So You Want To Start A Business

In today’s episode we meet Cassie Briggs - Biology Professor turned Career Coach - who tells us that she has listened to every episode of this "So You Want to Start a Business" podcast using the information and inspiration to build her highly successful Success in Science Career Coaching business Cassie started her business in 2020 and her first client paid her double the fee she billed them at the time ! If you are thinking about starting any kind of personal services business - and we know this is most of the listening audience - this is a MUST LISTEN episode We talk about money and pricing and where Cassie's new clients come from - spoiler: Google My Business is a powerful lead generation for her business Cassie speaks openly about her transition from being a Professor to becoming an entrepreneur. She also speaks very honestly about what it takes to juggle a growing business among with raising a one year old and a three year old Cassie has hired a range of coaches to work with her to grow her business as w

Brook McCarthy started her first business in 2007 and now describes herself as "happily unemployable" Her business Hustle and Heart equips and empowers business owners to build highly creative, ethical, and mutually-flourishing businesses that become a model for others to emulate. Brook loves talking to women in business about money and demystifying money and sales. She believes how much you earn is a feminist issue and she's keen to change the stats! In this episode she tells us: "anger is my superpower" and then puts this into context as she gives us examples of how "I get a fire in my belly and that gives me the power to make changes" Brook talks about boundary setting and energy vampires and how helps women charge premium price for their valuable service and much more Brook's website http://hustleandheart.com.au/ Brook's Socials https://instagram.com/brookmccarthy https://www.linkedin.com/in/brookmccarthy/ https://facebook.com/brookmccarthy  You can find me, Ingrid Thompson: website: www.healthynumbers.co

Salle Huber is a movement teacher with more than 15 years experienced. She is trained and fully certified in Stott Pilates as well as The MELT Method, which is a simple and innovative self-care treatment for our connective-tissue system.  In May 2021 Salle started her own business after deciding that she could no longer work for anyone else. She says "No-one believed in what I was doing (with my clients) as much as I did and so I decided that I would create my own studio where I could provide a highly personal service for people with a variety of abilities"  If you've listened to other episodes you know I ask "What would you do differently?" and Salle's immediate response was "I was I'd started much sooner" This is such a common response from business owners - wishing they had started sooner If you are thinking of starting your own business, this podcast is a terrific resource with stories from a variety of business owners - mostly personal service businesses Salle's contact information: Website:  www.theawar

In this episode we meet Cheryl Burgess. Cheryl and her husband Adrian now run a multi business operation. This is a business started in 2012 when they wanted to buy a Pilates reformer for personal use at home. Finding a supplier overseas was easy  EXCEPT! instead of buying 1 reformer - the minimum order was for 10 reformers !! And that’s how it started. They pre sold the other 9 Pilates reformers before they even arrived in Sydney. The first growth step was to include commercial use Pilates equipment – something they wish they had moved into earlier than they did! Haven’t we heard this in previous episodes “We wish we’d jumped in sooner/ earlier… trusted that we were on the right track”   They now run a multi business operation, with a large team of people – including family members and locals - and are deeply steeped in the industry and they truly understand what their customers need – from lived experience This episode is not really about Pilates - although super helpful if you are interested in Pilates or

What happens when a hair stylist says "Enough! of this" ... and decides to become a Feng Shui consultant? That’s exactly what Candice Berlanger did and for a whole lot of reasons – start8ing with more freedom and flexibility to spend more time with her family  Feng Shui is often thought of as the art of placement, where we put things in the house or the office The REAL practice of Feng Shui is one of the oldest in the world and has a fascinating history! Candice gives a little of the Feng Shui history and background as she takes us through her journey from hair stylist to Feng Shui consultant We answer all the regular startup questions in this conversation and Candice dishes out some solid wisdom for anyone thinking about getting started: "It takes longer than you think it will" AND “just start with what you’ve got at the time” I love this! Where you can find Feng Shui with Candice Website: https://www.learnfengshui.com/home Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/learnfengshuinow Instagram: https://www.instagram.

Ziinkle is unlike any other dating app on the market.  Fronted by two fed-up females Melanie Leahy and Elisse Alexander, Ziinkle is an innovative platform that allows users to see where other singles are out and about socially and in real-time. Founders Melanie and Elisse are using Ziinkle to encourage daters to swap from swiping on the couch to locking eyes across the bar! In this conversation they talk about: their pricing model How they raised funding who is on their advisory board where the idea for Ziinkle came from how they came up with the name - and THAT is one of the biggest challenges for all new startups today .... and much more!! Who are Melanie and Elisse? They have combined their years of experience and expertise and especially when it comes to developing and taking apps to market: Melanie Leahy is a brand and marketing specialist with a passion for technology, digital innovation, and behavioural science. She has worked in creative agencies and large corporate businesses for over 13 years. Thr

Crystal Sanford is a Speech-Language Pathologist who supports families, children and young adults with unique needs. Crystal has built her successful consultancy completely from scratch and today she tells us the steps she took and her lessons learned. When you listen to this episode her passion shines through. Crystal’s goal is to move fellow special needs families from overwhelm and frustration to confidence and hope. In her advocacy role, she has successfully helped numerous families to persistently pursue what their children deserve at school. We cover pricing and how to get everything done - especially in the early days when Crystal was juggling a full time job with her new business - who else can relate to this? :-) You can find out more about Crystal at her website: https://www.sdautismhelp.com social media links FB: www.facebook.com/sdautismhelp IG: www.instagram.com/sanfordautism Podcast: Thriving Special Families – proving insight, humour and hope for the special needs family journey You can fin

Dr Artika Tyner is an amazing woman, a human rights lawyer, book publisher and book store owner! Planting People Growing Justice She lives by the credo: When you see a problem, find a solution. She tells us that she realised that "a reader is more likely to find a black dog on the cover of a book than a black person" and set about to find a solution. She started publishing books Her first book stores were pop-ups - at festivals and markets, offering the early books she published. In 2017 Planting People Growing Justice was named as small business champion which was extremely fortuitous as this gave them access to business training and a mentor. She says having this mentor as well as others has been indispensable to their success. And successful they indeed are. She talks honestly about in the beginning she dreamt of "buying a building for her book store" and then didn't have step 2 ... no pricing plan, no overall strategy for financial viability - which is why the mentors were so important. Dr Artika realised

Hello and welcome to Episode 177 Recently I found myself saying to a friend "I feel like I've lost my voice" I hadn't written a newsletter in a while and there was a gap in my podcast episodes and I was mostly off social media .... I told my friend "I don't know what to say" She said: "We procrastinate as a response to fear - we develop the habit of procrastinating to protect ourselves" Wow!! That was a lightbulb moment I hadn't realised that this is procrastination!! What am I frightened of? In this solo and very personal episode I share with you how I dealt with it - and it is NOT about having more willpower We are in business - we have tons of willpower This calls for something much deeper - and totally different In this short (less than 15 minute) episode I walk you through the steps I took Am I completely "cured" ... time will tell 

Like many business owners Angela Ficken reached a point where she was burning the candle at both ends. She took the plunge to start private practice … and thought she would “hang out her shingle” and that’s all she needed to do. It didn’t work out that way and in this episode Angela tells us how she overcame the “hustle of being in business which is a constant grind” She says that she learned very fast that: “Your pay check is as much as you hustle” Angela has built her business Progress Welness into a worldwide brand. She offers online products that take her expertise out into the world for a wide range of clients.  She tells us that creating the brand allowed the creativity side of her personality. In this episode Angela walks us through the process she used to build her brand and the entire suit of online products – so helpful for every business person. Angela Ficken, LICSW is a full-time psychotherapist in private practice. She specializes in OCD, eating disorders, and anxiety-related concerns. She starte

Stacey Hylen is my guest today in this short Stand out episode. Stacey started her first business when she was in third grade and then started an even more successful business when she was 11 years old. She describes herself as a “natural optimiser” and this is a highlight from our full episode which is coming soon. Stacey says: "In business the pricing barrier in business is not usually between ourselves and a client or customer – the pricing barrier is usually between our ears …" and she is talking about mindset She gives us a terrific pricing example from her own business and also a general example of resources vs resourcefulness - and especially when it comes to mindset and profit. In this Standout she mentions her "Raise your Rates Masterclass" and you can register for the next one here: https://www.raiseyourratesmasterclass.com Her website is: https://www.staceyhylen.com   My guess is you are listening to these podcasts because ..... My guess is that you are here because you are a business owner and wha

When it comes to having a sales conversation with prospective clients - have you ever taken it personally when they say "no" or do you try really hard to be "liked" so that they will say "Yes" ?? I know I certainly have and am guessing you maybe have as well... In this episode Sharon Kitroser who is one of Founders at Team Kat  & Mouse shares her wisdom about her unique approach to sales, selling and fund raising. Sharon and her business partner and long time friend Amy Mauser work with clients to support them in their fundraising strategies. They believe that: Tangible fundraising results are created by hiring great people, training them how to do their job, and coaching them continually. Sharon and Amy are nonprofit fundraising consultants committed to all three. This is a fabulous conversation with Sharon and is for anyone who is looking for help with how to have a successful sales conversation with prospective clients.  We hear the business startup story of Team Kat & Mouse and lessons learned. Yo

My guest today is Keli Spanier and more than 12 years ago she started making funny and creative cards – for a whole bunch of reasons In this episode she tells us all about how she has grown Colette Paperie from those first cards into a global company As Keli says: "After spending several years at a corporate job I began Colette Paperie in 2009 to solve two problems: lose the soul-sucking job, and create funny cards." It became her goal to revive snail mail in a way that made it impossible to resist - by creating cards that you simply have to send. Her cards are located in over 500 stores worldwide after a decade of hard work, dedication + grit to making this thing work and she tells us the highs and the lows in this episode. Her cards are in floral shops, boutiques, museum shops, salons, and even restaurants. The best feature of the cards (aside from their irreverent sayings) is the brightly covered envelope sure to stand out in anyone's mailbox. Keli does it all herself: draws, prints, cuts, folds + packages

"Whatever it is you are waiting for - is keeping you in a state of limbo!" That's Michelle Okwudiafor and she adds "Put all the excuses aside because you are capable" Michelle is an advocate for visibility and inclusion and in this conversation she speaks about how she has grown this business while working a full time job - and that point where she knew the business could sustain her. She talks pricing and shares data and stats - she tracks her pitches, the acceptances and the conversions. Research is vital she reminds us Michelle is an inspiring and interesting guest and this is a terrific conversation You can find Michelle: website: www.careerinvest.co.uk Instagram: @career_invest   You can find me, Ingrid Thompson: website: www.healthynumbers.com.au LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ingridthompson Take Your Business Financial Health Check click here My guess is you are listening to these podcasts because ..... My guess is that you are here because you are a business owner and what you really want - is to build and

Stacey Hylen is my guest today and she started her first business when she was in third grade and then an even more successful business when she was 11 years old. Stacey says: "Many people feel they are getting paid well, just not enough to reflect their brilliance at what they do and the kind of results and support they create for their clients. I help people Raise their Rates" In this conversation she talks about how she works with clients to help them Raise their Rates. She describes herself as a “natural optimiser” and all the way through our conversation you can hear how she optimises!! No matter what business you are in – Stacey has a message for you. She started her business when she and her husband moved to Quebec in Canada from the US. in a new country speaking mostly French - 99.8% with a young baby and in a small village Her husband used to joke that "If it doesn't work out you could always go work at the local hot dog stand" and Stacey says "There is NO WAY that was going to happen" So she made

Suzanne is a mindset coach for music-preneurs and creatives and she says it is time to #RedesigntheHustle! Combining her 18+ years in the music industry with a Master's in Psychology she now helps creatives reach their goals. This is more than time management solutions – this is growth mindset meets getting clarity on the next steps. There’s a reason the business is Rock/ Star The solidity with grounding like a rock while reaching for the stars! Suzanne says “Things will always get messy, and that’s OK. Get through the mess!” She says she wishes she had realised earlier that “Anything is monetizable” and she explains how not knowing this held her back in the early days. Suzanne gives us practical ways to bootstrap – the various ways she had to in the first 3-4 years. She talks about the importance of not just understanding the difference between charging by the hour and the value created for her clients. It was when she absolutely believed in the value she creates she was able to “take the steps and not get i

Destini Copp says "You may feel like no-one is watching, no-one is seeing what you are doing. Keep on going, keep moving forward. People are watching. People are seeing what you are doing. You are building your future. Believe in what you are doing and keep going." When Destini started her business, she started big and was looking to scale and grow quickly. Then she cycled around and went to work 1:1 with clients - and she wishes she had done this earlier. So many business owners want to "go big and grow fast" Destini talks to us about how important the 1:1 work is in building the foundations. She talks about pricing and the process she has used to reach the pricing models she has today. Dr Destini Copp is a college marketing professor turned online entrepreneur. This is a rich conversation with a smart business woman with years of experience across a number of different industries. You can find Destini Copp: Website: https://destinicopp.com/ Social media links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/destinicopp/ https

  Brooke Lively says that she came to realise that most business owners are a little intimidated by their numbers, they don’t know what they're saying and they don’t know how to use them. "People start a business from a point of passion" she says "and they don't have the training and so they feel stressed and frustrated. That's why my business is here - to help small companies become more profitable" Brooke Lively is Founder of Cathedral Capital which serves as bookkeeper, accountant, fractional CFO to (mostly) law firms No matter what your business, Brooke has help for you in this episode.  She goes into detail about pricing from a few different perspectives. She talks about her "Rule of thirds" which is their unique way of working with clients. Brooke is super smart and funny and cares enormously about her clients and her team. She has built this highly successful business completely from scratch and "almost by accident" Where can you find Brooke? website: https://www.cathcap.com   social media links: https

Allison Jackson Fitness originally started out as FitMomsofNJ.com in 2010 when she began to realize how many of her mom-friends were either struggling to lose weight, looking for ways to incorporate exercise into their busy lives or trying to figure out how to prioritize their health while caring for their family. Fitness is absolutely her passion. When she was in her teens, she used to read her Dad’s Muscle & Fitness magazines and attempt to lift weights and work out in their unfinished basement with a weight bench and some dumbbells. Her mom took Allison to Jazzercise classes with her. She struggled with her weight, but it was during those early years that she caught the fitness bug.   Re: starting your own business: "Trust in yourself and rip off the band aid. You’ll be surprised just how successful you can be" Some of my personal highlights from this conversation: Allison felt like the business was real when locals started saying to her "I know you, you're Allison Jackson Fitness - I've been watching

Rebekah Campbell is a serial entrepreneur who has played a lead role in the disruption of two industries. She's best known as the Co-Founder of Hey You, Australia's number 1 order ahead platform used by 900 000+ Aussies in cafes and quick service restaurants (QSR) Hey You grew out of the combination of Rebekah's Posse.com and another business called Beat the Q. She tells the story of how the 2 officially became 1 company in 2015. Hey You is evolving the way that people order and pay at cafes and QSR. Posse.com was founded in 2013 and was a social search engine that helped people find and recommend their favourite places and interact with storeowners. Posse at the time was used by 45,000 merchants worldwide and is backed by leaders from Google, Facebook, Twitter and E-Bay. Prior to Posse.com Rebekah founded Scorpio Music, one of Australia's most successful music companies. Scorpio developed the careers of Evermore, George, Lisa Mitchell, Matt Corby and many others. Rebekah also talks about writing her book - a