
Staying Solo
Growing a solo service business is tough. It’s even harder when you’re bombarded with BS advice that steers you away from your values and why you started your business in the first place.
This is the podcast for solo creatives and consultants who want to remain as a team of one and have zero interest in the hustle and grind of typical business teachings.
Most podcasts for solopreneurs and freelancers, hosted by out-of-touch celebrity entrepreneurs who haven't offered one-to-one services in years, miss the mark on today's market realities.
Maggie Patterson, a service business owner for 20 years, understands that to stay solo, you need to know what matters to you, what works for you, and what you should completely ignore.
In each episode, she examines one piece of conventional business advice to discover how it may hurt your business or be completely wrong for you as a solo business owner.
Join Maggie for real talk to help you avoid burnout or the desire to entirely burn down your business to open a flower shop, book store, or cat cafe. (Because those cats won’t pay the bills.)
(Formerly the BS-Free Service Business Show)
Latest episodes

Nov 16, 2020 • 19min
Nine Things Service Providers are Getting Wrong About Sales (And How to Fix Them)
When it comes to selling your services, it can be challenging to know if you’re getting it right, or if you’re inadvertently sabotaging yourself somehow. In this episode, I’m unpacking nine things I see service providers getting wrong, and we’re going to talk about how to fix them. Get the inside scoop right here: https://smallbusinessboss.co/sales-mistakes

Nov 9, 2020 • 15min
The 5 Cs of Agency Success
If you’re anything like me, when you look at other people running a successful business, you want to know *exactly* what they’ve done to get where they are. And the truth is, while everyone is unique and each agency has its own flavor, there ARE some things that are universal when it comes to building a thriving business.I like to call these The Five Cs, and consider them the nuts and bolts of running an agency. In this episode, I’m introducing you to the 5Cs which can make (or break) your agency. Get the inside scoop right here: https://smallbusinessboss.co/agency-success

Nov 2, 2020 • 12min
2020 Behind-the-Scenes at Scoop Studios
This has been the longest year ever. Am I right? And it’s because my well-orchestrated plan was thrown out the window, and there’s been a lot of adjusting along the way. As part of our agency model series on the BS-Free Service Business show, I’m taking you behind-the-scenes of my agency, Scoop Studios. I share the nitty-gritty on revenue growth, the realities of lead gen, and what I’m planning for 2021. Get the inside scoop right here: https://smallbusinessboss.co/behind-the-scenes

Oct 26, 2020 • 17min
My Agency Journey
In this episode of the show, I’m taking you on my agency journey which has been over 20 years in the making. The twist, the turns, the lessons and how everything agency has changed. Get the inside scoop: https://smallbusinessboss.co/build-an-agency/

Oct 19, 2020 • 14min
Now’s the Time for the Next Generation of Agencies
In today’s episode, I’m talking about a new type of agency, the kind that skips the BS and helps you build a business you can love. Get the inside scoop right here: https://smallbusinessboss.co/agency-business-model/

Oct 12, 2020 • 48min
The Dark Side of Online Business: A Call for the Status Quo to Dramatically Change
Have you ever looked around at some of the other businesses in the online business industry and thought “that seems shady as hell”? Or, have you ever wondered how some of the people in this industry manage to fly under the radar while operating with an “anything goes” attitude? That’s why I decided it was time to go deep into the underbelly of the online business world and start unpacking WHY this industry is so seriously messed up. More importantly, I wanted to see what can be done to start moving the needle back towards creating an ethical and honest approach to doing business online. In this podcast and post, I’m putting a spotlight on the dark side of the online business industry, and sharing why now is the time for the status quo to change dramatically. Get the inside scoop right here: https://smallbusinessboss.co/the-dark-side-of-online-business

Oct 5, 2020 • 26min
Agency Behind-the-Scenes: Tasha Booth
Ever looked at an agency owner who seems to have it all together and wondered what exactly goes on behind the scenes? Me too. (Yes, I run an agency, but that doesn’t mean I’ve got every single thing perfectly figured out!). For this episode I’m thrilled to bring you an agency behind-the-scenes episode with Tasha Booth, Founder and CEO of the Launch Guild. Tasha shares so many gems from what to look for when you hire to why your team should be empowered to hold you accountable and keep you out of the weeds. Get the inside scoop right here: https://smallbusinessboss.co/beind-the-scenes

Sep 28, 2020 • 18min
Don't Blame the Business Model: 5 Strategies Avoiding Burnout in Your Service Business
Burnout isn’t inevitable when you run a service business, no matter what people want you to believe. In this episode we’re talking about why working with clients isn’t a recipe for burnout and five strategies for avoiding burnout in your service business. Get the inside scoop right here: https://smallbusinessboss.co/avoiding-burnout/

Sep 21, 2020 • 16min
The Framework for a BS-Free Service Business
As bosses, many of us worry we’re missing something as we build our businesses, so the idea of a specific way to do things can be incredibly appealing. Which is why in this episode and blog post, I’m walking you through the BS-Free Service Business Foundations Framework, and true to its name, it’s going to free you from a whole lotta busywork and BS. Get the inside scoop right here: https://smallbusinessboss.co/business-framework/

Sep 14, 2020 • 21min
A Deep Dive into Business Masterminds: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Masterminds are often seen as a must-have for business owners, but should we believe the hype about what they can really do for us? In this episode and blog post, I’m doing a deep dive into the good, the bad and the ugly of masterminds. Get the inside scoop right here: https://smallbusinessboss.co/benefits-of-mastermind-groups/