Provide: The Path to Owning It

Building a business with your spouse sounds romantic in theory. In practice, it requires something harder: self-awareness, shared agreements, and the willingness to keep asking whether the life you're building still looks like the one you wanted. In part two of our conversation with Krista and Phil Franks, co-founders of Owl & Key, we get into the mechanics of what it actually takes to grow someth...

For some entrepreneurs, the business doesn't start with a pitch deck or a market opportunity. It starts with a question they’re brave enough to answer honestly: If I were to die tomorrow, would I be proud of the way I live today? In this episode, we sit down with Krista and Phil Franks, the husband and wife co-founding team behind Owl & Key, a platform built around intentional living and lifestyle...

For some entrepreneurs, the idea of ownership doesn't come from a lifelong dream. It comes from a conversation, a transition, and a willingness to bet on yourself when the road ahead isn't clear. In this episode, we sit down with Sean McIlroy, West Point graduate, former U.S. Army Green Beret, and owner of MP Copiers in Northern Virginia, who discovered entrepreneurship through acquisition after a...

For some entrepreneurs, building a business isn't just about what they're creating — it's about who they're becoming in the process. In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Kate McGowan, DVM, owner of The Healthy Pet Veterinary Clinics in the Atlanta area, who built a boutique veterinary hospital from the ground up while raising a family and carrying six figures of student loan debt. What began as a...

For some entrepreneurs, starting a business isn’t just a leap of faith — it’s a leap taken together. In this episode, we sit down with husband and wife Bob and Jan Gibbons,  who built their commercial real estate business over time — first as a solo venture, and eventually as a shared commitment. What began as a response to a layoff evolved into a long-term partnership rooted in trust, specializat...

For some entrepreneurs, starting a business isn't a lifelong dream. It’s a moment of clarity, a calculated leap, and a willingness to build before they feel ready. In this episode, we’re speaking with Dusty Weis, founder and president of Podcamp Media, a boutique podcast production agency that helps brands tell better stories and build long-term trust with their audiences. Dusty shares how his cor...

For some entrepreneurs, the time and energy it takes to start a business from scratch is a welcome challenge.  And for others, it makes more sense to buy their way into business ownership — and it’s more accessible than ever thanks to game-changing, government-backed SBA 7(a) loans. So in this episode, we're speaking with Matthias Smith, founder and owner of Pioneer Capital Advisory LLC, a consult...

"It's my life." "It's my identity." "It's my baby." Many entrepreneurs think of their businesses in one or more of these ways. But when it’s time to build an exit strategy, that kind of thinking can create complicated feelings, making decisions more difficult. When selling your business is on the horizon, it's important to define your priorities, plan well in advance, and ensure that you get top d...

If you’re a business owner, there’s one acronym you need to know: SBA. The Small Business Administration is your gateway to funding, growth, and opportunity. In this episode, we sit down with our very own Brett Howden, Director of Credit, SBA at Provide, a division of Fifth Third Bank. He's a pro at connecting entrepreneurs with the right financial products to level up their businesses. We’ll cove...

As a small business owner, you often experience exciting growth and success — and when your top employee decides to move on, it’s an opportunity to adapt and strengthen your team even further. With the right plans and procedures in place, you can navigate transitions smoothly and come out even more resilient. Paul Edwards has guided many businesses through these moments with confidence. As the fou...

The time to prepare for a crisis is before it strikes. Having a plan to protect both your reputation and your business is important. So why is it that a shocking number of small business owners don’t have a crisis communications plan in their public relations contingencies? In this episode, we're speaking with Lauren Parker, co-owner and CEO of Slide Nine Agency, to explore effective crisis commun...

For many small business founders, their business is their life's work — and their livelihood. If the unexpected were to happen like a cyber attack or natural disaster, these companies would likely experience a significant financial setback and difficulty returning to normal operations quickly. Selecting the right small business insurance for your industry, location, and risk tolerance can set your...

A well-designed website needs to do more than just look good. It needs to be intuitive. It needs to be useful. It needs to anticipate your customers' needs, even their state of mind, and guide them along the path from prospect to customer. The solution to those challenges is different for every small business. There's no one-size-fits-all answer for user experience (UX). In this episode, we're spe...

Paying for goods and services in today’s modern world is as easy as swiping your credit card, tapping your phone, or even waving your smart watch. It looks so simple! But, the merchant services infrastructure and technology that enable electronic payments require substantial setup, careful attention, and ongoing coordination. Keeping your customers' experience both convenient and secure can be a d...

The old saying is “people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel.” So when the time comes to design your office and build your brand, it's important to consider more than just your color scheme and furniture. You need a deep understanding of your customers and employees, how they will use the space, and what story you're tellin...

They'd rather put money in savings than see a concert. They expect brands to share their worldviews. They will forgive mistakes, but NOT inauthenticity. These are just a few of the broad generalizations that Dr. Corey Seemiller has found in her studies of Gen Z. A professor and researcher at Wright State University, her insights have been featured in NPR, The New York Times, and Time Magazine, and...

Whether it's the launch of a second location or a new budgeting system, implementing change in any small business can feel daunting. Institutional inertia is real, and not everyone might be on board with your vision at first. So, it's absolutely imperative that business owners rely on tried-and-true techniques in planning, communicating, and implementing change. In this episode, we're talking to D...

We've all heard the news stories about massive cybersecurity breaches costing big companies millions of dollars. However, the majority of cybersecurity attacks each year actually target small businesses. If you don’t have a cybersecurity plan in place or know how to properly protect your data, you and your staff are easy marks for hackers to target. In this episode, we're speaking with Jim Bennett...

Most entrepreneurs begin their ownership journey with a business plan. The effectiveness and specificity of that plan can vary greatly, frequently reflecting a lack of clarity or insight. Common pitfalls include attempting to cater to a broad audience, harboring excessive optimism, or failing to thoroughly research the target market.  Ultimately, a well-defined business plan is critical to establi...

Practicing dentistry can be a challenging pursuit under any circumstances. Practicing dentistry for the U.S. Army in Iraq, however, is another level of challenging. Dr. Benjamin Taylor shares how his experience as a combat dentist forged him into the professional servant-leader he is today and prepared him for the daily demands small business owners can face. Dr. Taylor is a general dentist and ha...

By now, we've all seen videos about artificial intelligence (AI) writing poems, musing about philosophy, or even hosting podcasts. This made us wonder, what are the possible implications for small business owners? Are these AI chatbots just a new trend, or are there some capabilities that can be leveraged to make small businesses more productive? In this episode, we're hearing from Joseph Ours, le...

Finding a mentor to offer expert advice is key to successfully establishing a successful healthcare practice, but it can be a challenging and daunting step. That's why we're launching the Provide Advisory Network, a program that brings together healthcare practice owners and offers them a platform to share their experiences, perspectives, and expertise with other aspiring and established owners. T...

We've all met them: The leader who throws out a thousand ideas a minute The big personality who can't be trusted to follow up on anything The boss who wants to be everyone's friend but can't make hard decisions The business owner who suffers from "paralysis by analysis" These stereotypes can be a drain on any business's productivity. However, when properly channeled and balanced, they can be high-...

In a profession as deeply personal as small business ownership, it's no wonder that so many small businesses are passed from parent to child. However, we all know family dynamics can be complex. If you haven't clearly defined and agreed upon your roles, hierarchy, and succession plan, a business that spans generations may quickly reach its expiration date. In this episode, we're hearing from the s...

Adopted in 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on disability. The ADA also creates the framework for accessibility standards to which certain public facilities must adhere, including dental offices. The standards are complex, and the manner in which they're enforced is dependent on a number of factors. If you're building or expa...