Help! My Business is Growing

Comments? Suggestions? Text the show here!

One of the most challenging aspects of starting and growing a business is transitioning from employee to entrepreneur.

As an employee, you're focused on your core skill set. But in your own company, you're responsible for sales, marketing, finance and managing your people.

Managing all your new tasks can get complex, but it's exciting when you get it right and can drive growth. 

In today's special first-anniversary episode of Help! My Business Is Growing, we welcome Fatimah Abbouchi, Founder and CEO of Agile Management Office, a high-powered boutique project management agency.

She's the first guest of our new mini-series, "How I Grew", where we feature CEOs, leaders and founders and ask what specific steps they took to grow their businesses successfully.  

Fatimah is also the founder of Return of the Panda®; a not-for-profit focused on improving the mental health of millions of anxiety sufferers worldwide.

Today, she generously shares her success story, tips and resources you can apply to your company, and other valuable insights on growing your business.

We discuss:

01:46 What made you leave the corporate world?

05:55 How were those first years for you running your own company? How was the transition from employee to business owner? 

07:57 How did your business processes look at the start, and how did they evolve as your business grew?

10:15 What kind of financial support did you have? Did you hire a bookkeeper or accountant or have an outside payroll company?  

12:38 How is it making financial decisions now that you have the proper financial systems compared to previous years?  

15:00 What are some examples of important questions you ask or things you look at in your financial statements that are relevant to you?

17:48 What financial decisions or forecasting do you make when hiring people?  

20:23 Where do you find these experts? Are there special sites or via your network's recommendations? 

22:28 How did you manage to bootstrap your business to seven figures?  

25:56 How did you go about "productizing" parts of your business?

28:43 Do you have plans to productize more of your company in the future?

30:03 What were your biggest growing pains in the past and today? 

32:49 Where do you see your company in five years?

34:02 What got you into the mental health space? 

35:54 How do you manage your mental health?

Resources:

Fatimah Abbouchi, Founder and CEO of Agile Management Office:
https://fatimahabbouchi.com/
https://agilemanagementoffice.com

LinkedIn: 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/fatimahabbouchi/

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/FatimahAbbouchi8/

Twitter: 
https://twitter.com/fatimahabbouchi 

Instagram: 
https://www.instagram.com/fatimah_abbouchi/

 
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/

Blog post | How I Grew: How I Grew: Fatimah Abbouchi, Founder and CEO of Agile Management Office
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/how-i-grew-fatimah-abbouchi-founder-and-ceo-of-agile-management-office

Is your growth causing financial headaches? Sales up, but profits lagging? Financial practices stuck in entry level mode?

Don't worry, it's not you—it's your financial setup.

Introducing NextGen Finance Blueprint by NewCastle Finance. This CFO-led roadmap: • Brings fuzzy finances into focus • Gives you a clear money picture • Creates a step-by-step action plan

Ready to level up? Visit newcastle.finance/blueprint

Comments? Suggestions? Text the show here!

If running your business feels like you're in a hamster wheel, you might find it challenging to cultivate growth. 

When you're bogged down by admin-related to-do's, serving customers, managing your people, and more, you're missing out on opportunities that can boost sales -  and your business.

This is where systems and processes come into play, and having them in place can help you achieve sustainable expansion across your entire operations.

But how do you go about developing systems and processes? And how do you set them up to ensure the success of your business?

In today's episode, our guest Jordan Schanda King gives us her insights on the importance of SOPs in your business, whatever the size. 

Jordan is a serial entrepreneur and expert in business optimization. She runs a Contract COO + Team agency specializing in full operations management for coaches and service providers. With an all-female team of VAs, Copywriters, Marketers, Social Media Managers, and Tech Gurus, they help female founders scale without burning out so they can build a sustainable business they love.

After learning the hard way how to run a business that she loves (while also growing her family), Jordan is excited to share her expertise with other women on this entrepreneurial journey.

We discuss:

02:06 Why should your business have systems and processes in place?

04:49 How do you create SOPs? Are there specific tests and formats one must follow?

06:10 Are there different types of SOPs? 

09:10 How can you create SOPs for creative work such as graphic design or content writing? 

13:03 Do you document your business vision, mission, values, and principles? 

18:25 What is the best way to go about creating these SOPs? 

20:25 Who is the best person to create these SOPs? 

22:32 How often should you go back and revisit your SOPs?  

26:52 What is the next step to take this week to get started on creating SOPs for your business?

Resources:

Jordan Schanda King, Contract COO and Founder of Easy Scaling:
https://www.easyscaling.com/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-schanda-king
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/jordanschandakin/
Email:
[email protected]

Tom Ferriss | The 4-Hour Workweek: 
https://www.amazon.com/4-Hour-Workweek-Escape-Live-Anywhere/dp/0307465357

Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/

Blog post | How to Develop Systems and Processes
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/how-to-develop-systems-and-processes

Is your growth causing financial headaches? Sales up, but profits lagging? Financial practices stuck in entry level mode?

Don't worry, it's not you—it's your financial setup.

Introducing NextGen Finance Blueprint by NewCastle Finance. This CFO-led roadmap: • Brings fuzzy finances into focus • Gives you a clear money picture • Creates a step-by-step action plan

Ready to level up? Visit newcastle.finance/blueprint

Comments? Suggestions? Text the show here!

Effective delegation is the trait of a successful leader. They know there is work to do and trust their teams to handle what needs to be done. 

Delegation empowers your people, encourages innovation, and increases productivity. 


Yet many business owners struggle with letting go of work, leading to burnout. 

So how can you delegate properly to focus on growing your business? 

In this episode, our guest Barbara Churchill and I discuss delegation as she shares tips on overcoming the barriers preventing you from delegating your work successfully.


Barbara Churchill is a confidence and leadership coach for high-achieving professional women. Through her Lead It Real™ Confidence Coaching Program, she helps leaders and entrepreneurs break through their blocks and own their power so they can create the career and life they crave.


Barbara has mentored career professionals for over 25 years and is a frequent television guest in Minneapolis/St. Paul market. She has been featured on several leadership podcasts and in major publications such as Star Tribune, Renew Everyday, and Good Enough Mother. 


Barbara lives in the Minneapolis area and will do just about anything for dark chocolate.

We discuss:

03:19 Why do business owners struggle with delegation? 

09:04 What does it mean - and feel - to be out of sync with the business?

22:19 To avoid micromanaging, how do you handle changes in job scope, description, and expectations when a business grows? 

29:56 How can we learn to let go and trust others and stop micromanaging?

37:49 What can someone who struggles with delegation do in the next week to be able to do so effectively? 

Resources:
Barbara Churchill, Executive Leadership Coach, Barbara Churchill Coaching and Consulting:
https://barbarachurchill.com/

LinkedIn:  
https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbara-churchill-64137013/

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/BarbaraChurchillCoaching/

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/barbarachurchillcoaching/

Podcast:
https://www.barbarachurchill.com/podcast

Barbara’s Coaching Program | Lead It Real™ Confidence Coaching Program:
https://barbarachurchill.com/coaching/

 
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/

Blog post | How to Delegate Effectively
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/how-to-delegate-effectively

Is your growth causing financial headaches? Sales up, but profits lagging? Financial practices stuck in entry level mode?

Don't worry, it's not you—it's your financial setup.

Introducing NextGen Finance Blueprint by NewCastle Finance. This CFO-led roadmap: • Brings fuzzy finances into focus • Gives you a clear money picture • Creates a step-by-step action plan

Ready to level up? Visit newcastle.finance/blueprint

Comments? Suggestions? Text the show here!

A major key to success is Adaptability. 

Now that your business is growing, it's time to make systemic changes. How can you improve operations? And how can you prepare your workforce?

Major adjustments require careful planning and risk assessment. You also need to keep the company culture intact as you transform your business. 

All these can be done if you have an organizational change management strategy in place!

In this episode, our guest Nikki Rogers and I discuss effective change management strategies that ensure transformational success in your business.

Nikki Rogers is a transformation coach and the CEO of Bladen Group. She is an experienced management consultant who has worked across multiple industries and is passionate about creating sustainable organizations through people-powered change.

Nikki is a Project Management Professional (PMP®) and a Change Management Advanced Practitioner (CMAP) and hosts the “Women Thriving in Business” podcast.

We discuss:

03:35 What is change management?  

06:24 How can you make organizational change easier? 

10:30 How can you prepare your business for change?

12:08 How do you structure change management for businesses with only 20 to 30 employees?

15:25 What do you ask to get employee feedback about your change? 

19:22 How do you reassure employees when you are not 100% sure what your company landscape will be post-change?

22:43 How do you manage employee resistance to change?

29:16 How do you discuss potential compensation/commission changes with employees?  

38:19 What can you do right now to start change management in your business?

Resources:

Nikki Rogers, Founder/CEO, The Bladen Group
https://bladen-group.com/

LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikki-rogers/

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/nikkirogersofficial/

Podcast | Women Thriving in Business Podcast:
https://www.womenthrivinginbusiness.com/wtib-podcast

Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/

Blog post | Successful Change Management Strategies for Your Growing Business
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/successful-change-management-strategies-for-your-growing-business

Is your growth causing financial headaches? Sales up, but profits lagging? Financial practices stuck in entry level mode?

Don't worry, it's not you—it's your financial setup.

Introducing NextGen Finance Blueprint by NewCastle Finance. This CFO-led roadmap: • Brings fuzzy finances into focus • Gives you a clear money picture • Creates a step-by-step action plan

Ready to level up? Visit newcastle.finance/blueprint

Comments? Suggestions? Text the show here!

An efficient sales team is vital to a profitable business, and it's a problem if people keep leaving.  It might be time to dig deep into what's going on with your sales team or need to rethink your work culture.

So how do you retain and motivate your top salespeople, who are keys to your business success?

And for non-performers, do you try to turn them around, or is it better to let them go? How can you do it properly and without drama?

 
In this episode, guest Judy Hoberman shares how to retain top salespeople when high commissions and monetary rewards might not be enough motivation. 

Judy is a successful speaker, consultant, entrepreneur, and the President of Judy Hoberman and Associates, a company focused on empowering professional women. 

She is an award-winning international speaker, best-selling author, trainer, and leading authority on women in leadership. With over three decades in business, she combines wisdom and humor with her behavior-shaping insights impacting audiences of thousands as well as small groups and individuals through her 1:1 executive coaching and mentoring.  Judy works with companies supporting their diversity and women's initiatives in leadership, recruiting, training, coaching, mentoring, and retention. She has written four books and is also a TEDx speaker.  

In this week's episode, we discuss:

02:46 What are the signs of a deeper retention problem with your salespeople?

04:41 Regarding "silent" salespeople, how do you uncover issues brewing underneath the surface?

07:08  What questions can you ask to help uncover any silent issues?

13:28 What are other non-financial motivators for salespeople? 

14:37 How do you implement a "recognition culture" in your business, especially for salespeople? 

16:49 Any examples of sales rep recognition programs that have failed or did not work? 

18:36 What can you do in advance to prepare yourself and your sales rep so that letting them go won't come as a shock? 

24:19 What signs or situations might cause you to let your big producer go?

27:36 What can you do to make it easier to have difficult conversations about letting people go?

32:33 What's the one step to take right now to ensure good employee retention rates? 

Resources:

Judy Hoberman, Successful Speaker, Consultant, and Entrepreneur
Judy Hoberman and Associates, Selling In A Skirt:
https://www.sellinginaskirt.com/

LinkedIn: 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/judyhoberman/

Twitter:
https://twitter.com/SellingInASkirt

Email: 
[email protected]

Author of Walking On the Glass Floor: 
https://walkingontheglassfloor.com/

The Greatest Missed Opportunity | Judy Hoberman | TEDxTurtleCreekWomen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kgk-3QEM6tw

Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/

Blog post | How to Retain Great Salespeople & to Dismiss Those That Need to Go:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/how-to-retain-great-salespeople-to-dismiss-those-that-need-to-go

Is your growth causing financial headaches? Sales up, but profits lagging? Financial practices stuck in entry level mode?

Don't worry, it's not you—it's your financial setup.

Introducing NextGen Finance Blueprint by NewCastle Finance. This CFO-led roadmap: • Brings fuzzy finances into focus • Gives you a clear money picture • Creates a step-by-step action plan

Ready to level up? Visit newcastle.finance/blueprint

Comments? Suggestions? Text the show here!

Over the last few years, there has been a sharp rise in video content, thanks to smartphones that make it so much easier to make videos and all the video-related apps now part of our daily lives, like Youtube, Snapchat, Instagram Stories and Reels, and TikTok.

Video is a powerful tool in your marketing strategy, offering the opportunity to attract, engage and inspire your audience in a very real and human way. 

It brings your business to life so you can connect with them, evoking feelings and emotions until they become loyal customers and spread the word about your business.

But what if you're uncomfortable doing Live videos and don't know where to start?

How do you create video content if you're camera-shy?  


How can you conquer your fear of the camera and confidently face your audience, so your business grows?

Today, guest Elaine Williams gives tips on gaining confidence in front of the camera so you can rock live videos or when speaking to a crowd.

She is a Performance Coach, Comedian, Author, and Founder of Captivate the Crowd.


Her clients have gone from never doing video or speaking live to having YouTube Channels, doing International Book Tours, and speaking for NASA. 

She is an Award-winning Comedian with credits like Saturday Night Live, and America’s Got Talent and has also been featured in The New York Times, Hay House Radio & the Huffington Post.

Elaine combines her Debbie Ford/JFK University coaching certifications with her 30-plus years of performing professionally in theatre, film, tv, voice-over, radio, and standup comedy to transform her clients into “Captivating Speakers.”

We discuss:
03:14  What's a good place to start if you want to begin creating videos?

14:58 Are there specific things besides breathing and standing to help you warm up?

19:56 How much should you rehearse before going on video or stage to speak to an audience?

23:39 What does "staying in a character" mean when speaking to a live audience or on video?  

27:09 Is there a process to follow once you've decided to start with videos?  

37:50 What can you do this week to get closer to making videos?

Resources:
Elaine Williams, Performance Coach, Comedian, and Author:
https://captivatethecrowd.com/

Still Human Podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/still-human/id1517885527

Youtube Channel |  Captivate the Crowd
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdaDOA8vF64MYJovKthm0sw

Elaine's Books:
Stop the Madness: How to Identify Addiction Warning Signs in your Friends…and What To Do about it.

What Every Student Needs to Know Before They Leave for College: How to Stay Safe and Stay Smart.

Nothing but Net: Creating Your Customer’s Wow Experience with Humor!

Confidence on Camera Checklist
https://videovisibility.kartra.com/page/CTCTIPS2

Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/

Blog post | How to Conquer Camera Fear and Get Started with Video Content
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/how-to-conquer-camera-fear-and-get-started-with-video-content

Is your growth causing financial headaches? Sales up, but profits lagging? Financial practices stuck in entry level mode?

Don't worry, it's not you—it's your financial setup.

Introducing NextGen Finance Blueprint by NewCastle Finance. This CFO-led roadmap: • Brings fuzzy finances into focus • Gives you a clear money picture • Creates a step-by-step action plan

Ready to level up? Visit newcastle.finance/blueprint

Comments? Suggestions? Text the show here!

As the world evolves, it brings new markets, technology, and consumer preferences that will impact your business. To succeed, you need to adapt and keep up. 

With strategic planning, you develop a roadmap for business success. It's a deep dive into your business operations to find standards that boost work efficiency and productivity.

But what happens during a strategic planning session?

How do you conduct a successful session where you define your business strategy and develop actionable plans so things get done? 

In this episode, guest Michael Haynes outlines the essential steps, people involved, and general methodology of running a successful strategic planning session to hit your goals. 

Michael Haynes is an SMB Business Growth Specialist and author. His focus and passion are empowering CEOs of service-based companies to acquire business (B2B) clients and achieve the growth and impact they seek through BUSINESS innovation and sales.

Michael is based in Sydney, Australia, and works with companies globally.

We break down the specific steps on how to conduct a strategic planning session:

04:17 Schedule your strategic planning session.  
06:27 Identify the participants.  
10:04 Do the Pre-Work. 

          - 07:54: Company analysis:
          - 09:13: Listening summary
          - 12:07: Assign various team members to put this together about a week before.
          - 12:22: Send this information out, as pre-reading, to everyone who will attend so everyone's up to speed

16:37 Nominate a facilitator to guide the discussions. 

20:42 Start with a company overview. 

21:31 Present the business overview.

22:07 Go over the listening summary piece.

22:34 Key in on your customers or buyers.

25:38 Determine your priorities in terms of business growth and customer needs. 

27:06 Identify your overall objectives and the key strategic initiatives to make them happen.

31:19 Develop action plans using the five innovation initiatives.

33:23 Develop criteria for each innovation/action plan. 

36:46 Schedule breakaway sessions for each action plan if needed. 

39:14 End of Session.

Resources:

Michael Haynes, Founder and Principal Consultant of Listen, Innovate, and Grow: 
https://listeninnovategrow.com/

LinkedIn: 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhhaynes/

Email:
[email protected]

Michael's Book | Listen, Innovate, Grow:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07F6RQNLX/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1

Strategy Execution Framework:
https://listeninnovategrow.com/resources-b2b-library/

 Innovation Initiative Checklist:
https://listeninnovategrow.com/resources-b2b-library/

Episode 4 | How to Innovate: a Blueprint for Your Business
https://podcasts.apple.com/hu/podcast/how-to-innovate-a-blueprint-for-your-business/id1579116066?i=1000535665348

Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/

Blog post | How To Run an Effective Strategic Planning Meeting
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/how-to-run-an-effective-strategic-planning-meeting

Is your growth causing financial headaches? Sales up, but profits lagging? Financial practices stuck in entry level mode?

Don't worry, it's not you—it's your financial setup.

Introducing NextGen Finance Blueprint by NewCastle Finance. This CFO-led roadmap: • Brings fuzzy finances into focus • Gives you a clear money picture • Creates a step-by-step action plan

Ready to level up? Visit newcastle.finance/blueprint

Comments? Suggestions? Text the show here!

Marketing your growing business today can sometimes get overwhelming. 

There seems to be a never-ending list of new social media tactics and platforms to embrace. 

New marketing trends also pop up every few days and seem to die overnight!

When surrounded by all these shiny bright objects in the form of so-called new and cutting-edge digital marketing ideas, we sometimes forget that old-school marketing strategies work too!

And in today's digital chaos, kicking it “old school” might be more effective than tying your marketing down to social media. 

So what are some examples of these "old-timey" marketing tactics, and how can you implement them today to help grow your business?

In this episode of Help! My Business Is Growing; I talk to our guest Nedra Rezinas about old-school or traditional marketing techniques that can help grow your business.

She shares her insights on how it is possible to cultivate leads and grow sales using timeless, tried, and tested techniques that have slowly been forgotten or ignored over the last years.

Nedra Rezinas is a marketing consultant who helps service-based entrepreneurs learn to delegate and outsource to scale their business and do more work in their "zone of genius". 

She has over 20 years of direct experience in marketing and online business, specializing in developing custom marketing strategies that attract high-value clients.

In this week's episode, we discuss:

02:33 What are some other ways people can market themselves that aren't exclusively attached to social media or having a social media presence?  

05:10 What do you see that works for your clients who might not have that big of a social media presence? 

07:49 Do you have clients who completely unplug from specific platforms like Instagram?

11:17  For people who want to send something personal or reach out via mail, should you have an existing list or database of leads or previous clients? 

12:53 How important is CRM when it comes to marketing?

14:08 What things should you track on your CRM?

15:36  What CRMs do you recommend or find particularly helpful for you and your clients?

18:49 What is referral partner marketing? 

21:35 How do you go about finding these referral partners? What do you use?  Where do you find them?

23:47 Where do you find network groups, and how do you vet them? 

26:50 How do you craft a "reaching out" or "just saying hi" email that is warm and sincere,  offers value, and is beneficial to your customer? 

36:51 If someone wants to move their marketing away from social media, what is the next, tangible step they can do in the next week or two to get them closer to all these "old-school, yet new-school, innovating tactics we discussed?

Resources:
Nedra Rezinas, Marketing Strategy & Business Coach:
https://www.nedrarezinas.com/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nrezinas/

HubSpot
Zoho
Less Annoying CRM
Cloze
Spark Toro
Gift.Grow.Win
Giftology by John Ruhlin

Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/

Blog post | Traditional Marketing Strategies That Still Work in Today's Digital Age
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/traditional-marketing-strategies-that-still-work-in-today-s-digital-age

Is your growth causing financial headaches? Sales up, but profits lagging? Financial practices stuck in entry level mode?

Don't worry, it's not you—it's your financial setup.

Introducing NextGen Finance Blueprint by NewCastle Finance. This CFO-led roadmap: • Brings fuzzy finances into focus • Gives you a clear money picture • Creates a step-by-step action plan

Ready to level up? Visit newcastle.finance/blueprint

Comments? Suggestions? Text the show here!

Business growth requires a sound marketing plan so your company can thrive, survive, and stay successful - and relevant -  in fast-changing trends and technologies. 

But if you don’t have the time or workforce to focus on marketing, an external marketing agency can do the heavy lifting for you. Their marketing experts can help you expand your client base, improve branding, and boost revenue. At the same time, you attend to other business matters like developing new products and services and closing sales.

But the process isn’t as simple as doing a quick Google search on “marketing agencies near me” and choose the one on top of the list. Hiring the right agency takes time, patience, and a lot of vetting, as well as taking a hard look at your business to see what you need and what needs work.

In this episode of Help! My Business Is Growing, my guests Alicia Williams and Chris Viscomi and I discuss how your business can benefit from hiring a marketing agency to how you know if it’s time to say goodbye and part ways if things are not working.

Alicia and Chris also demystify the entire hiring process, providing tips on choosing the right agency to match your business needs, and what red flags to watch out for. They also share what you can expect when your actual working relationship begins and touch on your agency’s scope of work. 

Alicia Williams is the CEO, and Chris Viscomi is the Co-Founder of Aliste Marketing, a boutique marketing agency that helps companies build tactical marketing plans consisting of out-of-the-box marketing techniques, cutting-edge videos, and social media strategies that give brands a voice to attract new clients.

In this week's episode, we discuss:

02:30  Why would a business choose to obtain the services of a marketing agency over hiring an in-house marketing person or working with a freelancer?

07:42 What are some of the common mistakes that you see people make when they're vetting potential marketing agencies?

08:53 Should a company do any pre-work before they hire a marketing agency? Should they hire someone who's focused on brand strategy first? 

11:06 What would be a realistic expectation for any marketing activity or strategy to start working?

11:24 What are the signs that the marketing agency you hired is doing a good job, even though all your marketing activities or strategies are still in development?

15:10 How often do you need to align or have conversations with your marketing agency? 

16:11 How involved should your marketing agency be during strategic planning? Where do they come in during these planning processes?

18:14 Can a marketing agency help you with your long-term strategy? 

23:34 How do you decide on which marketing trends to try? 

30:39 What is the next tangible step someone can take in the next week to get them closer to hiring the right agency for their business?

Resources:

Alicia Williams & Chris Viscomi, Co-founders and Marketing Experts, Aliste Marketing:
https://alistemarketing.com/

LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/aliste-marketing/

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/alistemarketing/

Facebook: 
https://www.facebook.com/AlisteMarketing/

Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/

Blog post | How to Hire a Marketing Agency
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/how-to-hire-a-marketing-agency

Is your growth causing financial headaches? Sales up, but profits lagging? Financial practices stuck in entry level mode?

Don't worry, it's not you—it's your financial setup.

Introducing NextGen Finance Blueprint by NewCastle Finance. This CFO-led roadmap: • Brings fuzzy finances into focus • Gives you a clear money picture • Creates a step-by-step action plan

Ready to level up? Visit newcastle.finance/blueprint

Comments? Suggestions? Text the show here!

What is franchising all about? And how can it work for your business?

If your business is cost-effective and easily replicated, chances are you’ll have no problems attracting franchisees. Through this strategy, you can boost profits and expand operations without substantial capital costs.

But before jumping on the franchising bandwagon, you need to do a lot of prep work and planning. You may also need to shift your perspective on how you’re running the business as well.

So what do you need to get started and how can you ensure your success as a franchisor?

In this episode of Help! My Business Is Growing; I talk to our guest April Porter about all things Franchising.

She shares her insights on how you can start turning your business into a franchise, what to expect from the whole process, what businesses are a great fit, and even the qualities you need to become a successful franchisor and more.

April Porter is a business growth strategist, advisor to hundreds of franchisees, and CEO of Ask April Porter. She helps franchise owners accelerate their growth and profits in record time. 

In this week's episode, we discuss:

02:25  Are any specific types of businesses particularly well suited for franchising?

03:45 Are any industries particularly well positioned for franchising, similar to the fitness and restaurant industries? 

05:48  If someone is thinking of turning their business into a franchise, where do they start? What is the process?

07:43  If you don't mind the cost and want to shortcut the learning curve, do you hire a coach, or is there a specific company that can help you learn all about franchising?

11:37  What are the foundations that you need to have in your business to be a successful franchise or to be able to offer to your franchisees? 

15:57  What does a successful relationship between the franchisor and the franchisee look like?

18:18 Can you compare and contrast the differences between an employee and a franchisee? 

21:08 As a franchisor, do you have any input on the day-to-day operations of the franchisees? 

22:51 What do franchisees need to be successful? What exactly is in the franchisee's playbook? Does it include processes, procedures, brand image, or all of the above?  

26:08 What have you seen people go through as they transition from being business owners of multiple units to becoming franchisors? Is it an abrupt change? How do people adjust to that type of thinking? And what are some of the specific things they struggle with?

29:17 Do you have a specific example where everything went wrong with their franchise business, but after switching their mindset, things got so much better?

34:34 What next step can business owners take this week to get them closer to turning their business into a franchise? 

Resources:

April Porter, Business Growth Strategist, and CEO
https://askaprilporter.com/

LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/aprilporterbrands/

Host of The Infinite Franchisee Show:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-infinite-franchisee-show/id1570422370

Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/

Blog post | How to Turn Your Business Into a Successful Franchise
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/how-to-turn-your-business-into-a-successful-franchise

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