This Is Small Business

Ready to kickstart your entrepreneurial journey or looking for a refresher on some essential tips? Join us as we dive into key insights from Season 4 that will help you start, build, and grow your business. To kick off Season 5, we're revisiting some of the most valuable advice from experts and successful small business owners like Amy Porterfield, Kat Norton, Jenna Kutcher, and more. Whether it's...

Every entrepreneur needs a community - people who inspire us with their stories and share practical advice to help us make a decision or take the next step (or leap!). This is Small Business is that community. We hear from a diverse group of small business owners about how they found success, and the challenges they faced along the way. Not only will you feel inspired, you'll get tips you can appl...

Are you trying to figure out if it’s the right time to launch your first product? Just ask Trinity Mouzon Wofford, co-founder and CEO of Golde, who’s going to give us a look into all the behind-the-scenes work she put into their brand as she prepared to launch. She’ll teach us how to prepare your MVP (minimum viable product), tips on how to have a successful launch, and how to know that your produ...

How do you nail the perfect price for your product? Just ask Mark Stiving, Chief Pricing Educator of Impact Pricing, who will share insights on pricing strategies. He’ll explain how understanding your business strategy and customer decision-making process can help you value your products and how to find out how much your customer is willing to pay.  In this episode you’ll hear: (02:05) How fi...

Identifying your target market, without a plan, can be a struggle. Just ask Amber Murray, the founder of Fidget Stickers, who’s going to break down the customer journey into 5 simple steps and show you how you can improve it so your customers keep coming back for more. Amber also gives advice on how to find customers for your products in places you wouldn’t expect. After you’ve identified your ide...

Wondering how to navigate common entrepreneurial pitfalls and ensure the success of your business? Just ask Christina Wallace, senior lecturer at Harvard Business School, who’s going to tell us the top three mistakes (or lessons learned as Christina calls them) early stage entrepreneurs make and how you can avoid them. In this episode you’ll hear: (01:18) Why you shouldn't do everything yourself....

Trying to figure out how and when you should start scaling your side hustle? Just ask Max Ash, the young creator and founder of  MAX’IS CREATIONS , who managed to start his business at just 8 years old (with the help of his mom, Jen) and grew it into a successful business. Max and Jen will share their own experiences with protecting their intellectual property, licensing, manufacturing, and e...

Are you trying to figure out if a rebrand is worth the high price tag? Just ask actors turned entrepreneurs David McGranaghan & Julian Miller, co-founders of McMiller, a company that creates games designed to make you laugh, who went over-budget to rebrand their business. “Strong design [...] turns a four-star review into a five-star review, and I think that's definitely what we've learned, an...

Are you planning on selling your business but don’t know where to start? Just ask Emmet Apolinario, President of the International Resource Group. Having transitioned into becoming a business broker after navigating the pitfalls of selling his own business, Emmet offers insights on how to evaluate your business to spare you from the same mistakes he made.  “Selling a business is not like sell...

Considering buying a business? Whether it's your first venture or you’re trying to expand your business, it can be a game-changer. Just ask Brian Shields, an Acquisition Entrepreneur who knows what it takes to successfully buy a business. “Try to look at at least a hundred deals to help dial yourself in so you know what kind of risk you're willing to take, what kind of business plan you really fee...

Expanding your business and drawing in more customers may seem overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be! Just ask Amy Porterfield, New York Times bestselling author of Two Weeks Notice and Host of The Online Marketing Made Easy Podcast, who managed to increase her sales in only a year.  “The people who need you will find you, even if you put a stake in the ground.” Amy says. “If your message r...

Want to build a loyal following of people who are excited to buy what you're selling? Stop spending your valuable time on the wrong marketing channels, and prioritize an email list. So says Jenna Kutcher, a digital marketing expert and host of The Goal Digger Podcast. After attracting thousands of followers on social, but seeing so few convert to customers, Jenna learned about the power of owning...

Ready to make a difference with your business but don’t know where to start? Just ask Thomas Ling, founder of Kin+Kind, who combined his passion for the environment and love of animals to create eco-friendly pet products. Thomas breaks down what makes a business sustainable, the importance of transparency and authenticity, and how you can start a business that does good in the world.  “It's i...

The more people see your products, the more sales you’ll probably get – and a marketing strategy can help you do that.  Just ask Elena Fahrländer, the Chief Commercial Officer of Danish Endurance, a company that sells their products worldwide. She’ll be sharing what they do to find their target audience and how their approach to marketing changed as they grew. You’ll also hear from Elizabeth...

Your small business (or idea if you haven’t started yet) is a lot more important than you think. Just ask  Karen Kerrigan , the president and CEO of the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council. She’ll be sharing a ton of fun facts about how small businesses drive innovation, help the economy, and create jobs. You’ll also hear from  Kylie Jiwon Hwang , an Assistant Professor at the...

Aside from a regular paycheck, what more can you do for your employees? And can going the extra mile for them really help your business' bottom line? Listen in to hear from brothers and founders of  Mr. Tortilla ,  Ron and Anthony Alcazar . Their approach to business was formed at an early age, while watching their parents work hard with no buy-in. And then we’ll speak with  Ludmila...

Dealing with audits doesn’t have to be scary as long as you’re prepared for it. Just ask  Erick O. Bell,  an accounting professor at the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley, who used to work at KPMG LLP in the Audit Risk Advisory Services. Erick simplifies everything you need to know about audits – even the IRS audit – so it doesn’t feel as daunting. “Most audits that are happening. T...

Getting a Patent can be a complicated and expensive process, but it can protect your idea as you work on bringing it to market. Just ask  Becca Davison,  the CEO of  UnbuckleMe,  who got a patent early on in her small business journey. Becca explains how she came up with UnbuckleMe, why she decided to patent her idea early on, and what that process looked like for someone who w...

Accidents happen, we make missteps, sometimes our brands are tarnished. So how do we prepare for the inevitable and mitigate impact?  Indya ‘Icy’ Wright , the Founder and CEO of  Artiste House , a PR firm that prioritizes diversity, inclusivity, and representation, has some answers.   According to Wright, “all we can do is try to minimize the results of what happened, rectify it, an...

If there's one thing we’ve learned over the many episodes of this show, it’s that owning and operating your own business is hard. You have to overcome challenges you didn’t even know existed. Thinking of becoming an entrepreneur or you’re wondering if you should stick it out? We have  Dr. Laura Morgan Roberts,  scholar, speaker and consultant, who studies the science of maximizing human...

Money is such an integral part of your business. So when the time comes and you need to secure more, where do you start? Who do you turn to? We’ve got  Iman Cotton,  a loans officer with  CDC Small Business Finance  to guide us through it. Iman says that a good place to start is by thinking, “something that sounds too good to be true, probably is.” Learn how to best prepare you...

Being a woman in business can come with its challenges but with the right tools – it can become a journey of empowerment and growth. Just ask  Katy Luxem , the CEO and founder of  Big Dill Pickleball,  who stands out in the sporting goods industry with her products. She’ll share the story behind why she started Big Dill Pickleball, some insights on how to succeed in ecommerce, and h...

Having a solid network can help you meet the right people that will help you grow your business. Just ask  Robbie Samuels , Author, Business Coach, Biz Book Publishing Hub Founder and networking expert who got his first few clients by tapping into his network. Robbie shares all his networking secrets so you can know how to get the most out of any networking event and break away from the trans...

Social media can help you connect with your audience authentically and foster meaningful growth. Just ask  Sahra Nguyen , the founder and CEO of  Nguyen Coffee Supply , who uses storytelling to keep her audience engaged. Sahra explains how she figured out what content her audience wants and what performs best on each platform. You’ll also hear from  Kat Norton , the CEO of  Mis...

Building a brand around your culture and history can help you stand out and create a loyal customer base. Just ask  Teri Johnson , the CEO of  Harlem Candle Co , whose scented candles are inspired by influential figures in the Harlem Renaissance. Teri opens up about how, in sharing stories from this moment in Black history, she was able to build a brand that people wanted to talk about,...