The Business Behind Small Business

Most small business owners don't undercharge because they don't know their numbers. They undercharge because pricing is emotional — tangled up in fear, comparison to competitors, and the belief that "affordable" is a strategy. It isn't. This episode breaks down why small business owners hesitate to charge what their work is worth, how pricing psychology works in your favor...

88. Rebranding is one of the most misunderstood moves a small business can make. Done right, it opens new markets, resets a damaged reputation, or realigns a business with where it's actually going. Done wrong — or done for the wrong reasons — it confuses existing clients and wastes money you don't have. This episode covers the real reasons small businesses should consider rebranding (an...

87. Most service-based small businesses quote work one project at a time — and that model quietly limits both income and client retention. Packaging your services changes the dynamic: it makes your pricing predictable, your value clearer, and your client decisions easier. This episode walks through the complete process of building service packages for a small business: how to identify your core se...

86. How does the demise of DEI affect small business? What to do if you are a government contractor in 2025? How to know what profit margins should you have? How much does your payroll really cost you? Today, Sevana and Tiffany talk a little bit of everything in business. ************************ Our podcast is originally a video podcast, so see us on YouTube or Spotify too. **********************...

85.Tariffs aren't just a policy debate — for small business owners who import materials, source from overseas suppliers, or compete with imported goods, they're a direct hit to your cost structure and your margins. This episode covers what the current tariff landscape actually means for small business owners in practical terms: how upstream cost increases travel downstream to your prices...

84. Power and status are two very different things in business — and confusing them is one of the most common ways small business owners undermine their own authority. This episode explores how men and women approach power and status differently in professional settings, why likability and competence are not mutually exclusive even when the world treats them that way, and how small business owners...

#83. Trump. Harris. Harris. Trump. How does their plans impact you as a small business owner? That's the center of today's episode - breaking down the main parts of each candidate's plans for taxes and the economy so you can make the vote that is right for you! ************************ Our podcast is originally a video podcast, so see us on YouTube or Spotify too. ******************...

#82. The difference between a small business clients return to and one they forget often has nothing to do with the product or service. It has to do with how the experience felt — from first contact through final delivery. This episode covers five specific ways small business owners can define and elevate the customer experience even without a big budget or a dedicated team. The anchor story is Al...

#81. Find out about how Duns & Bradstreet came about and learn how to build your business credit score on today's episode with Sevana and Tiffany. Topics in today's episode includes: - Why your business credit score matters - How to build your business credit score - The origin story about Duns & Bradstreet ************************ Our podcast is originally a video podcast, so se...

#80. Inspired by the viral rise of Sabeer Bhatia and Jack Smith, founders of Hotmail . Sevana and Tiffany talk about how to build a referral village to grow a business. Topics in today's episode includes: - What is a referral partner and how to meet one - How to build your own referral network - How to do 1:1 for referral opportunities ************************ Our podcast is originally a vide...

#79. Starting with the story of today's spotlight entrepreneur Franklin Clarence Mars, founder of the chocolate candy company Mars Incorporated, Sevana and Tiffany talk about the complicated dynamics of doing business with family. Topics in today's episode includes: - How to get your kids involved in the business and when - How to pay our kids through your business - What are proven ways...

#80. Every small business owner starts out doing everything. That's how you survive. The problem is that most owners never stop — and the business that was supposed to create freedom quietly becomes the most demanding job they've ever had. This episode covers the transition from owner-operator to owner-CEO: how to identify which roles are keeping you in the business instead of working on...

#77. When too much growth in a business spirals out of control ... in today's episode, Sevana and Tiffany take on business lessons from the story of Barry Minkow, owner of ZZZZ Best Carpet Cleaning and share with you how to avoid the same mistakes in your business, including: - how too much business can be a serious problem - making desperate decisions in a desperate situation with a desperat...

#76. What can you learn from someone else’s mistake? Today, Sevana and Tiffany shake things up a bit by starting with the fascinating story of a well known entrepreneur who was conned by her closest advisors and how you can avoid the mistakes she made that is all too common for small business owners today! Resources/References: https://books.google.com/books?id=DBoAAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA37&dq=Tho...

#75. Sevana and Tiffany share two successful business people from history who aren't given much spotlight but amazing in their own rights nonetheless and worth showcasing in today's episode. These super successful business people have inspired Sevana and Tiffany and they hope the stories can inspire you! Got questions or have a topic you want Sevana and Tiffany to cover? Email them at th...

74. One of the keys to having a successful business that you can enjoy is by working with your BEST customers as much as possible, but how do you find them? Well, today Sevana and Tiffany chat about how to identify what your best customer looks like and then where to find them (and how to keep them around!) Got questions or have a topic you want Sevana and Tiffany to cover? Email them at thebusine...

73. Are you new to hiring or have been doing it for some time but it always seems to be a miss? In today's episode, Sevana and Tiffany go over what you need to have in place at your company BEFORE you hire so you have a greater success of hiring right, the first time and keep those good hires! References: NETFLIX company culture values: 1. Freedom and Responsibility The idea is to hire high-p...

#72. Feeling anxious about hiring your first employee? Sevana and Tiffany got you covered with one aspect of hiring that many business owners mis-step which not anticipating the TRUE COST of employees. Sevana and Tiffany break it all down in today's episode! Resources: ADP Payroll Calculator: https://www.adp.com/resources/tools/calculators.aspx Gusto Payroll Calculator: https://gusto.com/reso...

#71. Feeling the heat of tax filing before the deadlines? Then today's episode is for you! Sevana and Tiffany dive into small business tax topics with Helaine Weissman and Lori Roberts of PB Mares, two CPAs who know a whole lot about taxes for small business owners and how to get ahead of your next tax return and avoid the year-end panic! Learn More about PB Mares: https://www.pbmares.com/ **...

#70. In today's episode, a reply of a popular past episode of when Sevana and Tiffany talk about Sole Proprietorship, S-Corp, C-Corp, and what you should be and when. Famous Example - Hulk Hogan and Gawker Media Rihanna and Fenty Videos - Explanations on entity formation: https://youtu.be/uXOHnZy0y4Ahttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3BcB1r5h74 Books: LLC vs S Corp vs C Corp Explained (https://...

#69. The Corporate Transparency Act is actively affecting businesses in 2024, so does it affect yours? If so, what do you do about it? Sevana and Tiffany break it all down in today's episode! **Sorry for the poor sound quality toward the end of this episode** RESOURCES: FinCEN’s Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting homepage, offering guidance and educational materials FinCEN’s Reference...

#68. Let's kick off the new year thinking about how to work ON your business rather than IN it. **Due to a technical hiccup, we will be airing part 2 of this episode on Jan 15th.** **************************** About BBSB -  We are two business owners with two very different perspectives on building business, and the business behind that in order to achieve your goals. One of us built to sell,...

#67. Welcome to this year's holiday special where we talk about past episode, where it all began, how we are ending season 3 and what exciting new things you can look forward to in season 4! Recommedations: Books - https://www.inc.com/marcel-schwantes/4-must-read-business-books-to-kickoff2024.html Donald Miller - How To Grow Your Small Business https://www.amazon.com/How-Grow-Your-Small-Busin...

#66. Every small business owner has kept a client they should have ended sooner. The one who never pays on time, moves goalposts on every project, demands hours of unbillable revisions, and makes the work feel impossible. You keep them because losing revenue feels worse than tolerating the behavior. In most cases, the math doesn't actually support that decision. This episode breaks down how t...

#65: Continuing on the series about your business money, Sevana and Tiffany talk about the #1 wrong way to spend your business money so you can avoid it to spend it the right way! Famous Examples:  Nissan & Business Adventures: https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/11/why-billionaires-warren-buffett-and-bill-gates-agree-this-is-the-best-business-book-of-all-time.html https://www.inc.com/geoffrey-james/...