Business Brain – The Entrepreneurs’ Podcast

We’re starting a brand new business year with a brand new tax reform act that will impact your Small Business. Get yourself ready by listening in to this episode of the Small Business Show! On the Small Business Show, we believe that you are a better steward of your money than the government, especially when it comes to investing in your business, your employees and your community. So why not learn the details of the new tax laws and work with your accountant to minimize what you have to send away to the federal government? Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean jump right in to discuss the details of the tax changes and how you may want to start thinking differently about the structure of your business to take advantage of the new laws. You’ll learn about Pass-through business entities and the new 20% deduction for those types of businesses, along with the restrictions put into place for service businesses such as accountants and attorneys. You’ll be encouraged to ask yourself the all-important question: Are you an employee, business owner or both? Why does it matter and how do you use this decision to minimize your tax burden? We then spend some time talking about employee-driven businesses (manufacturing companies and restaurants for example) and how they are limited to a deductible that is no larger than 50% of their payroll amount in an effort to encourage Small Businesses to hire more awesome employees. Then it’s time to talk about capital investments and the fact that you now have a 5-year window to expense 100% of your short-lived capital investments within a calendar year. What’s a short-lived capital investment? We thought you’d never ask! Listen in to learn more. We close out the show with some juicy details about Carry-forward losses and Carry-back losses and how the new tax reform laws impact both. You don’t want to miss this part. Thanks for joining us today! After you listen, share your story by visiting the Small Business Support Group – we would love to hear from you! Chapters/Timestamps: 00:00:00 Small Business Show #153 for Wednesday, January 10, 2018 00:01:39 How Will the Tax Law Impact Small Businesses? Breakdown on New Tax Laws 00:02:37 Do your homework! 00:03:18 The New Pass-through 20% Deduction 00:07:28 Limitations for highly-profitable service-based businesses 00:10:17 Are you an employee, business owner, or both? 00:12:11 Learn the new laws as they apply to your business 00:13:03 Employee-driven businesses are limited to 50% of payroll 00:13:48 Find your own path 00:14:53 SPONSOR: Meet the PDFpen family – Powerful PDF tools for Mac and iOS. Edit, sign, scan, and OCR at your Mac or on the go. 00:18:00 SPONSOR: Create a FREE Beeya.com account today to find jobs AND find employees. Beeya.com’s algorithm is the first of its kind to match employees with employers based on each party’s specific requirements. 00:20:09 A note about the way we handle our sponsorships 00:21:08 You are a better steward with your own money 00:22:04 Expensing 100% your short-lived capital investments Like Section 179 deductions for your business 00:24:16 Changes to Carry-forward Losses and Elimination of Carry-Back Losses 00:27:02 Strategically Using Losses 00:28:22 Corporate tax reductions to rates and foreign earnings 00:29:59 Tax extensions are your friend! 00:31:58 “One Time” doesn’t always mean one-time 00:33:01 SBS 153 Outtro The post How will the 2018 Tax Reforms Impact Your Small Business? Small Business Show Episode 153 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

Everyone is an expert…at something. Listen to this episode of the Small Business Show for tips about using your expertise to start a consulting Small Business that can help you transition from an employee to an employer. Listener James B. asks some great questions about starting his technical support consultant business and Dave and Shannon are happy to spend the entire show discussing consulting as a Small Business. You’ll learn about the importance of getting paid immediately for your work and options for how to make billing your clients simple and efficient. We then discuss accounting software options and service contracts to make your billing happen automagically each month. Dave focuses in on how to respond when problems recur and how to avoid any confusion on repeat work before you leave the worksite. Shannon offers up his theory that communication before, during and after is the critical piece of the consulting puzzle, with tips for each type of communication and how to make it effective. You’ll also learn about effective marketing of your consultant business using Google Local Ads, Yelp, word of mouth and other options as well as the importance of branding your business beyond just your name. We wrap up the show with a discussion about removing obstacles that might keep you from getting started. Just start and then adjust. Don’t worry about things like certifications that may help with future marketing, but are not necessary to get your first clients. Listen in for these tips and more, then join us in the Small Business Support Group to share your stories and ask questions! Chapters/Timestamps: 00:00:00 Small Business Show #152 for Thursday, January 4, 2018 00:01:42 James-Advice to get started consulting 00:03:59 Figure out how to get paid immediately when services are rendered 00:05:50 Service contract model with subscription billing Freshbooks QuickBooks Online 00:07:52 What to leave behind? 00:08:35 What happens if the problem recurs? 00:10:01 Prioritize effective communication 00:12:25 Don’t be afraid to talk money MacSamurai’s Rate Page 00:18:02 Marketing Your Business Google Local Ads Yelp Brand yourself (aka “Dave The Nerd” or “MacSamurai”) 00:19:30 SPONSOR: Create a FREE Beeya.com account today to find jobs AND find employees. Beeya.com’s algorithm is the first of its kind to match employees with employers based on each party’s specific requirements. 00:22:34 Don’t over-prioritize certifications 00:24:15 Just start your business 00:25:21 Communicating during the consultation 00:27:08 Talk through it actively 00:34:55 Don’t obsess over the hours 00:36:02 What happens after you do the work? 00:38:21 Get those referrals! Always Following Up! Define the “end” 00:38:32 SBS 152 Outtro The post Consulting as a Small Business – What you need to know – Small Business Show 152 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

Join us for our last episode of 2017 where we share Small Business tips from our favorite shows of the past year. Dave and Shannon both have their favorite guests, topics and advice from episodes of the Small Business Show that aired during the year. We hope you’ve been able to live a Charmed Life during 2017 and we wish you the best for 2018! Chapters/Timestamps: 00:00:00 Small Business Show #151 for Wednesday, December 27, 2017 00:01:34 Lessons learned throughout the year 00:02:04 Jay Gentile from BoosterBots Created a business out of what he was building to help his other business 00:03:15 Jumpanzee – Live anywhere! 00:04:35 Effective problem solving – The key to being successful The Two Tokens concept 00:06:40 Lance from Bolt NWA – such a unique dude. 00:09:13 Mike Pile of Uppercase Branding        “Brainstorming is a waste of time” 00:10:11 Learning to say No 00:11:41 Introduction of the Revenue Stack concept 00:13:05 Interview with Kyle Baccus of KCTool Selling your business and expanding on the Revenue Stack 00:15:30 SPONSOR: TextExpander.com/podcast gets you 20% off your first year 00:18:42 Listo Pencil – going low tech, and getting smaller to grow Challenges of taking over a multi-generational business 00:20:17 Interview with Cory and Doug from Tanglefree Waterfowl All about quality… lessons learned 00:21:32 Kelly Loudermilk from BuildHR 00:23:08 David Oliva of RD Appliance Raising prices a lot. Being a great tech doesn’t make you a great business owner Distinguishing yourself by going upscale – appliance repair 00:25:03 Entrepreneur Ethos – Jarie Bolander and Mihir Shah 00:26:34 Field Harmony The best mistake: forgetting that other people aren’t you. 00:28:02 The Turo Story… and the experience! 00:35:24 SBS Outtro The post The Small Business 2017 Year in Review – Small Business Show 151 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

It’s your first year in business and with just a couple of weeks left in the year, what tasks should you be working on? Join Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean for this episode of the Small Business show that is dedicated to helping new Small Business owners close out their first year of business. Listen in and learn about making sure you select the right type of entity for your business – should you choose an LLC, S corp or something different? Dave spends some time discussing how Pass-through business entities work and ways to protect yourself while saving on taxes with the entity type you select. We also spend time discussing multi-member LLC companies vs. single member and why you might select one over another. We then jump into a discussion about meeting with or finding a good accountant, identifying and tracking expenses and if you work out of your home, what type of deductions you may be able to take. All decisions that are important to discuss with your accountant, before they get busy with tax season. It’s also a good time to start thinking about what types of insurance you might need for your new Small Business. You’ll hear some tips on selecting an insurance broker and why you will want to add them to your Board of Advisors. We wrap of today’s show with a discussion about reviewing and negotiating supplier contracts and being sure to give yourself some credit for everything you’ve achieved and learned during the past year. Join us today for episode 150 of the Small Business Show and then visit the Support Group to share your story, get your questions answered or help another Small Business Owner. Chapters/Timestamps: 00:00:00 Small Business Show #150 for Wednesday, December 20, 2017 00:02:24 Welcome to your first year in business 00:02:53 What type of entity should your business be? 00:06:03 What is a Pass-through business like an LLC or an S-Corp 00:06:58 Multi-member vs. Single-member LLCs Legalzoom.com 00:09:01 Meet with – or find – your accountant 00:10:00 What are profits and losses and expenses? 00:12:42 Expenses for working out of your home? Internet Access Home office deduction Insurance Maintenance 00:13:36 Managing Freelancers 00:16:15 Administrative Fees are Fair Game 00:18:38 Find your deductions! 00:21:09 SPONSOR: Storyblocks.com/sbs gets you their Triple Bundle for just $149 00:24:05 Insurance Find a good insurance agent! 00:29:00 Negotiating any existing suppliercontracts 00:30:03 Pay all bills with your credit card 00:30:40 Inland Marine Insurance 00:31:25 Give yourself some credit 00:32:18 Don’t be afraid 00:34:59 SBS 150 Outtro feedback@businessshow.co Small Business Support Group The post First Year Small Business End of Year Checklist – Small Business Show 150 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

Timing plays a critical role in the success of your business. When you launch your products, when you hire new employees, and in the case of Jarie Bolander, when you publish your book. Join us this week on the Small Business Show as we meet Jarie to discuss his new book,The Entrepreneur Ethos along with his good friend, Mihir Shah CEO of Drobo. Listen in and hear why Jarie felt compelled to create a roadmap for entrepreneurial success by building more ethical, inclusive and resilient companies. We also have a bonus today with Mihir Shah adding his comments to the discussion about the “why” of being an entrepreneur and how stepping in to solve problems can be rewarding far beyond any financial gains. Listen to the show, then join us on the Small Business Support Group to ask more questions and to add your voice to the discussion! Chapters/Timestamps: 00:00:00 Small Business Show #149 for Wednesday, December 13, 2017 00:02:17 Mihir Shah – from VC to CEO… always turning things around 00:03:32 It’s fun to strategize, but more fun to be hands-on 00:04:25 Jarie Bolander – the classic, patently-unemployable entrepreneur 00:06:17 The Entrepreneur Ethos 00:07:45 What’s the “why?” behind being an entrepreneur – Speak your truth 00:09:33 “If you want to be the best entrepreneur in the world, you need to aspire to the ethos” 00:10:44 The importance of timing – Patience vs. Procrastination 00:12:18 “I’ve always wanted to run my own business” 00:13:24 Failure is an option, but never the end result 00:14:03 SPONSOR: TextExpander.com/podcast gets you 20% off your first year 00:17:28 SPONSOR: Storyblocks.com/sbs gets you their Triple Bundle for just $149 00:19:36 Always stepping on landmines and learning how to diffuse them 00:22:39 The Drobo 5C – first USB-C product of its kind in the marketplace 00:23:56 The meeting of two minds, focusing on the positive 00:27:21 Unacceptable behavior is (finally) being called out 00:29:36 Stay away from the hardware business 00:32:23 Self-awareness matters! 00:35:33 Focusing on how to grow “You” Founders Network 00:39:34 SBS149 Outtro The Entrepreneur Ethos theDailyMBA.com A gift from Mihir and Jarie: visit DroboStore.com and use code SmallBiz10 for 10% off The post The Entrepreneur Ethos – Interview with Jarie Bolander and Mihir Shah – Small Business Show 149 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

It’s that time of year! With just a few weeks left before the end of the year, there are some important tasks to take care of for your Small Business. Join us on episode 148 of the Small Business Show to hear our take on what you should be doing before the New Year starts! We begin the show by discussing the importance of getting your financials (PL, BS, Cashflow) in order so you can review the data that will guide you in making end-of-year decisions that can impact your profitability, tax liability and much more. Without good data, you’ll have a much tougher time making decisions. If your Small Business carries inventory, now is the time to get your counts straight. You may want to write-down slow moving or old stock that can help to lower your tax liability – but you need to know what is actually on your shelves before you can see what you’re working with. Dave and Shannon then spend time talking about collecting on any overdue Accounts Receivables and making any last minute purchases that you may have been putting off. Both can impact your financials and taxes. If you’ve had a great year, is it smart to let some customers defer paying their bills? Listen and find out what we think of that tactic! It’s also time to do an HR review and think about bonuses and other rewards for your employees. But, how do you handle it if things have not been that great and you don’t have the funds to hand out this year? You guessed it, we have some tips on dealing with this situation that is sure to come up during your Small Business’ lifetime. We wrap up the show with a discussion about maxing out retirement accounts for both you and your employees, holding your annual LLC or Corp meeting and working on your annual Executive Summary. But wait, there’s more! Don’t forget to relax, reflect and recharge during this time of year with family and friends! We hope you enjoy this episode of the Small Business Show that is brought to you by Storyblocks! After the show, visit our Small Business Support Group to let us know what you think and to join the conversation. Chapters/Timestamps: 00:00:00 Small Business Show #148 for Wednesday, December 6, 2017 00:01:39 In two weeks, SBS 150 is specifically for first-year business owners 00:03:11 Your financials – P&L, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow Reports 00:04:22 Inventory 00:08:26 Recapturing Profits The IRS Episode on The Small Business Show 00:10:35 Patching up mistakes later 00:11:30 Matching your risk aversion with your accountant 00:12:49 SPONSOR: Storyblocks.com/sbs gets you their Triple Bundle for just $149 00:15:55 Accounts receivable 00:17:33 Cash vs. Accruals 00:20:20 Review your team – to Bonus or not to Bonus! 00:23:44 Executive Summary – Accomplishments, Mistakes, Expenditures, Income changes Make sure to have your Annual Meeting 00:26:39 Finding great ways to share revenue with your employees Pension, profit sharing, 401k 00:30:24 Just relax! The post End of Year Small Business Tasks to Complete – Small Business Show 148 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

Location, location, location. You’ve heard it before – but there’s much more to picking the right spot for your Small Business than just the location. Join Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean on this episode of the Small Business Show to hear their experiences and tips for choosing the right place. Listen and and hear about Retail, Office, Industrial and Flex spaces – what’s the difference and what to watch out for when considering moving your Small Business into one type of property or another. We discuss hidden costs, competition, being sure you get just the right amount of square footage and much more. It’s then time to learn about leases! The lease is the critical part of any rental contract and can save you, or bury you – depending on what’s in it. Learn about Gross vs. NNN leases, zoning issues, CAM, tenant improvements and more. We wrap up the show by discussing the benefits of owning vs. leasing a space along with a quick survey of other leasing issues you should be aware of. Join us today and then visit the Small Business Support Group to share your story or ask specific questions about where to locate your Small Business. Chapters/Timestamps: 00:00:00 Small Business Show #147 for Wednesday, November 29, 2017 00:01:16 Hacking badge codes! 00:02:53 Your Location 00:04:15 Retail Space 00:06:53 Foot traffic 00:08:53 Semi-retail Office Space 00:11:14 Competitive exclusion 00:12:06 Extra costs/Signage costs 00:13:58 SPONSOR: Storyblocks.com/sbs gets you their Triple Bundle for just $149 00:16:34 How much space do you really need? 00:18:30 Industrial Space 00:19:37 Build your own building 00:19:54 Zoning 00:20:30 Dealing with authorities 00:22:34 Be aware of the impact of your growth 00:24:08 Own or lease – Why not both? 00:25:54 Combo Space – Industrial/Retail/Signage Flex space 00:28:53 Signing a lease Gross Lease vs. Triple Net Lease 00:33:08 Learn what’s inside the “Common Area Maintenance” or CAM fees 00:34:45 Extra expenses Rent increases Utilities Insurance Lease cancellation Sublet Improvements Learn more about location and leases: Finding a location: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/73784 https://www.business.gov.au/info/plan-and-start/start-your-business/choose-a-location Negotiating a lease: https://www.legalzoom.com/articles/5-tips-for-negotiating-a-commercial-lease https://www.thebalance.com/how-to-negotiate-commercial-leases-that-favor-tenants-3515429 00:37:09 SBS 147 Outtro The post Finding the Best Location for your Small Business – Small Business Show 147 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

How important are the benefits that you offer to your employees? Are they valued more than cash? And how do you keep your benefit expenses down while maximizing the impact to your employees? Join us on episode 146 of the Small Business Show for all this and more! Benefits, beyond salaries and wages can have a dramatic impact on your employees and your bottom line. Dave and Shannon spend time today discussing how to best manage the increasing costs of health care and dealing with the impact of the Affordable Care Act. We also discuss outsourcing health care management before jumping into a discussion of benefits beyond health care. Paid time off – whether in the form of vacation, sick or personal time can be a powerful benefit to offer to your employees. We discuss using flex time and the idea of unlimited vacation and how they both impact your business. Shannon discusses the power of food as a benefit to your employees (and yourself!) – keeping your employees well fed can be a powerful performance incentive. We wrap up the show with a discussion of Checks vs. Cash vs. giving gifts to your employees – which has the biggest impact? Listen in for all this and more! When you’re done with this episode, join us at the Small Business Support Group on Facebook to share your stories and thoughts on employee benefits. Chapters/Timestamps: 00:00:00 Small Business Show #146 for Wednesday, November 22, 2017 00:01:30 Renting an apartment in NYC 00:02:04 The Benefit of Benefits 00:03:03 Healthcare Benefits 00:06:11 Managing Healthcare Costs Handling the HR requirements for your employees – time consuming and expensive 00:09:41 What is the impact of ACA? Zenefits 00:11:38 PTO = Paid Time Off 00:12:53 Offering your employees flexibility and empowerment 00:14:22 Unlimited Vacation Time 00:20:02 Research the laws Nolopress Legalzoom 00:21:09 USPS Informed Delivery/Insights Can be… your friend? 00:23:04 Comp Time/Flex Time 00:25:38 Aim for the bellies Cookout vs. Barbecue 00:30:41 Empty the trash 00:31:45 Bonuses – Checks vs. Cash vs. Gifts 00:37:58 SBS 146 Outtro The post Small Business Employee Benefits – Maximize Impact and Minimize Cost – Small Business Show 146 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

Many Small Business owners would agree, it’s not “if” but “when”. Will you have someone file a frivolous lawsuit against your company, or perhaps have a disagreement with a supplier that winds up in court. Or maybe a disgruntled employee feels like they were mistreated and they want to be compensated. No matter how it comes about, lawsuits can be a tricky minefield that can cause you to take your eye off your business. Join us on episode 145 of the Small Business Show to hear how to avoid getting sued in the first place, how to respond if you are sued and where to turn for help. Dave and Shannon discuss both sides of the courtroom – suing or getting sued and offer some sage advice about leaving your ego at home and not bringing your sense of justice when trying to settle a case. But first, learn about the mechanics and timing of a lawsuit – the more you know the more you can avoid pitfalls that can sink your chances of winning a case. Once you know how things will unfold, we jump into the Demand Letter and what to do if you receive one. Along with how to work with your attorney, insurance company and banker to be sure you and your business are protected during the entire process. Listen in and then visit the Small Business Support Group to offer YOUR advice and comment on our stories! Sponsor: StoryBlocks. Get a “Triple Bundle” – images, video, and audio – for the price of one with our special deal. Visit StoryBlocks.com/sbs to get all of this for just $149 for a full year of unlimited access where all content is royalty-free! Chapters/Timestamps: 00:00:00 Small Business Show #145 for Wednesday, November 15, 2017 00:01:43 What to do when you’ve been sued 00:04:38 Lawsuits are like spiders 00:07:12 Opportunity Cost of lawsuits 00:08:43 Learn judgment 00:10:47 Demand Letter 00:11:14 SPONSOR: Storyblocks.com/sbs gets you their Triple Bundle for just $149 00:12:51 Shannon’s story about being sued because he didn’t license his images 00:15:19 End sponsor slot 00:15:25 Avoid ego with lawsuits, leave your sense of Justice at home 00:17:00 Watch your cashflow during a lawsuit 00:18:23 The process 00:22:24 Meet your attorney before the lawsuit arrives 00:24:40 Check your insurance 00:26:03 Talk to your employees, your banker… QuarkXpress 00:29:53 …and your spouse! Nolo Press 00:31:38 SBS Outtro The post What to do When Your Small Business gets Sued – Small Business Show 145 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

When the time comes to let an employee go, what are some best practices to keep your Small Business running smoothly during the transition? Should you worry about how it will impact other employees? Are there rules about how you go about firing someone in your state? Should you apologize to the person you are laying off? Join us on this episode of the Small Business Show for answers to these questions and much more! Your co-hosts have been to the party, they’ve seen this movie before and it’s not their first Rodeo. Having experiences with firing and laying off employees during their 25+ years in business has made it clear to both Shannon and Dave that how you handle these “Exit” situations can have a profound impact (both positive and negative) on your Small Business. We start the show with Shannon’s belief that in most situations, it’s ultimately the fault of management (that includes YOU, small business owner) when you have to fire someone – listen in to find out why and then let us know if you agree with this concept. Then, we dive right into what type of message your actions send to the rest of your employees, how thinking of yourself as a Steward to your employees can help you to frame things correctly and how to handle layoffs that will impact your cashflow. Even the eternal optimists at the Small Business Show want to warn you about being overly optimistic during these situations and how it can ruin your layoff strategy, along with tips on keeping communication flowing during this type of transition and how to embrace the “art of firing”. Join us today – we have a lot to talk about. Then, come share your experiences on the Small Business Support Group!   Sponsor: StoryBlocks. Get a “Triple Bundle” – images, video, and audio – for the price of one with our special deal. Visit StoryBlocks.com/sbs to get all of this for just $149 for a full year of unlimited access where all content is royalty-free! Chapters/Timestamps: 00:00:00 Small Business Show #144 for Wednesday, November 8, 2017 00:01:01 Sponsorships… in the last episode! 00:01:18 Layoffs and Firing: Letting people go 00:03:37 It’s a failure on your part 00:04:52 Sending the wrong message 00:05:16 Never take this lightly 00:06:49 You are your employees’ steward 00:08:13 Your employees see things differently from you 00:09:35 Two different types of firings 00:10:01 SPONSOR: StoryBlocks.com/sbs gets you their Triple Bundle for just $149 00:12:33 Layoffs – the Burn rate vs. the Earn rate 00:14:15 Don’t let optimism ruin your layoff strategy 00:16:03 Layoffs: You don’t get to pick who stays, just who goes 00:17:27 Communicate with everyone 00:18:15 No closed doors allowed 00:19:38 Sacrificing yourself first 00:22:40 No “poor me” cards allowed 00:23:45 Draw the paycheck and loan it back to the company 00:24:37 Learn about Basis for your Investment in your Business 00:25:31 The art of firing 00:26:53 Employees that can’t transition with your business 00:30:32 The value of exit interviews 00:32:04 Do you apologize? 00:33:14 Be aware of becoming too comfortable 00:34:09 Don’t do it alone 00:37:08 SBS 144 Outtro The post How to Handle Layoffs, Firings and Exits from your Small Business – Small Business Show 144 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.