Your small business (or idea if you haven’t started yet) is a lot more important than you think. Just ask Karen Kerrigan, the president and CEO of the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council. She’ll be sharing a ton of fun facts about how small businesses drive innovation, help the economy, and create jobs. You’ll also hear from Kylie Jiwon Hwang, an Assistant Professor at the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management. She’ll give us more insights on how entrepreneurship can help marginalized individuals and how starting your own business can benefit your community. Get a quick refresher on why the work you’re doing (or planning to do!) is important and learn all the benefits and challenges you might encounter on your entrepreneurial journey. In this episode you’ll hear: (01:42) Why Small Businesses are important. (04:27) Why Marginalized individuals are gravitating towards entrepreneurship and the benefits that come with it. (07:33) Challenges that you might face when starting a business. (10:48) How technology has been helping small business owners overcome some of the challenges they face. (14:41) The importance of being prepared before starting a business.

Aside from a regular paycheck, what more can you do for your employees? And can going the extra mile for them really help your business' bottom line? Listen in to hear from brothers and founders of Mr. Tortilla, Ron and Anthony Alcazar. Their approach to business was formed at an early age, while watching their parents work hard with no buy-in. And then we’ll speak with Ludmila Praslova, PhD. Professor of Industrial Organizational Psychology, and author of The Canary Code: A Guide to Neurodiversity, Dignity, and Intersectional Belonging at Work.  "Imagine having to walk in shoes that are extremely big or way too small, way too wide, way too narrow" said Ludmila. "That's painful, that's not comfortable, …flexibility just makes sense." In this episode you’ll hear: (00:43) Why Mr. Tortilla wanted to take care of their employees (03:26) How it’s good for business to prioritize a healthy workplace (04:58) The bare minimum an employer could do for its employee (06:40) The importance of flexibility and how to implement it into your company  (12:18) How to start a conversation with your employee about their needs

Dealing with audits doesn’t have to be scary as long as you’re prepared for it. Just ask Erick O. Bell, an accounting professor at the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley, who used to work at KPMG LLP in the Audit Risk Advisory Services. Erick simplifies everything you need to know about audits – even the IRS audit – so it doesn’t feel as daunting. “Most audits that are happening. They're not audits that are at odds with each other,” Erick says. “A typical audit generally is just, you've made an assertion. Can we verify that that assertion is accurate?” Learn about typical audits, how to navigate them, and when you might need them. In this episode you’ll hear: (01:00) When should you get an audit (03:45) About IRS audits (07:36) How to navigate a typical audit

Getting a Patent can be a complicated and expensive process, but it can protect your idea as you work on bringing it to market. Just ask Becca Davison, the CEO of UnbuckleMe, who got a patent early on in her small business journey. Becca explains how she came up with UnbuckleMe, why she decided to patent her idea early on, and what that process looked like for someone who was new to entrepreneurship. You’ll also hear from Colleen Chien, a professor at Berkeley Law School and the founder of the Paper Prisons and Diversity Pilots Initiatives. Colleen digs deeper into how a patent can protect your idea and breaks down everything you need to know before and during your patent application.  Learn whether you should even get a patent, how you can protect your idea from copycats, and what the patenting process looks like. In this episode you’ll hear: (00:38) What is a patent? (02:29) How Becca came up with UnbuckleMe (05:28) The different types of Patents (06:45) The process of filing a patent (11:46) Why copycats can still show up even after you get a patent (13:28) How to protect your idea from copycats (14:41) The difference between copycats and competitors

Accidents happen, we make missteps, sometimes our brands are tarnished. So how do we prepare for the inevitable and mitigate impact? Indya ‘Icy’ Wright, the Founder and CEO of Artiste House, a PR firm that prioritizes diversity, inclusivity, and representation, has some answers. According to Wright, “all we can do is try to minimize the results of what happened, rectify it, and if things go well, move forward.” In this episode you’ll hear: (02:35) How do you figure out what your story is? (05:22) How do you determine which issues to take a stance on publicly? (07:52) You never know when a crisis will strike, how do you prepare? (08:27) After a crisis, how do you deal with the potential loss of business?

If there's one thing we’ve learned over the many episodes of this show, it’s that owning and operating your own business is hard. You have to overcome challenges you didn’t even know existed. Thinking of becoming an entrepreneur or you’re wondering if you should stick it out? We have Dr. Laura Morgan Roberts, scholar, speaker and consultant, who studies the science of maximizing human potential, to guide us through. “I do think for every market need, for every human desire, there is an entrepreneur who is inspired and equipped to meet that need and to help for people to connect with that desire” And Pamela Wirth, of Hello Health, will share what she’s learned on her path to entrepreneurship. Learn from an expert and those who have been there! In this episode you’ll hear: (03:49) Why connecting with others is one of the most important traits of an entrepreneur (05:23) What qualities you need to be an entrepreneur  (08:17) If you can't go all in on your business because you need the financial security of a 9 to 5, how else can you start your business journey? (10:24) How do you start a business if you have too much on your plate? (12:56) An entrepreneur is also a leader, so what qualities do you need to be a great leader? (15:38) What are some hurdles that entrepreneurs might have to overcome when they're thinking about starting a business? (18:45) What are some of the qualities you need to help you get through the tough times?

Money is such an integral part of your business. So when the time comes and you need to secure more, where do you start? Who do you turn to? We’ve got Iman Cotton, a loans officer with CDC Small Business Finance to guide us through it. Iman says that a good place to start is by thinking, “something that sounds too good to be true, probably is.” Learn how to best prepare you and your business for a loan. In this episode you’ll hear: (01:39) How do you find a good lender? (03:29) What documents do you need to apply to a small business loan? (04:31) Mistakes small business owners make when they want to apply for a loan. (07:34) Now that you have the loan, what happens if you’re struggling to pay it back?

Being a woman in business can come with its challenges but with the right tools – it can become a journey of empowerment and growth. Just ask Katy Luxem, the CEO and founder of Big Dill Pickleball, who stands out in the sporting goods industry with her products. She’ll share the story behind why she started Big Dill Pickleball, some insights on how to succeed in ecommerce, and how she dealt with being a female founder in a male-dominated industry. You’ll also hear from Deepa Purushothaman, the Founder of re.write, Executive Fellow at Harvard Business School and the author of The First, The Few, The Only. Deepa has spent most of her time helping women in the corporate world, so she accumulated a ton of advice that she’ll be sharing with us – like the importance of community. Unlearn some ideas about what it means to be a woman in business and learn the benefits that can come from being a female founder. In this episode you’ll hear: (01:31) How Katy started Big Dill Pickleball (03:20) How using branding and differentiation is essential if you want to succeed in ecommerce. (05:20) The importance of building community and having a supportive network as a female founder. (07:42) What you need to unlearn about what it means to be a woman in business. (10:48) How to navigate issues that are out of your control. (12:33) The benefits of being a woman in business

Having a solid network can help you meet the right people that will help you grow your business. Just ask Robbie Samuels, a networking expert who got his first few clients by tapping into his network. Robbie shares all his networking secrets so you can know how to get the most out of any networking event and break away from the transactional feeling that comes with it. “I believe that our network is an untapped resource,” he says. “And if we're trying to find people for our programs and to pilot new things – 80 percent of the people that we need to sell to or connect with, we already know. It's a matter of reaching out to that network.” Learn what a successful networking event looks like and what you should be doing before and after to ensure that you’re taking advantage of everything that networking has to offer.  In this episode you’ll hear: (02:00) Why networking can be uncomfortable and how to overcome that by reframing your mindset. (04:28) Bagel vs Croissant: How body language can make networking easier. (06:41) How to prepare for a networking event. (07:55) How committing can help you stand out. (08:52) How to use your network to grow your business.

Social media can help you connect with your audience authentically and foster meaningful growth. Just ask Sahra Nguyen, the founder and CEO of Nguyen Coffee Supply, who uses storytelling to keep her audience engaged. Sahra explains how she figured out what content her audience wants and what performs best on each platform. You’ll also hear from Kat Norton, the CEO of Miss Excel, who went viral on social media and used her online presence to successfully start her business. Kat digs deeper into how to keep up with trends and how to plan your content efficiently.  Learn how Kat and Sahra used social media to their advantage and discover actionable strategies – like how to follow trends and create content – to elevate your online presence and reach your audience. In this episode you’ll hear: (02:16) How Kat used social media to start Miss Excel (07:06) How Sahra connects with her audience through social media by sharing her story and being authentic (09:24) Sahra talks about the challenges to centering the founder’s story in your brand’s social media (10:19) How Sahra uses data to figure out what type of content works for each platform (12:41) How experimenting with your social media content can make you go viral and how to take advantage of that virality – even if the content doesn’t align with your brand (15:50) How to keep up with trends (18:33) How to create social media content efficiently

Building a brand around your culture and history can help you stand out and create a loyal customer base. Just ask Teri Johnson, the CEO of Harlem Candle Co, whose scented candles are inspired by influential figures in the Harlem Renaissance. Teri opens up about how, in sharing stories from this moment in Black history, she was able to build a brand that people wanted to talk about, share and celebrate. "Storytelling is everything about the candle," she says. "People connect to it and they can feel it." Learn how Teri started her business, the stories behind some of her favorite scents, and how she integrates Black history into her branding. In this episode you'll hear: (01:18) Where Teri's story begins (04:23) How to find support (and cross promotion) in community (05:15) Andrea mentions one of our previous episodes, in which former NFL player Justin Forsett talks about finding your "huddle". You can listen to the full episode here: https://www.smallbusiness.amazon/podcast-episodes/ep-13-justin-tackles-the-top-3-steps-to-start-a-business (07:40) How to work storytelling into product packaging (08:30) How brand storytelling wins Teri media coverage and high-profile customers (09:55) How transparency builds customer loyalty

Ever wondered how to keep a seasonal business profitable year-round? Charlie Weiss, owner of Jummy, an organic hot cocoa company has it figured out. Find out how you can leverage slow periods for business growth and why customer loyalty is essential to your success during the high and low seasons. And because this is our last episode this season, you’ll also get to hear from experts from previous episodes who’ll be expanding on some of the tips Charlie points out, like making sure you stay up to date with your customer journey and figuring out your cash flow. — (6:23) Charlie reveals the seasonal customer journey of his business (15:33) The importance of forecasting when figuring out cash flow in a seasonal business (17:10) How to prepare for and take advantage of the slower season  — Click HERE to leave us a message! By submitting your voicemail, you’re granting us permission to use the recording in episodes of This is Small Business. Please note, voicemails will not receive direct responses. For help with other questions to Amazon unrelated to this show, you can reach out to Amazon’s customer service team at amazon.com/contact-us.

Can your business meet eco-friendly regulations while thriving in a competitive market? Greg and Will Owens, the Co-Founders of Liberty Tabletop (who claim to be one of the most environmentally friendly flatware manufacturers on earth) will show you how. From using reusable materials to reducing carbon footprint, learn what it takes to grow your business as you implement environmentally responsible practices. — (02:42) Greg and Will discuss their flatware company's eco-friendly features and reduced carbon footprint with a 'factory-to-table' approach. (07:27) Greg explains the reasons behind their product's higher cost and why customers value it. (09:42) Will delves into their aim to acquire climate-friendly badges and their impact on consumer choices. — Click HERE to leave us a message! By submitting your voicemail, you’re granting us permission to use the recording in episodes of This is Small Business. Please note, voicemails will not receive direct responses. For help with other questions to Amazon unrelated to this show, you can reach out to Amazon’s customer service team at amazon.com/contact-us.

Are you wondering if you could use AI or technology to ease your workload? The answer is yes and we’ll show you how. Kevin Meyer, Co-Founder & CEO of Crunch Tech Inc., explains how he uses automation and AI to run his business more efficiently. And Michelle Weise, the CEO of Rise & Design, digs deeper into how you can future-proof your business and the importance of communication in an increasingly tech-oriented community. — (5:42) Can everything be automated? Kevin discusses the limitations of AI, particularly in terms of generating specific content and designing products. (14:47) Michelle emphasizes the importance of internal communications in the workplace, particularly the need to articulate the "why" and the vision behind organizational changes and technological advancements. (19:44) Andrea goes over the benefits of automation for small teams and how leveraging technology and project management tools can streamline operations. — Click HERE to leave us a message! By submitting your voicemail, you’re granting us permission to use the recording in episodes of This is Small Business. Please note, voicemails will not receive direct responses. For help with other questions to Amazon unrelated to this show, you can reach out to Amazon’s customer service team at amazon.com/contact-us.

Entering a new market can be challenging, especially if it’s an international one. But Max Gurevich, President of Warm Home Designs, has learned all the do’s and don’ts after successfully entering the Canadian and Mexican markets via Amazon. From making sure you switch up your marketing strategy to better suit the new market and trusting your customer feedback, to taking on the fear of a new language, Max has a wealth of helpful tips to share. This episode is brought to you by Amazon Ads. Amazon Ads helps you reach customers wherever they spend their time and is here for every type of small business. Amazon Ads has a range of products and information to help you achieve your advertising goals, for registered sellers, vendors, book vendors, Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) authors, app developers, and/or agencies. — (03:25) How to tailor your products to non-US markets. (05:34) How to use research to gain a competitive advantage. (10:16) Andrea goes over the key takeaways for expanding to new markets which include thorough research, adapting marketing based on customer feedback, and starting with small-scale experiments for return on ad spend evaluation. — Click HERE to leave us a message! By submitting your voicemail, you’re granting us permission to use the recording in episodes of This is Small Business. Please note, voicemails will not receive direct responses. For help with other questions to Amazon unrelated to this show, you can reach out to Amazon’s customer service team at amazon.com/contact-us.

Are you sure you’re reaching the right customer? If you're not sure, you might not be leveraging customer research. Roshni Wijayasinha, Founder & CEO of Prosh Marketing, explains how to use customer research as a marketing strategy and the importance of timing when targeting the right customer. — (02:19) Roshni talks about the three ways you can reach your customer: brand awareness, conducting customer research, and utilizing digital tools. (03:50) Why timing is crucial in finding the right customer (06:00) Why you should continuously adapt your strategies and the importance of direct communication with customers. — Click HERE to leave us a message! By submitting your voicemail, you’re granting us permission to use the recording in episodes of This is Small Business. Please note, voicemails will not receive direct responses. For help with other questions to Amazon unrelated to this show, you can reach out to Amazon’s customer service team at amazon.com/contact-us.

Have you been struggling with securing funding? The issue might be your cash flow. Ambro Blackwell, a best-selling author and VP and senior business banking relationship manager at JP Morgan Chase, explains what cash flow is and how to strategically plan it in a way that sets you up for success. — (04:14) How to use your cash flow to figure out and mitigate what problems you might run into. (08:18) Andrea goes over why cash flow is vital for securing funding, the key sections that are typically included in a cash flow statement, and what they represent. — Click HERE to leave us a message! By submitting your voicemail, you’re granting us permission to use the recording in episodes of This is Small Business. Please note, voicemails will not receive direct responses. For help with other questions to Amazon unrelated to this show, you can reach out to Amazon’s customer service team at amazon.com/contact-us.

Are you looking forward to exiting your company? Take a glimpse into what happens during and after exiting a business. Jewel Burks Solomon, managing partner at Collab Capital and the ex-CEO and founder of PartPic, tells us how PartPic got acquired by Amazon and what she would’ve done differently. And Danyel Surrency Jones, the head of Amazon's Black Business Accelerator program and co-founder and ex-CEO of POWERHANDZ, explains why she made the move to Amazon and offers some helpful entrepreneurial tips to keep you going. — Click HERE to leave us a message! By submitting your voicemail, you’re granting us permission to use the recording in episodes of This is Small Business. Please note, voicemails will not receive direct responses. For help with other questions to Amazon unrelated to this show, you can reach out to Amazon’s customer service team at amazon.com/contact-us.

How do you keep customers coming back for more? By being attentive to their needs and priorities. Learn customer-centred ideas to integrate into your business from the best. Mitzi Rivas, CEO and Founder of Livie & Luca, is all about customer service and she’s got the customer retention rate to prove it. And John DiJulius, the founder, Chief Revolution Officer, and President of the DiJulius group, gives us some great tips on how to provide great customer service no matter where you are in your small business journey. — (04:13) How Mitzi personalizes her customer’s experience (09:46) How you can enhance the customer experience using delivery (15:04) What do entrepreneurs get wrong about customer service? (18:04) How do you maintain good customer service as you scale? (19:24) How can a smaller business compete with a larger business when it comes to customer service? — Click HERE to leave us a message! By submitting your voicemail, you’re granting us permission to use the recording in episodes of This is Small Business. Please note, voicemails will not receive direct responses. For help with other questions to Amazon unrelated to this show, you can reach out to Amazon’s customer service team at amazon.com/contact-us.

Should I work with a manufacturer or do the manufacturing myself? That’s a question every small business owner starts thinking about as they grow. Sean Brownlee, the CEO of Ravenox, has made the choice to acquire a manufacturer for his business and is gonna let us know all the benefits that come with it. — (03:42) The benefits of becoming a manufacturer (04:56) How to manage inventory — Click HERE to leave us a message! By submitting your voicemail, you’re granting us permission to use the recording in episodes of This is Small Business. Please note, voicemails will not receive direct responses. For help with other questions to Amazon unrelated to this show, you can reach out to Amazon’s customer service team at amazon.com/contact-us.