Small Business Show

What's the Best Small Business phone system for your business? Join us this week on The Small Business Show as we discuss how answering your phone can be a competitive advantage! Then it's on to a deep dive into the benefits of using affinity credit cards to enhance your lifestyle while using them for your Small Business. Listen in to your hosts Shannon Jean and Dave Hamilton to hear how they have lived a Charmed Life with the help of credit card points.   00:00:00 Small Business Show #342 for Wednesday, August 25, 2021 00:01:28 What is the best office phone system? Phone.com RingCentral Grasshopper AirCall.io The Two Tokens of Customer Service Obi200 00:10:13 Sponsor: LinkedIn Jobs will help you hire the right person for your role. Post your first job for free at LinkedIn.com/SBS. Terms and conditions apply. 00:12:15 Credit Cards Make Inter-Statement Payments It’s YOUR Personal Guarantee, Not Your Company’s Travel Cards American Express Bonvoy Hotel Rewards Card Barclay’

Are you living a "before-tax" lifestyle? What other accounting secrets are you missing out on that could improve your life while saving money for your Small Business? Is a Trademark important for your small business? When should you file for one and can you do it yourself? What happens if your Trademark is challenged? All this and more on The Small Business Show this week!   00:00:00 Small Business Show #341 for Wednesday, August 18, 2021 00:01:08 Small Business Accounting Hidden Secrets - Living a Before-Tax Life Putting Family on the Payroll Expensing Trips — You get an annual board meeting! Retreats Expensing Your Cars Managing Your Hobby-related expenses What is your rewards-based feedback@businessshow.co 00:09:02 The Business Model of The Burnham 00:16:20 SPONSOR: Streak is a CRM designed to help you stay on top of each part of your process — and your inbox — without ever leaving Gmail. Visit Streak.com/SBS to get 20% off your first year of Streak’s Pro Plan. 00:17:53 SPONSOR:

What's the best way to take care of your Small Business Payroll? Should you do it yourself or use a service? Join us during the introduction to Episode 340 of The Small Business Show to find out what your hosts Shannon Jean and Dave Hamilton think! Then, it's on to a discussion about how to create and make presentations that have an impact. How not to bore or confuse your audience and why we think less is more when it comes to great presentations. You will also get a chance to learn about Guy Kawasaki's secret 10/20/30 rule of presentations. Listen in for all this and more!   00:00:00 Small Business Show #340 for Wednesday, August 11, 2021 Small Business Payroll and Creating Impactful Presentations 00:01:23 Maine Lobsters vs. Atlantic Lobsters 00:04:28 What’s the best way to do Small Business Payroll Dave (currently) uses Quickbooks Payroll Shannon says Consider a Local Payroll Service feedback@businessshow.co 00:11:55 SPONSOR: SaneBox. SaneBox’s Artificial Intelligence monitors your

What's the best printer for your Small Business? Multi-function, Inkjet, Laser - we discuss the pros and cons of each printer type with real-world experiences from your hosts Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean. Then it's on to a discussion about Customer Privacy - what are your responsibilities as a keeper of data at your Small Business? How can we keep our privacy policies simple and is there a way to use our customer data handling as a selling point? Can you build trust and credibility with your customers by showing them that you value their privacy, their time, and their intelligence? Join us for episode 339 of the Small Business Show to find out! 00:00:00 Small Business Show #339 for Wednesday, August 4, 2021 00:01:09 The Best Printer for Small Business Shannon’s Inkjet Pick: Epson EcoTank Shannon’s Label Printer Pick: Dymo Labelwriter 4XL Dave’s Laser Printer Pick: Lexmark MB3442adw MultiFunction Laser Printer/Copy/Fax/Scan feedback@businessshow.co 00:09:21 James-What do you know about

How many steps does it take for a customer to speak to a human at your business? How about placing an order? How easy is it for a return to be processed or a refund to be issued? Over time, all of us can fall into the complexity trap of making things too complicated for our customers, our employees, and ourselves. Let’s call it Complexity Creep. As you work on solving problems, it’s easy to add “just one more step” or “one more option” to take care of a specific issue. Today on The Small Business Show, your hosts Shannon Jean and Dave Hamilton start off with an update on what you need to be doing to get your PPP Loan forgiven before jumping into a discussion about why simplicity is so important for your Small Business success. Join us! 00:00:00 Small Business Show #338 for Wednesday, July 28, 2021 00:00:57 PPP Loan Forgiveness for the Second Round 00:07:43 SPONSOR: SaneBox. SaneBox’s Artificial Intelligence monitors your Inbox. Automatically, knucklehead email is moved to your SaneLater folder. All t

Having an area for work, exercise, or just to get away is critically important. We have discussed ways to carve out space when working from home, and both Dave and Shannon have discussed how having an area outside of your home can increase your productivity and sanity. Today on the show, we are chatting with Eric Benavides, Founder and CEO of Backyard Workroom – a company building and installing structures in as little as 2-3 weeks that can give you that space we've been talking about.   00:00:00 Small Business Show #337 for Wednesday, July 21, 2021 Eric Benavides, Founder, and CEO of Backyard Workroom Necessity is the mother of invention! Being an entrepreneur is a blue-collar job How do you get this into somebody’s backyard? What do you have that’s patentable? 11:36 Sponsor: LinkedIn Jobs will help you hire the right person for your role. Post your first job for free at LinkedIn.com/SBS. Terms and conditions apply. The patenting process Start big, let them steer you small The provis

If you switched to a work from home business model during the pandemic, you may now be working on a plan to get your team back into the office. What’s the best method to start in-person schedules again? How do you transition those workers that don’t want to work in person anymore and what about hybrid work schedules? Today we are going to tackle these challenges and more as we discuss a few different hybrid models, their pros and cons, and how to be meet the needs of your employees AND your business. Join your hosts Shannon Jean and Dave Hamilton as we explore the challenges of getting people back to in-person work schedules. 00:00:00 Small Business Show #336 for Wednesday, July 14, 2021 “Nana and Grandad” Book 00:05:06 Getting Back to the office Work from Home Research from Harvard Business Review 00:12:40 Hybrid, Employees Decide 00:18:04 SPONSOR: Streak is a CRM designed to help you stay on top of each part of your process — and your inbox — without ever leaving Gmail. Visit Streak.com

We love getting a chance to talk with business owners that have carved out a successful niche for themselves. Today we're sitting down with Dean Hung, Founder of Orchid Insanity. Dean has built a successful business selling Orchids on his website, eBay and Etsy. Listen and learn about the challenges of selling products that have to stay alive when shipping them worldwide and more! 00:00:00 Small Business Show #335 for Wednesday, July 7, 2021 Dean Hung from Orchid Insanity The riches are in the niches! A Hobby Gone Wild: From obsession to addiction to... profit! Failure: Business cards We don’t control the weather Etsy is slick, fast, and easy-to-use. Learns from everyone else’s mistakes 00:16:35 SPONSOR: Custom Comet creates custom merchandise for your business. Air fresheners, coasters, coffee sleeves, stickers, and more. Let Custom Comet help your brand create a unique and memorable promotional product. Mention Small Business Show for 5% off! 00:18:22 Plants are low-stress! Managing

Today on The Small Business Show we check in with David Carpenter, Founder of Gamiotics and the Seize the Show entertainment group. But first, it's listener Q&A where your hosts Shannon Jean and Dave Hamilton give advice to a parent of a first-time entrepreneur. Join us!       00:00:00 Small Business Show #334 for Wednesday, June 28, 2021 00:02:40  00:03:57 Kelly-Advice for a first-generation entrepreneur feedback@businessshow.co Don’t Make Fear-Based Decisions Listen to Yourself Take Action Make use of SCORE Ask questions everywhere Listen to Small Business Show and ask us questions! Persistent Passion is the Key! Understand and Expand Your Talent Stack 16:09 SPONSOR: HelloFresh. Visit HelloFresh.com/sbs14 and use code sbs14 for up to 14 free meals and free shipping! 19:13 David Carpenter from Seize the Show, Gamiotics, and Tilted Windmills Theatricals David Carpenter on Small Business Show SBS 334 Outtro

Join your hosts Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean as they sit down with Puffco Founder and CEO, Roger Volodarsky. The episode is a master class in building a niche business to produce the best products and customer experience that is possible. Roger is a true champion of creating products that solve particular problems and building a business that reflects his self-expression.     00:00:00 Small Business Show #333 for Wednesday, June 23, 2021 Interview with Roger Volodarsky, CEO and Founder of Puffco Pre-30yo Angst combined with a few Light cannabis arrests = Puffco Started with Puffco Classic, January 2014 — Built for himself! Then the Puffco Pro, October 2014 Try to impress yourself Companies led by community members All ideas are soldiers in the world of ideas “Dabbing” = Vaporizing Concentrates Attention and Intention A thought about pre-filled THC Distillate vape cartridges 19:31 SPONSOR: Custom Comet creates custom merchandise for your business. Air fresheners, coasters, coffee s

Giving something of value away to customers before they place an order is a common sales and marketing technique. This reciprocity tactic is a powerful way to use persuasion to attract new customers to your business. But what about using it in other ways? With your employees, suppliers, and partners? Today on The Small Business Show you will learn about the hidden power of reciprocity and why it should be at the forefront of decision making for your business. Join your hosts Shannon Jean and Dave Hamilton as they discuss the power of using reciprocity to help you and your Small Business succeed! 00:00:00 Small Business Show #332 for Wednesday, June 16, 2021 00:01:01 New Logo for SBS feedback@businessshow.co 00:01:34 The Power of Reciprocity Give away something of value before the order is placed Costco’s Free Samples are their Secret Sauce HelpScout - Teaching great customer service Scott Adams: Hand out TicTacs at the start of each meeting. 00:12:06 SPONSOR: Bambee – Let Bambee hel

What's the best way to manage employee reviews for your team? Should you use an objective, numerical rating system or stick with a more subjective process? Join us today as your hosts Shannon Jean and Dave Hamilton discuss ways to make reviews a productive and positive experience for employees and employers. After a message from our sponsor, Streak, then it's time for listener questions where Kevin tells us that our pie-in-the-sky optimism isn't working for him. We get down to Earth and offer Kevin some action tips to help him get out from being stuck working for someone else. It's hard work, but we know you can do it, Kevin! If you have a question for Dave or Shannon, contact us at feedback@businessshow.co! 00:00:00 Small Business Show #331 for Wednesday, June 9, 2021 Listener Questions today! feedback@businessshow.co 00:04:06 Robert: How to do reviews? Make sure you document it Call them “Check-ins.” Ask your employees to create their notes first… and share them. When to schedule revi

This week on The Small Business Show, your hosts Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean discuss choosing your ownership and why distractions can be valuable. Then it's a wrap-up of LinkedIn with a focus on how to use the platform to grow your business, make connections and build your personal brand. Join us!       00:00:00 Small Business Show #330 for Wednesday, June 2, 2021 00:01:01 Seth Godin: “If you want to run an organization you’re proud of, choose your ownership as carefully as you choose your employees.” The Purple Cow 00:07:46 The Value of a Distraction 00:12:29 SPONSOR: Custom Comet creates custom merchandise for your business. Air fresheners, coasters, coffee sleeves, stickers, and more. Let Custom Comet help your brand create a unique and memorable promotional product. Mention Small Business Show for 5% off! 00:14:41 How to Build your LinkedIn Presence Create a personal account Also create a page for your business The Small Business Show on LinkedIn Use Keywords! Highlight Co

On this episode of The Small Business Show, hear why co-host Shannon Jean believes LinkedIn is one of the most underutilized tools for Small Business owners. We jump into the WHY both you and your Small Business should have a presence on LinkedIn with some enlightening personal anecdotes and lessons learned on the platform.     00:00:00 Small Business Show #329 for Wednesday, May 26, 2021 00:01:24 How to Make LinkedIn Work for your Business LinkedIn Jobs (with a $50 SBS Coupon!) 00:05:03 Using LinkedIn as a “Social Network”* 00:07:40 Using LinkedIn to find Customers* Engage first. 00:10:26 Connecting with Suppliers on LinkedIn* Focus on adding value. 00:14:46 Wade through the noise 00:17:46 Using LinkedIn to develop your board of advisors* 00:19:39 Shannon’s Couch* 00:22:30 LinkedIn’s Paid Tools* 00:23:34 Be tactful with how you use LinkedIn 00:25:16 Will LinkedIn let me control my feed?* 00:26:52 More LinkedIn Tips* 00:28:16 Playing the long game* 00:30:25 SBS 329

Over the past 6-seasons on The Small Business Show, we frequently discuss the tactics and actions required to make the jump from Employee to Employer – leaving the comfort of a 9-5 job to start your own Small Business and to create the Charmed Life we promote on the show. Our guest today is a believer. He's on a quest, a mission, if you will to rescue 1-million entrepreneurs from traditional employment. Tra Williams has escaped employment and founded several companies, has helped other business owners franchise and grow their concepts, and he’s led several franchise companies to success. Tra's new book, Boss Brain is all about thinking like an entrepreneur to live the American Dream. Join your hosts Shannon Jean and Dave Hamilton as we learn about Boss Brain and Tra's own journey as a serial Entrepreneur. 00:00:00 Small Business Show #328 for Wednesday, May 19, 2021 Tra Williams, Rescuing 1 Million Entrepreneurs from Traditional Employment Growing up with no “Now Hiring” signs Fixing the decline

If you are a Small Business owner selling any kind of product or service, is selling and marketing on eBay part of your long-term strategy? We think it should be! Join us today as we speak with Rebecca Michals, eBay Director of Community and Engagement to learn why and how eBay is focused on helping Small Business owners succeed. Rebecca Michals, eBay's Director, Seller Community and Engagement Marketing Seller to Seller, but everyone’s a customer The eBay for Business Podcast Make your podcast part of the whole story The eBay Up and Running Program Victor and his trading cards business 00:15:23 SPONSOR: Let Bambee help solve your HR problems. Go to Bambee.com/SMALL right now to schedule your free HR audit. Rebecca puts books on her To-Did List Shannon’s eBay Unlocked Book eBay Seller School eBay’s Concierge Customer Service Action: Join a professional organization!

Are you willing to do everything to make your Small Business succeed or do find certain tasks "below you"? Join us for this episode of The Small Business Show to hear why your hosts Shannon Jean and Dave Hamilton believe that cleaning the toilets is a crucial step towards success as a Small Business owner. You will hear about doing whatever it takes to succeed while still being wise with your time and why leading from a position of humbleness can make all the difference for your success as a leader. Join us! 00:00:00 Small Business Show #326 for Wednesday, May 5, 2021 00:08:31 SPONSOR: Streak is a CRM designed to help you stay on top of each part of your process — and your inbox — without ever leaving Gmail. Visit Streak.com/SBS to get 20% off your first year of Streak’s Pro Plan. 00:10:22 Being an Entrepreneur is a Blue Collar Job $1,000/hr work vs. $20/hr work Be willing to do everything. It’s a working person's job 00:25:03 SBS 326

Join your hosts Shannon Jean and Dave Hamilton for a discussion about what phrases to avoid in-person and with written communication. Then it's time to discuss very unconventional methods to share your story with both your customers, employees, and partners. Listen in and then join us at the Small Business Support Group! 00:00:00 Small Business Show #325 for Wednesday, April 28, 2021 00:02:09 Controlling our Vernacular Ridding the Pleonasms! Don’t be afraid to chat voice. Is it a Compliment Sandwich or a Bad News Sandwich MailTags as part of SmartSuite 00:11:23 How to Get Your Story Heard Bailey Barnard talking Story on Small Business Show Story should be baked in authentically Self-effacing humor ...and humanity Brian from Sell Your Mac Managing your own Terms and Conditions Re-do your voicemail messages! Tell your story everywhere: Website – HelloTushy.com Terms and Conditions Voice Mail Business Cards 00:30:15 SBS 325 Outtro

Joining us for this episode of The Small Business Show is Howard Tiersky, CEO of FROM, a company that describes itself as a Digital Transformation Agency. Howard is going to help us learn about successful digital product launches and how to get our companies ready for the digital future. Howard is also the Best Selling Author of Winning Digital Customers - a terrific manual for driving digital success at your own company. 00:00:00 Small Business Show #324 for Wednesday, April 21, 2021 Howard Tiersky, CEO of FROM – The Digital Transformation Agency Wikipedia: Digital transformation Transformed Banks: JP Morgan Chase, TransAmerica The value of Digital Transformation when attracting talent Redefining the nature of employment Winning Digital Customers Innovation Friction (aka “The Killer App”) VisiCalc

Following up on episode 321 where we questioned if ADHD is a "disorder or super-power" for Small Business owners, we are joined today by Brittany Smith, a Cognitive Neuroscientist with a specialty in helping people overcome the challenges of ADHD. Join your hosts Shannon Jean and Dave Hamilton as they dig deeper into the topic of ADHD for Entrepreneurs and what tools can be used to find success. 00:00:00 Small Business Show #323 for Wednesday, April 14, 2021 Brittany Smith, Cognitive Neuroscientist, Conquer Consulting ADHD Coaching The past is the past.  Choosing Impulsive Choice vs. Analysis Paralysis Low Working Memory GTD Method vs. ADHD Avoiding the spiral with your To-Did List Avoid notification numbness Bring in a buddy / FocusMate / Coworking Your Willpower and Decision-Making Pools Balance Reliability vs. Saying No Shannon’s eBay Unlocked Find Brittany at @addliberator on Twitter Conquer.Consulting ADHD Guild Rejection Sensitivity and Imposter Syndrome