
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

Jan 27, 2020 • 51min
What Online Marketers Don't Want You To Know
This is a very special episode of the Small Business Boss podcast because it’s episode 200 of the show. When it comes to running an online business, it’s nearly impossible to avoid the never-ending barrage of sleazy dude-bro marketers and the glossy leather pant clad coaches that are full of empty promises. For the 200th episode of the Small Business Boss podcast, I’m doing a very special roundtable episode, taking a hard look at their claims and the way the market is shifting. There are also a few confessions along the way with my special guests. Get the inside scoop right here: https://smallbusinessboss.co/online-marketers/

Jan 20, 2020 • 14min
Myths of Growing Your Services Business - The 2020 Edition
You can’t grow without a team. Your income will plateau. You’ve heard all the myths of a service business before, and in this new episode, we’re taking a look at these myths and looking at how they stack up in 2020. Get the inside scoop right here: https://smallbusinessboss.co/growing-a-servic…business-in-2020/

Jan 13, 2020 • 17min
What I Learned About Finding Clients in 2019
As business owners, most of us are really good at setting big goals for our business. Especially revenue goals, but many times we don’t think about what it’s going to take to actually reach that goal. I speak from experience as someone with many an ambitious goal that wasn’t met because it wasn’t grounded in reality. For many people, those big goals are super motivating, but for me, they’re soul crushing when I fall short. In this episode, I wanted to share some real numbers to give you an idea of what it took to increase revenue in 2019, and more importantly, what I learned about finding clients. Get the inside scoop right here: https://smallbusinessboss.co/finding-clients-…9-by-the-numbers/

Jan 6, 2020 • 11min
Three New Year's Resolutions for Small Business Bosses
FACT: I’m not a huge fan of the whole New Year’s resolutions thing, But I AM a fan of learning from mistakes and making plans that are actually achievable. 2020 marks 15 years in business for me, and I’ve learned more lessons than I can count along the way — some of which I wish I’d learned much sooner in my journey. And that’s exactly why I’m sharing three of those lessons with you in this episode. Get the scoop here: https://smallbusinessboss.co/business-new-years-resolutions/

Dec 16, 2019 • 31min
Building Real Relationships with Lisa Princic
When you run a service-based business, relationships are the name of the game. They are the true currency of your business — not money. If you've ever wondered HOW to make those relationships happen in a way that feels both organic and REAL, then today's episode is for you. My guest, Lisa Princic, shares what it means to "scale deep" and why focusing on creating relationships that are more meaningful with fewer people is critical for service business owners. Get the scoop here: https://smallbusinessboss.co/building-business-relationships/

Dec 9, 2019 • 10min
November Recap and a Look Ahead at 2020
November was proof that sometimes the best-laid plans go awry when life happens. In this episode of the Small Business Boss podcast, I talk about taking a pause to prioritize my health while simultaneously dealing with some growing pains and shifts in our client load. I’m keeping it real and sharing what a month that was pretty much “survival” mode looked like. Get the scoop here: https://smallbusinessboss.co/recap-november-2019/

Dec 2, 2019 • 19min
Planning with Intention (And Avoiding Procrasti-planning)
Planning is a necessity when you run a business, but in the online business world, it's a big old commodity. Planning is seen as the answer to everything, so there’s no shortage of courses and services to take your money in exchange for some regurgitated planning advice. In this episode, I'm talking all about planning with intention (while not falling into the trap of procrasti-planning) and how to create annual plans that actually improve your business results in the coming year. I’m breaking down my FIVE specific things for my annual plan to help you get focused on what matters most. Get the scoop here: https://smallbusinessboss.co/annual-business-planning/

Nov 25, 2019 • 28min
Leadership and Mindset Shifts for Agency Owners with Bekka Prideaux
Just because you’re an entrepreneur running a business, it doesn’t mean you relish being a leader. In this episode of the Small Business Boss podcast, I’m talking to leadership mentor Bekka Prideaux who’s helped me refine my leadership style in a way that works for me and is of service to my team. Get the scoop here: https://smallbusinessboss.co/leadership-mindset/

Nov 18, 2019 • 8min
The Recap: October 2019
October was all about getting ready to take time off and then actually being away on vacation, so even with 31 days, it felt like a really short month — especially when I was putting together my notes to do this recap! In this episode, I talk about how I prepped clients and worked ahead while leaning on my team so I could take a week and a half off at the end of the month. I'm also sharing the details of the new year-long mastermind for 2020, where we’ll be focused on growing and scaling an agency. Get the scoop here: https://smallbusinessboss.co/recap-october-2019/

Nov 11, 2019 • 25min
Knowing Your Agency's Numbers with Christina Sjahli
When I started Scoop, I really had no idea what I was in for as an agency owner when it came to making and managing money. Talk about a learning curve! Over the last four years, I’ve had to master new money management skills, which is why I wish I’d heard everything that guest Christina Sjahli shares about budgeting, cash flow, and other fundamentals in this new interview. Get the scoop here: https://smallbusinessboss.co/christina-sjahli/