The Small Business Blueprint

Opening up a physical storefront as a small business owner presents its own set of challenges—and picking the perfect location for your business is at the very top of that list.But what happened to the small businesses that had to close their storefront due to the pandemic?In our newest episode of the Small Business Blueprint, our host, Alex Patterson, welcomes Guillermo Sanchez, owner of Route 6 Coffee & Smoothies. Learn about how the Route 6 team overcame the pandemic-driven obstacles that affected their coffee shop in order to keep their loyal customers satisfied.

There’s no denying that technological advancements have changed our lives for the better—and even though some industries are slow adaptors, leveraging these digital developments are pivotal for any business to drive sustainable growth and success. In this episode of the Small Business Blueprint podcast, our host Alex Patterson welcomes Chase Shugarman, the President of Shugarman’s Bath, a bathroom remodeling company in San Diego. Alex and Chase talk about the benefits that technology has had on the remodeling industry, specifically to help streamline and manage communication with clients. Learn how Shugarman’s Bath maximized touch points throughout the customer journey to drive fast growth and boost the success of their family-owned business.

Having a side hustle is a great way to diversify your income, try new things, and explore potential career opportunities. If you’re motivated enough, you could even turn your passion into a full-time business. But making the switch isn’t as simple as it sounds—and definitely not something you can do overnight.In this episode of the Small Business Blueprint, our host Alex Patterson welcomes Mario Flores, owner and operator of MND Automotive Management. Alex and Mario shed light on the side-hustle-turned-business concept, discuss some key traits that every small business should encompass, and chat about the importance of establishing trust with customers early on. Hear all the dos and don’ts Mario has learned on his journey of turning his part-time passion project into a full-time business.

Pet owners know how important it is to provide proper care to their furry friends, making pet grooming a business worth considering. With more people becoming pet owners over the last year and a half, the entire industry has blossomed. But what does it take for a pet groomer to stand out in such a competitive space?In this episode of the Small Business Blueprint podcast, our host, Alex Patterson, chats with Rudy V. and Anthony Rey, professional groomers and hosts of Groomer Humor on Pet Life Radio. Alex, Rudy, and Anthony discuss today's pet grooming industry, the importance of education, and the foundation of a fruitful and long-term customer-groomer relationship. 

Many businesses suffered severe losses during the pandemic, and now, owners are looking for ways to bring their business back to their feet.But what about entrepreneurs who started their business journeys in the middle of the pandemic? How did they decide to take that step?In today's episode of Small Business Blueprint, our host, Alex Patterson, talks with Ryan Ramming, the owner and founder of Sections Fine Meats. Ryan and Alex discuss what it was like to work in the middle of the pandemic, uncover the most common challenges Ryan's team faces on a daily basis, and how a business model based on nostalgia helped them stand out.

On today’s episode, we have Justin Brown, the co-founder of Motion, a podcast agency for B2B technology companies. In this episode of the Small Business Blueprint podcast, Justin and our host, Alex Patterson, talk about the early days of Motion and the challenges of running a video production company. Justin also shares what led them to consider another business model, become a podcast agency, and how the pandemic sped that transition. They discuss the complexities of pivoting the focus of your business. How Justin and his team were able to take advantage of a new opportunity that resulted in a more profitable and sustainable venture. Whether you're considering shifting the focus of your business, business model, or adding an entirely new service, listen in on this episode for expert tips and advice from someone who's been there. 

Franchising a business isn’t something new. Some of the most recognized brands, including McDonald's and others, have franchises worldwide, making them incredibly popular among consumers. But what’s it like to franchise a small business?Mike Andes started mowing lawns when he was 11 years old. Although he did it to save for college, he soon realized he could turn it into a profitable business. And fourteen years later, Mike is the CEO at Augusta Lawn Care. This 25-year-old entrepreneur has already expanded his company to over 40 locations around North America. And he doesn't plan on stopping there. "We're looking to get 500 franchisees over the next five or six years. And so we're growing and scaling from here," confirms Mike.Mike started the franchising journey by becoming a franchisee of Anytime Fitness. His background in the franchising field has made him understand the importance of a good relationship between franchisors and franchisees. His open-book management approach where communication is on point, and high levels of professionalism and dedication are maintained by both franchisors and franchisees have been essential to the success of his business.In this episode of the Small Business Blueprint podcast, Mike talks about the challenges with franchising a business, hiring new people, the pandemic, and other exciting topics.

Roofing and solar companies have significantly grown despite the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, Ian Frisch, Co-Founder and COO at Build Brothers Inc., not only survived the pandemic but doubled in size.Due to the lockdown, homeowners were spending a lot of electricity, leading many to finally make the switch to solar panels. The pandemic also encouraged Ian and other people to start remodeling their homes, yards, and other parts of their household. Ian's passion for construction and remodeling dates back to his childhood, full of ups and downs. He learned that he prefers roofing because it is tangible, and he personally understands the impact home improvement can have on people's lives. Build Brothers' approach of conducting business with empathy, dedication, professionalism, and open communication have helped them build a trustworthy reputation within the industry and among clients.Ian believes that culture, communication, and doing the job well makes a business stand out. Listen in to the full conversation on how they managed to double their job during the pandemic, and other exciting topics in the latest episode of Small Business Blueprint.

In the latest episode of The Small Business Blueprint, host Alex Patterson talks with Alexa Brachvogel about all things digital marketing strategies and web design. Alexa is the founder of Blüm Agency, a San Diego based digital marketing agency founded in September of 2018 which primarily services small and medium-sized businesses. They focus on helping clients with data-based web design and building sustainable digital marketing strategies.Listen in as Alexa explains the ways in which the pandemic and this new normal have changed the digital industry and in turn, affected small businesses. She discusses some of the top tips and tricks she implemented on her own company and her clients' businesses to turn uncertainty and changes into profitable and relationship-building opportunities.  A refreshing point of view she offers is that marketing agencies shouldn't act as gatekeepers to a lot of digital marketing information and tools. As someone who truly supports the growth and success of small businesses, she believes digital marketing experts can facilitate a lot the basic concepts of building an online presence.  She points out that some digital marketing agencies think,  '''Oh, you have to work with us to understand what's going on in your business.' I think that there's a place for that. Some things do get more technical... But at the same time, there's a lot of information that can be taught, and people can take it and use it on their own time."The founder of Blüm Agency says that everyone can improve their business if they are open to new technologies and and make use of free online tools to improve your business. 

Are you looking for ways to help your business stand out from the competition? If you are, you will love the latest episode of the Small Business Blueprint Podcast. You will have an incredible opportunity to meet our guest Rob Babian—Founder and CEO at Apex Paint Pros.Rob has quite a rich work experience. He started his career in the military, where he worked as an airborne engineer. Rob soon progressed and acquired strong skills that helped him excel in management, decision-making, and informational technology. This skill set has impacted what he does today—assisting people in solving their problems with the highest level of commitment and the utmost professionalism.According to Rob, "You are not in the business to sell anything. You are in the business to solve problems. You are a solution to a problem." He believes in well-thought-out planning, commitment to clients, and doing your best to succeed even in the most unsettling times.Rob and our host discuss the most common challenges of starting a new business during a pandemic and what business owners and contractors should keep in mind when building a trustworthy and reputable brand.You will also get a valuable piece of advice from Rob and learn more about the importance of having the right partnerships and technology when growing your business.

Wonder how a business that typically depends on in-person contact and grassroots marketing survived the pandemic? Then you will enjoy the newest episode of the Small Business Blueprint podcast with our guest Maria Disla—the founder and CEO at Pure Indoor Cycling. Maria was always passionate about fitness and music which eventually led her to become an instructor. Prior to pursuing a career in the fitness industry, Maria worked at a tech startup company. She lived in New York and LA, but San Diego was where her dream of opening a studio came to reality. As many other businesses across the country and around the world, she never imagined she'd have to close down her studio and completely pivot her operations at the start of 2020. Fortunately, Maria and her team managed to do it successfully.  It's safe to say that Pure Indoor Cycling is more than a fitness studio—it's a community. This community and the energy Maria's studio provides in each class is part of what kept her business afloat through COVID-19. In this discussion, she explains the changes her team made to keep the business running and how they managed to strengthen client relationships through online tools. She also describes some of the advantages digital platforms can have for businesses that typically rely on in-person contact and how you can continue to use some of those tools to improve your business. 

There is something unique about family businesses. Growing up in such an environment allows you to learn so many things and adopt valuable lessons you can carry throughout your entire life. If you find these kinds of stories inspiring, you'll enjoy the latest episode of Small Business Blueprint with Dolores Davis, the General Manager at CG&S Design-Build. Almost 65 years ago, Dolores's parents started a remodeling company. The whole family was involved in the business. In 1994, our guest and her husband bought the company from one of Dolores's brothers and pivoted from a remodeling company to a design-build company.Dolores and our host, Alex Patterson, discuss the challenges of running a business in the pandemic. As Dolores explains, relying on the company's culture kept them strong. She also touches upon the importance of building an online appearance and shares some of their marketing strategies.Dolores believes that a team is a key to success. Taking care of your employees is of utmost importance. "In our company, our team has to come first. Taking care of the team, supporting it, giving it attention and love will always empower them to take care of everything else, which is the client and the process and the project," says Dolores.