When starting a Small Business, there’s a few different ways to go. You can start from scratch on your own, work with a partner to create something new, buy an existing business or purchase a franchise.

We’ve talked about the first 3 many times on the show, but not much about buying a franchise, or franchising your own business. Today we’re going to get educated in the franchise business model by Nick D’Agnillo of Nexus Property Management.

Join your hosts Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean to learn how Nick gained experience as a Real Estate investor to start Nexus Property Management, with a plan to create a business he could franchise. You’ll learn how to get startup information from your future competitors, why up-front and transparent pricing can be a competitive advantage and just how many hurdles are in front of you if you are considering franchising your Small Business.

You’ll also learn the steps required to turn your business into a franchise – from hiring a consultant to analyze your business, to the detailed Franchise Disclosure Document. Nick also shares what costs you will incur and how much money you need to set aside to complete the franchising process.

Listen in for all this and much more, then visit us at the Small Business Support Group to join the discussion and share your own franchising experiences.

Chapters/Timestamps:

• 00:00:00 Small Business Show #207 for Wednesday, January 23, 2019
• 00:01:19 Today’s Guest: Nick D’Agnillo from Nexus Property Management on Franchising
• 00:04:07 Get the secrets from your future competitors… Just Ask!
• 00:05:45 Franchising Plan from Day One
  • The E-Myth
• 00:07:36 The Dreaded FDD
• 00:09:58 The price of starting a Franchising business
• 00:11:30 Is your business franchisable to begin with?
• 00:13:13 What makes a successful franchisee?
• 00:15:29 SPONSOR: Abby Connect. Get $95 off your first bill at AbbyConnect.com/sbs or calling 833-ABBY-WOW
• 00:17:29 SPONSOR: ExpressVPN – Take back your Internet privacy TODAY and find out how you can get 3 months free, go to ExpressVPN.com/SBS.
• 00:20:00 Price Transparency
• 00:21:51 What are Rent4U and Nvest?
• 00:26:37 Nexus’s Property Investment Calculator
• 00:30:00 Mistake: Hiring for Skills not Attitude
• 00:33:03 “No, that would be doing a disservice to all of my clients.”
• 00:34:32 SBS 207 Outtro
  • NexusPropertyManagement.com
  • 888-Nexus-5-5
  • Nick@NexusPropertyManagement.com

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We’re fortunate to discover so many diverse skill sets with all of the Small Business owners we get to meet on the Small Business Show. This week we are joined by Nick Zadrozny, founder and CEO of One More Cloud. We’re excited to have Nick as a guest today so he can educate us about One More Cloud, their products and services and about his Small Business story.

Join us today to hear how Nick and his team created One More Cloud in 2009 to be one of the first companies to offer an Infrastructure as a Service. Nick discusses his years of programming and website programming experience and how a sticky note on his desk, labeled “Build Passive Revenue!” was the impetus to start One More Cloud.

Listen in and hear about Nick’s 10-year journey, moving from Engineer to Manager and then to the leadership position of CEO and how he has adjusted to the various roles and requirements of a fast growing business.

Nick talks about the power of having a group of like-minded peers, such as a CEO Coaching Group to share the details of your business with that can offer advice and criticism of all different aspects of your business, as well as your own actions as CEO.

There’s much more to hear on this episode that you don’t want to miss! After the show, join us at the Small Business Support Group to ask questions, comment and share your own story.

Chapters/Timestamps:

• 00:00:00 Small Business Show #206 for Wednesday, January 16, 2019
• 00:01:04 Featured Guest: Nick Zadrozny, One More Cloud00:05:30 Infrastructure as a Service
• 00:06:28 “Build Passive Revenue”
• 00:09:13 Learn what to say “Yes” to
• 00:09:55 SPONSOR: Abby Connect. Get $95 off your first bill at AbbyConnect.com/sbs or calling 833-ABBY-WOW
• 00:12:57 SPONSOR: TextExpander. If you’re on a team, TextExpander will change your life, leaving more time for what you do best. Visit TextExpander.com/podcast to learn more.
• 00:15:06 There’s a marketplace for everything
• 00:18:03 Finding the right customers
• 00:17:13 Role Shift from Technician to Manager
  • Coaching Group with Other CEOs
• 00:21:51 Managing the Entrepreneurial Mindset
• 00:27:35 Showing value to customers
• 00:30:30 Challenges running a Search Engine
• 00:34:23 “You need to pursue your success elsewhere”
• 00:38:34 Find your own “Mental Floss” Opportunities
• 00:41:07 SBS 206 Outtro
  • One More Cloud at omc.io
  • Nick Zadrozny at twitter.com/nz_

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Are you a confident Small Business owner? Has showing that confidence helped build your business? Join your hosts Shannon Jean and Dave Hamilton today on episode 205 of the Small Business Show to hear learn how your own confidence can inspire confidence in your employees and your customers – leading to more sales and success!

You’ll hear why “Praising yourself (and your Small Business) daringly” is a proven marketing technique that you should become comfortable using. When you communicate your expertise and display confidence, most people will believe you and they will tend to confirm that impression in their minds.

We discuss a number of methods to use to create the confidence in yourself and your Small Business to attract success including the controversial use of “directional truths”, promoting past successes and how you overcame adversity even if it was caused by your own mistakes and how talking about big goals can convince potential customers that you’re already there.

Listen in for all this and much more, then join us at the Small Business Support Group to join the conversation, ask questions and share your own confidence story.

• 00:00:00 Small Business Show #205 for Wednesday, January 9, 2019
• 00:01:18 The benefits of attending CES
• 00:04:31 Trade shows are valuable!
• 00:05:10 The Confidence Episode
• 00:05:48 Confidence vs. Competence
  • Sammy Hagar says it best!
• 00:06:30 Step one: Say you’re the best; Step two: become the best!
• 00:09:39 People are impressed more by confidence
• 00:11:13 SPONSOR: ExpressVPN – ExpressVPN.com/SBS gets you 3 months free with your 1-year subscription
• 00:14:38 Promote previous successes
• 00:15:57 Tell “directional” truths
  • “Thousands of customers…”
  • “Multi-million dollar business…”
  • “Dozens of employees…”
• 00:18:58 Promote brand name customers and big deals
• 00:22:13 Talk about how you’ve overcome mistakes
• 00:23:29 Talk about your goals
• 00:24:38 Know your cash numbers, even if they suck!
• 00:30:11 SBS 205 Outtro

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This week, while Dave and Shannon enjoying spending time with their family and friends for the Christmas holiday, we revisit one of our favorite episodes with Paul Downs, author of Boss Life and Small Business contributor to the New York Times and Forbes.

This was a very special episode. If you missed it, you’re going to learn a tremendous amount. If you’ve heard it before like we have, listening to it again as we did during our editing is definitely worth your time.

How prepared are you for the challenges of running your small business? What energizes you to make it through tough times and just how transparent are you (and should you be) to your employees and everyone else that you discuss your business with?  If you felt like your business was about to shut down, could you imagine reaching out to the New York Times with an offer to share the experience with thousands of people? Paul Downs thought it would make for a good story and he wrote for the NYTimes.com for 4-years before writing a “year in the life of my business” book: Boss Life.

You’ve never read a business book like Boss Life. The book quickly joined our list of “must reads” for all current and potential business owners. The work is the most honest and transparent business book that we have ever read and we encourage all of you to read it.

Today, Paul Downs joins Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean on the Small Business Show where they dig deeper into Paul’s story, into Boss Life and into the work ethic that has kept Paul in business for over 30-years.

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There are two types of people in the world: those that are listening to The Small Business Show and those that aren’t.

We want to hear from both types.

Take a few seconds (literally) to tell us what you want to hear about on the show, what you like best about the Small Business Show and a couple more questions that could change the world.

The Award Winning Small Business Show is the only Small Business Podcast that is By, For and About Small Business Owners.

With over 40-years of Small Business experience between them, Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean discuss topics related to starting, growing and managing your Small Business.

You’ll find real-world advice from ourselves as well as from guests that have started, run and sold Small Businesses both big and small. With over 200 episodes, there is a wealth of content, advice and interviews that we hope will inspire, educate and perhaps motivate you to start your own Small Business.

After the show, join us at the Small Business Support Group to join the conversation!

So I’m learning. Getting pulled out of my comfort zone while recording the DBA Podcast each week with Dave – Episode 9 covers a topic I’m very passionate about: marketing with no money. Since I’ve had to do just that for so many companies I’ve started over the years, it’s near and dear to my heart and that’s why episode 9 might be a little like taking a drink of water out of a fire hose.

I mentioned to Dave that I still have that little voice in the back of my head telling me that “you’re recording a show, you’re recording a show – don’t screw it up!” This sometimes keeps me from letting the conversation flow at a more normal pace.

So, I’ll ask for a pass just this one time (well maybe not just this once), as you listen to episode 9, just realize it would be much better over a cold bear, sitting outside on the deck, waiting for the burgers to cook as we shared stories about our businesses.

And out on that deck, we really want to hear your stories, as well as any topics you would like us to discuss in future episodes. We’re excited about where DBA is going and having your feedback is an important part of the journey.

Thanks!
Shannon