STARTUP or SHUTUP! | Small Business & Entrepreneurship Podcast with Colin Fraley

20 Episodes

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Building Community as a Creator | PKFire on Parties & Entrepreneurship

2026-06-0201:04:26

Founder interviews meet creator economy strategy. In this deep dive, PK Fire reveals how they transitioned from software engineering to building a thriving event and community business—and how that founder mindset applies to launching any venture. Learn the business validation techniques behind community building, the power of early partnerships, and why today's best entrepreneurs are doubling down on experiences and niche audiences. A must-listen for solopreneurs and small business owners exploring alternative revenue streams.

How to Start a Nail Business in Chicago | NBN Nails | Owner Nasjali Cruz

2026-01-0601:34:41

Thinking about how to start a nail business in Chicago? In this episode, Owner Nasjali Cruz of NBN Nails (NBN Chicago) breaks down exactly how she built a bookings-driven studio in Lakeview—covering Gel-X, structured gel, acrylic, pricing strategy, policies that prevent no-shows, marketing that fills the calendar, and when to expand beyond nails.What you’ll learnStep-by-step: turning nail skills into a real nail tech businessServices to offer (Gel-X, structured gel, acrylic) and how to position eachPricing & timing: setting rates by time blocks, complexity, and product costPolicies that protect profits (deposits, cancellation/no-show)Chicago marketing: IG/UGC, reviews, and local partnerships that actually bookHiring & standards for a consistent client experienceSmart expansion (adjacent beauty services) and the KPIs to watchAbout the guestNasjali Cruz, owner of NBN Nails (NBN Chicago), opened her a Lakeview studio at age 18 & is known for structured gel, Gel-X, acrylic, and a polished client experience.Book NBN Chicago:nbnchicago.glossgenius.comAbout this showStartup or Shutup! spotlights real founders building real businesses—tactics you can use this week. Subscribe for more nail salon owner interviews, small business marketing, and how-to episodes.Keywordsstart a nail business in Chicago, nail salon Chicago, nail tech pricing, Gel-X Chicago, structured gel Chicago, acrylic nails Chicago, how to start a nail salon, nail tech marketing, booking policies no-show, small business podcastHashtags#NailBusiness #ChicagoNails #GelX #StructuredGel #AcrylicNails #NailTech #NailSalonOwner #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneurship #StartupOrShutup

How to Become an Investor | Andrew Ackerman

2025-12-1601:59:10

🚀 Startup founders, side-hustlers, and builders: this episode features Andrew Ackerman—entrepreneur, author, and startup strategist—breaking down what actually moves the needle from idea → execution → traction.We talk about startup success, entrepreneur mindset, business strategy, product-market fit, fundraising basics, customer discovery, and the real-world decisions founders face when building under pressure. If you’re searching for practical advice on how to start a business, how to validate an idea, or how to grow a startup, this one’s for you.📘 Andrew’s book (recommended): Entrepreneur’s Odyssey: An Approach to Startup Successhttps://www.amazon.com/Entrepreneurs-Odyssey-Approach-Startup-Success/dp/1032883545/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0🌐 Learn more about Andrew:https://www.andrewbackerman.comWhat you will learn in this episode:How to avoid “busy work” and focus on traction-driving actionsA clear framework for idea validation and early customer discoveryCommon mistakes founders make with MVPs, messaging, and positioningHow to think about go-to-market when you don’t have a big budgetThe mindset shifts that separate wishful thinking from repeatable execution

How to Start a Fractional Human Resource Startup | Sproutwise | Abby Gates

2025-11-0401:53:49

Founder and People Ops leader Abby Gates (Sproutwise) joins Startup or Shutup! with host Colin Fraley to show early-stage teams how to hire their first employees, build a 10-day onboarding plan, and turn values into an operating system that scales. We cover fractional HR vs. project support, lightweight performance cycles, compensation basics for seed/Series A, and scrappy recognition rituals that actually boost retention. Plus: our Rapid Fire round, a not-so-fun fact on the VC funding gap for diverse founders (and what People Ops can do about it), the Michigan founder lens on talent, and Abby’s candid Shutup Moment—the toughest lesson she now teaches so you don’t repeat it. Perfect for solo founders, startup CEOs, and first-time hiring managers who need practical playbooks, not fluff.

How to Build a Paid Community | Fired to Entrepreneur | Carol Tice

2025-10-2101:41:52

In this powerful episode, host Colin Fraley sits down with Carol Tice, an award-winning business journalist turned online entrepreneur, to unpack how getting fired became the best thing that ever happened to her.Carol shares how she transformed her career setback into a multimillion-dollar success story — building a 1,500-member paid community for freelance writers, scaling it to nearly $6 million in revenue, and selling it for life-changing money. From there, she hit the road in an RV with her husband and launched her latest venture, Community Growth Academy, helping coaches, creators, and consultants build thriving paid communities of their own.💡 In this episode, you’ll learn:How getting fired can spark your greatest entrepreneurial breakthroughThe secret to building a loyal, paying community onlineThe behind-the-scenes story of scaling and selling a membership businessHow to balance freedom, travel, and business on the roadWhy Gen Z is leading the next wave of crowdfunding and solopreneurship🎧 Whether you’re a solopreneur, podcaster, creator, or startup dreamer, this episode will remind you that sometimes getting fired isn’t the end — it’s your invitation to finally build something of your own.✨ Supported by PeerFounder:If you’ve ever wanted to start your own business but didn’t know where to begin, PeerFounder helps you get your first yes and your first $500 to start or grow your idea — no credit checks, no gatekeepers. Pay it back successfully and unlock $2,500, then $7,000 to really launch your vision. Join now for lifetime access as one of the first 1,000 users at PeerFounder.com.

#box-pro-ellipsis-178975140879330{-webkit-line-clamp:2;}STARTUP or SHUTUP! | Small Business & Entrepreneurship Podcast with Colin Fraley

STARTUP or SHUTUP! | Small Business & Entrepreneurship Podcast with Colin Fraley