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In this episode of The Opt-In Podcast , host Melissa Franks shares her Holiday Season Survival Guide for Business Owners. A practical, heartfelt, and sometimes hilarious look at how to stay sane, strategic, and successful during the busiest time of year. Whether your business is deep in Q4 chaos or wrapping up a slower season, these 10 essentials will help you finish strong and start 2026 ready to...

Have you ever hesitated to hire someone who knows more than you… because it felt risky or intimidating? In this episode, Melissa breaks down why not hiring up is one of the fastest ways to cap your business growth and why your job as a CEO is not to be the most qualified person in every function. Sparked by a controversial take on Diary of a CEO (where a guest said small business owners should nev...

In this special post-election episode of The Opt-In Podcast , host Melissa Franks steps away from her usual business strategy deep dives to unpack the real-time ripple effects of America’s shifting political landscape and what it means for small business owners, leaders, and entrepreneurs.   From the Supreme Court’s review of U.S. tariffs to the newly elected Mayor Mandani of New York City , Melis...

In this episode, host Melissa Franks tackles a topic she’s never covered before: how to create an annual budget that actually works for you . Whether you’re a five-figure startup or a nine-figure company, Melissa breaks down why every business needs a budget and why it’s not the restrictive tool you think it is. Drawing from her own experience managing $180 million in annual spend as a COO, Meliss...

In this episode host Melissa Franks takes you behind the scenes of her entrepreneurial journey. From losing her job and starting over as a single mom with no plan, to building a thriving seven-figure company in just two years. Melissa shares the 10 most important lessons she’s learned along the way. The real, unfiltered truths about what it takes to go from surviving to thriving in business. You’l...

Most small business owners have been taught to obsess over their “Ideal Client Avatar”. To name them, write their life story, and plaster their face on a mood board. But what if everything you’ve been taught about your ICA is… wrong? In this episode of The Opt-In Podcast , Melissa Franks breaks down why your ideal client is not : One person The person you wish would buy from you Even you, the foun...

In today’s episode of The Opt-In Podcast , I’m taking inspiration from the unexpected king of business advice: Tom Hanks. His mantra, “This too shall pass” became my lifeline during one of the darkest moments of my entrepreneurial journey… and again during one of the best . Whether you’re drowning in problems or overwhelmed by opportunities (yes, that kind of chaos exists too), this episode is you...

Does everyone you interview look like you, sound like you, and maybe even want to be you? If so, it’s time to rethink your hiring approach. In this episode of the Opt-In Podcast, Melissa Franks takes a candid look at why diversity matters in small business hiring, and what can happen when diversity of thought, background, and experience disappears from an organization. Using both real-world headli...

Every business owner eventually faces it: the dreaded plateau. Sales stop climbing, growth stalls, and suddenly you’re left wondering what went wrong. In this episode of the Opt-In Podcast , Melissa Franks breaks down the truth about business plateaus and how to navigate them without panic or wasted effort. Melissa dives into the four core areas every entrepreneur should interrogate when growth ha...

This week on The Opt-In Podcast , Melissa Franks unpacks a rarely discussed—but vitally important—topic: how your personal behavior in public spaces can deeply affect your business or employment . Whether you're a business owner or an employee, your actions, your posts, your tone, and your choices in public and on social media all have ripple effects and sometimes, unintended consequences. Us...

In this candid solo episode, Melissa Franks opens the curtain on a deeply personal and strategic recalibration she made in both life and business. As the fourth quarter looms, a season that often demands more from entrepreneurs, Melissa shares the internal reckoning that led her to rewrite how she works, lives, and leads. This isn’t a burnout story; it’s a blueprint for realignment. From hiring he...

Fourth quarter isn’t just October through December—it starts now. In this episode, Melissa Franks breaks down why the most successful businesses treat September as the true kickoff to Q4 and how you can use this mindset to set yourself up for a profitable year-end. Melissa shares insights from industry analysts on consumer behavior this holiday season—what Gen Z, middle-class, and affluent buyers...

If your business collapses the moment you go on vacation, you don’t have leaders—you have helpers. In this episode of the Opt-In Podcast , Melissa Franks, your On Call COO, unpacks the hard truth about bottlenecks in small businesses and why your growth may be stalling because you are in the way. Melissa shares real client stories of founders who couldn’t unplug, explains the signs that you might...

What separates the CEO who scales from the CEO who stalls? Spoiler: it’s not strategy—it’s habits . In this episode of The Opt-In Podcast , Melissa Franks, your on-call COO, pulls back the curtain on the daily practices that either propel businesses forward or keep them stuck. Drawing on insights from working with nearly 50 entrepreneurs across industries, Melissa explains why consistency beats in...

Is your business growing—but instead of celebrating, you feel like you’re drowning? If sales are pouring in but your systems, team, and sanity can’t keep up, you’re not alone. Growth can feel messy, chaotic, and overwhelming—but it doesn’t have to stay that way. In this episode of The Opt-In Podcast , Melissa Franks, your On-Call COO, breaks down why growth often feels like chaos and how to stabil...

Gen Z is stepping into the workforce—and the conversation about them is louder than ever. Are they ready? Or is the real question whether we’re ready to welcome them? In this episode, Melissa shares the behind-the-scenes story of a viral interview that landed her insights in Entrepreneur, Yahoo, and media outlets across the globe. She challenges the idea that Gen Z needs “fixing” through etiquette...

In this episode, Melissa challenges business owners to take an honest look at how they show up in their businesses. Are you bringing CEO energy—strategic, intentional, and future-focused—or are you operating with employee energy—reactive, task-oriented, and stuck in the weeds? Melissa draws on her experience as a former co-CEO, Fractional COO, and current business owner to break down the key diffe...

Are you still the one writing SOPs in your multi-six or seven-figure business? Then this episode is your wake-up call. Melissa returns with a no-holds-barred look at the true cost of doing everything yourself—especially once you’re no longer a solopreneur. From million-dollar mistakes in the corporate world to time-sucking $10 tasks in your own business, Melissa unpacks how DIY can silently stall...

In this second episode of the summer vacation series, Melissa tackles what most business owners don’t plan for—how to re-enter your business after time away.   Melissa walks you through exactly how to avoid chaos, confusion, and burnout when returning from vacation, and how to turn your re-entry into an opportunity for growth—for both you and your team.   You’ll learn: Why cannonballing back into...

Are you dreaming of a real vacation—but worried your business will fall apart without you?    In this episode, Melissa shares her tried-and-true method for actually stepping away from your business without stress, guilt, or chaos.   As a single mom of three and a small business owner who used to skip vacations out of fear, Melissa now takes multiple breaks a year—and the business keeps thriving. T...

Have you ever taken on a project just because the money was good—even though your gut said "no"? You're not alone.    In this episode, Melissa breaks down the high price of bad revenue and why saying “yes” to misaligned opportunities can quietly erode your business from the inside out. Melissa shares a candid story from her own early consulting days and outlines: What bad revenue re...

In today’s episode, Melissa breaks down one of the most misunderstood pieces of business advice: “Wealth loves speed.” But what does that really mean for CEOs and business owners making decisions in real time?   Spoiler: it’s not about rushing recklessly—it's about moving with clarity and confidence.   In this episode, you'll learn: ✅ Why “speed” in business is not the same as “rushed”...

In this episode, Melissa dives deep into one of the most common (and crucial) questions she gets asked: How do I know when it's time to hire a fractional COO? From being the bottleneck in your business to feeling scared to scale, Melissa shares the top 8 signs that signal it's time to bring in experienced operational leadership — and what to look for when vetting a fractional executive....

In this episode, Melissa gets real about the power—and necessity—of building a personal brand, whether you're climbing the corporate ladder or scaling your own business. Sharing personal stories from her first corporate training at 22 to landing billboards in Times Square, Melissa breaks down why your personal brand isn’t just a marketing tactic—it’s your reputation, your legacy, and your sec...

In this episode, Melissa shares seven actionable ways to get your business—and your team—ready for the summer months. Whether summer is a busy season or a slow one for your business, the way you prepare can make all the difference in performance, morale, and momentum going into fall.    Melissa walks you through how to anticipate seasonal shifts, implement flexible schedules without sacrificing ac...