Business Muscle

In this episode, we’re joined by Alexa Nika, the owner of MOKO Beauty, a thriving permanent makeup studio in Stoneham, MA. Alexa shares the incredible story of how she launched her business in 2020, right in the midst of the pandemic, and within just two weeks, was fully booked for the entire year. We dive into her journey with permanent makeup and how she overcame early challenges to find success...

In this reflective episode, we share the difficult lessons we learned in 2024 while navigating the challenges of building and growing a business. From the importance of investing in employee benefits like health insurance and retirement plans to attract top talent, to the tough realization that sometimes you have to close a location to protect your overall vision, this year taught us how to priori...

In this episode, we’re thrilled to welcome Emily Chandra, the CEO and founder of Seacoast Stilettos, a dynamic dance studio that’s reshaping the world of dance through empowerment and autonomy. Since its start in 2018, Seacoast Stilettos has grown from a solo project to a team of 11, recently being named Best Dance Studio by Boston Business Women Magazine in 2024. Emily shares her journey of ident...

In this episode, we are resharing an episode from the PT Entrepreneur Podcast with Danny Matta, featuring our co-host Ariel! In this replay, Danny and Ariel discuss the initial days of Fixxed, what it takes to have a successful business partnership, and how Fixxed’s unique approach led her to develop a scalable franchise model that empowers physical therapists to pursue entrepreneurial careers. Tu...

In this episode, we sit down with Sydney Nunn, the owner and curator of Simply Placed, a curated home decor store on Boston’s North Shore. Simply Placed is more than just a retail shop—it’s a sanctuary of community, relaxation, and beautifully curated pieces designed to make your house feel like a home. Sydney shares her journey of opening the boutique, from conceptualizing the space to managing i...

In this episode, we are chatting about being a mom and owning a business at the same time. Elise is newly postpartum with baby number two, and Ariel has one on the way! So today we’re discussing how to prioritize the tasks that truly matter for both your business and family. You'll learn strategies like embracing flexible work schedules, working in focused time blocks, and finding productivity in...

In this episode, we sit down with Nicole Ritter, a Board Certified Holistic Health Practitioner, wife, mom, and serial entrepreneur. Nicole shares her incredible journey from working in sales at ADP to founding Ritter Functional Health, Automate Your Wellness Biz, and Holistic Health Experts! Motivated by her own health struggles, Nicole transitioned into the world of functional health and wellnes...

In this episode, we’re pulling back the curtain on the real-life ups and downs of being an entrepreneur. From juggling financial responsibilities to finding work-life balance, we’re talking about all the little (and not-so-little) things that make business ownership rewarding yet challenging. Whether it’s managing cash flow, working those extra hours, or making high-stakes decisions, we’ll chat ab...

On this episode, we sit down with physical therapist and entrepreneur Danny Matta, founder of Athletes’ Potential—a cash-based physical therapy clinic that has grown from a single gym-corner setup to three successful locations across Atlanta. Danny shares his journey from a stable military PT role to establishing his own practice in a niche cash based model. Known for hosting the PT Entrepreneur P...

In this episode, we sit down with Kat Cynewski, a Business Coach, Yoga Instructor, and Founder of Be Well Events. After a profound loss in 2011, Kat’s passion for yoga soon evolved into a full-blown passion and career shift. Leaving behind a demanding corporate job in 2018, Kat embraced her calling as a “yogipreneur,” quickly making waves with a successful wellness festival, a retreat in Havana, a...

In this episode, we discuss the crucial missteps that can lead to losing money quickly in business! Learn why neglecting trademark and brand name research can result in expensive legal troubles and rebranding costs. Discover the pitfalls of launching products or services without thorough testing and how this can lead to market failures and costly fixes.  We also chat about the dangers of pour...

CICI VAIN MEDI SPA  In this episode, we sit down with Cici Dimou, the Nurse Practitioner behind VAIN Medi Spa and co-founder of VAIN Academy. Cici takes us through her remarkable journey from graduating with a master's in nursing to discovering her passion for aesthetics after a Botox party with a friend. What started as a hobby in her spare bedroom quickly blossomed into a thriving business,...

In this episode, we chat about the decision to franchise and the key indicators that showed the business was ready to expand. We break down the importance of having strong operational systems in place, from consistent follow-up protocols to streamlined event management. We also talk about the value of documenting everything and ensuring efficient training programs through tools like Loom, which he...

In this episode, we’re joined by Jera Bean, a powerhouse in social media coaching, content creation, and education! With over 180k Instagram followers and more than 1.5 million TikTok followers, Jera shares her inspiring journey from becoming an Adidas ambassador to navigating the highs and lows of the fitness world, and eventually building her thriving social media business. She opens up about th...

In this episode, we’re joined by Emily Silver, Family Nurse Practitioner, IBCLC, and co-founder of NAPS, a rapidly growing company that provides comprehensive care to new and expecting families! Emily shares her journey from starting as a labor and delivery nurse to building NAPS into a team of 45, serving over 1,200 patients monthly with prenatal classes, daytime and overnight care, new mom group...

We franchised Fixxed! Today we’re chatting about the big goals we have for our business and the goals that led to the decision to franchise. From building a strong brand to creating a profitable, replicable business model, we share some of the key moments that signaled it was time to expand. We also get into the nitty-gritty of what the process was like—think legal documents, trademarks, and why h...

On this episode, we welcome Kelly Giordano, the talented photographer and owner of The Haverhill Studio, a versatile rentable studio space for photographers, creatives, and the community. Kelly shares her journey into photography, discussing the challenges she faced when starting out, her favorite tools of the trade, and effective strategies for marketing her services. She also offers advice for y...

On this week’s episode, we have a live coaching call! Today we sit down with the dynamic trio behind LIVE WELL IV Hydration Lounge, a veteran-owned, woman-owned, and first responder-owned small business that opened its doors in February. Co-owners Chris Hamilton and Joe Mastrisciano join us to share the challenges and opportunities they've encountered as they establish their presence in the emergi...

On this week’s episode, we sit down with Rachel James, the founder of Torque Financial Group. Rachel has built a powerhouse in the financial services industry, dedicating her expertise to helping blue-collar businesses maximize their financial potential. Since founding Torque Financial Group, Rachel has earned several awards, including the Forbes Best in State Financial Security Award, and now sup...

In today’s episode, we're tackling three critical mistakes that new business owners often make: not understanding cash flow, scaling too early, and trying to do everything yourself. First, we'll explore the importance of cash flow management and why it's crucial for the survival and growth of your business. Understanding where your money is coming from and where it's going can help you make inform...

In today's episode, we chat with the incredible Kristyn Kerkorian, owner of K Kerkorian Event Planning & Design. With over a decade of experience in social and corporate events, Kristyn has become a true expert in her field. Her company has earned a number of awards, including being named Best of Boston Best Wedding Planner in 2021 and 2024. Kristyn shares the behind the scenes on how she make...

In today’s episode, we’re diving into how to train new staff members efficiently and effectively. The first few weeks after bringing someone onto your team are absolutely critical. Our training process has evolved over the past 3 years into a much more effective system! We'll walk you through pre-training preparation, including creating a comprehensive onboarding plan, developing an operations man...

Today, we're thrilled to welcome Alyssa Pannozzi to the Podcast! Alyssa wears many hats—she's the Talent Director and Full-Time Trainer at Rev’d, and a dedicated Full-Time Content Creator with a strong TikTok following of over 200k. Alyssa opens up about her journey into content creation, sharing what sparked her passion and how she decided to dive in more seriously in 2021. She shares about the l...

In this episode, we're sharing our favorite strategies for saving money during the buildout of your space. Whether you're opening your first studio or expanding your business, these tips will help you manage costs without compromising on quality. We'll chat about the importance of early budgeting, including all costs such as flooring, shelving, and more. Learn how to realistically plan your expens...

On this week’s episode we welcome Chris Cuozzo, the owner of Christopher Cuozzo, LLC, a thriving multi-million dollar custom clothing brand. Chris shares his journey from starting his business as a side hustle in 2009 to building a distinguished company specializing in custom shirts, suits, blazers, and tuxedos. Tune in to hear Chris discuss what makes his brand unique, the inspiration behind star...