The Kenza Pod

“With just three weeks left in 2021, it’s time to get serious and make sure that we’ve tended to our finances for the year. Don’t put this off and procrastinate until next year! You’ll regret it, you’ll pay more money, you’ll drain more energy, and it just won’t be worth it. Plus, you may miss an opportunity to make strategic decisions with your money.” - Tiff

Life is busy right now and we're all just trying to finish out the year strong. So in this episode, we’re giving you the five tasks that you need to do by year-end in order to set yourself up for success come tax season. C’mon - just five little tasks are all we’re asking for here. You can do this!

This episode is for you if: 

• You want to know the exact steps you need to take to successfully close out your business’s finances for the year and set yourself up for success come tax season. 
• You need practical, actionable tips on what exactly you need to do before year-end, versus what can wait until next year. 

Links Mentioned + Other Helpful Resources

Handling taxes and business finances can be intimidating and overwhelming, especially if you are trying to figure it out all by yourself. If you still feel stuck, go to kenzacollective.com/coaching and sign up for Beth’s Financial Mentorship, where she can help give you the knowledge you need to build a sustainable business. 

IRS Self-Employed Individuals Tax Center

IRS Website 

Small Business and Self - Employed State Government Websites 

CPA Mentioned in the show: Shannon Weinstein on Instagram and her website: Fitnancial Solutions

 "Project and team management are a big part of being a DBM—laying out the plan, making sure it gets executed, making sure deadlines are being met, and learning how to shift and move things around to ensure things are getting done on time—are all a part of my job. Ultimately, what I aim to do as a DBM is take the daily operations off my client's plate. So if one of their team members has a question, they come to me first, not my client. This allows my clients to focus almost entirely on income-generating work.” 

This episode is for you if: 

• You’re curious what a Digital Business Manager does, how many hours you need to dedicate to the role each week, and how to find your first client. 
• You’re curious what the day-to-day looks like as a DBM and a parent.
• You’re wondering how to make the transition from a Virtual Assistant to a Digital Business Manager.

We sat down with Megan Schenleber—Digital Business Manager, wife, and mother to a young daughter. In this episode, you’ll learn about Megan’s background, how she got started as a Virtual Assistant and transitioned into being a Digital Business Manager, what her day-to-day looks like juggling a freelance career with a young child, and a whole set of pro tips for those of you considering this career path. 

Links Mentioned + Other Helpful Resources

To learn more about Megan and connect with her check out her website and Instagram. 

Check out the Digital Business Manager Bootcamp course that Megan mentioned.

Check out Micala Quinn’s Overwhelmed to Overbooked course.

Join us on Slack

Join our free slack group if you’re ready to get support from like-minded parents who are right there with you and in the trenches of entrepreneurship and parenting. Ask questions, get feedback, share your wins, struggles, and more. Go to kenzacollective.com/slack or feel to DM us on Instagram at @kenzacollective with any questions.

About Our Guest

Megan is a Digital Business Manager who helps female coaches and course creators manage and simplify their business operations to focus on the big picture of their business. 

Before starting her freelance career, she received her bachelor’s degree in Business Management, emphasizing Human Resources. After working in the corporate world for over eight years, Megan decided to start her career in Human 

"When I’m talking to someone who has just left their job and is wondering what they should do for coverage, the first thing I do is compare their current employer-sponsored healthcare plan with what they can buy on the open market. Nine out of ten times, the COBRA option is about the same cost or sometimes less expensive. It’s also important to keep in mind that the group plan that your company provides is always going to be better than an individual plan—they will have a larger network and more benefits than an individual can get. So it’s definitely worth it to look into COBRA as an option while you have the chance."

This episode is for you if: 

• You’re unfamiliar with COBRA and how it can help you and your family keep your current healthcare benefits for 18+ months
• You are struggling with the decision to leap into freelancing because your current job offers health coverage and you can’t afford it lose it  
• You’re curious if you're eligible for COBRA and the costs associated with it 

If you’re feeling held back from going out on your own as a freelancer because your current job provides health coverage for your family, then this is the episode for you! 

COBRA is a federal law that gives workers and their families the right to choose to continue group health benefits provided by their group health plan for limited periods of time under certain circumstances. Oftentimes (as you’ll learn in this episode), this is the best and most cost-effective way to keep your health insurance after leaving a job. 

Join us and insurance expert, Octavio Jara from Potlache Benefits, to learn how COBRA works, stipulations and timing to be aware of, and how it can help your family so that you can finally make the leap into freelancing!

If you enjoy listening to this podcast, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. This helps us reach more parents like you!

Links Mentioned + Other Helpful Resources

Potlache Benefits website - Octavio's Business

About Our Guest

Like many in the insurance business, Octavio was shanghaied into the business back in 1997 as an account manager for Shargel & Co. It was there he found himself dealing with employers that didn’t understand the coverage they provided to their employees. He learned the importance of giving a personal touch to small businesses and individuals who needed qualified advice. 

Today, Octavio has a passion for helping individuals and small companies to navigate our complicated healthcare system and breaks it down into layman terms….Or has he puts it, “Potlache Benefits make insurance fun again.” He recently moved to the San Diego area with his wife and is looking to bring some silicon valley to the area. 

“Traveling with kids ain’t easy. Trying to work while traveling with kids is on a whole other level. That said, with the proper planning, expectations, and preparation, it can be really fun and fulfilling! In this episode, I’ll share with you everything I’ve learned so far through many domestic trips, plus three international trips with a toddler, and give you some tips that will hopefully make your life easier!”

This episode is for you if: 

• You want to find fun, creative, easy ways to keep your child entertained in the car or on a long flight.  
• You need to get better at the pre-trip planning process to avoid last-minute stress.
• You want to understand how to work while traveling with kids. 

Join Tiffany in this week’s episode of The Kenza Pod: “Traveling and Working with a Toddler,” as she shares her very own tips and tricks on what has worked (and what hasn’t). 

Social media tends to highlight the "fun" parts of traveling as a family. Nobody wants to see the image of your child having a temper tantrum in the middle of the airport; trust me, we have all been there. The reality is traveling with a kid is nothing like traveling before you had a kid. That means your expectations and planning will need to change slightly, and Tiffany's tools in this episode will hopefully make any trip a little less stressful for everyone. 

Have some more tips and tricks on how to travel with a toddler? Hop into our Slack channel and go to the parenting channel and ask questions or feel free to share any tips there, because as parents we need all the help we can get. 

“We’ve all been there. Stuck in an hourly contract that we wish we weren’t in. Kicking ourselves for doing the exact opposite of what everyone warned about. I get it… I did the exact same thing when I went out on my own. I was so excited to land my first client, and they wanted to pay me hourly, so… I sold my time. I sold my hours. It worked for a while….until it didn’t” 

This episode is for you if: 

• You’re nervous about making the switch from hourly to project-based pricing with current and future clients 
• You want a step by step guide on how to approach your current clients to make the switch
• You need to get better at saying “no” to hourly rates and understand what to say instead
• You want to deepen your understanding of how to land and implement monthly retainers and/or project-based pricing

Join Tiffany for this "must listen to" episode of The Kenza Pod, where she shares four steps on how to make the transition from hourly to project-based pricing with your clients. 

Tiffany shares her own experience of working hourly (and why that doesn’t work), and walks you through the step-by-step process she used to untangle herself from hourly and what she learned in the process.

If you're on the fence about whether it's the right time to make the switch in your business, be sure to tune in!

Links Mentioned + Other Helpful Resources

If you're interested in learning more about how I came up with my proposal costs, check out Lesson 3 of our You Can Do This Course. 

We detail how to price out proposals, the formula we use, and the various factors I use to make each special proposal pricing. The course is $29, but we are doing a revamp, which means the price (and value) will increase next year. 

Take advantage of this fantastic offer today, and you will get instant access to all the upgrades. So, if you're someone who is just getting started and wants to learn the eight steps you should take to launch your freelance business, go check it out here

Other helpful episodes 

All Proposal Episodes 

“I love being a podcast manager because you have control over how much time you want to invest in your business and how many clients you want to take on. It’s totally your choice.” 

This episode is for you if: 

• You’re curious about what a podcast manager does, how much they make, how many hours per week you need to dedicate to it, and how to juggle this job as a busy parent. 
• You want to understand how this type of role grows over time, and what kind of skills are needed to get started. 

We sat down with Lauren Wrighton—Podcast Strategist, wife, and mother to three young girls—to hear all about what it’s like to be a Podcast Manager. 

Since 2017, Lauren has been helping female business owners launch their podcasts. She’s now a Podcast Strategist with an online program that trains people (just like you!) on how to jump into this awesome career path. 

In this episode, you’ll hear what it’s like to be a Podcast Manager, the types of skills you need to have (and the skills that you can easily learn!), and how she recommends getting started. 

Links Mentioned + Other Helpful Resources

Check out our other “So ya wanna be a…” episodes

Stepping out on your own as a freelancer or consultant can be intimidating, to say the least. It can be incredibly helpful to hear real-life stories of parents just like you who’ve successfully made this transition, and understand what it’s actually like to run a business while raising a family.

In this ongoing podcast series, we sit down with like-minded parents to hear their stories from captive employees to liberated entrepreneurs. They paint a picture of what it’s like to juggle running their own business while also showing up as a calm and present parent and partner. 

We dig into what services they provide, how they’ve leveraged their experience and network to build their business, what their day-to-day looks like, and any pro tips they have for people exploring this career path. 

These episodes are a great way for you to explore independent career paths that you may not have known about! Check out all past “So ya wanna be a…” episodes right here. 

About Our Guest

After starting a podcast with her friend over three years ago, Lauren realized that her talents were more in the strategy and behind-the-scenes production than behind a microphone. Using her skills, she became podcast strategist and producer for female business coaches to launch and grow a podcast to help impact their audience. Her production value and marketing strategies allow her clients to concentrate on the content and connect with their audience while taking away the stress of behind-the-scenes work such as editing, managing, monetizing, and audience building. She now uses her expertise in podcast production and teaches other freelancers how to become profitable podcast managers and develop their clientele. 

Learn more about Lauren Wrighton at laurenwrighton.com

“Remember how important your online presence is. This is typically the very first impression that a client has of you before they even get a chance to talk to you” 

This episode is for you if: 

• You’re wondering how to build a stronger relationship with your clients in order to get more referrals and repeat business
• You want to learn practical strategies that you can start doing today to wow your clients
• You’re struggling to figure out how to position yourself and create a simple website

Being able to run a business at home and earn more money in less time is a fantastic way to achieve the freedom you've been looking for. Everyone from stay-at-home moms, people sick of the 9-5 grind, or those caught in-between careers, are leaping into the freelancing world with a mixture of excitement and trepidation. 

Now more than ever it’s critical that we find ways to delight our clients and stand out so that they continue to come back for more projects and refer you to their network. 

Join Tiffany as she shares five practical strategies that you can put in place today to help you stand out from the crowd. Her insights come from a combination of serving clients for the past 15+ years, plus being on the other side as a client herself. 

Upcoming Kenza Class: 

Launch A Website You’re Proud Of: a 2-day workshop to help clarify your message and launch a website that connects. Learn More >

You're ready to launch your freelancing business but trying to communicate on your website, and social media platforms can feel overwhelming. This is something that many new entrepreneurs struggle with. 

To help get you started, Tiffany has teamed up with Lisa Cumes, the founder of Simple Story Solutions, to help you nail your one-liner, confidently share your website, and connect with your ideal clients. To sign up, click right here and reserve your spot today. Space is limited!!!

Other helpful episodes: 

Proposal to Paycheck Part III: How to End One Project and Pitch The Next 

All Client Management Episodes

Our "So You Wanna Be a..." episodes are an ongoing series on The Kenza Pod where we interview like-minded parents to hear about their journey into entrepreneurship. 

They provide insight into what it's like to step out into the freelancing world as a busy parent and inspire you to use your skills and background to kickstart a new career path. To browse all of our “So ya wanna be a…” stories, click right here. 

We interviewed Allison Antoinette, a Business Process Consultant, to hear what it’s like to juggle clients, work, and show up as a calm and present parent to her toddler. You’ll learn all about the services she offers, how she finds her clients, and the fascinating story that led her to start this business.

Topics Discussed in this episode:

• Allison's career path and how she got to where she is today
• What does a Business Process Consultant do?
• How she finds her clients 
• What does a typical work week look like as she juggles work and motherhood
• Tips for our listeners who may be considering a similar career path 

About Our Guest 

Allison is the founder and lead consultant at Allison & Co and believes in using businesses as a force to create positive change. With over a decade of operational experience spanning corporate and political sectors, she now helps purpose-driven businesses get organized behind the scenes, scale their processes to thrive profitably, service more clients, and create high-performing teams.

Links and Resources 

To learn more about Allison, go to www.allison-co.com and follow her on Instagram @allisonandco_official

Be sure to check out more of our “So You Wanna Be A” episodes at kenzacollective.com/blog

Join our free slack group if you’re ready to get support from like-minded parents who are right there with you and in the trenches of entrepreneurship and parenting. Ask questions, get feedback, share your wins, struggles, and more. Go to kenzacollective.com/slack or feel to DM us on Instagram at @kenzacollective with any questions. 

In this episode, you’ll learn how to know when it’s time to hire a VA for your business and learn pro tips for finding the right fit. We also discuss what it’s like to be a VA, and how you might get started on this path if it’s something that interests you!  

We interviewed Ester Inman—military spouse, work-from-home mom, and the creator of 90 Day VA—a program that teaches women how to leverage their existing skills to create a lucrative virtual assistant business. She is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to all things VA!

We discuss: 

• Esther's story and why she decided to leave her "corporate America" job
• What a virtual assistant does
• How to know when it's time to hire a VA for your business
• Key questions and qualities to look for when hiring a VA
• What it’s like to be a VA and the first steps you can take to explore this independent career path

About our Guest 

Ester Inman quit her corporate America job seven years ago when she realized it was unsuitable for a military wife and mom's life. She ventured out into the online world and found success quickly as a virtual assistant, but couldn’t believe that these low-entry virtual skills were unknown to other military spouses, moms, and travel lovers. After making six figures with her agency, she has now helped over 4,000 women work online as a virtual assistant worldwide through her 90 Day VA Program. 

Links and Resources: 

So you wanna be a….Virtual Assistant, Rebekah Hebdon. Hear what it’s like to be a mom of 3 under 5 and rocking it as a VA. 

How to find Esther Inman:

• Free Class on how to become a virtual assistant www.90dayva.com
• Website: www.virtualassistantinternship.com 
• Instagram and Tok Tok: @esther_inman 
• Pinterest: @virtualassistantinternship 
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/virtualassistantinternship 

There may come a time when you have an opportunity to hire and manage subcontractors in order to produce a project for a client. Whether you need help executing your own deliverables, or you need someone else’s expertise and skillset to bring more value to a client’s project, hiring subcontractors is an exciting next step in your business!

That said, there are definitely pros and cons to working with subcontractors, and it’s not for everyone.

In this episode, Beth and Tiffany walk you through a step-by-step scenario, detailing from start to finish exactly how to find, hire, onboard, and manage subcontractors. They share their best pro tips from both project management and a financial perspective.

What you’ll learn in this episode: 

• Pros and cons of working with subcontractors & how to know if it’s right for you.
• Key questions to ask during the interview process.
• Details that need to be discussed before you bring someone onto your team. 
• How to onboard a subcontractor and what to be aware of during the process.
• The importance of vetting people to protect your reputation.
• Key agreements to have in writing before you hire.

Did you know that we hire subcontractors from within our community to help with our client projects? If you’re interested in subcontracting with us, or you’re looking for jobs that come through The Collective with clients that we know and trust, join our free Slack channel where we post jobs at kenzacollective/com/slack.

Links and Resources Mentioned:

Free Kenza Class: Using Sprints to Manage Fixed Timeline Projects 

If you are looking for more 1:1 Mentoring, book a free Discovery Call with Beth or Tiffany! kenzacollective.com/coaching