Beyond the Bottom Line

Miguel Alexander Centeno

Beyond the Bottom Line is a podcast for founders and business owners who want practical insight they can actually use as they grow. Hosted by Miguel Alexander Centeno, founder and CEO of Centurion Firm, the show features in-depth conversations with industry experts, clients, and business owners about how they think through tax, cash flow, operations, and the decisions that come with running a real business. We focus on how things really work when you’re scaling, what challenges tend to come up, and how other founders, experts, and operators have dealt with them. If you’re building or growing a business (often somewhere between $500K and $25M+ in revenue), this show is designed to help you make smarter financial and operational decisions and keep more of what you earn.

Episodes

  1. 1 DAY AGO

    How to Design a Vacation Rental That Actually Makes Money

    Most vacation rental owners buy a property, throw in some furniture, and hope for the best. Then they wonder why the bookings are inconsistent and the nightly rate never reaches what the numbers promised. But what if you could incorporate a design strategy that changed your business for the better? In this episode, Miguel sits down with Erica Dike, principal designer at Erica O Designs, to walk through her Designing for Dollars formula. After leaving a career at NASA, Erica has gone on to design over 78 vacation rentals while bringing a business-analyst mindset to every property. Other insights from this episode include: Why designing for “everyone” is the fastest way to attract no one and how to identify your ideal guest before you buy a single piece of furnitureThe Designing for Dollars formula: a data-driven approach to knowing exactly where to save and where to splurge in your budgetThe design trap that makes your property blend into every other listing in your market, and how “timeless design” helps create properties that “stop the scroll."Why your budget conversation has to happen before you close on the property, not afterCommon design mistakes that quietly kill your occupancy rate - including TV placement, seating capacity, and underestimating the work-from-home travelerThe one small kitchen appliance that can directly influence your bookings (and it’s not what you’d expect)About Our Guest Erica Dike is the principal designer at Erica Ooh Designs, specializing in vacation rental design for investors and busy professionals. With a background in Management Information Systems and experience as a business analyst at NASA, Erica brings a systems-first approach to interior design - one focused on ROI, not just aesthetics.  Visit ericaooh.com to schedule a consultation, request a pricing estimate, or book a design audit. You can also follow Erica on Instagram at @ericaoohdesigns for design tips, guides, and before/after reels. Connect with Miguel on LinkedIn or reach out at media@centurionfirm.com

    57 min
  2. 3 FEB

    AI Search Strategy for Business Owners

    AI Search Strategy for Business Owners Many business owners are watching their website traffic drop without understanding why. Miguel experienced this firsthand when Tax Hack's blog traffic plummeted from 88,000 to 3,000 unique visitors.  The culprit? AI overviews are changing how people find information online. In this episode, Miguel sits down with Ryan Russell, founder and CEO of BizIQ, to get answers. If you're seeing similar drops or wondering how to stay visible as AI changes search, this episode breaks down what's actually happening and what to do about it. Ryan Russell, founder of BizIQ, shares findings from asking AI platforms directly where they source their business recommendations and the answers point to clear actions you can take. Other insights from this episode include: Where AI platforms actually get their business information (spoiler alert: your Google Business Profile matters more than you think)Why AI search and traditional search work together, not against each otherThe ranking factors that determine if you show up in AI recommendationsPractical tactics for optimizing your Google Business Profile, including the underutilized Products & Services sectionContent strategy in the AI era: quality vs. quantity and what's actually workingThe truth about using AI-generated content on your websiteThree actions you can take this week to test and improve your AI visibilityAbout Our Guest Ryan Russell, Founder & CEO of BizIQ, a search optimization expert whose team researches how businesses can adapt to AI-driven discovery. Visit biziq.com/contact for a free audit or consultation Connect with Miguel on LinkedIn or media@centurionfirm.com

    55 min

About

Beyond the Bottom Line is a podcast for founders and business owners who want practical insight they can actually use as they grow. Hosted by Miguel Alexander Centeno, founder and CEO of Centurion Firm, the show features in-depth conversations with industry experts, clients, and business owners about how they think through tax, cash flow, operations, and the decisions that come with running a real business. We focus on how things really work when you’re scaling, what challenges tend to come up, and how other founders, experts, and operators have dealt with them. If you’re building or growing a business (often somewhere between $500K and $25M+ in revenue), this show is designed to help you make smarter financial and operational decisions and keep more of what you earn.