This Is Small Business

Ever wondered how being part of an entrepreneurial community can be the game-changer your business needs? Just ask Jen Earle, CEO of the National Association of Women Business Owners aka NAWBO, who believes that surrounding yourself with a good network can propel your business to the next level. To celebrate National Women’s Small Business Month, we’re taking a look back to see how the entrepreneur founders behind NAWBO transformed the landscape for women entrepreneurs and the impact that women-owned businesses have on today’s economy. Jen also breaks down the four C’s—Capital, Community, Confidence, and Congress—and explains why they’re crucial for any business to thrive and how you can leverage them for your own success.Learn how to find your entrepreneurial community and how that can help you unlock funding opportunities, boost your confidence, and give you the support you need to build or grow a successful business. In this episode, you’ll hear: (00:58) How NAWBO was founded.(02:06) The progress that’s been made to support women-owned businesses and their impact on the US economy.(03:41) Jen’s entrepreneurial journey and how she became the CEO of NAWBO.(5:49) A breakdown of the four essential pillars for business success which Jen calls the 4 C’s: Capital, Community, Confidence, and Congress and how you can tap into them.(9:52) The importance of building a strong community for business success.

How do you transform an everyday problem into a product that people want to buy? Just ask Ray Philips, the CEO of SoapSox, who turned children’s bath-time struggles into a product that resonated with so many people. Ray shares how he validated his idea and navigated the bumps throughout his entrepreneurial journey. And if you're still in the brainstorming stage, Morgan DeBaun, the CEO of Blavity, has you covered with her DRIP method, a decision-making framework designed to help you turn your ideas into actionable steps. Whether you're stuck in the ideation phase or just need a motivational pick-me-up to ride the wild rollercoaster of entrepreneurship, this episode will give you the confidence and clarity to turn your next big idea into reality.Learn how to leverage constructive criticism, stay balanced through the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, and push past the doubt to start or build your business. In this episode, you’ll hear: (3:00) How Ray Philips turned a bath-time challenge into a business, and what made him launch his entrepreneurial journey.(5:12) Morgan DeBaun breaks down her powerful DRIP decision-making framework which can help you come up with ideas and turn them into real, validated business opportunities.(8:32) How to refine your product using feedback that matters—and more importantly, how to filter out the noise that could throw you off track.(10:48) Ray talks about funding his business and Morgan shares how to handle the inevitable highs and lows of entrepreneurship while keeping your vision alive.(14:26) Setbacks are part of the journey. Here’s what to do when your first big obstacle hits—and how Ray and Morgan turned their first major setbacks into fuel for success.(17:31) How Ray pushed through tough times and scored a coveted spot on Shark Tank, and what it took to get there.(21:36) If you’re battling self-doubt, stick around—this advice might be the boost you need to keep chasing your entrepreneurial dreams.

Want to know how your culture can give your business an edge? Just ask Mayra Luz Colon, the founder of Healthy Rican, who fused her Puerto Rican roots with her passion for healthy living to create a successful line of mom-approved seasonings. Mayra shares how she overcame imposter-syndrome, connected with her community, and pivoted from coaching to creating a product that resonated with so many people. You’ll also hear from Ramiro Cavazos, CEO of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC), who’ll dive into how Hispanic-owned businesses are shaping the future of entrepreneurship despite the challenges they face and how the USHCC is helping entrepreneurs get access to more capital, contracts and connections, and the tools and resources they need to grow their businesses.In this special Hispanic Heritage Month episode, you’ll discover the importance of staying connected to your roots, how to build a strong community around your brand, and why empowering Hispanic-owned businesses benefits everyone.In this episode you’ll hear:(02:06) How a health issue inspired Mayra to start her business(04:27) Why Mayra pivoted to a product based business(06:06) How to get customer feedback and build a supportive community(8:52) The growth and impact of Hispanic businesses and what makes them stand out(10:15) How the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) is helping Latino entrepreneurs overcome the challenges they face by focusing on the 3 C’s: access to capital, building connections, and capacity building(14:50) Why supporting Hispanic-owned businesses benefits everyone(16:13) How resilience and being open to pivoting can help you build a successful business

Ever wondered how to make influencer marketing a game-changer for your small business? Just ask Brittany Hennessy, the bestselling author of "INFLUENCER: Building Your Personal Brand In The Age of Social Media." Brittany reveals how small businesses can leverage the power of influencers to enhance their brand, reach new audiences, and drive sales. Whether you're new to the influencer marketing scene or looking to refine your approach, Brittany's insights can help you navigate the ever-evolving world of influencer marketing.Discover strategies for working with influencers, from understanding the different types of influencer marketing to finding a good match for your brand and maximizing conversions.In this episode, you’ll learn: (2:07) How starting a blog launched Brittany into the world of influencer marketing and led to her first brand trip.(4:05) Three powerful ways to boost your brand through influencer marketing: content creation, community engagement, and driving conversions.(6:25) How you can make influencer marketing work for your small business if you’re on a tight budget.(7:49) Why picking the right influencer that aligns with your brand and goals is crucial for a successful campaign.(9:10) Practical tips on how to find the perfect influencer that could take your business to the next level.(10:53) How to reach out to influencers in a way that’ll make them excited to collaborate with you and build valuable partnerships.

Want to make sure everyone knows about your product before it launches? Just ask Jay Clouse, the founder of Creator Science, who was able to generate six figure sales within the first few days of launching his product, Creatore HQ, all thanks to a carefully thought out pre-launch strategy. Jay shares his approach to building anticipation through consistent communication and engagement with his audience and why you should be planning your launch months before your product hits the market. Learn how to leverage your audience, what incentives to offer, and how to build an engaged audience that wants to buy your upcoming product.In this episode, you’ll hear: (1:44) Why you should be talking about your product months before it launches.(3:24) How you could see who might be interested in your upcoming product and reach them(4:58) Jay breaks platforms down into two categories: Discovery platforms and relationship platforms. Learn the difference between both types and how to use them to build an engaged audience that will buy your product when it launches!(6:49) How consistently posting can build trust(8:29) Should you have a discount or a special incentive when you first launch? (9:24) How to keep the momentum after you launch

Wondering if your small business is ready to scale and how to smoothly transition into e-commerce? Just ask Val Fishbain, co-founder of Spread the Love Foods, who successfully took her business from the local farmer’s market to the online world, all while staying true to her community roots. Val shares her experience selling at farmer’s markets, what it took to make the leap to e-commerce, and the importance of giving back as her business grew. You’ll also hear from Viridiana Ponce, a business consultant and food industry expert, who dives into how to leverage farmer’s markets to enhance your business and the crucial steps for expanding beyond your local market while staying connected to your community.Learn the essential steps for scaling up like maintaining product quality, engaging with your community, and conducting market research to confidently take your business online.In this episode, you’ll hear: (2:28) How Val’s thoughtful wedding favor quickly turned into a full-blown business.(4:22) Thinking of starting a food business from home? Learn the preparation and licenses to make sure you do it right!(5:41) Val’s first experience selling her products at a farmer’s market.(9:34) The benefits that come with starting at a farmer’s market.(10:44) How tracking sales at a farmer’s market can help you get funding.(11:40) When should you consider expanding? Viridiana lists what you should be looking for to make sure you’re ready for that next step. (15:02) Three essential strategies for a successful transition to e-commerce.(18:58) How giving back through your business can help your business grow and succeed.

Ever wondered how podcasting can help you grow your business? Just ask Hala Taha, the host of the Young and Profiting (YAP) podcast and the founder of YAP Media Network and YAP Media, who knows all the podcasting secrets that’ll help you get big. Hala aka the Podcast Princess shares her own entrepreneurial journey and reveals the secrets behind her rapid growth, including how she harnessed LinkedIn for visibility and used creative strategies to break through the podcasting noise. Learn how to start your podcast, different monetization options, and why you should be advertising your business on podcasts. In this episode, you’ll learn:  (01:38) How Hala went from a corporate marketing role to founding a leading podcast network in just two years.(03:20) Hala’s game-changing LinkedIn tactics that increased her podcast’s visibility and engagement.(05:04) How Hala used her LinkedIn presence to grow on other platforms.(06:40) How Hala leveraged her podcast as a lead generation tool and built a successful social media agency from it.(08:48) Why podcasting can help you grow your business.(10:20) The three key components for a successful podcast: being searchable, designing an eye-catching cover, and utilizing platforms like TikTok and YouTube.(11:28) How to advertise your business on other podcasts.

Starting a business on a tight budget might sound tough, but it can be more beneficial than you might think. Just ask Alice Kim, founder of Elizabeth Mott, who turned a small budget into a flourishing business. Alice explains how she reduced costs by building a strong network, coming up with creative solutions, and the importance of buying enough time to build the momentum you need to get your business noticed. You’ll also hear from Caroline Castrillon, founder of the Corporate Escape Artist, who’ll share budget-friendly ways to understand your target audience and do market research.Learn how you can make your business thrive with limited funds and turn your small budget into a big success!In this episode you’ll hear: (1:08) How Alice Kim launched Elizabeth Mott on a shoestring budget.(3:57) How Alice tapped into her network to cut costs and find creative solutions.(5:05) How to tackle research and development without breaking the bank.(6:47) Five budget-friendly tips for effective market research.(8:48) Why having a co-founder or a solid support system can make all the difference.(9:25) The benefits of being resourceful and scrappy.(12:10) Why focusing on the journey is just as important as reaching your end goal.(14:19) Why prioritizing your tasks can help you navigate the startup hustle.(15:38) How being scrappy can give you the time and space to get your business off the ground.

Want to learn how to turn your cultural heritage into a successful business idea? Just ask Conchita Pleasant, the founder and CEO of Nefertiti's Secrets, who looked at Ancient Egyptian remedies to create a hair care line. Conchita opens up about the struggles of battling breast cancer and how it led her to start her business. Learn how to conduct effective market research through direct feedback, the importance of pivoting, and how to turn obstacles into opportunities and empower yourself and others along the way.In this episode, you’ll hear: (01:22) How Conchita’s breast cancer diagnosis became a turning point in her entrepreneurial journey.(05:10) How Conchita utilized feedback to improve her formula.(07:15) How Conchita started to mass produce her product. (09:04) How Conchita’s brand aims to uplift customers and the significance of history to her and her customers. (11:14) How you can replicate Conchita’s success by drawing inspiration from your past. 

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 mastering your mindset, pinpointing your target audience, networking like a pro, or cracking the social media code, we've got you covered.In this episode, you’ll learn how to:(02:05) Cultivate a Success-Oriented Mindset(03:02) Network Effectively for Business Growth(04:24) Define and Reach Your Target Audience(06:13) Build a Comprehensive Marketing Strategy(07:44) Leverage the Power of Email Lists(09:55) Implement Effective Social Media Strategies(13:36) Stay Persistent and Keep Moving Forward

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 apply to your own business right now. Whether you're trying to grow your business through social media, find a manufacturer to bring your idea to life, or figure out how to price your product - we got you!Hosted by Andrea Marquez, an aspiring small business owner, This is Small Business brings a diverse group of entrepreneurs and experts together to help you along your journey.New episodes are out every week. Follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen. You won't want to miss an episode!

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 product is ready to be on the shelves. In this episode you’ll hear:(05:56) - How distinctive packaging and vibrant colors helped Trinity's brand stand out in a crowded marketplace (07:58) - Copying big businesses' marketing tactics doesn't always work! Trinity explains how she found success by staying true to her vision(09:10) - How to leverage friends and family to gather early feedback on your product - before you launch(09:42) - Trinity explains how she knew she was ready to launch her business(11:06) - Andrea's key takeaways for launching your MVP

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 figuring out your business strategy will influence your pricing.(03:00) How to find out how much your customer is willing to pay. (04:52) Should you start selling your products or services at a higher price point? (06:05) The benefits of a subscription model and how to build one.(07:50) How understanding the customer decision process can help you set prices.

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 ideal customer, Darian Kovacs, founder of Jelly Digital Marketing, spills the secrets on how to reach them. Darian tells us what social media platform might work best for you (spoiler: it’s all about trial and error) and breaks down how you can use SEO to get the right people to notice your business. In this episode you’ll hear:(02:50) Why Amber started Fidget Stickers.(06:05) Amber uses her business as a case study to explain the five phases of the customer journey: awareness, consideration, decision purchase, retention, and advocacy.(10:12) Questions you should ask yourself when you evaluate your customer journey. (12:54) How to identify your ideal customer BEFORE launching your product.(18:31) Tools that small business owners can use to learn more about their customers..(20:36) How to figure out what social platform you should be using to reach your ideal customer.(23:48) How to use SEO to be more discoverable.(25:59) Andrea's key takeaways for understanding your customer journey.

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. Christina recommends ways to overcome the entrepreneurial urge to do it all.(04:32) Why cash flow is important and the consequences of ignoring it.(06:11) How to manage your cash flow by putting liquidity in place before you need it, keeping an eye on any lumpy cash flow throughout the year, and being creative.(07:41) How to avoid scaling prematurely. 

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 evaluating the future of their business. You’ll also hear from Verne Harnish, Founder and CEO of Scaling Up and the Entrepreneurs’ Organization, who shares actionable steps you can take to scale your business.In this episode you’ll hear:(02:15) How Max'is Creations started.(05:19) When Jen and Max realized that Max'is Creations could be more than a side hustle.(08:18) Jen talks about their experience with licensing – a way for you to partner with other companies without needing to do all the work yourself. (17:33) Verne emphasizes the importance of marketing and finding influencers to talk about your product or idea if you want to scale your business. (22:28) Having a routine can save you time.(23:48) Surround yourself with other like-minded entrepreneurs or mentors.(27:09) Verne tells us how being bold can land you opportunities.

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, and it's money well spent [...] I would encourage people to put money into design," says David. In the season finale of This is Small Business, you’ll hear how Julian and David’s love story sparked the idea to start their business, the challenges and benefits of being married to your business partner, and how design can elevate your products. They’ll also talk about the importance of taking it slow when you’re first stepping into entrepreneurship.In this episode you’ll hear:(01:23) How David and Julian met and started Mcmiller (06:11) Why David and Julian wanted to get into entrepreneurship despite being professional actors(09:55) The challenges and benefits of starting a business with your romantic partner(12:28) How you could use reviews to improve your products(15:12) How design can elevate your products(22:36) How success can hurt your business if you’re not prepared for it(23:54) How to add sustainability into your business – Andrea mentions two This is Small Business episodes about sustainability. If you want to learn more, check out this season's bonus episode “How your business can have an impact” or an episode from season 4 called “How to Grow a Sustainable Business.”(25:58) Julian and David give us a look into their future goals and their upcoming game(26:55) Julian and David emphasize the importance of taking things slow when you’re starting your business – it’ll help you avoid mistakes and give you time to work on the best version of your product

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 selling real estate. It's not going to sell tomorrow.” says Emmet, “[...] preparing and planning is very important.” Learn how you can increase your business value, who you may need on your team, and when you could be selling your business.In this episode you’ll hear:(01:41) Why and when you could be selling your business(02:40) Challenges that might make your business difficult to sell(03:26) Who you might need on your team to sell your business(04:36) How to figure out what your business is worth(06:27) How to increase your business’ value

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 feel comfortable with, what kind of industries you feel like make sense,” Brian says, “because once you get those under your belt, then you'll feel a little bit more sophisticated when the time really comes.”We’ll dive into the essentials: from why you should consider buying a business to breaking down all the thorough due diligence and financing options so you can find the right business that works for you! In this episode you’ll hear:(00:35) How Brian bought his first business(2:42) Why buying a business could be right for you(5:06) Research and analysis (aka due diligence) that needs to get done before you buy a business(6:39) Where you can find businesses to buy(8:01) Brian breaks down what the due diligence process looks like by using a coffee shop as an example(11:00) Three ways you can pay for the business you want to buy(13:50) Andrea and Brian go over three points you should focus on when you’re trying to find a business to buy

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 resonates with them, but doesn't fit perfectly, that's okay. If they like what you're saying and they find value, they will find you.”Learn how you can replicate Amy’s growth by managing your mindset, creating a customer avatar, and growing your email list. In this episode you’ll hear:(00:45) How Amy started her business(03:02) How negative thoughts can impede growth(05:57) How to build your customer avatar(08:11) How content creation helped Amy grow(09:27) How to grow your email list(12:16) Common mistakes that might affect your growth