The How of Business - How to start, run, grow and exit a small business.

How understanding the neuroscience behind conflict can help small business owners become more effective leaders, build healthier teams, and transform workplace conflict into collaboration. Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/613-jeremy-pollack-conflict-resolution/ Conflict is inevitable in every small business. But according to conflict resolution expert Jeremy Pollack, conflict itse...

A Waymo driverless vehicle ride sparks a discussion about AI, innovation, technology adoption, and why small business owners can't afford to wait for perfection before embracing emerging technologies like AI. Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/612-waymo-and-innovation/ Henry Lopez and returning guest host David Begin recently experienced something neither of them will soon forget -...

How psychiatrist Dr. Duncan Gill transitioned from employee to entrepreneur and built a thriving behavioral health practice serving children, teens, and families. Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/611-duncan-gill-practice-owner/ How psychiatrist Dr. Duncan Gill transitioned from employee to entrepreneur and built a thriving behavioral health practice serving children, teens, and fa...

What is a Professional Employer Organization (PEO)? Learn how Professional Employer Organizations help small businesses with HR, payroll, employee benefits, compliance, and retention. Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/610-casey-clark-peos/ Managing employees is one of the biggest challenges facing small businesses, but what if you could offload much of the HR burden while improving...

How small business owners can build mission-driven companies that earn trust, create long-term value, and avoid the traps that cause good businesses to lose their way. Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/609-eric-ries-incorruptible/ What causes good companies to go bad? According to Eric Ries, author of The Lean Startup and his new book Incorruptible, it often begins when organizatio...

Selling a business is far more complicated than most entrepreneurs realize and many business owners wait too long to prepare for it. Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/608-selling-a-business-roundtable/ In this final episode of the three-part entrepreneurial roundtable series, Henry Lopez is joined again by Giuseppe Grammatico, Rocky Lalvani, and David Barnett to discuss what actual...

Identify what to fix next in your small business and build consistent profitability using the Profit First methodology. Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/r322-mike-michalowicz/ Many small business owners stay trapped in survival mode because they don't know what to fix next in their business. They work long hours, constantly fight fires, grow revenue, and still struggle to achieve...

Grow a healthier business by managing cash flow, using debt strategically, and building strong business relationships. Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/607-growing-a-small-business/ Growing a business requires far more than simply increasing sales. It demands financial discipline, smart decision-making, and strong relationships. In Part 2 of this entrepreneurial roundtable series,...

KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) provide an effective way to measure your business performance using both leading and lagging indicators to make better decisions and drive growth. Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/606-kpis-measure-business-performance/ Small business owners often rely on gut feel or a quick glance at their bank balance to gauge how their business is performing, bu...

How to find the right business by evaluating whether to buy, build, or franchise while aligning with your finances, goals, and mindset. Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/605-finding-the-right-small-business/ Choosing the right business is one of the most critical decisions an entrepreneur will ever make, and getting it wrong can cost years of time, money, and energy. In this roundt...

The three root causes of business partnership failure - loss of trust, respect, and alignment - and how to prevent them. Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/604-why-partnerships-fail/ Business partnerships can accelerate success or destroy a business faster than almost anything else. In this episode, Henry Lopez breaks down the three primary reasons partnerships fail: loss of trust,...

A framework for creating a business or product name using a proven five-step process that removes guesswork and drives better branding decisions, with Brad Flowers. Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/r306-5-steps-to-naming/ Naming your business (or product or service) doesn't have to be a frustrating or purely creative guessing game. It can be a structured, repeatable process that l...

Practical email writing techniques that help small business owners communicate more clearly, get faster responses, and reduce costly misunderstandings. Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/603-5-tips-for-better-emails/ Email is still the primary communication tool in most small businesses, yet it's one of the most overlooked skills. In this episode, Henry shares five simple but powerf...

How profitability and scalability constraints in your business model keep you stuck and how to diagnose and remove them to finally grow. Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/602-why-your-business-is-stuck/ If your business feels stuck - you are working hard but not breaking through - you may be dealing with hidden constraints in your business model. In this episode, Henry Lopez explai...

The latest in key franchise trends, including AI-driven efficiency, stronger franchisor support, and high-demand service industries. Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/601-franchise-trends-giuseppe-grammatico/ Franchising continues to evolve rapidly driven by advancements in AI, operational efficiency, and a renewed focus on franchisee success. In this episode, Henry Lopez is joined...

How small business owners can escape price-driven competition by redefining their market and creating a new category instead of competing in crowded spaces. Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/600-kevin-maney-create-your-category/ Many small business owners enter crowded markets and end up competing primarily on price. But according to author and business strategist Kevin Maney, ther...

When to outsource your bookkeeping, how outsourcing compares to hiring an in-house bookkeeper, and best practices for working effectively with a bookkeeping service. Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/599-outsource-your-bookkeeping/ Knowing when to outsource your bookkeeping is an important decision for small business owners. As your business grows, bookkeeping becomes more complex,...

If your leaders don't know how they're measured, you can't expect consistent performance or real ownership. Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/598-do-your-leaders-know-the-score/   Frustrated with inconsistent performance from your managers or senior team members? The issue may not be motivation, it may be measurement. In this episode, Henry Lopez breaks down why leadership performa...

Five practical reasons your small business will sell and how to intentionally build long-term exit value. Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/597-why-your-business-will-sell/   Most business owners say they want to sell one day but very few actually build a business someone would want to buy. In this episode, Henry Lopez outlines five practical reasons your business will sell and the...

How AI is reshaping small business marketing and why clear positioning and strong messaging matter more than ever. Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/596-shannon-bailey-marketing-and-ai/ Branding and messaging expert Shannon Bailey shares her entrepreneurial journey and explains (starting at 11:10) why clear positioning and concise messaging are essential in the AI-driven marketing...

Planning improves your odds of success, but accepting risk, making decisions with incomplete information, and learning quickly from failure are what ultimately move a business forward. Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/595-plan-to-succeed-prepare-to-fail/ Planning is essential to building a successful small business, but it doesn't eliminate risk or guarantee success. In this episo...

How to overcome Decision Paralysis - assessing risk, limiting over analysis, and taking action are essential to moving a business forward. Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/r423-overcoming-decision-paralysis/ Decision paralysis keeps entrepreneurs stuck, and learning how to assess risk, limit over analysis, and take action is essential to moving a business forward. Decision paralys...

What At-Will Employment really means for small business owners. Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/594-claudia-stjohn-at-will-employment/ At-will employment gives small business owners flexibility, but misunderstandings around documentation, retaliation, and protected classes can quickly turn a termination into a lawsuit. Most small business owners believe "at-will employment" means...

Business credit is a critical but often misunderstood tool that can unlock financing, protect your personal credit, and strengthen your small business. Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/593-gerri-detweiler-business-credit/ Many small business owners assume business credit "just happens" once they form an LLC, but that's not how it works. In this episode, Henry Lopez is joined by Ge...

Inventory is one of the most misunderstood and cash-intensive assets in a small business, and managing it strategically can dramatically improve cash flow, reduce risk, and support sustainable growth. Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/592-smarter-inventory-better-cash/ Inventory is often treated as an operational detail, but for many small businesses it is one of the biggest driver...