Conditions 00:07:18 Beware your own Privacy Policy 00:08:48 Today’s Internet age is “The Empire Strikes Back” 00:09:52 Sit down once/year with your attorney 00:11:03 General Data Protection Regulation 00:13:10 Hidden trap with the fair use defense 00:13:32 SPONSOR: Meet the PDFpen family – Powerful PDF tools for Mac and iOS. Edit, sign, scan, and OCR at your Mac or on the go. 00:16:17 Digital Millenium Copyright Act (DMCA) Are websites liable for copyright infringement for content uploaded by their users? 00:17:32 Is Facebook liable for any infringement by users? 00:19:43 You must now designate an agent for DMCA complaints DMCA Agent Service.com 00:21:32 DMCA = Guilty until proven innocent. When you receive a takedown notice, take down the content first 00:24:05 Dave shares a tidbit when he was fought with the DMCA 00:26:08 Recurring billing can be an issue You must put up notice re: charges, contact info and how to cancel 00:30:09 On the Internet, charging by the hour doesn’t work as well 00:32:39 As an attorney: I care about the weaknesses 00:34:30 Resist your natural temptation to ignore your business’s faults 00:34:59 Meet with your attorney once per year 00:35:10 SBS 155 Outtro SoCalInternetLawyer.com The post Keeping Your Online Business Legal – Interview with Attorney Richard Chapo – Small Business Show 155 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

The very essence of business success is all about finding a solution to a problem. When Ladan Davia was searching for employment, she found the process of using online employment websites frustrating and the results less than useful. Like any good Entrepreneur, Ladan founded Beeya.com to make things right. Recently, Dave and Shannon spoke with Ladan during a pre-sponsorship call for Beeya on the Small Business Show. During the call, they realized that Ladan would make a great guest and asked her to come on the show for an interview. Ladan joins us today to share her story. Beeya was founded on the premise that employment sites should be easier to use, provide a better experience and use better algorithm’s to match up prospective employees with employers. Along the way, Ladan wanted to level the playing field and provide everyone the same job opportunities, regardless of connections and to help effect positive social change with her company. Ladan speaks about raising capital to start the business, the importance of matching her company vision with prospective investors and working harder to protect other peoples money, and much more. Join us today on the Small Business Show, then visit the Small Business Support Group to share your questions and comments. Chapters/Timestamps: 00:00:00 Small Business Show #154 for Wednesday, January 17, 2018 00:01:32 Ladan Davia from Beeya.com 00:02:24 From Hard News to Entertainment Industry to Business Owner 00:04:54 “I had never applied for a job” It’s hard to find a job 00:06:54 Balancing everyone’s opportunities 00:08:14 Beeya’s algorithm is different 00:09:06 Starting a funded business 00:12:13 The process of raising money. 00:13:23 Matching visions with investors. 00:15:40 Working harder for other people’s money. 00:16:42 $50,000 is a very big loss 00:18:26 Paperwork doesn’t mean anything 00:19:41 Podcasts are better than Google AdWords 00:22:49 An employment website that can make positive social change 00:28:11 SBS Outtro   The post Leveling the Playing Field in Employment with Ladan Davia from Beeya.com – Small Business Show 154 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

We’re starting a brand new business year with a brand new tax reform act that will impact your Small Business. Get yourself ready by listening in to this episode of the Small Business Show! On the Small Business Show, we believe that you are a better steward of your money than the government, especially when it comes to investing in your business, your employees and your community. So why not learn the details of the new tax laws and work with your accountant to minimize what you have to send away to the federal government? Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean jump right in to discuss the details of the tax changes and how you may want to start thinking differently about the structure of your business to take advantage of the new laws. You’ll learn about Pass-through business entities and the new 20% deduction for those types of businesses, along with the restrictions put into place for service businesses such as accountants and attorneys. You’ll be encouraged to ask yourself the all-important question: Are you an employee, business owner or both? Why does it matter and how do you use this decision to minimize your tax burden? We then spend some time talking about employee-driven businesses (manufacturing companies and restaurants for example) and how they are limited to a deductible that is no larger than 50% of their payroll amount in an effort to encourage Small Businesses to hire more awesome employees. Then it’s time to talk about capital investments and the fact that you now have a 5-year window to expense 100% of your short-lived capital investments within a calendar year. What’s a short-lived capital investment? We thought you’d never ask! Listen in to learn more. We close out the show with some juicy details about Carry-forward losses and Carry-back losses and how the new tax reform laws impact both. You don’t want to miss this part. Thanks for joining us today! After you listen, share your story by visiting the Small Business Support Group – we would love to hear from you! Chapters/Timestamps: 00:00:00 Small Business Show #153 for Wednesday, January 10, 2018 00:01:39 How Will the Tax Law Impact Small Businesses? Breakdown on New Tax Laws 00:02:37 Do your homework! 00:03:18 The New Pass-through 20% Deduction 00:07:28 Limitations for highly-profitable service-based businesses 00:10:17 Are you an employee, business owner, or both? 00:12:11 Learn the new laws as they apply to your business 00:13:03 Employee-driven businesses are limited to 50% of payroll 00:13:48 Find your own path 00:14:53 SPONSOR: Meet the PDFpen family – Powerful PDF tools for Mac and iOS. Edit, sign, scan, and OCR at your Mac or on the go. 00:18:00 SPONSOR: Create a FREE Beeya.com account today to find jobs AND find employees. Beeya.com’s algorithm is the first of its kind to match employees with employers based on each party’s specific requirements. 00:20:09 A note about the way we handle our sponsorships 00:21:08 You are a better steward with your own money 00:22:04 Expensing 100% your short-lived capital investments Like Section 179 deductions for your business 00:24:16 Changes to Carry-forward Losses and Elimination of Carry-Back Losses 00:27:02 Strategically Using Losses 00:28:22 Corporate tax reductions to rates and foreign earnings 00:29:59 Tax extensions are your friend! 00:31:58 “One Time” doesn’t always mean one-time 00:33:01 SBS 153 Outtro The post How will the 2018 Tax Reforms Impact Your Small Business? Small Business Show Episode 153 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

Everyone is an expert…at something. Listen to this episode of the Small Business Show for tips about using your expertise to start a consulting Small Business that can help you transition from an employee to an employer. Listener James B. asks some great questions about starting his technical support consultant business and Dave and Shannon are happy to spend the entire show discussing consulting as a Small Business. You’ll learn about the importance of getting paid immediately for your work and options for how to make billing your clients simple and efficient. We then discuss accounting software options and service contracts to make your billing happen automagically each month. Dave focuses in on how to respond when problems recur and how to avoid any confusion on repeat work before you leave the worksite. Shannon offers up his theory that communication before, during and after is the critical piece of the consulting puzzle, with tips for each type of communication and how to make it effective. You’ll also learn about effective marketing of your consultant business using Google Local Ads, Yelp, word of mouth and other options as well as the importance of branding your business beyond just your name. We wrap up the show with a discussion about removing obstacles that might keep you from getting started. Just start and then adjust. Don’t worry about things like certifications that may help with future marketing, but are not necessary to get your first clients. Listen in for these tips and more, then join us in the Small Business Support Group to share your stories and ask questions! Chapters/Timestamps: 00:00:00 Small Business Show #152 for Thursday, January 4, 2018 00:01:42 James-Advice to get started consulting 00:03:59 Figure out how to get paid immediately when services are rendered 00:05:50 Service contract model with subscription billing Freshbooks QuickBooks Online 00:07:52 What to leave behind? 00:08:35 What happens if the problem recurs? 00:10:01 Prioritize effective communication 00:12:25 Don’t be afraid to talk money MacSamurai’s Rate Page 00:18:02 Marketing Your Business Google Local Ads Yelp Brand yourself (aka “Dave The Nerd” or “MacSamurai”) 00:19:30 SPONSOR: Create a FREE Beeya.com account today to find jobs AND find employees. Beeya.com’s algorithm is the first of its kind to match employees with employers based on each party’s specific requirements. 00:22:34 Don’t over-prioritize certifications 00:24:15 Just start your business 00:25:21 Communicating during the consultation 00:27:08 Talk through it actively 00:34:55 Don’t obsess over the hours 00:36:02 What happens after you do the work? 00:38:21 Get those referrals! Always Following Up! Define the “end” 00:38:32 SBS 152 Outtro The post Consulting as a Small Business – What you need to know – Small Business Show 152 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

Join us for our last episode of 2017 where we share Small Business tips from our favorite shows of the past year. Dave and Shannon both have their favorite guests, topics and advice from episodes of the Small Business Show that aired during the year. We hope you’ve been able to live a Charmed Life during 2017 and we wish you the best for 2018! Chapters/Timestamps: 00:00:00 Small Business Show #151 for Wednesday, December 27, 2017 00:01:34 Lessons learned throughout the year 00:02:04 Jay Gentile from BoosterBots Created a business out of what he was building to help his other business 00:03:15 Jumpanzee – Live anywhere! 00:04:35 Effective problem solving – The key to being successful The Two Tokens concept 00:06:40 Lance from Bolt NWA – such a unique dude. 00:09:13 Mike Pile of Uppercase Branding “Brainstorming is a waste of time” 00:10:11 Learning to say No 00:11:41 Introduction of the Revenue Stack concept 00:13:05 Interview with Kyle Baccus of KCTool Selling your business and expanding on the Revenue Stack 00:15:30 SPONSOR: TextExpander.com/podcast gets you 20% off your first year 00:18:42 Listo Pencil – going low tech, and getting smaller to grow Challenges of taking over a multi-generational business 00:20:17 Interview with Cory and Doug from Tanglefree Waterfowl All about quality… lessons learned 00:21:32 Kelly Loudermilk from BuildHR 00:23:08 David Oliva of RD Appliance Raising prices a lot. Being a great tech doesn’t make you a great business owner Distinguishing yourself by going upscale – appliance repair 00:25:03 Entrepreneur Ethos – Jarie Bolander and Mihir Shah 00:26:34 Field Harmony The best mistake: forgetting that other people aren’t you. 00:28:02 The Turo Story… and the experience! 00:35:24 SBS Outtro The post The Small Business 2017 Year in Review – Small Business Show 151 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

It’s your first year in business and with just a couple of weeks left in the year, what tasks should you be working on? Join Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean for this episode of the Small Business show that is dedicated to helping new Small Business owners close out their first year of business. Listen in and learn about making sure you select the right type of entity for your business – should you choose an LLC, S corp or something different? Dave spends some time discussing how Pass-through business entities work and ways to protect yourself while saving on taxes with the entity type you select. We also spend time discussing multi-member LLC companies vs. single member and why you might select one over another. We then jump into a discussion about meeting with or finding a good accountant, identifying and tracking expenses and if you work out of your home, what type of deductions you may be able to take. All decisions that are important to discuss with your accountant, before they get busy with tax season. It’s also a good time to start thinking about what types of insurance you might need for your new Small Business. You’ll hear some tips on selecting an insurance broker and why you will want to add them to your Board of Advisors. We wrap of today’s show with a discussion about reviewing and negotiating supplier contracts and being sure to give yourself some credit for everything you’ve achieved and learned during the past year. Join us today for episode 150 of the Small Business Show and then visit the Support Group to share your story, get your questions answered or help another Small Business Owner. Chapters/Timestamps: 00:00:00 Small Business Show #150 for Wednesday, December 20, 2017 00:02:24 Welcome to your first year in business 00:02:53 What type of entity should your business be? 00:06:03 What is a Pass-through business like an LLC or an S-Corp 00:06:58 Multi-member vs. Single-member LLCs Legalzoom.com 00:09:01 Meet with – or find – your accountant 00:10:00 What are profits and losses and expenses? 00:12:42 Expenses for working out of your home? Internet Access Home office deduction Insurance Maintenance 00:13:36 Managing Freelancers 00:16:15 Administrative Fees are Fair Game 00:18:38 Find your deductions! 00:21:09 SPONSOR: Storyblocks.com/sbs gets you their Triple Bundle for just $149 00:24:05 Insurance Find a good insurance agent! 00:29:00 Negotiating any existing suppliercontracts 00:30:03 Pay all bills with your credit card 00:30:40 Inland Marine Insurance 00:31:25 Give yourself some credit 00:32:18 Don’t be afraid 00:34:59 SBS 150 Outtro [email protected] Small Business Support Group The post First Year Small Business End of Year Checklist – Small Business Show 150 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

Timing plays a critical role in the success of your business. When you launch your products, when you hire new employees, and in the case of Jarie Bolander, when you publish your book. Join us this week on the Small Business Show as we meet Jarie to discuss his new book,The Entrepreneur Ethos along with his good friend, Mihir Shah CEO of Drobo. Listen in and hear why Jarie felt compelled to create a roadmap for entrepreneurial success by building more ethical, inclusive and resilient companies. We also have a bonus today with Mihir Shah adding his comments to the discussion about the “why” of being an entrepreneur and how stepping in to solve problems can be rewarding far beyond any financial gains. Listen to the show, then join us on the Small Business Support Group to ask more questions and to add your voice to the discussion! Chapters/Timestamps: 00:00:00 Small Business Show #149 for Wednesday, December 13, 2017 00:02:17 Mihir Shah – from VC to CEO… always turning things around 00:03:32 It’s fun to strategize, but more fun to be hands-on 00:04:25 Jarie Bolander – the classic, patently-unemployable entrepreneur 00:06:17 The Entrepreneur Ethos 00:07:45 What’s the “why?” behind being an entrepreneur – Speak your truth 00:09:33 “If you want to be the best entrepreneur in the world, you need to aspire to the ethos” 00:10:44 The importance of timing – Patience vs. Procrastination 00:12:18 “I’ve always wanted to run my own business” 00:13:24 Failure is an option, but never the end result 00:14:03 SPONSOR: TextExpander.com/podcast gets you 20% off your first year 00:17:28 SPONSOR: Storyblocks.com/sbs gets you their Triple Bundle for just $149 00:19:36 Always stepping on landmines and learning how to diffuse them 00:22:39 The Drobo 5C – first USB-C product of its kind in the marketplace 00:23:56 The meeting of two minds, focusing on the positive 00:27:21 Unacceptable behavior is (finally) being called out 00:29:36 Stay away from the hardware business 00:32:23 Self-awareness matters! 00:35:33 Focusing on how to grow “You” Founders Network 00:39:34 SBS149 Outtro The Entrepreneur Ethos theDailyMBA.com A gift from Mihir and Jarie: visit DroboStore.com and use code SmallBiz10 for 10% off The post The Entrepreneur Ethos – Interview with Jarie Bolander and Mihir Shah – Small Business Show 149 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

It’s that time of year! With just a few weeks left before the end of the year, there are some important tasks to take care of for your Small Business. Join us on episode 148 of the Small Business Show to hear our take on what you should be doing before the New Year starts! We begin the show by discussing the importance of getting your financials (PL, BS, Cashflow) in order so you can review the data that will guide you in making end-of-year decisions that can impact your profitability, tax liability and much more. Without good data, you’ll have a much tougher time making decisions. If your Small Business carries inventory, now is the time to get your counts straight. You may want to write-down slow moving or old stock that can help to lower your tax liability – but you need to know what is actually on your shelves before you can see what you’re working with. Dave and Shannon then spend time talking about collecting on any overdue Accounts Receivables and making any last minute purchases that you may have been putting off. Both can impact your financials and taxes. If you’ve had a great year, is it smart to let some customers defer paying their bills? Listen and find out what we think of that tactic! It’s also time to do an HR review and think about bonuses and other rewards for your employees. But, how do you handle it if things have not been that great and you don’t have the funds to hand out this year? You guessed it, we have some tips on dealing with this situation that is sure to come up during your Small Business’ lifetime. We wrap up the show with a discussion about maxing out retirement accounts for both you and your employees, holding your annual LLC or Corp meeting and working on your annual Executive Summary. But wait, there’s more! Don’t forget to relax, reflect and recharge during this time of year with family and friends! We hope you enjoy this episode of the Small Business Show that is brought to you by Storyblocks! After the show, visit our Small Business Support Group to let us know what you think and to join the conversation. Chapters/Timestamps: 00:00:00 Small Business Show #148 for Wednesday, December 6, 2017 00:01:39 In two weeks, SBS 150 is specifically for first-year business owners 00:03:11 Your financials – P&L, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow Reports 00:04:22 Inventory 00:08:26 Recapturing Profits The IRS Episode on The Small Business Show 00:10:35 Patching up mistakes later 00:11:30 Matching your risk aversion with your accountant 00:12:49 SPONSOR: Storyblocks.com/sbs gets you their Triple Bundle for just $149 00:15:55 Accounts receivable 00:17:33 Cash vs. Accruals 00:20:20 Review your team – to Bonus or not to Bonus! 00:23:44 Executive Summary – Accomplishments, Mistakes, Expenditures, Income changes Make sure to have your Annual Meeting 00:26:39 Finding great ways to share revenue with your employees Pension, profit sharing, 401k 00:30:24 Just relax! The post End of Year Small Business Tasks to Complete – Small Business Show 148 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

Location, location, location. You’ve heard it before – but there’s much more to picking the right spot for your Small Business than just the location. Join Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean on this episode of the Small Business Show to hear their experiences and tips for choosing the right place. Listen and and hear about Retail, Office, Industrial and Flex spaces – what’s the difference and what to watch out for when considering moving your Small Business into one type of property or another. We discuss hidden costs, competition, being sure you get just the right amount of square footage and much more. It’s then time to learn about leases! The lease is the critical part of any rental contract and can save you, or bury you – depending on what’s in it. Learn about Gross vs. NNN leases, zoning issues, CAM, tenant improvements and more. We wrap up the show by discussing the benefits of owning vs. leasing a space along with a quick survey of other leasing issues you should be aware of. Join us today and then visit the Small Business Support Group to share your story or ask specific questions about where to locate your Small Business. Chapters/Timestamps: 00:00:00 Small Business Show #147 for Wednesday, November 29, 2017 00:01:16 Hacking badge codes! 00:02:53 Your Location 00:04:15 Retail Space 00:06:53 Foot traffic 00:08:53 Semi-retail Office Space 00:11:14 Competitive exclusion 00:12:06 Extra costs/Signage costs 00:13:58 SPONSOR: Storyblocks.com/sbs gets you their Triple Bundle for just $149 00:16:34 How much space do you really need? 00:18:30 Industrial Space 00:19:37 Build your own building 00:19:54 Zoning 00:20:30 Dealing with authorities 00:22:34 Be aware of the impact of your growth 00:24:08 Own or lease – Why not both? 00:25:54 Combo Space – Industrial/Retail/Signage Flex space 00:28:53 Signing a lease Gross Lease vs. Triple Net Lease 00:33:08 Learn what’s inside the “Common Area Maintenance” or CAM fees 00:34:45 Extra expenses Rent increases Utilities Insurance Lease cancellation Sublet Improvements Learn more about location and leases: Finding a location: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/73784 https://www.business.gov.au/info/plan-and-start/start-your-business/choose-a-location Negotiating a lease: https://www.legalzoom.com/articles/5-tips-for-negotiating-a-commercial-lease https://www.thebalance.com/how-to-negotiate-commercial-leases-that-favor-tenants-3515429 00:37:09 SBS 147 Outtro The post Finding the Best Location for your Small Business – Small Business Show 147 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

How important are the benefits that you offer to your employees? Are they valued more than cash? And how do you keep your benefit expenses down while maximizing the impact to your employees? Join us on episode 146 of the Small Business Show for all this and more! Benefits, beyond salaries and wages can have a dramatic impact on your employees and your bottom line. Dave and Shannon spend time today discussing how to best manage the increasing costs of health care and dealing with the impact of the Affordable Care Act. We also discuss outsourcing health care management before jumping into a discussion of benefits beyond health care. Paid time off – whether in the form of vacation, sick or personal time can be a powerful benefit to offer to your employees. We discuss using flex time and the idea of unlimited vacation and how they both impact your business. Shannon discusses the power of food as a benefit to your employees (and yourself!) – keeping your employees well fed can be a powerful performance incentive. We wrap up the show with a discussion of Checks vs. Cash vs. giving gifts to your employees – which has the biggest impact? Listen in for all this and more! When you’re done with this episode, join us at the Small Business Support Group on Facebook to share your stories and thoughts on employee benefits. Chapters/Timestamps: 00:00:00 Small Business Show #146 for Wednesday, November 22, 2017 00:01:30 Renting an apartment in NYC 00:02:04 The Benefit of Benefits 00:03:03 Healthcare Benefits 00:06:11 Managing Healthcare Costs Handling the HR requirements for your employees – time consuming and expensive 00:09:41 What is the impact of ACA? Zenefits 00:11:38 PTO = Paid Time Off 00:12:53 Offering your employees flexibility and empowerment 00:14:22 Unlimited Vacation Time 00:20:02 Research the laws Nolopress Legalzoom 00:21:09 USPS Informed Delivery/Insights Can be… your friend? 00:23:04 Comp Time/Flex Time 00:25:38 Aim for the bellies Cookout vs. Barbecue 00:30:41 Empty the trash 00:31:45 Bonuses – Checks vs. Cash vs. Gifts 00:37:58 SBS 146 Outtro The post Small Business Employee Benefits – Maximize Impact and Minimize Cost – Small Business Show 146 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

Many Small Business owners would agree, it’s not “if” but “when”. Will you have someone file a frivolous lawsuit against your company, or perhaps have a disagreement with a supplier that winds up in court. Or maybe a disgruntled employee feels like they were mistreated and they want to be compensated. No matter how it comes about, lawsuits can be a tricky minefield that can cause you to take your eye off your business. Join us on episode 145 of the Small Business Show to hear how to avoid getting sued in the first place, how to respond if you are sued and where to turn for help. Dave and Shannon discuss both sides of the courtroom – suing or getting sued and offer some sage advice about leaving your ego at home and not bringing your sense of justice when trying to settle a case. But first, learn about the mechanics and timing of a lawsuit – the more you know the more you can avoid pitfalls that can sink your chances of winning a case. Once you know how things will unfold, we jump into the Demand Letter and what to do if you receive one. Along with how to work with your attorney, insurance company and banker to be sure you and your business are protected during the entire process. Listen in and then visit the Small Business Support Group to offer YOUR advice and comment on our stories! Sponsor: StoryBlocks. Get a “Triple Bundle” – images, video, and audio – for the price of one with our special deal. Visit StoryBlocks.com/sbs to get all of this for just $149 for a full year of unlimited access where all content is royalty-free! Chapters/Timestamps: 00:00:00 Small Business Show #145 for Wednesday, November 15, 2017 00:01:43 What to do when you’ve been sued 00:04:38 Lawsuits are like spiders 00:07:12 Opportunity Cost of lawsuits 00:08:43 Learn judgment 00:10:47 Demand Letter 00:11:14 SPONSOR: Storyblocks.com/sbs gets you their Triple Bundle for just $149 00:12:51 Shannon’s story about being sued because he didn’t license his images 00:15:19 End sponsor slot 00:15:25 Avoid ego with lawsuits, leave your sense of Justice at home 00:17:00 Watch your cashflow during a lawsuit 00:18:23 The process 00:22:24 Meet your attorney before the lawsuit arrives 00:24:40 Check your insurance 00:26:03 Talk to your employees, your banker… QuarkXpress 00:29:53 …and your spouse! Nolo Press 00:31:38 SBS Outtro The post What to do When Your Small Business gets Sued – Small Business Show 145 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

When the time comes to let an employee go, what are some best practices to keep your Small Business running smoothly during the transition? Should you worry about how it will impact other employees? Are there rules about how you go about firing someone in your state? Should you apologize to the person you are laying off? Join us on this episode of the Small Business Show for answers to these questions and much more! Your co-hosts have been to the party, they’ve seen this movie before and it’s not their first Rodeo. Having experiences with firing and laying off employees during their 25+ years in business has made it clear to both Shannon and Dave that how you handle these “Exit” situations can have a profound impact (both positive and negative) on your Small Business. We start the show with Shannon’s belief that in most situations, it’s ultimately the fault of management (that includes YOU, small business owner) when you have to fire someone – listen in to find out why and then let us know if you agree with this concept. Then, we dive right into what type of message your actions send to the rest of your employees, how thinking of yourself as a Steward to your employees can help you to frame things correctly and how to handle layoffs that will impact your cashflow. Even the eternal optimists at the Small Business Show want to warn you about being overly optimistic during these situations and how it can ruin your layoff strategy, along with tips on keeping communication flowing during this type of transition and how to embrace the “art of firing”. Join us today – we have a lot to talk about. Then, come share your experiences on the Small Business Support Group!   Sponsor: StoryBlocks. Get a “Triple Bundle” – images, video, and audio – for the price of one with our special deal. Visit StoryBlocks.com/sbs to get all of this for just $149 for a full year of unlimited access where all content is royalty-free! Chapters/Timestamps: 00:00:00 Small Business Show #144 for Wednesday, November 8, 2017 00:01:01 Sponsorships… in the last episode! 00:01:18 Layoffs and Firing: Letting people go 00:03:37 It’s a failure on your part 00:04:52 Sending the wrong message 00:05:16 Never take this lightly 00:06:49 You are your employees’ steward 00:08:13 Your employees see things differently from you 00:09:35 Two different types of firings 00:10:01 SPONSOR: StoryBlocks.com/sbs gets you their Triple Bundle for just $149 00:12:33 Layoffs – the Burn rate vs. the Earn rate 00:14:15 Don’t let optimism ruin your layoff strategy 00:16:03 Layoffs: You don’t get to pick who stays, just who goes 00:17:27 Communicate with everyone 00:18:15 No closed doors allowed 00:19:38 Sacrificing yourself first 00:22:40 No “poor me” cards allowed 00:23:45 Draw the paycheck and loan it back to the company 00:24:37 Learn about Basis for your Investment in your Business 00:25:31 The art of firing 00:26:53 Employees that can’t transition with your business 00:30:32 The value of exit interviews 00:32:04 Do you apologize? 00:33:14 Be aware of becoming too comfortable 00:34:09 Don’t do it alone 00:37:08 SBS 144 Outtro The post How to Handle Layoffs, Firings and Exits from your Small Business – Small Business Show 144 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

When is it time to turn a labor of love into a real Small Business? And what pitfalls do you have to watch out for during the process? Dave and Shannon try to answer those questions and more on episode 143 of the Small Business Show! Join us today as we discuss why we do the Small Business Show and the numbers behind our downloads and subscribers. Information that any potential sponsor of the show would want to know. We also discuss ad rates and how to go about avoiding future conflicts over advertising rates when your show is still small, but growing fast. We then chat about how working with sponsors has us thinking of ways to invest that revenue to make SBS better for everyone. Should we invest in a new website, new advertising to grow our subscriber base or something else? Here’s your chance to give us your two-cents and offer us some advice. Listen in for a behind-the-scenes look at the Small Business Show and the business of Podcasting. Then, join us in the Small Business Support Group to share your thoughts on just where to invest our earnings. Chapters/Timestamps 00:00:00 Small Business Show #143 for Thursday, November 2, 2017 00:01:11 Tangent: the business of leasing hunting blinds 00:03:26 Seeking sponsorships 00:06:02 The numbers 00:11:21 Managing the customer expectation 00:12:25 Strategies for customer success 00:14:04 Contact us at [email protected] and in the Small Business Support Group on Facebook 00:15:12 It’s time for a new bank account 00:17:57 Then what? Where to invest this back in the podcast? 00:21:16 Finding the right partner… under your nose! 00:23:22 Finding the right sponsors for your content 00:25:09 Glasses … for nerds! 00:26:27 Give us your feedback 00:27:29 SBS Outtro The post Podcasts as a Small Business – Sponsors and Where to Invest for the Biggest Impact – Small Business Show 143 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

Ever have problems getting paid by your clients in a timely manner? We’ve all been there – that’s why it’s worth joining us today on the Small Business Show for tips and tricks that can improve your cash-flow by getting you paid on-time and in full. Oh, and there’s also another rant from Shannon about online banking and restrictions – you’ve heard these before, but he’s got a bit of a different take on it this time. Specifically, the inefficiency of banks when it comes to sending wire transfers on a regular basis. We then jump into the best way to bill for your product or service and how to make it so easy for your customers that they won’t have any excuse but to get you paid quickly. Of course, there will be those that still have problems and those folks require some special attention. Dave makes the case that an unpaid invoice is a customer service opportunity (or a disaster) and if you handle the payment collection correctly, you can solidify a customer relationship for a lifetime. We close the show with our thoughts on when to stop providing products or services to a company that has one or more past due invoices and some ways to negotiate a payment plan. Listen in and then send us your tips for getting paid on time! And if you’re looking for some cool Small Business folks to hang out with, jump over to our Facebook Small Business Support Group to learn more and to share your knowledge.   Chapters/Timestamps: 00:00:00 The Small Business Show #142 for October 25, 2017 00:00:36 Dave The Nerd’s Consulting Business… Kicks Back Into Gear! 00:03:17 Finding the right bank Online bank “High yield” savings Money Market Accounts and The Regulation D 6-Transaction Limit 00:06:16 Then the Roadblocks start 00:09:28 Approving your transactions 00:11:55 Wire transfer efficiency SWIFT Code 00:13:56 Contact your two favorite business geeks 00:15:37 Set yourself up to be paid easily! 00:21:28 What to do when they’re not paying 00:22:43 Keep emotions out of the process 00:25:30 An unpaid invoice is a customer service opportunity 00:26:42 What to do when someone doesn’t pay? 00:31:31 Radio silence is easy… and painful! 00:31:59 SBS Outtro The Small Business Support Group The post Tips for Choosing an Online Bank and How to Get Paid on Time – Small Business Show Episode 142 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

Ever dream of driving an exotic sports car? How about having a dozen of them parked in your garage, all being paid for by your rental customers? This week Shannon and Dave meet two entrepreneurs who have built a fast-growing and successful Small Business using the Turo car rental platform. If you’ve ever dreamed of that new Porsche or Jaguar, but couldn’t figure out a way to pay for it, this is the show you don’t want to miss! Gurjit Singh and Kevin Chou started The Gentleman’s Garage about two years ago and have expanded it to a dozen sports cars with availability in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Vegas. The guys share their story today, talking about the challenges of getting started, dealing with problems and removing obstacles to growth. You’ll learn about managing risk, protecting yourself (and your cars) and the importance of having a strong platform that backs you up with insurance and background checks. We discuss how Gurjit and Kevin divide up their duties and how they have fine tuned their rental business to insure that each car is profitable – removing older, slower performing vehicles and adding newer models to keep their fleet fresh. One key aspect becomes clear during the interview, Singh and Chou are focused on creating and managing the customer experience for customers that value convenience over price. By distinguishing there rentals with concierge style service, they have built a strong reputation with continued plans for growth. Join us today to learn about these topics and more, then join the discussion on the Small Business Support Group! Chapters/Timestamps: 00:00:00 Small Business Show #141 October 18, 2017 00:01:36 Gurjit Singh & Kevin Chou – Using Turo as a Small Business platform 00:03:46 It all starts with two Mustangs … and a BMW 00:04:25 Turo covered the repair! Shift – online car buying and selling 00:05:36 Beware the damage claims 00:06:47 Think about how people will drive your vehicles 00:07:58 Turo manages the risk 00:08:46 Turo valet service 00:09:20 Each car makes 2-3x monthly payment 00:11:31 The logistics of management 00:13:34 One-way fee 00:14:41 With affluent customers, you’re managing an experience 00:17:17 If you’re going to rent it out, don’t buy new! Certified Pre-Owned works very well for Turo 00:20:23 Managing the fleet – new cars, selling cars, registrations 00:21:38 The bankers slow you down! 00:24:46 Did making it a business ruin your hobby? 00:25:44 “The cars are still a thrill to drive” Converting to a membership business 00:27:45 Visit Gurjit and Kevin’s The Gentleman’s Garage on Turo … and Facebook 00:28:57 SBS 141 Outtro The post Building a Rental Car Small Business on the Turo Platform – Small Business Show 141 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

Ever been surprised by the small print in a contract that you signed for your Small Business? Join us today for episode 140 of the Small Business Show for tips on how to respond when companies try slip egregious terms and conditions into their contracts, how to shut down automatic bank withdrawals by using the Revoke Authorization tactic and much more. Dave and Shannon then jump into a discussion about setting up clear and concise payment terms to be sure you get paid quickly for your products and services. Setting a clear payment policy that is shown up front to your customers is critical to avoiding problems with getting paid in full and on time. Stay tuned in the coming weeks for part 2 of our Getting Paid discussion when we’ll discuss the best ways to manage debt collection. Next week, we’ll be joined by a pair of Small Business owners running their company on the Turo car sharing platform. Listen in and then jump over to the Small Business Support Group to comment and ask your questions. Chapters/Timestamps: 00:00:00 Small Business Show #140 October 11, 2017 00:01:20 Follow-up on Phone systems – Get enough data! Small Business Phone Systems – PBX, VOIP and Mobile Mac Geek Gab 00:04:20 Credit Card Follow-up 00:06:51 Pay attention to contracts 00:09:50 Learn about “Revoke Authorization” compliance 00:13:46 Send important emails with the recipient on the phone – to confirm verbal receipt. 00:16:45 Watch out for the arbitrary fees 00:17:52 Mind the details 00:19:15 Things you can do to make sure you get paid Brittany Alwerud from Handlr Business Management 00:20:32 Have a very clear payment policy 00:23:56 Get comfortable discussing money 00:24:45 “The value of your skill drops precipitously once you perform it” 00:27:12 Have a pre-services info sheet/agreement 00:28:16 Make sure to bill for your time 00:30:12 Debt Collection coming up! 00:30:40 Turo.com car sharing platform interview coming up next week 00:31:00 SBS 140 Outtro The post Small Business Contracts and Getting Paid on Time – Small Business Show 140 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

What’s the best Small Business phone system? Join Dave and Shannon today on episode 139 of the Small Business Show to hear about options ranging from pricey PBX systems, to Voice Over IP services like Phone.com, RingCentral and Grasshopper. During the discussion, Shannon spends some time pointing out how critical your phone auto-attendant can be when showing your customers what type of company you are. Current and potential clients will quickly learn about your business, based on how they are treated when calling your Small Business. We then jump into a discussion about mobile phone plans using traditional carriers, along with new offerings from Xfinity Mobile. Watch out for hardware compatibility issues and be sure to do the math correctly when comparing plans. Join us today and then share your phone tips at the Small Business Support Group! Chapters/Timestamps: 00:00:00 Small Business Show #139 October 5, 2017 00:01:08 Beware of too much time on your hands 00:02:30 Gone is the $10,000 PBX Phone System! 00:05:25 Are wired phones obsolete for your business? Phone.com RingCentral Grasshopper 00:12:14 Your phone system’s auto-attendant defines you 00:15:53 Question your existing systems 00:18:57 Beware the snowballs Beware T-Mobile and iPhone Spectrum 00:23:26 Xfinity Mobile 00:27:15 Make sure you do the math! 00:29:14 SBS 139 Outtro The post Small Business Phone Systems – PBX, VOIP and Mobile – Small Business Show 139 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

How important is it to understand and review your Small Business Balance Sheet, Profit and Lose Statement and Cash Flow Statement and how often should you be doing it? Join us today on episode 138 of the Small Business Show for our thoughts on these issues and more! Your financial statements are a window into your business. Failure to understand and review them frequently can lead to some massive headaches (take it from our own experiences!). On today’s show, we discuss where to get help in understanding what the data in your financials means and how to spot red flags that can be addressed early, before they become major issues. We then discuss the pitfall of focusing solely on Revenue instead of Cash flow that is the blood of your business. Many “profitable” Small Businesses have closed up shop for lack of cash. Then it’s time to roll out the idea of sharing your financials with your employees – in ways that protect your information but help to explain just how your Small Business makes money and where that money goes. There’s no doubt that your employees think your making more cash than you actually are, so it’s important to let them in on the data that shows how much it really costs to run your company. Finally, we discuss how often you should be meeting with your accountant – definitely NOT just at tax time. Join us for these topics and more and then click over the the Small Business Support Group to comment and provide your own tips!   Resources mentioned on this episode: The Balance: Guide to understanding financial statements QuickBooks: Warning signs in your financial statements The Balance: How to prepare a Cash Flow Statement The post Mistakes to Avoid and Tips about Small Business Financial Statements – Small Business Show 138 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

Should you be worried about only using a .COM domain name for your Small Business? How do you deal with coming up with a domain name if your Small Business name is not available as a .COM web address? Join us for episode 137 of the Small Business Show to find out what longtime, serial Small Business owners Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean think about this and much more. We then jump into a riveting discussion about old-school merchant credit card processing vs. newer solutions from Stripe, Square and Paypal. Dave shares his story of having to dig deep into actual paper reports to find out just how much his business has been getting charged and what roadblocks are being put in his way to keep his customers ongoing, subscription based payments intact when he changes processors. In the end, we agree with Paypal COO Bill Ready when he says “Talking about payment processing just for the sake of payment processing is just not that interesting.” The discussion needs to be about how transparent, contextual and portable can payment processing become. Listen in and then visit the Small Business Show Support Group on Facebook to ask your questions or comment!   Chapters/Timestamps: 00:00:00 Small Business Show #137 September 20, 2017 00:01:00 The concept of limited willpower 00:03:04 Todd-URLs for your Company name 00:07:25 Changing Merchant Providers Traditional gateway/bank processor vs. Stripe, Square, Paypal 00:11:06 The power of printing reports on paper to find out what’s going on 00:13:07 Watch the numbers! 00:15:27 Authorize.net tries one last time to screw Dave 00:17:50 Watch out for old-school, handcuff business models 00:23:19 Payments should be a boring thing, with the price going down 00:24:54 SBS Outtro The post Small Business Website Names and the Exciting World of Credit Card Merchant Processing – Small Business Show 137 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

Do you take the time out to attend Small Business conferences and trade shows? Would you like to make some powerful connections, meet some great people and renew your energy? Listen in to episode 136 of the Small Business Show to find out how you can have all this and more! Shannon just returned from the Paypal cNow conference in Chicago and he’s ready to talk about the people he met and what he learned. The conference included roughly 50 Small Business owners from across the country that got a chance to meet Paypal, Braintree and Venmo executives to see their latest “Contextual Commerce” payment products and sit in on some excellent Small Business discussions. Dave and Shannon spend some time discussing the power of attending these types of events and why you should be seeking them out as part of your business development system and the building of your personal brand. You’ll learn how to engage with the speakers, make long term connections and how to work your way onto discussion panels and to ultimately become an invited guest. Shannon also discusses his meeting with Marcus Lemonis from The Profit and why Marcus thinks that we all need to be more vulnerable when managing our employees, customers and suppliers. We wrap up the show with a discussion of “handshake deals”, Working Agreements and how to sniff out the people that just want to make you their race horse. Join us on this episode of the Small Business Show for all this and more! After you listen, click over to our Facebook Small Business Support group to ask questions and comment on the show. Chapters/Timestamps 00:00:00 Small Business Show #136 September 13, 2017 00:00:43 Paypal cNow (C for commerce) conference in Chicago Venmo 00:03:46 The power of attending conferences 00:09:12 Don’t give in to feelings of inadequacy 00:10:55 Engage when you’re there 00:13:02 Contact us! [email protected] 00:13:14 Marcus Lemonis from The Profit 00:15:05 The Most Important Word in Business 00:18:03 Digging into vulnerability 00:20:34 Confidence erodes empathy 00:22:07 Be careful using other people’s tools 00:24:36 Lack of confidence… breeds lack of confidence! 00:26:10 Maybe “we’re struggling here” is OK to say 00:28:47 Handshakes vs. Lies 00:31:50 Working agreements 00:34:20 Beware the pitchers! 00:37:12 SBS Outtro The Peninsula Chicago The post Why You Should be Attending Small Business Conferences and Let’s Get Vulnerable – Small Business Show 136 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

Do you run your Small Business from your home? Are you tempted to wear sweatpants everyday and move your desk close to the refrigerator for convenience? Join us today on the Small Business Show to get some great tips on how to stay motivated and disciplined while working from home. Long-time home office Small Business owner Dave Hamilton answers questions today as Shannon transitions from going into the office each day (24-years!) to working out of his home. We discuss finding a routine that works for you, checking in with your remote employees or partners each morning and the power of regular video meetings in Google Hangouts. We also spend time going over ways to manage remote interruptions, since no one can “see” that you’re busy when they ask for your help, using Slack reminders and the importance of actually combing your hair before you start work each day. Join us for these topics and more and then jump over to the Small Business Show Support Group to comment and offer us your own tips about working from home. Chapters/Timestamps: 00:00:00 Small Business Show #135 September 6, 2017 00:01:19 Blue… and Normal 00:02:39 No office is a joy… until it’s not! 00:05:47 Finding a routine that helps motivate and discipline your workflow Slack: Good morning! Water Cooler 00:10:41 Regular, Virtual meetings with your team or co-workers – facetime is important. Google Hangouts, Skype, FaceTime. Keeping you connected 00:12:03 Get More Done: 18 Tips for Telecommuters 00:12:50 The Pomodoro Method with Bob Levitus on Small Business Show 00:13:21 Recognizing that remote team members don’t know if you’re available and may contact you at the worst time. 00:17:25 Slack Reminders to keep you (and your team) on task when you are tied up and need to come back later to review 00:19:52 Get dressed. No Sweatpants! Comb your hair, bro! 00:22:42 Set clear boundaries and work hours for family and friends 00:25:21 Use the kitchen wisely! 00:28:59 Watch that your routine doesn’t become a rut 00:30:00 Make yourself accountable to YOU 00:31:26 SBS Outtro The post Tips for Running Your Small Business from Home – Small Business Show 135 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

What’s the best way to build your companies brand and create fans that are passionate about your products? Cory Fosket and Doug Butcher took a company focused on a single product line and expanded it over the last 13-years into a trusted brand for waterfowl hunters and outdoor enthusiasts. Along the way, they’ve learned about the importance of quality and how to step outside the business to plan 3-5 years ahead rather than just grinding it out day-after-day. Listen in to this episode of the Small Business Show to hear the Tanglefree story! During our discussion today, we get some great tips on creating strong relationships with your customers as well as your overseas suppliers to create a win-win environment where your company and suppliers profit while the customer gets a great value, high quality product. Cory and Doug spend some time discussing various measures of success and what means the most to each of them, as well as what they are doing to power through obstacles to propel Tanglefree into the future. We also learn about the pros and cons of selling to big-box retailers vs smaller stores and how to manage each different type of relationship. Finally, you’ll learn what to watch out for when developing products in China and how to create long term success with factory owners. Join us today on the Small Business Show for these tips and more! Then, jump over to the Small Business Show Support group to discuss the show. Chapters/Timestamps 00:00:00 Small Business Show #134 August 30, 2017 00:01:17 Duck season and Ducks Unlimited 00:01:24 Cory Fosket and Doug Butcher from Tanglefree Waterfowl Products 00:02:20 An Intentional Family Business 00:03:30 Acquire a minor line in someone else’s business and expand it 00:04:57 Expand the staff by bringing in more family 00:07:49 Building a brand in today’s world 00:10:28 Making brand engagement a daily focus 00:11:28 Relationships with Customers 00:13:40 Redefining a relationship ahead of its time 00:15:23 Favorite mistake: Not applying vision 00:16:38 The other favorite mistake: learning that quality is better than price 00:19:04 Success metric: Brand Engagement 00:21:40 Look three-to-five years out 00:22:46 Focus on relationships 00:26:01 For a business relationship to work, both parties need to make money 00:29:45 Reward Quality Control 00:30:12 SBS Outtro Tanglefree Waterfowl on Facebook and Instagram   The post Small Business Show Interview with Cory Fosket and Doug Butcher of Tanglefree Waterfowl – Small Business Show 134 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.