A $15,000 dealership repair estimate can leave anyone feeling stuck. In this episode, we sit down with Josh Baker of Route 23 Mobile Garage to talk about building an automotive repair business around honesty, transparency, and trust.

Josh shares his journey into mobile automotive repair, rebuilding after a previous business didn’t survive COVID, and investing in hands on training to master modern vehicle diagnostics. We discuss why today’s vehicles are harder to repair at home, what a mobile mechanic can handle on site, and how Josh helps customers prioritize repairs instead of pressuring them into a massive bill all at once.

We also get into the realities of running a small business from unpredictable revenue and seasonal slowdowns to pricing, warranties, diagnostic fees, and creating detailed estimates customers can understand.

Plus, Josh opens up about faith, grit, family, and building a business that creates more freedom at home.

If you enjoy conversations about small business, entrepreneurship, automotive repair, and doing business the right way, subscribe, share, and leave us a review.

What is really happening in the Houston real estate market, and what should buyers and sellers be paying attention to right now?

In this episode of Business on the Run, I sit down with Brittany Burns, owner of NovaGen Realty Group, to talk about real estate, entrepreneurship, pricing homes, building trust with clients, growing a team, and navigating a market that has become much harder to predict. Brittany serves clients primarily throughout Houston and the southeast Houston area and built her career after growing up in a family of real estate professionals. 

Brittany shares how she entered real estate as a young single mom, began working alongside her mother, Monica Foster, earned her real estate license, and eventually stepped out to build NovaGen Realty Group. Her approach is less about “selling” and more about advising clients through some of the biggest financial decisions of their lives. 

We also get into the current Houston housing market, interest rates, buyer behavior, seller expectations, and why pricing a home correctly requires more than simply looking at what nearby homes are listed for.

Brittany explains why she focuses heavily on recent sold data, how changing mortgage rates can affect buyer activity, why seasonality matters, and why a pricing strategy that worked during the pandemic may not work in today’s market. 

In this conversation, we discuss:

• How Brittany Burns got started in real estate
  
  
• Building NovaGen Realty Group
  
  
• Houston and Southeast Houston real estate
  
  
• The current housing market and mortgage-rate environment
  
  
• Why buyers have more choices than they did during the pandemic
  
  
• How a real estate agent determines the right listing price
  
  
• Why pricing a home too low can sometimes backfire
  
  
• Using comparable sales and market data
  
  
• Building long-term trust with buyers and sellers
  
  
• When a good real estate agent should tell a client not to sell
  
  
• Residential vs. commercial real estate
  
  
• Growing and hiring for a real estate team
  
  
• What Brittany looks for when recruiting real estate agents
  
  
• Why self-motivation and client service matter more than simply knowing sales techniques
  
  
• Mentoring new agents through eXp Realty
  
  
• Accessibility in real estate through eXp Capable
  
  
• Building a business around service instead of transactions
  
  

One of my favorite parts of the conversation is Brittany’s philosophy about advising clients even when the advice costs her a commission. She explains that if selling a house is not the best move for the client, she would rather tell them to stay put and earn their trust for the long term.

That mindset applies far beyond real estate.

Good business is built by doing what is right for the client — not simply doing what creates the next transaction.

Whether you are a home buyer, home seller, real estate investor, Realtor, real estate agent, entrepreneur, or small business owner, this conversation gives you a useful look at how an experienced real estate professional thinks about market conditions, pricing, client relationships, hiring, and long-term business growth.

Connect With Brittany Burns:
Website: https://novagenrealty.com/
Instagram: @brittanyburnsrealtor
TikTok: @thebrittanyburns
Facebook: @BrittTheRealtor
LinkedIn: @realtorbrittanyburns

Connect With Mark:
Website: https://hireknowyournumbers.com/
Facebook: @knowyournumberspllc
Instagram: @knowyournumberspllc
LinkedIn: @know-your-numbers
TikTok: @knowyournumberspllc
Podcast: https://businessontherun.buzzsprout.com

If you enjoy conversations about small business, entrepreneurship, leadership, accounting, real estate, financial decision-making, and building a better business, subscribe to Business on the Run.

And if this episode helped you, hit Like, leave a comment, and share it with another business owner, Realtor, buyer, or seller who would benefit from the conversation.

00:00 Introduction
00:38 Meet Brittany Burns of NovaGen Realty Group
00:57 Brittany’s Real Estate Origin Story
05:26 What’s Happening in the Houston Housing Market?
06:51 What Could Move the Market Next?
08:07 Brittany’s Real Estate Specialties & Service Area
11:26 How Brittany Prices a Home to Sell
13:35 Why Pricing Too Low Can Backfire
14:50 Building a Real Estate Team
16:29 What Brittany Looks for When Hiring Agents
19:02 Learning Marketing as a Business Owner
20:04 CRM, Drip Campaigns & Real Estate Funnels
25:23 Social Media, Podcasting & Personal Branding
28:41 Using AI and Video Tools in Marketing
30:05 Family, Life & Entrepreneurship
34:08 Accessibility in Real Estate
34:42 How to Connect With Brittany
35:26 Closing

In this episode of Business on the Run, I sit down with Jen Johnson, owner of Southern Spears Surf Shop in Galveston, Texas, for a refreshingly candid conversation about what it's REALLY like to own and operate a small business.

After 20 years as an elementary art teacher, Jen left education, eventually moved toward the Texas coast, and found herself staring at an opportunity she never expected: buying a surf shop.

One day of training later, she was running the business.

What followed was a five year crash course in entrepreneurship learning customers, managing inventory, hiring employees, navigating seasonality, marketing the business, protecting margins, and figuring things out when there wasn't anyone else to do it.

One of my favorite stories from the episode? Jen was determined to run a "core" surf shop and resisted selling things like sand toys because they didn't fit her idea of what the store should be.

Her customers disagreed.

She finally listened and sold more than $10,000 worth of sand toys in one summer.

That's small business in a nutshell.

Your customers don't care what you think they should buy. They'll tell you what they want. Your job is to listen.

In this conversation, we get into:

🏄 How a Nebraska-born former teacher ended up owning a Galveston surf shop
💰 Why knowing your margins matters when deciding what products to sell
📦 The challenges of managing and pre-ordering retail inventory
👥 Why finding and keeping good employees can be one of an owner's biggest headaches
📊 How Jen uses a "Turn Away Book" to track what customers are asking for
🏖️ Managing cash flow in a highly seasonal business
🛍️ Why 85% of her customers aren't surfers they're tourists
📈 Moving toward private-label products with better margins and differentiation
📱 What she's learned about marketing a local retail business
🤝 Why even competing surf shops can work together to bring in more customers
💡 And the business lessons she learned by being thrown into entrepreneurship with almost no experience

This isn't a conversation about surfing.

It's a conversation about learning to run a business when the textbook ends and reality takes over.

Whether you're thinking about buying a business, struggling with inventory, trying to understand your customers, dealing with employees, or just wondering whether you have what it takes to become an entrepreneur, there's something in Jen's story for you.

In this episode of Business on the Run, I sit down with Valerie Maher from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to break down the programs and resources available to entrepreneurs and established business owners.

We dig into the SBA's "Four C's":

COUNSELING — Free one-on-one mentoring, business advising, workshops, and training through SCORE, Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs), Women's Business Centers, and other SBA resource partners.

CAPITAL — How SBA-backed loans actually work, including 7(a) loans, 504 loans, micro loans, and how the SBA can help connect business owners with lenders.

CONTRACTING — How small businesses can pursue opportunities with the federal government, including certification programs and free resources to help you navigate the contracting process.

CRISIS — How SBA disaster assistance can help businesses recover when hurricanes, freezes, tornadoes, and other declared disasters strike.

We also discuss:

• What you should have ready BEFORE approaching a lender

• How SBA loan guarantees reduce risk for banks

• The truth about SBA grants for starting or growing a business

• Where to find FREE help creating a business plan

• How to find SBA lenders that are actively making loans

• Resources available for startups AND established businesses

• Federal contracting opportunities for small businesses

• Why successful business owners still use mentors and advisors

• One of the biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make: trying to figure everything out alone

Valerie says one of the things she hears most from business owners is: "I wish I would have known this sooner."

Don't let that be you.

Whether you're starting your first business, looking for capital, trying to grow an established company, considering buying commercial real estate, or simply looking for better business resources, this episode could introduce you to opportunities you didn't know existed.

Business on the Run is back with an episode every small business owner needs to hear!

Host Mark Andersen sits down with Melissa and Joe DeFlora to talk about the power of networking, Facebook groups, social media, community relationships, local advertising, AI, and what it really takes to grow a successful small business.

Connect with The Deflora's 🔽🔽🔽

Facebook: @mdeflora

Instagram: @mdeflora

TikTok: @melissadeflora

LinkedIn: @melissadeflora

Connect with Mark Andersen 🔽🔽🔽

Facebook: @KnowYourNumbersPLLC

Instagram: @KnowYourNumbersPLLC

TikTok: @chasingprofitandpups

LinkedIn: @know-your-numbers

🎧 Don’t forget to listen, like, and sharefor more insights on running a smarter business!

On this episode of Business on the Run, Mark Andersen sits down with Kristy Nair of I Am Lotus Consulting to talk about small business marketing, social media, networking, entrepreneurship, and the challenges of running a business by yourself.Kristy shares her journey from earning a degree in criminal justice to building a business focused on helping small businesses with social media, websites, graphic design, advertising, content creation and more.She also explains why she believes small businesses need to show up consistently online, why engagement matters, how she uses Meta Business Suite and analytics, and why businesses shouldn't be afraid to personalize their marketing.Connect with Kristy Nair 🔽🔽🔽Facebook: @iamlotusconsulting Instagram: @iamlotusconsultingLinkedIn: @kristy-nWebsite: iamlotusconsulting.comContact Kristy: 585-808-9500Connect with Mark Andersen 🔽🔽🔽 Facebook: @KnowYourNumbersPLLCInstagram: @KnowYourNumbersPLLCTikTok: @chasingprofitandpups LinkedIn: @know-your-numbers🎧 Don’t forget to follow, share, and download for more insights on running a smarter business!

On this episode of Business on the Run with Mark Andersen, Mark sits down with Brant Mills, communications strategist, content professional, and creator of Pearland Stories, to talk about how small businesses can make smarter decisions about social media, SEO, content marketing, AI, and their overall digital presence.Brant shares his experience working in communications, content strategy, video, podcasting, crisis PR, and local storytelling — and explains why business owners shouldn't rely entirely on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok to grow their business.Connect with Brant Mills 🔽🔽🔽Facebook: @brantmills Instagram: @brant.millsLinkedIn: @brantmillsWebsite: https://brantmills.com/Follow Pearland StoriesFacebook: @pearlandstoriesWebsite: pearlandstories.comConnect with Mark Andersen 🔽🔽🔽 Facebook: @KnowYourNumbersPLLCInstagram: @KnowYourNumbersPLLCTikTok: @chasingprofitandpups LinkedIn: @know-your-numbers🎧 Don’t forget to follow, download, and share for more insights on running a smarter business!

In this episode of Business on the Run, host Mark Andersen sits down with Joshua Van Bramer, co-founder of BetterFlow AI, to discuss how artificial intelligence and custom software are changing the way entrepreneurs operate. From automating repetitive tasks to building software around your business instead of forcing your business to fit someone else's software, Josh shares practical insights for business owners looking to grow.

They also discuss entrepreneurship, networking, scaling a company, AI automation, CRM systems, leadership, business books, and why building relationships still matters in an AI-driven world.

Connect with Joshua Van Bramer 🔽🔽🔽

Facebook: @josh.vanbramer

Instagram: @jvanbram

LinkedIn: @joshua-van-bramer

Website: https://www.betterflow.ai/

Connect with Mark Andersen 🔽🔽🔽

Facebook: @KnowYourNumbersPLLC

Instagram: @KnowYourNumbersPLLC

TikTok: @chasingprofitandpups

LinkedIn: @know-your-numbers

🎧 Don’t forget to follow, share, and download for more insights on running a smarter business!

Welcome back to Business on the Run!

In this episode, Mark Andersen sits down with Will Kruer, founder of People First HR, to talk about hiring, leadership, company culture, recruiting, and the biggest HR mistakes business owners make.

Will shares his unconventional career journey from finance to recruiting, why company culture is more than just words on a wall, how to build stronger teams, and practical advice for hiring, firing, and leading employees. They also discuss remote work, entrepreneurship, networking, faith, and the challenges every small business owner faces while growing a company.

Connect with Will Kruer 🔽🔽🔽

Facebook: @will.kruer.3

Instagram: @peoplefirsttrc

LinkedIn: peoplefirst-talent-retentionconsulting

Connect with Mark Andersen 🔽🔽🔽

Facebook: @KnowYourNumbersPLLC

Instagram: @KnowYourNumbersPLLC

TikTok: @chasingprofitandpups

LinkedIn: @know-your-numbers

🎧 Don’t forget to follow, share, and download for more insights on running a smarter business!

In this episode of Business on the Run, host Mark Andersen sits down with former Pearland, Texas Mayor Kevin Cole to discuss leadership, entrepreneurship, real estate development, public service, faith, and the lessons learned from building nearly 10,000 residential lots across the Houston area.

Kevin shares how he survived the devastating 2008 housing crash while many developers went bankrupt, explains the surprising Bill Gates connection behind one of the Houston area's largest master-planned communities, and reveals why listening may be the most underrated leadership skill.

Connect with Kevin Cole 🔽🔽🔽

Facebook: @KevinColeTX

Instagram: @kevincolemayorofpearland

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-cole-961a4614/

"Talk of the Town" podcast with Kevin and Cameron Colehttps://open.spotify.com/show/033KQzSEKDeD3Ke4TGqwF6?si=f61d8e0ed3ac4e49

Connect with Mark Andersen 🔽🔽🔽

Facebook: @KnowYourNumbersPLLC

Instagram: @KnowYourNumbersPLLC

TikTok: @chasingprofitandpups

LinkedIn: @know-your-numbers

🎧 Don’t forget to follow, download, and share for more insights on running a smarter business!