The ITF Flowcast

What up, Flowmies!! Starting a business can be such an overwhelming process, it can be hard to know where to even begin. This week on the Flowcast, we have a panel of several Flowmies with at least a decade of experience answering your burning questions! What are the biggest mistakes that new business owners make? What advice do you like to share with people interested in starting their own business? What was one area you struggled with when you first started? What did you wish you knew before you went out on your own? There are some really insightful and valuable nuggets for potential new business owners in this episode, so please watch, bookmark, and share with people you know who might need it. Hey, even you experienced owners might learn a thing or two! :) Flow on!

Hey Flowmies, have you ever wondered what happens during those 3 seconds between running a credit card and getting the approval message? The answer is "a lot" and Steven Cron from Benchmark Payment Networks is on the Flowcast to help understand the A to Z of credit card processing! How do you know what the REAL cost of your credit card processing is? How can you stay PCI compliant and why is that important? What is the difference between the Squares and Clovers of the CC world and why is that difference important? We get the answers to all these questions and also find out how you can eliminate credit card processing fees all together! Flow on!

Whatup, Flowmies! We have a super important interview today. What you don't know about your insurance can cost you tens of thousands of dollars or more. But where can you go to find out what you don't even know you need to know? Meet Jeff Engel, COO of ICI Insurance! His agency specializes in helping window cleaners and other service industries get past the roadblocks that pop up when we try to go through traditional commercial coverage. Listen in while we discuss how to properly protect yourself and know what coverage you need, what you can do to lower your auto insurance, how to GL & WC survive audits (YUCK!), and why you may want to think about Key Person Insurance (what is that???) if you have crews. Make time to listen to this one, Flowmies, it could save you a ton of money!

Whatup, Flowmies? We have a fun one today! Peter Cruz, owner of Clearvue Professional Window Cleaning in Las Cruces, NM and sales rep for WCR, drops by the Flowcast this week! With a background in accounting, he has an interesting perspective about how to run a successful window cleaning business. We talk the best business structures for tax benefits, using a CRM to keep you organized as you grow, and he gives great tips to keep in mind for new or growing business owners. but most of all, he is just a fun guy to talk to! Don't miss out on these great tips! Flow on!

What up, Flowmies! This week we have a Gabe's Corner that is near and dear to my heart. One of the unspoken issues facing small business owners is caring for their mental health, in particular with regards to handling stress and anxiety. Too often they are ignored, stuffed down, and left to fester until they are manifested at the worst possible time. What can you do to help deal with the pressures of owning a business in a healthy way? Listen in as I talk about some of the bad habits we can fall into that exacerbates high stress levels and what are some positive actions that we can take to minimize the anxiety in our lives. It's an important topic, and I hope these tips are helpful to you. It gets better, Flowmies! Flow on!

Whatup, Flowmies! In this weekd Flowcast we have another really great guy to speak with, and that is Sterling Alexander out of the San Antonio, TX area. He talks about entrepreneurship, how to get the education you need to efficiently run a business, the importance of company structure, and how he managed his growth into a strong, self-sufficient organization. Plus, he is just a really thoughtful and nice guy to boot! Lots of great nuggets to be found here! Flow on!

Whatup Flowmies!! We have a fun one for you today. We get to speak with Flowmie & Bonafide Country Singer/Window Cleaner, Jordan Minor! As you would expect he had a windy and interesting path into the industry that hasn't always been smooth. Yet he has been able to find the balance that allows him to continue following his passions. As a bonus, you get to hear a song that will be on an upcoming album that will be released late this year! You can follow him and the Bottom Dollar Band on Facebook to find out when it drops! Flow on!

Whatup, Flowmies?!? This week we get to visit with Jamie Hallman, fresh off of his Flowmie of the Year Award win. Jamie shares with us what it's like to go from working for someone else to starting your own business in a relatively short time. He talks about the cautious approach he took and how he was able to strike that work/family balance early on to make sure the business became what he needed it be. But most of all, you will get to see what cool guy he is and why he will find success in anything he does. I'm excited for you all to get to know him better! Flow on!

Whatup, Flowmies?!? This week, we have a fun one for ya. Hosts Kory & Kevin visit with the owner of Window Magic, Randi Tieken! They cover wide range of topics such as how to navigate your business through an economy facing inflation, managing and leading your crew, and how the IWCA can benefit small businesses. As always, Randi brings her expertise, her heart, and her desire to help others to the conversation. Keep calm & Flow on!

Hey Flowmies!! It's our second installment of Gabe's Corner and we are talking about employees. Specifically, who did you hire, an employee or a window cleaner? Listen in as Gabe breaks down the difference between the two, what you can do as an employer to sift out window cleaners among the potential candidates for your hiring process, and how to keep the quality techs working for you for years to come. Flow on!