The BS-Free Service Business Show Maggie Patterson

If you’re anything like me, you love it when people let you peek behind the curtains of their business so you can see what's really going on. 
In today’s episode, I'm taking you behind the scenes of my businesses and sharing my halfway highlights now that we’re halfway through 2024. 
Topics discussed in this episode include:
What’s been going on economically in 2024? 
How my agency, Scoop Studios, has been on the slow and steady track so far this year. 
Lessons we’ve learned this year for the agency including one that surprised me. 
Why I’ve been focused on marketing for BS-Free Business.
Highlights of what BS-Free Business has been up to so far this year, including adding a new community, growing our email list and more. 
Some exciting changes are coming up for the podcast.
For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com.

To stay in the loop by email, sign up for updates at https://bsfreebusiness.com/newsletter/

What if I told you that the key to a sustainable business (that you don’t want to burn to the ground once a week) ISN’T doing more?
It's about doing LESS — but doing it better.
In this episode, I’m flipping the script on your default “hustle hard” programming and sharing what really matters when growing a service business as a solopreneur. 
Topics discussed in this episode include:
How hustle culture makes us think we must be doing more constantly. 
What is additive cognitive bias, and how does it impact the choices we make in our business? (You’re doing to love this!) 
Why is adding more complexity rarely the right solution?
How does the sunk cost fallacy drive us to make poor decisions? 
Why traditional growth models fail solopreneurs.
The Staying Solo Framework - six areas of focus for your business decisions. 
The Staying Solo Squad and why you may want to join us!
For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com.
To stay in the loop by email, sign up for updates at https://bsfreebusiness.com/newsletter/

This time of year gives us a natural time to pause and take stock of what’s happening in our businesses. Think of it this way: it’s about curiosity, not comparison, and finding joy, not judgment.
In this episode, I’m sharing a simple way to reset and recharge your business for the rest of 2024.
Topics discussed in this episode include:
Why pausing to reflect back on previous months is important.
Key questions to ask yourself about your goals and what you’ve learned. 
What business metrics to review. 
Setting goals for the coming months and what to watch for.
For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com.

To stay in the loop by email, sign up for updates at https://bsfreebusiness.com/newsletter/

The sun is shining, summer is right around the corner and for many of us, we’re ready to get outside and play. 
The problem? 
Hustle culture tells us that we need to work work work. Otherwise, our business will crumble. And even if we DO take some time off, we should still be available to our clients.

But those are just a few of the many lies we’ve been fed, and I can tell you from experience that taking time off IS possible—without your business falling apart in your absence. 
You just need your very own Summer Action Plan to make it happen. 
In this episode, I’m sharing my best tips and tricks for working less and playing more so you can make the most of this season. 
Topics discussed in this episode include:
How our relationship to time off is usually wrapped up with hustle culture and toxic productivity.
Terrible advice we see surrounding taking time off.
How to create your own summer action plan, including six questions you must ask when crafting your plan.
Why boundaries are key to making your Summer Action Plan a reality.
Five reminders on setting (and keeping!) your boundaries with clients. 
For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com.

To stay in the loop by email, sign up for updates at https://bsfreebusiness.com/newsletter/

Have you ever started your Monday morning with a strong sense of existential dread and wondered how you could get all of your client work done… let alone any work ON your business?

Next thing you know, the week has flown by, and it feels like the to-do list is just as long—if not even longer—than when you started.  
The overwhelm is real and it’s time for something to change, starting with getting a handle on what you can actually do in a week.  
In this episode, we’re talking about managing your capacity in a realistic way that doesn’t mean firing all your clients or starting an entirely new business. (And yes, I know that bookstore/coffee shop idea is appealing!) 
Topics discussed in this episode include:
Why working with clients can be so challenging. 
What is capacity planning why you need to stop ignoring it, even if it feels tricky to manage.
An easy, no BS way to figure out your capacity.
Why you should track your time even if you don’t want to and hate doing it. 
Questions for every service business owner to answer about their capacity.
For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com.

To stay in the loop by email, sign up for updates at https://bsfreebusiness.com/newsletter/

2023 was a wild ride for the economy, with countless twists and turns that left many business owners unsure how to price their services.
The good news? We’re still here, running our businesses and making it work. 
The tricky part is staying flexible enough to weather whatever the economy throws our way next. 
As we continue our series on the number you need to know in your business, this episode is all about pricing and the key numbers you need to work with to ensure your pricing makes sense…without falling for the BS advice of “just raise your prices” or “charge your worth”. 
Topics discussed in this episode include:
The current economic climate and what you may be experiencing as a service business. 
Why we can’t price based on vibes or magical thinking despite what the coaches on IG may tell you. 
How inaccurate pricing can mess up your business. 
What do you do if clients say they can’t afford your services?
Getting real about your current pricing structure.
Practical steps for pricing your services now and in the future, regardless of the economy.
For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com.

To stay in the loop by email, sign up for updates at https://bsfreebusiness.com/newsletter/