Mind Your Business With Sara & Helen

Handing over responsibility to your staff, charging for work beyond the scope of an original brief and a failing email list are the subjects our entrepreneurial agony aunts tackle in our latest Q&A. If you want free business advice from Sara & Helen, email hello@mybpod.com, or get in touch via the channels below. Thanks for listening. Please rate, review and subscribe - it really does make...

They don't pretend to be experts, but Sara and Helen are very well aware of the potential AI has to improve efficiency in various aspects of your business. Here, they share examples of how you might implement it based on their own experience - as well as what to be careful of - in the knowledge it's a subject we'll surely be returning to. Alice from Posh Totty Designs also has words of...

Her pod, her rules! Helen goes off script and throws one of her own business dilemmas into the mix - and is probably regretting it given the dressing down she gets from Sara! We also have queries about balancing creativity with the 'boring' everyday stuff, and seeking investment for a new green business. If you want the gals' advice, get in touch via the channels below. We want to hear...

Chances are you have a set of core values that underpin the running of your business. But have you ever properly identified what those values are - or articulated them to your staff? Until preparing for this episode, Helen hadn't - and discovered what a worthwhile exercise it is when it comes to providing direction for her, her company and her employees. They explore what happens when values a...

Sara & Helen flex their consultancy muscles for Abby, Beaut Blooms & Derek, with advice applicable to all small business owners. Abby is wondering whether or not to give up, Beaut Blooms are looking to revitalise flagging sales, and Derek needs help planning his exit strategy. What can we sort out for you? Get in touch via the channels below. Thanks for listening. Please rate, review and s...

As economic pressure intensify, price rises are gushing down the supply chain, causing considerable stress to businesses big and small. As ever, Sara and Helen are here to help with strategies to work around and mitigate increasing costs. And yes, the starting point is saying no. They even engage in a role play exercise set by Uncle Matt to test their negotiating skills - which, while competitive,...

Katherine, Jak & Kate are our entrepreneurial interrogators this week, seeking Sara & Helen's expert advice on 'me-time', creating a positive culture within the workplace and securing sales for a new business with zero marketing budget. As ever, the gals' advice is impeccable, but also more than likely applicable to you and your business. If you have a question, get in touc...

Helen is initially sceptcal about this notion, but is soon convinced by Sales Pitch Sara. Hardly surprising, given Sara learned how to sell combs to bald men from the very best - namely shopping channel, QVC! And herein lies the essence of becoming a business burglar. We're obviously not advocating copyright theft, but rather taking inspiration from other (often better resourced) companies and...

Daniel, Lisa and Wendy have questions for Sara and Helen, which undoubtedly have broad appeal for a small business owner. That would be YOU! And just as the girls learn something by putting their shrewd and astute minds to your concerns, so might you all in hearing their answers! If you have a question, email hello@myb.com, or get in touch via the channels below. Thanks for listening. Please rate,...

It's grim out there, but Sara & Helen are glass-half-full gals - and have plenty of ideas as to how you can turn these tricky economic times to your advantage. Where others see only doom and gloom, they see doom and boom, and are here to share their eye for opportunity with you! And in Over a Brew, our partnership with Not On The High Street, Ella from Let's Make & Do has some tremendous w...

As well as developing a revolutionary business self-help theory on the fly (needs to be heard to be believed), Sara and Helen answer questions from Catriona, Omid and Penny in our weekly consultancy session. Catriona has three great ideas but isn't sure which one to pursue; Omid is wondering about the merits of accepting money from venture capitalists; and Penny wants to know how to bring the two...

Inspired by Sara & Helen's entrepreneurial dad, Frank - who would invariably run with a great, if imperfect, idea - we explore the merits of taking the plunge when it comes to a business concept you believe in passionately, but aren't sure is as ready as you'd like it to be. As always, the gals draw from their well of personal experience, for better and worse. And we have pearls of wisdom from...

We have questions from Helen, Selina and Pippa about social media promotion, creating a buzz about a new business and how to avoid meltdowns when working with your partner. As ever, Sara and Helen's advice has universal relevance. If you have a question for the girls, email hello@mybpod.com, or get in touch via the channels below. Thanks for listening. Please rate, review and subscribe - it really...

The harder it is for your customers to buy, the less they will. So, how do you make their journey as smooth as possible in order to secure sales? Sara and Helen have too many ideas to list here. Suffice to say, adopt at least a couple, and you will reap the rewards. And the best news? All of their learnings can be implemented relatively easily and at very little cost. As the girls say, this could...

Have you ever accepted business you didn't really want, been ignored by a would-be mentor or worried about the pros and cons of making a big hire? If so, you are not alone; Sara and Helen have too! And, rest assured, they've plenty of advice on all of the above - based on personal experiences good and bad. If you'd like to tap their brains in our weekly Q&A, email hello@mybpod.com or get in to...

In a break from the norm, Sara and Helen ponder your ultimate business no-nos, and decide whether they are worthy of being sent for all eternity to Room 101. Think corporate jargon, absentee interviewees and AI emails! Helen exposes another scammer, Sara extols the virtues of partnering with a charity, and we also hear from Ivy from Wild About Flowers in our Not On The High Street feature, Over A...

How do you get your product in front of the right people? Sara & Helen know. Should you offer a free trial on your revolutionary software? They have thoughts! Is it a good idea to find a narrow niche, even at the expense of existing custom? Tricky, but ideas abound! Our weekly Q&A is a compendium of useful information for your business. Email your questions to hello@mybpod.com, or get in t...

Mic drop: since Helen and Matt introduced a loyalty scheme to their business, all the usual sales metrics are off the charts. She and Sara share their considerable expertise on making the most of your existing customers by incentivising them to shop with you. Get it right, and it's a proper win / win; both you and your regulars go home very happy. Thanks for listening. Please rate, review and subs...

We start with a heart-breaking question from a tearful Jade, whose salon has been hit hard by cancellations now she's reached the VAT threshold and had to put her prices up. Sara and Helen not only provide a shoulder to cry on, but also plenty of advice on how she can get customers through the door. We also have suggestions on how to push sales when you're starting out with a new product, and how...

How do you attack the week when you return to your desk on Monday morning? Sara & Helen reckon it's the perfect time for targeted reporting on things like sales, margin and cashflow - not only to get your affairs in order for the week ahead, but also the months and even year to come. Because, in measuring what needs to be managed over the course of the next seven days, you should be able to id...

Could this be our best Q&A yet? Sara certainly thinks so. The girls deal with questions about social media, networking and email marketing agencies that are relevant to all small business owners. Email you queries to hello@mybpod.com, or get in touch via the channels below. Thanks for listening. Please rate, review and subscribe - it really does make a big difference. Useful Links Our Website...

It's tempting to think of your staff as family, especially if you're a small business owner. But while everyone craves a happy workplace, it's imperative to maintain professional, adult-to-adult relationships with your team if you want your business to grow. Do not treat them like kids! Will you do a job instead of an employee because it's quicker to do it yourself? Is everyone always in agreement...

Your personal hotshot consultancy team is back to solve your problems - and provide invaluable advice for ALL business owners in the process. In our latest salon, Sarah needs help with a competitor unfairly piggybacking on her hard work, designer Louise feels threatened by AI, and Vicky wants to know how to protect her brand. As ever, Sara and Helen have the answers! Email your question to hello@m...

With the holiday season in full swing, expect emails by the pool, conference calls on the beach and crisis management over long, lazy lunches. Some people find it hard to switch off from work, others simply don't - or don't want to! However you navigate a well-earned break, Sara and Helen share advice on making the experience as enjoyable stress-free as possible - which in turn could have lasting...

Ian wants advice on how to hire when you can't compete with the big hitters on wages, Caroline is wondering whether to invest in physical premises for her online business, and Heather is worried about President Trump's tariffs. As ever, Sara and Helen have loads of practical advice. Email your questions to hello@mybpod.com, or get in touch via the channels below Thanks for listening. Please rate,...