The How of Business - How to start, run, grow and exit a small business.

Fractional CFO – how and when to hire a fractional CFO to help you grow your small business, with guest Dan DeGolier. Show Notes page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/513-dan-degolier-fractional-cfo/ When and why should you engage a Fractional or Outsourced Chief Financial Officer (CFO)? What are the services a fractional CFO can offer your small business? Dan answers those questions and shares how he helps his clients grow their small businesses. Dan DeGolier, a CPA, is passionate about helping entrepreneurs "upward" to help them understand their finances and cash flows, and obtain the capital needed to grow. Working alongside leaders of companies to help them reach their highest potential is the reason he founded Ascent CFO Solutions over 11 years ago. A fractional Chief Financial Officer (CFO) offers small businesses the expertise of a seasoned financial executive without the commitment to a full-time salary, providing cost-effective access to strategic financial planning, system optimizations, and risk management. An outsourced or fractional CFO can support your small business in making informed decisions for growth, improving financial processes, and navigating fundraising efforts. By bringing in unbiased, high-level insights on a part-time or contract basis, a fractional CFO can help small businesses manage complexity, navigate financial crises, and achieve a solid financial foundation, making it an ideal solution for small businesses seeking to enhance their financial strategy without the overhead of a full-time executive position. Henry Lopez is the host of The How of Business podcast – helping you start, run and grow your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, small business coaching, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

"Brand Films" or videos, how to create and use them to grow your small business, with award-winning filmmaker Maxwell Frost. Show Notes page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/512-maxwell-frost-brand-films/ Maxwell shares his entrepreneur journey, and his current focus which is teaching businesses how to make 3-15 minute "brand films" with your smart phone, that grows your reach, fills your content calendar, and drives growth. Maxwell is the founder of Brand Film School - he serves business owners, marketers, and content creators. His innovative approach tackles a common challenge: creating content that connects with your audience, without draining resources, that drives growth. Maxwell believes that brand films will also allow your team to do more with less. By creating addictive content that connects with your audience on an emotional level through shared interests, experiences, and desires—in a way no pop-up ad or email campaign ever could. Henry Lopez is the host of The How of Business podcast – helping you start, run and grow your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, small business coaching, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

How to connect for sales success with entrepreneur and sales expert John Humphrey. John explains why sales success is directly related to the depth and breadth of our relationships and our desire to help others. Show Notes page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/511-john-humphrey-connect-for-sales-success/ Connecting is more than just traditional networking. John Humphrey is a serial entrepreneur with experience in starting businesses ranging from restaurants to software and consulting. John currently serves as Chief Connector of Connect for Life, and is the author of "Connect for Life: Network your Personal Brand and WIN". Henry Lopez is the host of The How of Business podcast – helping you start, run and grow your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, small business coaching, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

Top 7 Small Business Start-Up Mistakes and how to avoid them and launch a successful business, with Henry Lopez. Show Notes page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/510-7-startup-mistakes/ How to identify and avoid or minimize some of the most common small business start-up mistakes. Henry shares his top 7 common small business mistakes to avoid, so that you can start and grow a successful and profitable business. Top 7 Small Business Start-Up Mistakes: 7. Poor Research and Planning. 6. Bad Partners and Hiring the Wrong Team. 5. Starting Too Big and not following the MVP or iterative approach. 4. Poor Marketing & Sales. 3. Getting in Your Own Way. 2. Not Starting! Getting overwhelmed and paralyzed. 1. No Money! Henry Lopez is the host of The How of Business podcast – helping you start, run and grow your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, small business coaching, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

Finding your identity is your path to finding personal and small business success. Hosts Henry Lopez and David Begin discuss how to find your multidimensional identity. Show Notes page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/509-finding-your-identity/ Is your personal identity predominantly based on being the Small Business Hero or the Successful Serial Entrepreneur? Have you realized how this identity may actually be holding you back? Hampering you from achieving true success in your personal life and your entrepreneurial journey. Henry Lopez and David Begin share their experiences and tips on how to Find Your Identity. A person's identity refers to the way they understand themselves and their position in the world. It encompasses a wide range of elements that contribute to who a person is, including personal characteristics, values, beliefs, experiences, roles, and affiliations. Identity is both internally constructed, reflecting a person's self-conception and self-perception, and externally influenced by societal norms, culture, interactions, and relationships. Letting go of the business owner identity as your only self-concept is a journey that requires time and intentional effort. It's about finding balance and fulfillment in various aspects of life, which ultimately contributes to a more resilient and diversified sense of self. Henry Lopez is the host of The How of Business podcast – helping you start, run and grow your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

How Bad Bosses ruin lives and Great Bosses enrich lives and lead the growth of a small business, with guest Debra Corey. Show Notes page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/507-debra-corey-bad-bosses/ Debra Corey is back on the show to share insights and highlights from her new book, "Bad Bosses Ruin Lives - The Building Blocks for Being a Great Boss" about how to avoid being a bad boss that can ruin lives and instead learn how to be a great boss that enriches lives of our small business staff and leaders. Debra is a highly experienced and award-winning HR consultant, world-class speaker, and six-time best-selling author who has been named as one of the top 101 global employee engagement influencers. Henry Lopez is the host of The How of Business podcast – helping you start, run and grow your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

Legal considerations of buying and selling a small business with Danya Shakfeh, a mergers and acquisitions attorney. Show Notes page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/507-danya-shakfeh-legal-considerations-buying-small-business/ Attorney Danya Shakfeh shares insights and general guidelines, from a legal perspective, about buying or selling a small business. We discuss some of the legal considerations that apply when we are buying or selling a small business, and how to hopefully avoid some common mistakes. From a Letter of Intent (LOI) through the small business Purchase Contract, and all the due diligence steps in between, we discuss most of the important legal steps and considerations related to buying or selling a small business. Henry Lopez is the host of The How of Business podcast – helping you start, run and grow your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

Learn the fundamentals of budgeting for small business. How to create an operating expense budget for your small business, with host Henry Lopez. Show Notes page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/506-budgeting-fundamentals-small-business/ Why should you create an operating budget, and how to create an annual budget that helps you maximize profitability. Henry shares some best practices and tips and the key steps to create a small business operating budget. Creating an annual budget is a crucial exercise for small business owners, as it provides a financial roadmap for the year ahead. Here are the key steps to follow: 9 Steps to Small Business Budgeting: 1 - Review Previous Year Financial Performance 2 - Define Your Business Goals – including Revenue and Profit 3 - Estimate Fixed Costs 4 - Estimate Variable Costs 5 - Plan for One-Time Expenses 6 - Calculate Working Capital 7 - Assemble the Budget 8 - Review and Adjust 9 - Monitor & Adjust Henry Lopez is the host of The How of Business podcast – helping you start, run and grow your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

Justine shares her experiences and insights from selling her small business, a successful bookkeeping business. Show notes page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/505-justine-lackey-selling-her-business/ Justine Lackey is back on the show to share her experiences from selling her successful small business, and how she is currently helping people run and scale their own bookkeeping firms. Justine Lackey founded one of the very first virtual bookkeeping companies in all of America, Good Cents Management. Over fifteen years she grew her firm from a one woman show to a multi-six figure, multi-state firm which she sold in 2023. The freedom of owning her own company allowed Justine to raise her three children while never missing a school play or scrambling to find childcare on a snow day. One of proudest accomplishments though was creating an all-mom team - and giving her employees the freedom to build their job around their lives, and not their lives around their jobs. Today, Justine teaches bookkeepers (especially moms) how to run wildly efficient, highly profitable bookkeeping businesses while staying sane and having fun. Henry Lopez is the host of The How of Business podcast – helping you start, run and grow your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

How to create an Annual Strategic Plan for your small business, with host Henry Lopez. Why you should create a strategic plan at the start of the new year and how to do so. Show notes page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/504-annual-strategic-plan/ Henry shares best practices and tips and walks through the 10 steps to create your strategic plan – giving you a clear strategy and actionable plan to help you achieve continued success with your small business this year. Visit the Show Notes page for this episode to get the free Strategic Action Plan Outline download. Creating an annual strategic plan for your small business involves several high-level steps. Your annual strategic plan is a crucial tool for guiding the direction, priorities, and actions of your business over the course of this coming year. Henry Lopez is the host of The How of Business podcast – helping you start, run and grow your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

How Adam Siegel launched Recurate, a tech-enabled resale service that empowers brands and retailers to establish their own integrated resale platforms directly on their e-commerce sites. Show notes page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/503-adam-siegel-fashion-resale-business/ From Aerospace Engineering to starting a business in the fashion resale business, Adam shares his fascinating entrepreneur journey. Brands they work with include Steve Madden, Michael Kors, Christy Sports, and many others. Adam shares the details of co-founding and launching this business and their current business model. Henry Lopez is the host of The How of Business podcast – helping you start, run and grow your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

Business owners share their Small Business Success Highlights, and host Henry Lopez shares popular resources from The How of Business. Show notes page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/502-business-success-highlights-pt2/ On this special episode Henry Lopez (Serial Entrepreneur, Business Coach, and Host of The How of Business podcast) shares some information about The How of Business podcast and popular resources to help you start, run and grow your small business - including top book recommendations and most popular episodes from the past year. He also features a few of his small business coaching clients as they share their small business success highlights – they share some of the challenges they have overcome this past year and insights into how they have grown their small businesses. Business Owners featured on this episode: Thomas Erickson, owner of Clark Distributing Company and Vegefood.com McKay Coombs co-owner of Coombs Landscaping & Hardscapes Natasha Londono, owner of Rumbita Top resources featured include: Trusted Service Partners for Small Business Top Book Recommendations Most Popular Small Business Podcast Episodes of 2023 Henry Lopez is the host of The How of Business podcast – helping you start, run and grow your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

CPA Matt Chiappetta shares Year-End Tax Considerations for Small Business Owners (starting at 10:00). Show notes page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/501-matt-chiappetta-tax-considerations/ Matt is Henry's CPA, and he is excited to have him on the podcast to share his tips and advice on year-end tax planning for small business owners. He also shares his entrepreneur journey and why he decided to open his own business. Matt is the CPA for Solopreneurs and small business owners. Matt Chiappetta helps optimize the financial lives of Solopreneurs by focusing on personal and business tax planning, and all the other little details that encompass their financial life. In his past life, Matt was the CFO of a Registered Investment Advisory firm, and Corporate Controller for a manufacturing business where he assisted with a healthy 8-figure exit for the owners. Henry Lopez is the host of The How of Business podcast – helping you start, run and grow your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

Featured business owners share their Small Business Success Highlights, and host Henry Lopez shares popular resources from The How of Business. Show notes page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/500-business-success-highlights/ On this special episode Henry Lopez (Serial Entrepreneur, Business Coach, and Host of The How of Business podcast) shares some information about The How of Business podcast and popular resources (including Top Downloads and Trusted Service Partners) to help you start, run and grow your small business. He also features a few of his small business coaching clients as they share their small business success highlights – they share some of the challenges they have overcome this past year and insights on how they have grown their small businesses. Featured businesses include: Eva Stoeger owner of Maui's Finest Gifts Kaiden Routh owner of Routh Sales & Rentals Haley Johnson owner of Whatley Swim Henry Lopez is the host of The How of Business podcast – helping you start, run and grow your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

From auto garage owner to becoming a hair replacement entrepreneur, Helena Gibson shares her inspiring journey. Show notes page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/499-helena-gibson-hair-replacement-entrepreneur/ Helena is a highly successful serial entrepreneur, operating several businesses in the cosmetology and hair loss industry. The global hair care market size was valued at over $91 billion in 2022! And the Hair Loss Treatment Products Market is expected to grow from USD 1.90 billion in 2023 to USD 2.80 billion by 2028. Helena shares her entrepreneur journey, including her experiences in these industries, and how she developed her latest restorative hair care product. Helena is a licensed cosmetologist with over 18 years of experience in the hair loss industry. She is a certified wig and hair replacement specialist and seamless extensions. She also has certifications for men's hair replacement, women's hair augmentation, and medical hair loss. She is a serial entrepreneur, creator of the 7-Figure Salon Academy, founder of Strut Hair Solutions, founder of Unveil Restorative Hair Care, and a single mom. She is the host of The 7-Figure Salon Podcast. And she is the author of "Lead Like a Woman: Tales from the Trenches" and "Secrets to Beautiful Hair". Henry Lopez is the host of The How of Business podcast – helping you start, run and grow your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

How to price your product or service. Henry Lopez shares the fundamentals of pricing your products or services to operate a profitable small business. Show notes page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/498-pricing-fundamentals/ Downloads available on the show notes page: Pricing Fundamentals for Small Business Owners Priceless BizNotes How do you price your product or service to find that balance between what your target market will pay and what you need to charge to make a profit? On this episode of The How of Business podcast for small business owners, Henry Lopez shares his approach to pricing and what he has learned from other experts about pricing for small business products and services. Pricing Markup Calculation - 6 Steps: Calculate Indirect Expenses (Overhead). Calculate Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) or Cost of Sales. Set Target Selling Price. Calculate Break-Even Point. Determine Markup. Adjust Selling Price. Henry Lopez is the host of The How of Business podcast – helping you start, run and grow your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

Workers' Compensation Insurance for small business owners with Kevin Ring. Understanding and managing Workers' Compensation Insurance is crucial for small business owners, balancing both employee safety and benefits, and the financial impact on a small business. Show notes page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/497-kevin-ring-workers-compensation/ Kevin shares his expert tips and in-depth knowledge on managing Workers' Comp effectively. Kevin is the Lead Workers' Compensation Analyst at the Institute of WorkComp Professionals (IWCP), which trains both insurance agents and employers in how to build a successful workers' comp program. Employers have been taught that because workers' comp is mandatory, and the policy is the same no matter who they work with, that they have no control and should just shop for the lowest price. But nothing could be further from the truth! Kevin has reviewed and analyzed over 1,200 experience mod worksheets with clients and has served as an expert witness in litigation involving the workers' comp premium audit. Henry Lopez is the host of The How of Business podcast – helping you start, run and grow your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

5 Reasons You're Causing Chaos in your small business with Henry Lopez. To avoid or fix a chaotic business environment requires multiple approaches, but perhaps nothing is more important than asking ourselves (and perhaps our partners and leaders) if we are the primary cause of the chaos. Show notes page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/496-5-reasons-you-are-causing-chaos/ Reducing chaos and fostering a more organized and efficient environment within a small business can significantly contribute to its success and make it a significantly more enjoyable business to be a part of. We are not referring to good chaos – as there are times when some level of chaos is to be expected. We are talking about the consistently chaotic and disorganized work environment that perhaps has become the norm for your small business. 5 Reasons You're Causing Chaos: 1 – It's Your Identity 2 – You're not great at delegating. 3 – You've created a culture of dependency and chaos. 4 – You don't trust your team. 5 – You are Managing, not Leading Henry Lopez is the host of The How of Business podcast – helping you start, run and grow your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

The process and benefits of Minority/Women-Owned Business Enterprise (M/WBE) Certification (starting at 11:52) to help grow your small business with Sheena Thomas. Show notes page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/495-sheena-thomas-mwbe-certification/ Sheena is a 25-year supplier diversity program and diversity certification program professional. As the first Black woman Executive Director of the only two regional certification agencies in Texas, she was responsible for the certification of over 40,000 combined applicants and was the Supplier Diversity Coordinator for the nation's largest natural gas distributor, Atmos Energy. Minority/Women-Owned Business Enterprise Certification - a designation given to businesses that are primarily owned, managed, and controlled by individuals who are women or belong to a recognized minority group. This certification offers these businesses better access to certain public contracts, training, and financial opportunities. Sheena launched Lengo Strategic Partners in 2016 and helps minority and women owners gain access to corporate and government contracting opportunities by securing their M/WBE certifications. Lengo Strategic Partners also supports corporate clients by developing and enhancing supplier diversity programs. She is a newly published author with her debut collaboration project, "Building Beyond the 9 to 5" a collection of stories from Black women professionals and entrepreneurs. Minority, Women-Owned, Disadvantaged, and Small Business Enterprise Certifications offer entrepreneurs access to local, state, federal and corporate contracting opportunities. Henry Lopez is the host of The How of Business podcast – helping you start, run and grow your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

Public Relations for Small Business with Megan Bennett. Megan shares her experiences and tips for using Public Relations to promote and grow a small business. Show notes page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/494-megan-bennett-public-relations/ Megan has been on the Light Years Ahead Public Relations team for over 20 years. She started working at Light Years Ahead just a year after college and fell so in love with public relations that she stayed on and helped build the company into what it is today. Her expertise focuses on managing clients, engaging with top national media daily, and securing meaningful media placements. She has spearheaded and implemented countless successful PR campaigns for numerous brands and small businesses. Megan understands what the media wants and what tactics work to obtain the most high-profile placements. When it comes to placing a story or segment for a client, she is relentless with the media, and she doesn't stop until she makes it happen! Public Relations is affordable and makes sense for many small businesses. Megan offers a free consultation to help you determine if they can help you promote your small business through their PR services. Henry Lopez is the host of The How of Business podcast – helping you start, run and grow your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

Building vs. Buying a small business - which option may be best for you? David Barnett is back on the show to share his expertise on buying and selling small businesses. Show notes page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/493-david-barnett-build-vs-buy/ If you are thinking about investing in a small business, you essentially have two options: build your own business from scratch - including perhaps a franchise business - or buy an existing small business. David Barnett is an expert on the topic of buying and selling small businesses, and he is back on the show to share his knowledge and experience on the topic of Build vs. Buy. David Barnett has been working with small businesses for over 20 years. He's helped them grow, he's helped entrepreneurs buy and sell them, and he's helped people finance them. David is the author of 7 books about small business transactions and local investing. He's the host of a YouTube channel with hundreds of videos about buying, selling, financing, and managing SMEs. Henry Lopez is the host of The How of Business podcast – helping you start, run and grow your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

How to use YouTube Ads to grow your Small Business with Aleric Heck. Aleric shares his inspirational entrepreneurial journey, and an introduction to YouTube advertisement to help you grow your small business (starting at 17:17). Show notes page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/492-aleric-heck-youtube-ads/ Aleric is a YouTube Ads Expert and the Founder of AdOutreach. He has been on YouTube for over 12 Years, first growing a YouTube Channel to over 500,000+ Subscribers. Over the last 7 Years, Aleric has taught thousands of entrepreneurs and business owners how to grow and scale their business using laser-targeted YouTube Ads. Henry Lopez is the host of The How of Business podcast – helping you start, run and grow your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

Listener Q&A - Small Business Operations: Henry Lopez answers listener's small business questions related to small business operations. Show notes page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/491-small-business-operations/ This is a special Listener Small Business Question & Answer episode! We have gathered some of the great questions our listeners have submitted related to the on-going operations of a small business through the Listener Survey, and Henry answers these questions on this episode of the How of Business podcast. This group of questions are about the operations of a business, from what it means to create processes and procedures to hiring and retaining the best staff for your small business. Episode Index: [0:00] - Overview of the Components, Departments or Areas of Small Business Operations. [8:05] - What does it really mean to create Processes and procedures? Does everything have to be written down in a formal format? [21:14] - What are the Duties and Responsibilities of a Small Business CEO? [28:30] - How to hire the best talent? Where do you look and what does a small business offer to keep their talented employees? Henry Lopez is the host of The How of Business podcast – helping you start, run and grow your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

From selling guavas in a barrio in Santo Domingo as a child, to selling his startup to Mastercard in Silicon Valley, Edrizio De La Cruz shares his inspirational entrepreneur journey. Edrizio is the author of the new book "The Underdog Founder - How to Go from Unseen to Unstoppable". Show notes page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/490-edrizio-de-la-cruz-entrepreneurship/ Edrizio is a Silicon Valley entrepreneur and the first Latino Y-Combinator Visiting Partner. He is most known for selling FinTech startup Arcus to MasterCard, in its first Latin America acquisition. In 2013, Edrizio founded Arcus, a payments-as-a-service platform, secured $19M in funding from Y-Combinator, Ignia, SoftBank, and Citi Ventures, and grew the company to 100+ employees and 100+ clients, including Walmart, 7-Eleven, Santander, BBVA, and Rappi, before selling the business in 2021. "Underdog Founder" shares Edrizio De La Cruz's improbable odyssey from selling guavas in a Dominican barrio to co-founding his startup, Arcus, in Silicon Valley. Arcus was recognized by Forbes as one of the most successful startups of 2021 and was later sold to Mastercard. This no-nonsense playbook is for the entrepreneurial dark horse, a memoir and business narrative that presents seven key principles to rise above racism, poverty, imposter syndrome, and every imaginable and unimaginable startup obstacle. Henry Lopez is the host of The How of Business podcast – helping you start, run and grow your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

How to deliver Customer Service Excellence at your small business, with Micah Solomon. Micah is one of the world's leading experts on customer service. Show notes page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/489-micah-solomon-customer-service-excellence/ Micah is a Customer Service expert, and on this episode of The How of Business podcast he shares his vast experience helping companies deliver great customer service. He also shares actionable tips and advice from his latest book, "Can Your Customer Service Do This? Create an Anticipatory Customer Experience that Builds Loyalty Forever". Henry Lopez is the host of The How of Business podcast – helping you start, run and grow your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

Turning the Power of Mindset into Action, The Performance Paradox, with entrepreneur Eduardo Briceño. He explains that if all we do is perform at a high level, our performance suffers. To improve, we have to go beyond the known. To grow as a person and a business owner and entrepreneur. Show notes page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/488-eduardo-briceno-performance-paradox/ Eduardo shares his experiences and knowledge from his own life and his new book "The Performance Paradox: Turning the Power of Mindset into Action", to help us develop greater purpose, joy, growth, and impact through our small businesses and in our lives. "The Performance Paradox" has been selected as a "must read" by The Next Big Idea Club, curated by Susan Cain, Malcolm Gladwell, Adam Grant, and Dan Pink. Eduardo Briceño is a global keynote speaker and facilitator who guides many of the world's leading companies in developing cultures of learning and high performance. Earlier in his career, he was the co-founder and CEO of Mindset Works, the first company to offer growth mindset development services. His TED Talk, How to Get Better at the Things You Care About, and his prior TEDx Talk, The Power of Belief, have been viewed more than nine million times. Henry Lopez is the host of The How of Business podcast – helping you start, run and grow your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

Starting a flooring business with entrepreneur Bryan Park. Bryan shares his entrepreneurial journey, from attending the Air Force Academy to founding Footprints Floors, a nationwide full-service flooring provider. And his experiences and guidance on starting and growing a flooring small business. Show notes page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/487-bryan-park-starting-flooring-business/ Bryan Park is the founder and CEO of Footprints Floors, a full-service flooring provider in Colorado and across the nation. Under Bryan's leadership, Footprints Floors has established an exceptional reputation by prioritizing the customer and promoting the best in people, products, and business practices, which has enabled rapid growth in over 160 territories. The flooring industry is a segment of the home improvement industry which generates over $500 billion in annual sales. Offering a range of options from hardwood and laminate to carpet and tile, the flooring industry can be a profitable small business venture for entrepreneurs. With the increasing focus on home aesthetics and comfort, along with the constant need for renovation in both residential and commercial spaces, the flooring industry presents lucrative opportunities for entrepreneurs. Henry Lopez is the host of The How of Business podcast – helping you start, run and grow your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

Starting a Moving Business with entrepreneur Wade Swikle. How to start a moving company and perhaps consider a moving business franchise. Wade shares his inspirational entrepreneurial story - starting his moving company while in college with just $600 and growing it to a multi-million-dollar business and offering franchise opportunities in the moving industry. This episode is all about starting and growing a moving company. Show notes page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/486-wade-swikle-moving-business/ Wade Swikle is the founder and CEO of 2 College Brothers Moving, Storage and Franchising, host of the Grow Your Moving Company Podcast, and co-founder of Moving Titan Retreats. Wade's entrepreneurial adventure began over a decade ago when, as a student at the University of Florida, he embarked on a path to create his own moving company armed with just $600 and a pickup truck. Against all odds, he transformed his humble beginnings into a multi-million-dollar business with multiple locations. Henry Lopez is the host of The How of Business podcast – helping you start, run and grow your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

Franchise Side Hustle with The Franchise Guide, Giuseppe Grammatico, and host Henry Lopez. They discuss and share how you can create a safety-net for your job by investing in a side hustle franchise small business. Show note page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/485-giuseppe-grammatico-franchise-side-hustle/ How can you keep your job and own a small franchise small business on the side? Whether you are concerned about potentially losing your job, or not having enough saved to retire, learn more about how other corporate employees at all levels are investing in a side-hustle franchise business. Giuseppe Grammatico is a franchising advisor who has owned several Master Franchise licenses and has enjoyed a successful franchising career, guiding over 200 individuals through business ownership, many for the first time. He is the author of "Franchise Freedom – A New Manifesto for Your Financial and Time Freedom", and the host of The Franchise Freedom Podcast. Henry Lopez is the host of The How of Business podcast – helping you start, run and grow your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and ChatGPT Introduction and Fundamentals for Small Business Owners. Henry Lopez, host of The How of Business podcast, has recently been focusing on AI from a business owner's perspective – learning how it's currently being used and what the future applications may be. AI will continue to change how we do business. Show notes page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/484-ai-chatgpt-introduction/ Whether on purpose or not, you are like already using AI to help you run your small business. As a small business owner, you don't need to know all the technical details of how AI and ChatGPT or Google Bard works, you just need to know how to leverage AI to help you stay competitive and grow your small business. Henry Lopez is the host of The How of Business podcast – helping you start, run and grow your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

Henry Lopez answers listener's small business questions. We have gathered some of the great questions our listeners have submitted through the podcast Listener Survey, and Henry answers these questions on this episode of the How of Business podcast. The questions: [1:35] - How to estimate overhead cost and operation cost when starting a business with no prior experience. [7:07] - How do you know when and how to prepare for hiring your first assistant/virtual assistant/employee to support a solopreneur? [12:25] - How does a startup craft a 3-year P&L that doesn't lead to over estimating sales? [17:00] - Paths to acquiring small businesses that are not for sale. How to approach an owner and ways to get them to consider your interest in buying their business seriously? [21:50] - Tips and tricks for staying focused on the most important tasks? Henry Lopez is the host of The How of Business podcast – helping you start, run and grow your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Small Business (starting at 17:18) with serial entrepreneur and AI expert Kevin Surace. Kevin shares his knowledge and experience with Artificial Intelligence and the current and potential future impact of AI on small business. He will also share highlights from his fascinating and incredibly varied background and entrepreneur journey. Kevin Surace is a Silicon Valley innovator, serial entrepreneur, CEO, and TV personality. Kevin has been featured by various periodicals and TV networks, and has keynoted hundreds of events, from INC5000 to TED to the US Congress. Small business owners have an opportunity to embrace and leverage the power of AI (Artificial Intelligence) throughout their small businesses to help increase productivity and create a competitive advantage. Henry Lopez is the host of The How of Business podcast – helping you start, run and grow your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

Growing a small business, from chaos to calm, with entrepreneur Mike McFall. Mike is back on the show to share insights from his experiences as a successful entrepreneur on how to grow a small business, from common chaos to a calm business that is sustainable long-term. How to evolve from a bootstrapping entrepreneur, to leader and then to irrelevant. Mike McFall is the co-founder and co-CEO of BIGGBY® COFFEE, one of the fastest-growing coffee franchises in the United States. Despite not having an MBA or being a workaholic, McFall has built his career through hard work and real-world experience. McFall is the author of "Grind" and his new book "Grow: Take Your Business from Chaos to Calm", the first two books in a three-book series, which offer practical advice for entrepreneurs looking to turn their small business concepts into successful ventures. Henry Lopez is the host of The How of Business podcast – helping you start, run and grow your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

How to create your small business LLC or Corporation with host Henry Lopez. What is a legal business entity, why do you need one and how do you create it? Creating and operating your small business under a legal entity, like an LLC or Corporation, can provide you with the best liability protection and tax advantage. On this episode Henry shares information about what is a legal entity, why you need one, and how to create and maintain your small business entity. Visit the show notes page for this episode to download the free Entity Creation Checklist. Henry Lopez is the host of The How of Business podcast – helping you start, run and grow your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

Amy explains how to build a consulting business (starting at 15:54). Amy Rasdal also shares her interesting entrepreneur journey - she transitioned from a successful corporate career to starting and growing her consulting small business. Amy Rasdal traded her corporate job for consulting 15 years ago and now makes more money than most executives. The advantages are freedom, flexibility, control, interesting work and excellent pay. She has been running her own multiple 6-figure consulting business for more than 15 years. As the founder of Billable at the Beach®, Amy has helped hundreds of people start their own successful consulting businesses through speaking, workshops and various programs over the past 10 years. She is the author of "Land a Consulting Project NOW! - Build a life of freedom, flexibility, and inspiring work running your own 6-figure business" a #1 Amazon Best Seller in Business Consulting. Henry Lopez is the host of The How of Business podcast – helping you start, run and grow your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

Travis Steffen shares highlights from his entrepreneurial journey, his experiences and opinions of the cannabis industry, and tips and insights on growing a business. Travis Steffen is a serial entrepreneur with 8 successful exits to date. He's an Inc 500 CEO, a growth mentor in most of Silicon Valley's top accelerator programs, a published author, and a doctoral candidate in marketing with a specialization in AI (Artificial Intelligence). Travis Steffen was the CEO of GrowFlow, a B2B SaaS serving licensed cannabis businesses. GrowFlow is the market leading seed to sale platform in cannabis by nearly every metric and was the fastest growing retail POS product in cannabis in 2020 and 2021. He is currently the CEO of GrowthTeam - GrowthTeam provides top 1% education, resources, shortcuts, and hands-on help to double the growth rates for subscription-based businesses - guaranteed. Henry Lopez is the host of The How of Business podcast – helping you start, run and grow your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

The Self-Storage Business with entrepreneur Scott Krone - shares his expertise and tips on investing in self-storage businesses. Self storage, or self-service storage, is an industry that rents storage space (such as rooms, lockers, containers, and/or outdoor space), also known as "storage units," to tenants, usually on a short-term basis (often month-to-month). Scott Krone is a business owner, real estate investor. He is the founder of One Stop Self-Storage, and the founder of Coda Management. Coda Management Group facilitates commercial and real estate investments. Henry Lopez is the host of The How of Business podcast – helping you start, run and grow your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

Employee Performance Management for small business owners with Henry Lopez and David Begin. David and Henry share their thoughts, opinions, experiences, and tools to help you with Employee Performance Management for your small business. Why is Employee Performance Management important for small business owners? Small businesses often operate with limited resources, which makes employee performance management crucial to their success. By ensuring that staff members understand their responsibilities and have the necessary skills and support to perform their jobs well, small businesses can drive productivity and increase profitability. This episode explores the importance of clearly defining expectations and standards, providing early feedback and performance evaluation, recognizing outstanding performance, promoting employee engagement in customer service and investing in employee training. Henry Lopez is the host of The How of Business podcast – helping you start, run and grow your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

How to develop an Experience Mindset, which considers both the customer and the employee experience, to grow our business with Tiffani Bova. The fastest way to get customers to love your brand is to get employees to love their jobs. Tiffani Bova is the global customer growth and innovation evangelist at Salesforce, and the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of "Growth IQ". Her new book is "THE EXPERIENCE MINDSET: Changing the Way You Think About Growth". Over the past two decades, she has led large revenue-producing divisions at businesses ranging from start-ups to the Fortune 500. As a Research Fellow at Gartner, her cutting-edge insights helped Microsoft, Cisco, Salesforce, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Oracle, SAP, AT&T, Dell, Amazon-AWS, and other prominent companies expand their market share and grow their revenues. She has been named one of the Top 50 business thinkers in the world by Thinkers50 twice. Henry Lopez is the host of The How of Business podcast – helping you start, run and grow your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

Think like a CFO (Chief Financial Officer) to understand and use your financials to grow your small business (starting at 9:00) with Danielle Hendon. Regardless of the size of your small business, managing your financials is critical to the profitability, not to mention the survival, of your small business. As you continue growing your business, it becomes even more important to learn how to financially prepare for and manage that growth. Danielle shares valuable tips and advice on how to manage your business like a CFO (Chief Financial Officer), and perhaps consider that it may be time to add a CFO to your virtual team. Danielle Hendon is the founder and owner of 4 Corners CFO, a firm offering financial advisory services to small business owners on a scale that fits their company and budget. Coupling her decade of experience in corporate finance and accounting with her passion for small business owners, Danielle brings the benefit of "big business" financial analysis to entrepreneurs. Henry Lopez is the host of The How of Business podcast – helping you start, run and grow your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

Closing Intelligence to help you increase sales close rates (starting at 17:56) with entrepreneur Oscar Subirats. Oscar shares his inspiring entrepreneur journey and how to improve your ability to close sales opportunities and get to yes so you can grow your small business. To succeed in sales, small business, and life, you must face human nature, real people, and overcome their many obstacles and objections. People with a Closing Intelligence mindset impact and change lives, including their own. They can get employees, clients, prospective buyers, and others in general, to say "Yes." Oscar is with me today to share his knowledge of sales, and specifically his understanding of how to get people to say yes, for the right reasons. Henry Lopez is the host of The How of Business podcast – helping you start, run and grow your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

Build an unstoppable creative business. The Conquering Creative with William Warren. William is the Founder and CEO of The Sketch Effect, a Visual Communication company, and the author "The Conquering Creative – 9 Shifts to Build an Unstoppable Creative Business." Are you a creative? Do you love to illustrate, animate, paint, draw, take photos, shoot videos, edit footage, design, build brands, make comics, render in 3-D, do motion media, sketch storyboards, make character art, sculpt, create concepts, make music, and more? Are you challenged with all the "business stuff"? Then this podcast episode is for you! Henry Lopez is the host of The How of Business podcast – helping you start, run and grow your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

Risk Management for Small Business with John Morlan, an insurance and risk management industry expert with over 20 years of experience. John shares his experiences with helping small businesses reduce their risks, creating safer and more productive work environments, and potentially reducing the ever-rising cost of business insurance. He started his risk control career with ISO (Insurance Service Office). After five years at ISO, he consulted independently for another seven years. During that time, he provided safety consulting services for some of the largest insurers in the country. Next, he worked one-on-one with businesses to develop and implement safety and risk control programs. The result was a 50-80% reduction in their insurance premiums, saving them millions. Most recently, he launched Smarter Risk, which has developed a self-serve app that automates the development of these programs. This solution helps small businesses adopt risk control programs that drive down claims, enabling organizations to qualify for the best rates and allowing insurers to offer premium pricing. Henry Lopez is the host of The How of Business podcast – helping you start, run and grow your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

Peter shares his entrepreneur journey, dealing with an autism diagnosis later in life and launching his small business. Peter Mann is the CEO & Founder of Oransi, a leading air purification company known for its efficient, intuitive, and reliable products for consumers, schools, organizations, and businesses. In 2021, Oransi merged with Aviemore Technologies and is now a motor technology company with a clean energy mission. Oransi's new manufacturing facility in Radford, Virginia is making products in the USA with advanced motor technologies. Previously, Peter was the Founder & CEO of the Austin, Texas-based Alen Corp., an air purification company he built, and after 7 years had a successful business exit. He went to college on a Navy ROTC scholarship and then served 4 years, including a tour in the Red Sea during the First Gulf War. He was a communications officer and then a gunnery officer on the USS McCandless. Peter autism diagnosis came in his 50s and he now advocates for autism awareness in the workplace. Henry Lopez is the host of The How of Business podcast – helping you start, run and grow your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

How to shortcut your startup with Courtney Reum, co-author of the national bestseller "Shortcut Your Startup". Courtney shares practical advice for entrepreneurs looking to bring their ideas to market quickly and effectively. Courtney Reum is the co-author of the national bestseller "Shortcut Your Startup: Speed up Success with Unconventional Advice from the Trenches," which offers practical advice for entrepreneurs looking to bring their ideas to market quickly and effectively. He is also the Co-Founder of M13, a leading venture capital firm. Henry Lopez is the host of The How of Business podcast – helping you start, run and grow your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

Transform your personal qualities for success in small business with Charles McCarrick. How can you transform your personal qualities to help you achieve success? Charles shares insights and stories from his new book, "Lessons My Brothers Taught Me". Charles D. McCarrick is an entrepreneur, inventor, and lead visionary and founder of Micro-Ant. With more than 10 patents to his name, he pioneers and supplies unique equipment to the communications industry. Charles believes the four principles essential for all success may be expressed as follows: Salability + Sensibility + Sustainability + Scalability = Success. This is a process he calls the 4S Transform, and he provides an introduction on this episode. Henry Lopez is the host of The How of Business podcast – helping you start, run and grow your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

Employee background checks with Travis Reiter, to help you screen and hire the right employees for your small business (starting at 14:40). This episode is all about Employee Background Checks. What are they exactly, and when and how should you use them to help you make better hiring decisions. Travis is the co-owner and operator of Perfect Fit Background Checks, an employment screening company based out of Austin, Texas. [DISCLAIMER: You should seek your own legal counsel before implementing any of the practices or actions discussed on this episode.] Henry Lopez is the host of The How of Business podcast – helping you start, run and grow your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

Understanding the variety of Marketing Media for Small Business with Mary Ann Pruitt. Small Business Owners need to understand and invest in the right mix of marketing media to promote a small business successfully. Mary Ann shares her insights and experiences with marketing media to help us promote and grow a small business. She is the CEO and President of Mosaic Media, a collection of media-buying experts and creative strategists who negotiate, purchase, and monitor advertising space and airtime. Henry Lopez is the host of The How of Business podcast – helping you start, run and grow your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

How to prepare for a successful small business partnership including the Business Partnership Checklist. Henry Lopez, serial entrepreneur, and host of The How of Business podcast, shares his experiences and tips for a successful partnership. This episode is about preparing for a successful Small Business Partnership. If you are considering going into a business partnership, where you and one or more people are going to own and be involved in your business, then this episode is for you. Business Partnerships can be extremely powerful and successful, but they can also create problems you may not even be thinking about right now. Problems, issues, and misunderstandings that can ruin your business! The key to potentially avoiding any issues with your business partnership is to discuss all the possible scenarios and situations upfront, and then executing a comprehensive legal agreement that spells out the terms of the partnership. Henry Lopez is the host of The How of Business podcast – helping you start, run and grow your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

How the Anxious Achiever can turn their biggest fears into Superpowers to help start and grow a small business with Morra Aarons-Mele. Morra shares how she has helped herself and others to turn their biggest fears into life-changing leadership. For anyone who worries that anxiety or other mental health challenges stands between them and the success they deserve, Morra will share highlights from her upcoming book "The Anxious Achiever - Turn your Biggest fears Into your Leadership Superpower" which features powerful stories, practical tools, exercises, and strategies that empower leaders and other high achievers, including business owners and entrepreneurs, to transform an apparent weakness into a critical strength. Morra Aarons-Mele is the host of The Anxious Achiever, a top-10 management podcast that helps people rethink the relationship between their mental health and their leadership. Henry Lopez is the host of The How of Business podcast – helping you start, run and grow your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com