If you’ve clearly explained your KPIs, tracked the numbers, and emphasized their importance—but your team still isn’t executing—this episode is for you.

In this short but powerful conversation, April Porter breaks down a critical leadership mistake she sees franchisees and small business owners make over and over again: training teams on KPIs without developing them to hit those KPIs.

Using a real client example, April explains why simply telling people the numbers isn’t enough—and how the lack of processes, leadership development, and accountability systems creates stalled performance, frustration, and inconsistency across teams.

Resources & Links Mentioned

• ⁠Franchisee & Small Business Secrets Facebook Group⁠ Join the community and submit your chargeback evidence for feedback

• Ask April Porter: ⁠https://AskAprilPorter.com⁠

• Secretsos™: ⁠https://Secretsos.com⁠

• Submit a Question for April: ⁠https://info.secretsos.com/widget/form/9kjoRZJXsQJkZUmK2xpV

Overwhelm is the silent threat facing small business owners and franchisees—and most don’t even realize it’s driving their decisions.

In this episode, April Porter breaks down why business ownership feels like a constant emotional tug-of-war between customers, employees, family, and personal health. She explains how our nervous system reacts to guilt, urgency, and pressure—and how that reaction keeps business owners stuck, exhausted, and neglecting what truly matters.

April introduces a simple but powerful reframing tool that helps business owners pause in high-stress moments and make decisions aligned with long-term success, not short-term emotion. Instead of asking “What do I need to do right now?” she challenges listeners to ask a better question: “Who do I want to be?”

This episode covers:

• Why overwhelm isn’t a time problem—it’s a decision-making problem

• How emotional urgency sabotages business growth and personal health

• The boundary mistakes that keep owners trapped in the day-to-day

• How learning and prioritizing strategic growth accelerates results

• A practical mindset shift you can use immediately in business, parenting, and leadership

If you’re feeling stretched thin, stuck on a hamster wheel, or constantly reacting instead of leading, this episode will help you slow down, regain clarity, and start building a business—and life—that actually serves you.

Resources & Links Mentioned

• ⁠Franchisee & Small Business Secrets Facebook Group⁠ Join the community and submit your chargeback evidence for feedback

• Ask April Porter: ⁠https://AskAprilPorter.com⁠
• Secretsos™: ⁠https://Secretsos.com⁠
• Submit a Question for April: ⁠https://info.secretsos.com/widget/form/9kjoRZJXsQJkZUmK2xpV

Chargebacks can feel like a punch in the gut—especially for small business owners and franchisees who are already operating on tight margins. In this episode, April Porter breaks down exactly what a chargeback is, why it’s so costly, and how to successfully fight back when one hits your business.

You’ll learn why chargebacks can cost three times the original transaction, how to prevent them before they happen, and the exact steps April uses to win chargeback disputes—even when banks often side with customers.

This episode is a must-listen if you accept credit cards, sell subscriptions, or offer services online.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• What a chargeback actually is and why banks default to siding with customers

• The true financial impact of chargebacks on small businesses

• Why using chargebacks as a customer is unethical—and how that behavior comes full circle

• The first email you should send when you’re notified of a chargeback

• How to resolve disputes directly with customers (before the bank gets involved)

• Why your statement descriptor matters—and how it can unintentionally trigger chargebacks

• What evidence banks look for when deciding a chargeback case

• How to document proof using screenshots, CRM data, and transaction records

• April’s step-by-step system for organizing chargeback evidence in a Google Doc

• How transparency and clear terms protect you long-term

Resources & Links Mentioned

• Franchisee & Small Business Secrets Facebook Group Join the community and submit your chargeback evidence for feedback

• Ask April Porter: https://AskAprilPorter.com
• Secretsos™: https://Secretsos.com
• Submit a Question for April: https://info.secretsos.com/widget/form/9kjoRZJXsQJkZUmK2xpV

Key Takeaway

Chargebacks aren’t just annoying—they’re expensive. But when you stay proactive, document everything, and respond strategically, you can win chargebacks and protect your cash flow. Calm, clarity, and evidence always beat panic.

Join the Conversation

Have you dealt with a chargeback recently?

What evidence helped—or hurt—your case?

👉 Share your experience inside the Franchisee & Small Business Secrets Facebook group and learn how to strengthen your defense going forward.

Customer complaints can feel personal—especially when you’ve poured your time, money, and heart into your business. In this episode, April Porter breaks down how small business owners and franchisees can handle angry or unreasonable customers without emotional burnout or escalation.

April explains why customer conflict often has less to do with your business and more to do with energy, expectations, and accountability. She shares practical strategies to remain calm, stick to the facts, set clear boundaries, and protect your reputation—while still leading with professionalism and kindness.

You’ll also learn why how you show up as a customer matters more than you think, and how self-awareness can reduce recurring conflict in your business.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why customer complaints feel so personal—and how to detach emotionally

• How to de-escalate tense conversations by sticking to facts, not feelings

• When (and how) to set boundaries with abusive customers

• Why calm business owners always hold the power in difficult interactions

• How to prepare for future complaints so you respond with confidence, not stress

If you’re tired of customer issues ruining your day—or your confidence—this episode will help you reclaim control and lead like the professional business owner you are.

Links & Resources Mentioned:

Ask April Porter: https://AskAprilPorter.com

Secretsos™: https://Secretsos.com

Submit a Question for April: https://info.secretsos.com/widget/form/9kjoRZJXsQJkZUmK2xpV

Not every franchise struggle is a failure—and not every opportunity is the right fit.

In this episode of the Ask April Porter Podcast, April sits down with Marcos Moura, a seasoned franchise leader whose journey includes early challenges, hard lessons, and long-term success with Amada Senior Care.

Together, they unpack what most franchisees don’t realize until it’s too late: success isn’t about passion alone. It’s about alignment, self-awareness, resilience, and choosing the right model for how you operate as a business owner.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why “franchise fit” matters more than enthusiasm

• How early franchise struggles can become strategic advantages

• The difference between working hard and working aligned

• What franchisees must assess before scaling or reinvesting

• Why self-awareness is a growth strategy—not a soft skill

Whether you’re considering franchising, already operating a unit, or scaling across locations, this conversation offers practical insight you won’t hear in a sales brochure.

Links & Resources Mentioned:

• Ask April Porter: https://AskAprilPorter.com
• Secretsos™: https://Secretsos.com
• Amada Senior Care: https://www.amadaseniorcare.com
• Connect with Marco Moura on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcospmour
• Submit a Question for April: https://info.secretsos.com/widget/form/9kjoRZJXsQJkZUmK2xpV

As we step into a new year, this episode marks both a reflection on the journey so far—and an exciting new beginning.

For the past five years, this podcast has served franchisees through The Infinite Franchisee® Show, becoming one of the only weekly resources dedicated to franchisee success. But as the franchising landscape has evolved, so has our mission.

In this episode, April Porter explains:

• Why franchisees often hit a growth ceiling after following the franchisor playbook

• The critical gap between operational training and true entrepreneurial success

• How outside business education transformed her own franchise journey—from burnout to multi-unit growth and a successful exit

• Why franchisors, franchisees, and suppliers must work together as an ecosystem

• How Secretsos™, the Infinite Franchisee® Conference, and franchisor consulting all connect

• And why the podcast is officially returning to its original name: Ask April Porter

While the name is changing, the mission remains the same:

Never Leave a Franchisee Behind.

Going forward, listeners can expect:

• Tangible, strategic business guidance you can apply immediately

• Conversations with successful franchisees, franchisors, and high-level entrepreneurs

• Q&A episodes where your questions shape the conversation

This podcast is for business owners who are ready to stop reacting, start leading, and build real Sanity, Wealth, and Gratitude®—no matter the economy, the brand, or the challenges in front of them.

🎙 Subscribe, leave a review, and share this show with another business owner who needs support—because high tides raise all boats.

🔗 Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode

• Secretsos™ – Practical business education for franchisees

• Infinite Franchisee® Conference – Personal & professional development for franchise owners. Information for the 2026 conference will be announced soon!

• Ask April Porter Consulting – Strategic advisory for franchisors

• Franchisee & Small Business Secrets Facebook Group – Community, discussion, and peer support

• Submit a Question to April Porter – Have a business, franchising, or growth question? Submit it here to be answered on a future episode of Ask April Porter

Feeling stressed, overworked, or stuck in the chaos of running your business? In this episode, April Porter explains why gratitude isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s a business strategy that can transform your life and your company.

You’ll discover:

• Why focusing on gratitude for your future success can shift your actions and mindset today.

• The connection between quantum physics, energy, and the decisions you make in your business.

• How making choices from a place of scarcity vs. gratitude can create very different outcomes.

• Practical ways to practice gratitude daily to attract opportunities, clients, and ease.

• A special challenge to cultivate gratitude with accountability and community support in their Facebook group.

Stop forcing your success—start aligning your energy, mindset, and actions with the life and business you want. This episode gives you a practical and scientific approach to gratitude, helping you create a future that already feels real.

Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

• Franchisee & Small Business Secrets Facebook Group

• Dr. Joe Dispenza Books and Resources

• Secretsos™ Mindset & Prosperity Expert Allyson Chavez 

Are you struggling to price your products or services correctly? Many small business owners undervalue their offerings because they tie price to worthiness or time spent rather than the real value they provide. In this episode, April Porter dives into the key principles of pricing that actually reflect the impact you deliver.

You’ll learn:

• Why worthiness and time aren’t the right metrics for pricing your services.

• How to identify the true pain points of your customers and set prices that match the solution you provide.

• Why undervaluing your services can actually turn potential clients away.

• How to leverage emotional intelligence and customer psychology to determine pricing that sells.

• Real-life examples from consulting with franchisors, coaches, and service businesses that highlight how pricing affects perception and results.

Plus, April shares an opportunity for hands-on help with pricing and customer avatars in an upcoming Q1 workshop. If you want to stop leaving money on the table and confidently price your business offerings, this episode is for you.

Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

• ⁠Customer Avatar Workshop Waitlist⁠

• ⁠Facebook Group for Pricing Feedback⁠

Whether you’re selling coaching services, products, or home services, this episode will give you the tools and mindset shift to price with confidence and purpose.

Is AI making entrepreneurs smarter — or quietly making them more dangerous?

In this episode, April Porter breaks down a real-world case where ChatGPT produced a confident, well-written, and completely illegal business plan — and why that’s becoming a serious problem for entrepreneurs who rely on AI without understanding its limitations.

From franchise law violations to 1099 contractor misclassification, this episode exposes how AI tools like ChatGPT can confidently give wrong advice when users don’t know what questions to ask — or what laws apply.

If you’re using AI for business strategy, legal documents, contracts, or scaling decisions, this is a must-listen episode.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

✔️ Why ChatGPT always tells you your ideas are “brilliant”

✔️ How AI rewards confirmation bias instead of critical thinking

✔️ Why AI can’t warn you about legal risks unless you ask perfectly

✔️ How franchise law traps unsuspecting business owners

✔️ Why using AI as a search engine is a massive mistake

✔️ The difference between AI output and actual expertise

✔️ How bad prompting leads to illegal business structures

✔️ Why human experience still beats machine intelligence

✔️ How to think critically before trusting AI advice

Powerful Takeaway

AI doesn’t replace thinking. It replaces effort.

And when effort disappears, so does judgment.

Resources & Next Steps

If you want real strategy from real experience, not confident-sounding guesswork:

👉 Join the Franchisee & Small Business Secrets Facebook Group

👉 Visit secretsos.com for expert guidance on business strategy, franchising, and scaling legally

In this episode, Oko Choi shares her inspiring journey of launching Thank You Cleaners as a single mom, serving the military community with 100% green cleaning solutions. She opens up about perseverance, innovation, finding a market gap, and navigating her first year as an entrepreneur.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• How Oko went from working nonstop during COVID to launching her own business

• Why Thank You Cleaners is committed to 100% green cleaning

• How she identified a huge gap in her local market and built around it

• The unique needs of military families and how her business serves them

• Lessons from her first year in business

• What motivates her to keep dreaming bigger

• Her vision for future locations and possible franchising

Links Mentioned in the Show

• Thank You Cleaners Website: https://thankyoucleaners.com/

• Thank You Cleaners Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ThankYouCleaner

• Thank You Cleaners 24/7 Drop Box Info: https://thankyoucleaners.com/

• Contact Oko: [email protected]

• Secretsos™ Foundation Grant Program: https://secretsos.com/grants/

Join Our Newsletter

Don’t miss funding opportunities, small business resources, and early access to future SecretSauce™ grants.

👉 Join the Top Secret Funding Newsletter: https://assets.secretsos.com/top-secret-funding-blueprint

Work With Us

Learn more about Secretsos™ Foundation programs, grants, and entrepreneur resources at secretsos.com

Thank you for listening and supporting small business owners who are making a difference in their communities!