Staying Solo

2023 was a wild ride for the economy, with countless twists and turns that left many business owners unsure how to price their services. The good news? We're still here, running our businesses and making it work.  The tricky part is staying flexible enough to weather whatever the economy throws our way next.  As we continue our series on the number you need to know in your business, this episode i...

When it comes to bad business advice, some of the worst I've ever received was about my financials.  And even if you're pulling in good money, following lousy advice can leave you underpaid and constantly feeling like you're scrambling for every dollar.  You're working for your money, but your money definitely isn't working for you.  In this episode, I'm kicking off a new series about the numbers...

This week, we're sharing our most recent Duped episode where we discuss understanding the risks of payment plans in online business.  _______________________________________ Have you ever bought something on a payment plan and quickly realized you're unsatisfied, but there's no way out? The fact is, not all payment plans are created equal. While they can be an excellent way to pay for something ov...

Running a business can be a rollercoaster. One minute, you're up; the next, you're down; some days, it can feel like you're hanging on for dear life. While the ride can sometimes feel invigorating, other times it can feel downright terrifying.  So, how do you learn to adapt and roll with the changes as they come? In this episode, we're wrapping up our exits and evolutions series, looking at the th...

Have you ever daydreamed about chucking it all in and leaving your business behind for something new?  While this daydream isn't uncommon, it's often hard to conceptualize how (or why!) you'd walk away from a thriving business.  In the last Exits and Evolution series interview, I interviewed fractional integrator and operations strategist AdeOla Fadumiye. Adeola boldly shut down a business that wo...

As a service business owner, have you ever wondered if adding products would be a solid revenue-generation strategy?  The reality is that despite being told that creating courses and other products is a fast path to passive income, it's far easier said than done.  In this episode, Zoe Linda shares how she blended products and services and adapted her offerings over time to meet her needs.  Topics...

Do you ever feel like keeping up with social media is impossible? Or maybe you don't even care to try in the first place? With social media constantly evolving, and as a business owner, it can be hard to gauge what actually matters and how much time and effort you "should" be throwing behind it.  In this episode, Andréa Jones, a mindful marketing strategist, discusses her evolving approach to soci...

To keep the conversation going about Exits and Evolutions, we have our first guest of this series: Jules Taggart. She's gone from being a solo business owner to an agency owner and is back to being solo again.  In this episode, Jules, a fractional CMO and the founder of Wayward Kind, shares how she built an agency and transitioned back to a solo business.  Topics discussed in this episode include:...

It's easy to think making changes to your business will magically solve your problems.  But let's be honest. Change can be HARD, so when do you know when it's the right time to make a change?  In this episode, I'm sharing how to recognize when to adapt, whether keeping up with trends, using new tech, or meeting customers' changing needs. (And when maybe the smarter choice is to stick with what you...

This week, we're sharing our most recent Duped episode, where we break down what's going on in the world of "ethical" business. _____________ Is the state of ethical business actually improving in 2024? Are we actually making some progress? Well, it's a good news/bad news kind of story. The good is that we're finally starting to see more and more people reject the status quo business practices, in...

Real talk about working with clients: Whether you're battling scope creep or sacrificing your personal time and energy to meet client demands, you can easily end up feeling tired and resentful. Having boundaries with clients is essential or our business dreams can turn into a full-on nightmare. In this episode, we're looking at the real cost of "bad" boundaries with clients and how to build health...

Are you holding your business back if you don't blog, podcast, and post on social media? The reality of content creation is that it costs precious time, money and so much more. But is it actually worth it? The answer? It depends! In this episode, we're diving headfirst into the real cost of content creation. Get ready to uncover the truth behind the price tag of online visibility. Topics discussed...

You're busy and booked but looking for ways to make more money. Welcome to the service business owner's dilemma! In this episode of the 'Real Cost Of' series, I'm cutting the BS by debunking myths and unveiling the real costs of adding new income streams.  Topics covered in this episode include: The challenges of trying to grow your revenue when you're booked out. Why the one-to-many model for cou...

Have you ever wondered what creating an agency costs? If you're wondering if it's the right move for your service business, you'll definitely want to listen to this episode.  In this installment of the 'Real Cost Of' series, I'm taking you behind the scenes and spilling the tea on the real costs of agency ownership, including the financial realities, the rollercoaster of leadership, and more.  Top...

Ready to uncover the must-haves and money pits in your solo business tech toolkit?  In this episode of the 'Real Cost Of' series, we'll dig deep into the world of tech and tools for solopreneurs. Discover what's essential, what's extravagant, and the red flags to watch out for!\ Topic covered in this episode include: How the tech stack used by solopreneurs varies based on business size and stage....

To kick off 2024, we're back with a fresh new series called "The Real Cost Of".  Because let's be real, we're all tired of the smoke and mirrors. In this series, I'm giving you the unfiltered truth about the REAL costs of building and growing a service-based business. (And it's not just about the money, it's about everything else this journey can cost us.) In this first episode, I'm sharing the su...

The BS-Free Service Business show will be taking a break through the holidays, so please enjoy this new episode of Duped - Schemes on Your Screens: A 2023 Recap and 2024 Predictions. As 2023 comes to a close, we wanted to reflect on the year that was and make some predictions about what lies ahead in 2024. For detailed show notes and links to everything mentioned in this episode, please visit dupe...

2023 is nearly over, so it's time for my annual look back at the year. In this episode, I will share my high and lowlights, what I really think about this weird year, and what's on deck for 2024. For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit  bsfreebusiness.com . To stay in the loop by email, sign up for updates at https://bsfreebusiness.com/newsletter/

There are two types of service business owners I encounter when I talk about marketing. First, there's the marketers. They're always happy to be testing things out in their own business. Then, there are the rest of the service business owners who would rather do anything but marketing.  In this episode, I'm sharing my guide to marketing a service-based business, no matter how you feel about it.  F...

The BS-Free Service Business show will be taking a break this week, and you can expect a new episode next week. This week, please enjoy a new episode of Duped: The Dark Side of Online Business, to celebrate it's kickoff! We wanted to start off this season with a state of the industry, a state of the nation, if you will, on what's going on with online business as we head towards the end of 2023.  I...

Do you need a coach? To buy a program? Or just a regular massage? Support comes in many different forms for our business, but do you figure out what kind of support you need?  In this episode, I'm digging into the different types of support for entrepreneurs and how to figure out what's right for you. For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com...

Simplicity and sustainability are the cornerstones of having a business without the BS and that works for you. But it's far too easy to make plans and decisions that can overcomplicate everything.  In this episode, I'm sharing six specific things to check in on before you start making big plans.  Learn more at: bsfreebusiness.com/simple-and-sustainable-business

Building a successful agency requires a lot of different skills. Especially leadership skills.  But which ones do you need to focus on? Which ones make the most difference?  In this episode, I share the top six leadership skills every micro agency owner needs. Learn more at: bsfreebusiness.com/successful-agency

Every business owner knows that growth is never linear. Sometimes, it's so far from a straight line that you wonder if you're doing something wrong.  In this episode, we're looking at the messy and momentous growth path for micro agency owners.  Learn more at: bsfreeebusiness.com/growth-path-for-micro-agency

Like every business model out there, the micro agency is subject to a wide variety of myths that are total and complete BS. In this episode, we're going to look at what a micro agency is and dispel four common myths. Learn more at bsfreebusiness.com/microagency