This is a re-release of an episode we recorded three years ago, but it is foundational to my work. It takes a look at the problems and the tactics and online business and while it's been a few years, unfortunately, it's still all very valid. So, I thought it was worth pulling out of the archives.

___

Have you ever looked around at some of the other businesses in the online business industry and thought “that seems shady as hell”? Or, have you ever wondered how some of the people in this industry manage to fly under the radar while operating with an “anything goes” attitude?

That’s why I decided it was time to go deep into the underbelly of the online business world and start unpacking WHY this industry is so seriously messed up. 

More importantly, I wanted to see what can be done to start moving the needle back towards creating an ethical and honest approach to doing business online.

In this podcast and post, I’m putting a spotlight on the dark side of the online business industry, and sharing why now is the time for the status quo to change dramatically. 

Learn more at: https://bsfreebusiness.com/the-dark-side-of-online-business/

Systems can be powerful for a solo business owner, but unfortunately, they can also totally derail you. 

In the final installment of the Staying Solo series, we’re looking at systems and their crucial role in helping you stay solo by ditching the busy work. 

Learn more at: bsfreebusiness.com/ditching-busywork-with-systems

One of the biggest frustrations faced by service business owners who want to stay solo is that they feel like they’re eventually going to hit an income ceiling.

If you’re not familiar with the concept of an income ceiling, it’s essentially when you can’t make any more money because you’ve hit the maximum pricing you can charge and the number of clients you can serve. 

So the real question we need to explore is if there’s really an income ceiling for service business owners.

The truth? The answer is complicated, and that’s what we’re going to dive into in this essay and episode, along with some specific and proven ways to break the income ceiling.

Learn more at bsfreebusiness.com/income-ceiling

Solo doesn’t mean alone. You don’t need to go it alone with your service business. In fact, you shouldn’t. But what kind of support do you need, and when?

In this episode, we’re diving into just what kinds of support you need as a solo business owner…and it’s about way more than simply hiring a random coach or taking yet another course. 

Find out more at bsfreebusiness.com/solo-support

Most of us start our businesses for more flexibility and freedom, but somewhere along the way find that we’re trapped in a cycle of hustling. To stay solo, you need a realistic planning process that works for you and keeps you from chasing things that simply don’t matter to you.

In this episode of the Staying Solo series, we’re talking about planning with a focus on how to do it in a way that actually works not just for your business but your brain and your life. 

Find out more at bsfreebusiness.com/rethinking-planning

Service business owners often think that the “service” part of the business model means they have to run themselves ragged serving their clients. Or that they need to work around the clock to reach their goals. Nothing could be further from the truth. 

In this episode, we’re digging into the need for “space” as a solopreneur, what that really means, and why it matters more than most of us realize. 

Find out more at bsfreebusiness.com/staying-solo-by-creating-space.

Too many solo business owners are underpaid (or not paid at all) as they fall into the trap of overinvesting in the business or pricing their services too low. And I’m not here for it.

In this episode, we’re looking at the nuts and bolts of paying yourself a salary as a solo business owner as part of our Staying Solo series. 

Find out more at: bsfreebusiness.com/getting-paid

Have you ever been told you’re playing small? Or that for you to have a legit business, you need a team? Or that you must have a mindset issue if you’re not wanting to constantly grow?

I definitely have, and in this episode, we’re having a heart-to-heart about the idea that “staying solo” means you’re playing small because nothing could be further from the truth. 

Find out more at: bsfreebusiness.com/staying-solo

It’s the most wonderful time of the year…summer! It’s time for fun in the sun, beach reads, being by the water, and living it up.  And now’s the time to prepare for the summer slowdown so you can make the most of it.

In this episode, I’m sharing practical ideas for ensuring you have a summer slowdown, including getting your priorities in order, taking time off, downgrading your marketing, and more.

Find out more at: bsfreebusiness.com/summer-slow-down

In this episode, we’re exploring the world of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and its use in the online business and coaching world, with a focus on what you, as a consumer, need to be aware of. 

I’m joined by Kathleen Oh, a coach trained as a Master Practitioner in NLP, to get her perspective on its problems and the potential for harm. 

Learn more at bsfreebusiness.com/neuro-linguistic-programming

Does selling your services stress you out? Do you wish you could skip it entirely and focus on doing what you do best? You’re not alone in that I know many of you hate making sales because it sucks up so much time and energy. 

In this episode, we will ditch the stress and get your time back by diving into simple sales for every service business. 

Find out more at: bsfreebusiness.com/simple-sales

We’ve all been there. We’re overwhelmed and ready to burn it all down if one more client asks you one more question. It’s chaos, and you’re out of capacity for any of it. 

In this episode, we examine how sustainable client service systems can help you tame the client service chaos. 

Find out more at: bsfreebusiness.com/client-service-chaos

What if there was a way to do less of the things that drag you down and more of what you enjoy doing in your business? What if what you’ve been taught about systems is way too complicated for what you actually need? 

In this episode, we’re talking about creating sustainable systems for your service business, including why it can be so much simpler than you may think. 

Learn more at: bsfreebusiness.com/sustainable-systems

We’re all familiar with the idea of being burnt out, especially over the last few years. Many of us have experienced burnout firsthand. But why is burnout so pervasive in online business? And should we trust the people peddling burnout solutions who used to sell us hustle culture?

In this episode, I explore the realities of burnout and your business with my guest Brittany Berger.

Find out more at bsfreebusiness.com

Back in late 2021, I made a decision that changed my business. I decided that starting in January 2022, our office would be closed on Fridays. This decision was made in addition to our two annual office closures in July and September, closing our office for 57 work days.

In this episode, I’m sharing how exactly I did it and what you need to consider before you take the plunge.

Find out more at: bsfreebusiness.com/closed-for-57-days

Social media is constantly changing, and what you may have been doing a year ago may not work today. This is resulting in alot of people taking a hard look at LinkedIn as a way to market and build a community for their business. 

In this episode, we’re diving into what you, as a service business owner, need to know about LinkedIn for 2023. 

Find out more at: smallbusinessboss.co/LinkedIn-for-2023

In early 2021, I released the first edition of the Online Business Investment Survey to understand why people made the investments they did and what their experiences were really like. In a market with very little open discussion of people’s experiences, this survey helped shed light on how people were manipulated and what they wanted from their investments.

Fast forward to 2023, and I’m still here banging my drum about the BS in the online business world, so I decided to do the survey again to explore how things have evolved over the past two years.

What I share in this podcast episode is a tiny snapshot of a much bigger industry problem where there’s a massive disconnect between what’s being sold and what’s being delivered.

Learn more at bsfreebusiness.com/2023-online-business-investment-survey

*This week, we're sharing a new episode of Duped season 4 for your listening pleasure.*

Online business is steeped in manifestation talk, especially regarding money. But should you believe what your coach tells you about how investing in their high ticket mastermind is a way to accomplish your goals by betting on yourself? Are you missing some secret way of making money and making your dreams come true? 

In this episode, we’re digging into manifestation, including the gaslighting and grifting that’s everywhere.

Want more? Join us on Patreon for bonus and behind-the-scenes content. Find us at patreon.com/duped

Learn more on our website at duped.online

If there’s one tried and true way of delivering services to clients, it’s the retainer model. While it’s often overlooked for project engagements or VIP days, a retainer with the proper structure can be incredibly powerful. 

In this episode, we’re exploring everything you need to know about retainer clients. 

Find out more at bsfreebusiness.com/retainer-clients

Everyone is talking about VIP days, but are they right for you and your business? 

In this episode, we’re looking at everything you need to know to answer the question of whether you should offer VIP day services or not. 

Find out more at bsfreebusiness.com/VIP-days

Maybe you’re selling strategy, and you want to sell more of it in 2023. Maybe you’ve been thinking about selling strategy, and now it’s time to start. 

In this episode, we’re digging into everything you need to know to sell more strategy in 2023 with a BS-free look at what you may be missing or need to do next. 

Find out more at bsfreebusiness.com/sell-more-strategy

Confused about the latest trends or advice on selling your services? You’re not alone in that, as there’s so much advice out there, that is confusing and contradictory. 

In this episode, we’re looking at myths about selling your services with a dose of my signature BS-busting. 

A new season of the BS-Free Service Business show starts now.

Find out more at bsfreebusiness.com/sell-your-services

*This week, we're sharing the first episode of Duped season 4 for your listening pleasure.*

We’re back! And a lot has happened since our last season. In this episode, we’re digging into the world of business coaching and how things have gone seriously off the rails.

Welcome to Season 4 of Duped. We’re back, and we couldn’t be more excited about what we have planned, as this season, we’ll be diving into the world of online business scams.

In our first episode, we want to talk about how business coaching has gone seriously off the rails, along with a rundown of what’s happening right now in the online space. 

Learn more at duped.online

2022 is rolling to a close, and as I’ve done the last two years, I wanted to check in on the state of online business — especially as predictions I’ve made in 2020 and 2021 about ethical marketing and the use of trauma-informed language, along with other market conditions have come true.

Here's what you need to know about the state of ethical marketing and online business as we head into 2023.

Get the inside scoop right here: smallbusinessboss.co/ethical-marketing-and-online-business

You’ve probably heard of the term trauma informed, but do you really know what it means? And should you trust coaches who are trauma-informed? 

In this episode, my guests Nicole Lewis-Keeber and Shulamit Ber Levtov join me to explore the rise of trauma-informed coaching. 

Get the inside scoop: smallbusinessboss.co/trauma-informed-coaching