The How of Business - How to start, run, grow and exit a small business.

Grow a healthier business by managing cash flow, using debt strategically, and building strong business relationships.

Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/607-growing-a-small-business/

Growing a business requires far more than simply increasing sales. It demands financial discipline, smart decision-making, and strong relationships.

In Part 2 of this entrepreneurial roundtable series, Henry Lopez is joined again by Giuseppe Grammatico, Rocky Lalvani, and David Barnett for a practical conversation about what it really takes to grow a small business.

The discussion begins with one of the most important topics for entrepreneurs: cash flow management. Rocky explains the principles behind the Profit First system, created by Mike Michalowicz, and why many business owners fail to recognize financial problems until it's too late. They also discuss why relying only on bank balances can create dangerous blind spots and how cash flow systems can provide early warning signs when something in the business model is broken.

The conversation then shifts into debt and leverage. The panel explores the difference between using debt strategically to fund profitable growth versus using debt to cover operational problems or poor financial management. David shares examples of how business owners can misuse lines of credit and why understanding the purpose behind borrowing is critical to long-term business health.

Finally, the group discusses the importance of relationship building and networking for business growth. Henry shares why getting out into the community, identifying referral partners, and building meaningful connections remain essential growth strategies for local and service-based businesses.

This episode is packed with practical advice for entrepreneurs who want to build a stronger and more sustainable business.

This episode is hosted by Henry Lopez. The How of Business podcast focuses on helping you start, run, grow and exit your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, small business coaching, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) provide an effective way to measure your business performance using both leading and lagging indicators to make better decisions and drive growth.

Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/606-kpis-measure-business-performance/

Small business owners often rely on gut feel or a quick glance at their bank balance to gauge how their business is performing, but that approach leads to reactive decision-making and missed opportunities. In this episode, Henry Lopez explains how to use Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to measure business performance more accurately and proactively.

He breaks down the difference between lagging indicators - such as revenue, profit, and cash - and leading indicators like leads, conversions, and customer activity, which help predict future performance. By understanding and tracking both, small business owners can gain clarity and control instead of simply reacting to past results.

Henry also shares a simple framework for selecting KPIs, emphasizing that most small businesses should focus on just three to five core metrics that are measurable, aligned with business goals, and reviewed consistently. To make it practical, he walks through a sample KPI scorecard that includes revenue, profit, cash, customer flow, and customer retention, while reinforcing that these are starting points, not a one-size-fits-all solution.

"You can't improve what you don't measure, but only if you're measuring the right things," Lopez explains, highlighting the importance of choosing the right metrics for your business.

This episode is hosted by Henry Lopez. The How of Business podcast focuses on helping you start, run, grow and exit your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, small business coaching, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

How to find the right business by evaluating whether to buy, build, or franchise while aligning with your finances, goals, and mindset.

Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/605-finding-the-right-small-business/

Choosing the right business is one of the most critical decisions an entrepreneur will ever make, and getting it wrong can cost years of time, money, and energy. In this roundtable discussion, Henry Lopez is joined by Giuseppe Grammatico, Rocky Lalvani, and David Barnett to break down how to approach finding the right business opportunity.

The conversation explores the key paths available to aspiring business owners - starting from scratch, buying an existing business, or investing in a franchise - and the pros and cons of each approach. The group emphasizes that before evaluating any opportunity, entrepreneurs must first shift their mindset and understand what it truly means to become a business owner.

Financial readiness is a major theme throughout this roundtable discussion. From understanding cash flow realities to avoiding unrealistic expectations about early profits, the panel highlights why having the right financial foundation is essential. They also dive into common mistakes buyers make during due diligence, including misinterpreting financial statements, overlooking hidden risks, and failing to validate assumptions.

A key takeaway from this conversation is the importance of aligning the business with your personal goals, lifestyle expectations, and tolerance for risk.

As Henry shares: "Be careful not to fall in love with the business before you finish the due diligence."

This episode sets the foundation for the rest of the series by helping you think critically about how to choose the right business and avoid costly mistakes early in the process.

This episode is hosted by Henry Lopez. The How of Business podcast focuses on helping you start, run, grow and exit your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, small business coaching, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

The three root causes of business partnership failure - loss of trust, respect, and alignment - and how to prevent them.

Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/604-why-partnerships-fail/

Business partnerships can accelerate success or destroy a business faster than almost anything else.

In this episode, Henry Lopez breaks down the three primary reasons partnerships fail: loss of trust, loss of respect, and loss of alignment. Drawing from his own experiences and years of coaching small business owners, he explains why most partnerships don't fail because of the business itself but because of the breakdown in the relationship between partners.

Henry explores how issues like lack of financial transparency, unequal contribution, poor communication, and misaligned long-term goals quietly erode partnerships over time. He also highlights the role money plays in amplifying tensions, whether the business is thriving or struggling.

"Partnerships fail gradually. First trust breaks, then respect erodes, and eventually alignment disappears."

You'll also learn practical ways to prevent these issues, including defining roles clearly, maintaining full financial visibility, documenting agreements, and committing to regular communication. Henry emphasizes that communication is the foundation that holds everything together, and without it, even strong partnerships will fail.

This episode is essential listening for anyone considering a small business partnership or currently navigating one.

This episode is hosted by Henry Lopez. The How of Business podcast focuses on helping you start, run, grow and exit your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, small business coaching, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

A framework for creating a business or product name using a proven five-step process that removes guesswork and drives better branding decisions, with Brad Flowers.

Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/r306-5-steps-to-naming/

Naming your business (or product or service) doesn't have to be a frustrating or purely creative guessing game. It can be a structured, repeatable process that leads to better outcomes.

In this episode, Henry Lopez chats with Brad Flowers, co-founder of Bullhorn and author of The Naming Book, about how small business owners can move from a blank page to a strong, effective business or product name.

Brad shares the five-step framework he developed after realizing that most naming advice either tells stories or opinions but doesn't actually help you generate names. Henry and Brad explore how to establish clear criteria, generate a large volume of ideas, and evaluate those ideas without getting stuck.

A key takeaway is that creativity isn't about waiting for inspiration, it's about having a process.

As Brad explains, "the only way to continuously produce high results in a creative field is to have a rigorous process."

They also discuss common mistakes, including overthinking too early, relying too much on outside opinions, and limiting ideas before fully exploring them. If you're launching a business, product, or service - or even considering a rebrand - this episode will give you a practical path forward.

The 5 steps to creating brand and product names that sell:

1) Establishing Criteria 2) Brainstorming 3) Compiling Names 4) Expanding Your Knowledge 5) Deciding on the Final Name

This episode is hosted by Henry Lopez. The How of Business podcast focuses on helping you start, run, grow and exit your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, small business coaching, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

Practical email writing techniques that help small business owners communicate more clearly, get faster responses, and reduce costly misunderstandings.

Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/603-5-tips-for-better-emails/

Email is still the primary communication tool in most small businesses, yet it's one of the most overlooked skills.

In this episode, Henry shares five simple but powerful tips to help you write better emails that get faster responses, reduce misunderstandings, and improve your professional credibility.

You'll learn how to:

• Communicate your message clearly and quickly
• Structure emails so they are easy to scan
• Avoid common mistakes that lead to delays
• Write with professionalism and clarity
• Make it easy for others to take action

Better emails lead to better business outcomes. This is a simple skill with a high return on investment.

Key takeaway: clarity and focus beat completeness every time.

5 Tips for Better Emails:

1. Don't Bury the Headline
2. Make It Scannable
3. Less Is More (One Objective)
4. Don't Write Emails Like Text Messages
5. Clear Subject Line + Clear Ask

This episode is hosted by Henry Lopez. The How of Business podcast focuses on helping you start, run, grow and exit your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, small business coaching, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

How profitability and scalability constraints in your business model keep you stuck and how to diagnose and remove them to finally grow.

Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/602-why-your-business-is-stuck/

If your business feels stuck - you are working hard but not breaking through - you may be dealing with hidden constraints in your business model.

In this episode, Henry Lopez explains why most small businesses don't fail outright but instead get trapped in a perpetual startup stage. The root cause is often not effort or resources, but structural limitations in profitability or scalability or both.

Henry breaks down the two pillars of a healthy business model and shows you how to diagnose what's really holding your business back. He also introduces a simple tool to help you identify these constraints and begin addressing them – The Business Model Evaluation Tool – available on the show notes page for this episode.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• The difference between a business idea and a business model
• Why working harder won't fix a broken business model
• The top reasons small businesses struggle with profitability
• The most common scalability constraints
• How to identify whether your business model can be fixed or you need to pivot
• How to begin removing the constraints keeping you stuck

This episode is hosted by Henry Lopez. The How of Business podcast focuses on helping you start, run, grow and exit your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, small business coaching, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

The latest in key franchise trends, including AI-driven efficiency, stronger franchisor support, and high-demand service industries.

Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/601-franchise-trends-giuseppe-grammatico/

Franchising continues to evolve rapidly driven by advancements in AI, operational efficiency, and a renewed focus on franchisee success.

In this episode, Henry Lopez is joined by franchise expert Giuseppe Grammatico to break down the most important trends shaping today's franchise landscape and what they mean for aspiring business owners.

A major shift highlighted in this conversation is the increased level of support franchisors are providing. From AI-powered call centers handling hundreds of simultaneous interactions to more hands-on coaching and field support, franchise systems are investing heavily in helping owners improve performance and profitability.

As Giuseppe explains, "Support was the major thing… brands are doubling down to make sure franchisees succeed."

They also explore why service-based industries, especially home services, restoration, and senior care, continue to see strong demand. Demographic trends, remote work, and rising home equity are fueling growth in these sectors, creating opportunities for both full-time and semi-passive franchise ownership.

Another key takeaway is what it takes to succeed as a franchisee. Contrary to common belief, prior industry experience is often not required. Instead, success depends on transferable skills like leadership, sales, and, most importantly, coachability.

Whether you're exploring franchising as a full-time venture or a side hustle to diversify income, this episode provides practical insights to help you evaluate if franchising is the right path for you.

Giuseppe Grammatico - The Franchise Guide - is a franchise consultant, author, speaker, and host of the Franchise Freedom podcast. He specializes in helping individuals identify and invest in franchise opportunities that align with their goals, skills, and desired lifestyle.

This episode is hosted by Henry Lopez. The How of Business podcast focuses on helping you start, run, grow and exit your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, small business coaching, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

How small business owners can escape price-driven competition by redefining their market and creating a new category instead of competing in crowded spaces.

Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/600-kevin-maney-create-your-category/

Many small business owners enter crowded markets and end up competing primarily on price. But according to author and business strategist Kevin Maney, there is another path: create your own category.

In this conversation, Henry Lopez speaks with Kevin Maney about the ideas in his latest book "The Category Creation Formula." The discussion explores how entrepreneurs can redefine the problem they solve and differentiate their business in ways that eliminate direct price competition.

Kevin explains that market categories exist primarily in the minds of customers. Businesses that successfully define a new category often become the default leader in that space and capture most of the attention and economic value. Rather than competing to be slightly better or slightly cheaper, the goal is to become meaningfully different.

Kevin introduces the Category Creation Formula: Context + Missing + Innovation = New Category

First, business owners must understand the context of how their customers' world is changing. Next, they identify what is missing in the current solutions. Finally, they introduce an innovation that solves that missing piece in a compelling new way.

The conversation also explores the importance of storytelling in marketing. Instead of starting with features or products, businesses should begin with the problem customers experience. When customers feel understood, they become more open to new solutions.

As Kevin explains: "It's better to be different than to try to be better."

Through examples ranging from laundromats in Brooklyn to dishwasher repair services, Henry and Kevin demonstrate how entrepreneurs can redefine a problem, create a new category, and stand out even in highly saturated markets.

If you're building or growing a small business, this episode offers practical insights into escaping the trap of competing only on price.

Kevin Maney is a bestselling author, longtime business journalist, and co-founding partner of Category Design Advisors, where he helps leadership teams define and lead new market categories. He previously co-authored the influential book Play Bigger, which introduced the concept of category design to mainstream business audiences. Kevin's writing has appeared in major publications including Newsweek, Fortune, Wired, USA Today, and The Atlantic.

This episode is hosted by Henry Lopez. The How of Business podcast focuses on helping you start, run, grow and exit your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, small business coaching, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

When to outsource your bookkeeping, how outsourcing compares to hiring an in-house bookkeeper, and best practices for working effectively with a bookkeeping service.

Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/599-outsource-your-bookkeeping/

Knowing when to outsource your bookkeeping is an important decision for small business owners. As your business grows, bookkeeping becomes more complex, more time-consuming, and more critical to making informed decisions.

In this episode, Henry Lopez is joined by bookkeeping expert Jodi Arrant to discuss when it makes sense to outsource your bookkeeping instead of doing it yourself or hiring a bookkeeper in-house. They explore the common signs that indicate it's time to get help, the advantages of outsourcing, and what to look for when choosing a professional bookkeeping service.

Henry and Jodi also explain how business owners should work effectively with a bookkeeper to ensure accurate financial reports and better decision-making. Even when you outsource bookkeeping, Henry emphasizes that business owners must stay engaged with their financials and review their reports regularly.

"If you're running your business without accurate financials, you're steering partially blind." - Henry Lopez

They also discuss practical best practices for reviewing financial reports, communicating with your bookkeeper, and building the processes needed to keep your financial records accurate and useful.

Henry also shares more about The How of Business: Bookkeeping, a service designed specifically for small business owners who want professional bookkeeping support without hiring a full-time bookkeeper.

This episode is hosted by Henry Lopez. The How of Business podcast focuses on helping you start, run, grow and exit your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, small business coaching, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com