Big Talk About Small Business

Big Talk About Small Business
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Hosted by Mark Zweig and Eric Howerton. Our Mission is to inspire, empower, and equip entrepreneurs with the knowledge and insights they need to succeed in their ventures. Through engaging conversations with industry experts, seasoned entrepreneurs, and thought leaders, we aim to provide valuable strategies, actionable advice, and real-world experiences that will enable our listeners to navigate the challenges, seize the opportunities, and build thriving businesses.

  1. 2D AGO

    Ep. 124 - Cash Flow Runs Franchises with Nolen Hughes

    Cash flow, quality, and quiet scale: that’s the real story behind building a B2B service franchise that most people never see but everyone relies on. We sit down with Nolen Hughes, president of Jan Pro of Arkansas and the Ozarks, to unpack how a regional developer model can serve banks, logistics hubs, and industrial facilities while paying franchisees on time, even when enterprise clients take 90 to 120 days to cut a check. Nolen takes us from his early days with College Hunks to a multi-market operation that supports 180 franchise partners across Arkansas and southern Missouri. We dig into the operational backbone that keeps standards high and clients happy: monthly audits, uniform chemicals and microfiber systems, and a centralized process for safety documents, billing, and compliance. He explains why national supply programs matter, how account-based purchasing gives owners crucial float, and what it really takes to match the right operator to high-traffic sites like manufacturing campuses. We also get candid about the human side of scale. Nolen talks through shifting from a family-run structure to a unified leadership model, why unity of command restores culture and momentum, and how elevating a young team creates room for growth. On the strategy front, we explore territory expansion driven by customer demand, the realities of winning national and regional accounts, and the brand dynamics of B2B franchising where only a tiny slice of the population is an actual decision-maker. If you’re curious about franchising beyond fast food, or you lead a service business navigating long payment terms, this conversation is a masterclass in operations, finance, and leadership. Subscribe, share with a founder who needs it, and leave a review to tell us which insight you’ll use next.

    54 min

  2. FEB 4

    Ep. 123 - From Chick-fil-A to Cityscapes: Building Without a Safety Net | With Cameron Clark

    The empty building at the corner isn’t an eyesore, it’s a question waiting for a brave answer. We sit down with developer Cameron Clark to unpack how a mid-century church becomes a walkable hub and why “public art with a P&L” might be the most honest way to describe thoughtful real estate. Cameron traces an unconventional path from Chick-fil-A to licensed apparel to small-scale development, sharing the service mindset that still shapes his projects. He breaks down a real Fayetteville redevelopment: anticipating traffic and safety concerns, adding crosswalks and park connections, and inviting supporters to speak up when NIMBY voices dominate hearings. We get into the messy middle, rezoning, planning commission, city council, and the tactics that align a project with adopted plans to earn staff support. If you’re curious how design decisions become political wins, this is the blueprint. We also talk about the risk math nobody sees on Instagram. Cash flow droughts. Personal guarantees that pull spouses into the arena. The overhead trap that pressures developers into bad deals. Cameron’s strategy is plain: keep a lean team, raise smart capital, prefer singles and doubles over moonshots, and focus on Northwest Arkansas where community, trails, and neighborhood retail compound value. From condo conversions near Wilson Park to practical re-tenanting, he shows how modest, human-scaled projects can change how people live day to day. For founders and builders, Cameron’s advice is direct: find mentors, do the work, and build for the long game. Attention spans are short, entitlement timelines are not, and vision only matters if it survives hearings, budgets, and weather. If you care about walkability, NIMBY dynamics, local development, and the real grind behind “vibrant streets,” you’ll leave with a sharper lens and a few battle-tested tactics. Enjoyed the conversation? Follow the show, share this episode with a friend who loves cities, and leave a review to help more builders find us.

    51 min

  3. JAN 28

    Ep. 122 - Myths About Small Biz Funding | With Levi King

    Revenue that covers costs beats any term sheet. That’s the thread running through our conversation with Levi King, founder of Lendio and Nav, who lays out a practical, no-BS roadmap to funding a small business without giving up control. We talk about why customer cash is the best capital, how vendor and captive credit can power growth, and when to say yes to debt because the project math actually works. We dig into the mechanics most owners never hear from their banker: how personal guarantees really factor into approvals, the difference between trade credit and true loans, and why negotiating liens and UCC filings matter. Levi breaks down the data lenders use, personal credit, business credit across Dun & Bradstreet and Equifax (PayNet), and real cash flow, and shows how visibility into those scores helps you move from subprime options to bank and SBA-ready financing. We cover overlooked tools like stacking 0% intro APR business cards, processor-based working capital from PayPal or Square, and modern factoring options, with a simple test for each: does it pencil out? You’ll also hear how geography and timing shape your capital path, why local banks and credit unions still value character and community, and how to avoid the misery of friends-and-family money. Levi shares hard lessons from building five small businesses and two fintech platforms, including how Nav turns live data into smarter recommendations and transparency on the FICO SBSS score used in SBA underwriting. Looking to strengthen your capital stack, protect your personal guarantees, and get cheaper money over time? Start by tightening cash flow, building vendor credit, and tracking the data lenders trust.  If this conversation helped, follow the show, share it with a founder who needs a clearer financing plan, and leave a quick review so more owners can find it.

    56 min

  4. JAN 21

    Ep. 121 - Partnerships, Pitfalls, and Payoffs With Joe Saumweber

    Stop chasing startup fairy tales and start building a life that actually works. We sit down with Joe Saumweber, co-founder of RevUnit, to unpack how he grew an enterprise consultancy by bringing consumer-grade product thinking to frontline workers, landed the logo that changes everything, and timed an exit with uncommon clarity. Joe shares the partnership rules that made a 50-50 split thrive, the single best move they made before going to market, and why planning yourself out of operations a year in advance can unlock buyer confidence and deal velocity. From there, the story veers sharply into real life. Joe took his family onto a 65-foot catamaran and crossed oceans for two years, trading pitch decks for navigation charts and due diligence for diesel repairs. It wasn’t all sunsets: electrical Franken-systems, storms, a tense skiff encounter, and the humbling reality of learning everything the hard way. Yet the sea delivered perspective, remote islands with resilient, hyperlocal food systems, and sparked a new chapter back home. On 23 acres in Northwest Arkansas, Joe and Mary built Tuckaway Farm, a regenerative, membership-driven operation growing 75-plus vegetables and raising hens and pigs. They designed it as a lifestyle business with constraints to prevent runaway scale, stacking experiences like markets, classes, and hospitality on top of the land. Along the way, we challenge ecosystem “innovation theater,” argue for the overlooked upside in home services and blue-collar businesses, and draw a clean line between small business cash flow and scalable startup exits. Joe gets candid about post-exit finances, the shock of losing a monthly owner draw, and how consulting now funds freedom without burning principal. If you want a practical playbook for choosing partners, earning enterprise trust, designing an exit, and building a life you don’t need a vacation from, you’ll find it here.  Subscribe, share with a friend who’s weighing their next move, and leave a review to tell us which chapter hit home for you.

    55 min

  5. JAN 14

    Ep. 120 - Overselling Kills Trust

    Markets move fast and new competitors can appear overnight. We unpack how small businesses keep their edge by acting quickly, listening hard, and building trust with the people who fund, buy, and build the company. From saying yes to real customer needs to cleaning up your chart of accounts, this conversation blends candid stories with field-tested tactics you can use today. We go straight at the hard parts: how to manage investors without overselling, why banks hate surprises, and how sloppy billing can nuke client trust. You’ll hear a wild but true tale about a $20 pizza that nearly cost an account, plus a step-by-step look at financial hygiene that actually supports strategy. We share practical ways to structure deliverables, own shortfalls early, and propose make-goods that keep renewals alive. If you’ve felt the drag of legacy processes or staff trained for yesterday’s offering, you’ll find a roadmap to regain speed without losing control. We also pull back the curtain on raising capital. Learn how to choose investors who add more than money, and what it’s really like to use WeFunder to pool non-accredited investment through a lead. Expect clarity on expectations, voting, SEC compliance, and why transparent updates matter more than perfect outcomes. Inside the company, we talk about closing the money gap: helping teams understand where capital comes from, why it’s finite, and how to think like owners. Hire standout people, then shape roles to their strengths. Share customer stories so every sale becomes personal and quality rises naturally. Want stronger relationships and faster growth built on truth, not hype? This one’s for you. If this conversation helped you think differently, subscribe, share it with a founder friend, and leave a quick review so others can find the show.

    49 min

  6. JAN 7

    Ep. 119 - Entrepreneurship Ain’t Fun: It's a Fight

    If you’ve been told entrepreneurship is “fun,” consider this your permission to delete that myth. We get honest about what building a business actually feels like: the fear after a big exit, the 10-to-1 ratio of problems to opportunities, the seduction of passive income promises, and the daily discipline it takes to stay optimistic when your calendar and cash flow say otherwise. We break down why founders burn out, not because they’re weak, but because they’re sold bad expectations and then face real stakes with little room to reset. Our take: boundaries don’t always exist in small business the way gurus claim. The market doesn’t clock out, and neither do your responsibilities. Instead of chasing balance-as-a-cure, train resilience like a muscle. Start the day focused on one real opportunity, not the noise.  Approve revenue when it meaningfully offsets overhead, creates strategic access, or builds credibility, and watch out for the “MBA syndrome” that overanalyzes context away and chokes progress. You’ll hear candid stories about selling companies and the unexpected stress of protecting what you’ve earned, why speed beats strategy theater, and how to turn fear into fuel. We dig into brand building beyond word of mouth, consistent content, bold presence, real follow-through, and we highlight a powerful lesson from AI: solving specific customer problems often wins faster than platform hype. Whether you’re wrestling with burnout, debating boundaries, or just trying to find the next lever to pull, this conversation gives you practical, unvarnished guidance to keep moving. Subscribe, share this with a founder who needs straight talk, and leave a review with the hardest truth you wish you’d heard earlier. Your story might help the next entrepreneur keep going.

    41 min

  7. 12/31/2025

    Ep. 118 - Build Through Meetings, Not Just Marketing

    Tired of “storytelling” as a buzzword? We dig into the gritty, practical side of it: stories that earn meetings, align teams, and drive revenue. We start with the culture shift from storyteller-as-exaggerator to storyteller-as-operator, then map a simple rule: content only matters if it gets you in the room. From there, we unpack how to turn posts, talks, and seminars into face-to-face time where tone, body language, and real dialogue build trust and close gaps fast. Inside the company, distraction is the enemy. Notifications, meetings, and feeds shred attention, so leaders have to repeat the vision long after they’re tired of hearing it. We share tactics to make the message stick: paint the personal benefit, get in the weeds with front-line teams, and run career-development lunches that surface obstacles and tools people actually need. Keep score the simple way, one page of visible metrics, open to all, so everyone can see progress and correct course together. We also challenge a dangerous myth: prior wins and fresh cash won’t save a weak model. Bailouts train bad habits. If you want speed and flexibility, consider service businesses amplified by AI and lightweight automation; they launch fast, cash flow sooner, and pivot cleanly. As the holidays approach, use the quiet time to sharpen your deck, clarify pricing, line up examples, and book meetings that hit hard in January. The compass is clarity: tell a story that gets you in the room, then keep telling it until your team can tell it for you. If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a founder who needs a reset, and leave a quick review so more small-business builders can find us.

    45 min

  8. 12/24/2025

    Ep. 117 - STOP Chasing Passion. Start Making Money.

    What if we took the pressure out of starting and put revenue back at the center? We sit down with Jim Beach, author of School for Startups and host of a nationally syndicated radio show, to break the myths that keep people stuck: you don’t need a brand-new idea, you don’t need to raise money to begin, and you don’t have to wait for passion to strike before you sell something people want. Jim shares how he built a computer camp into 89 locations by understanding parents and shy, tech-loving kids, then won a classroom bet by launching a profitable Pakistani furniture import in one semester with less than $5,000. The throughline is simple and liberating: copy proven models, do them better, validate fast, and only spend money when revenue demands it. We contrast the risky glamour of fundraising and AI hype with the boring businesses that quietly print cash, pallet routes, restoration services, local trades, and unpack why undercapitalization often creates healthier, more disciplined companies. We also challenge the “freedom” fantasy. Real businesses require heavy lifting: emails at midnight, talking to customers daily, and solving problems on the ground. Working in the business teaches you what to fix and scale. Through the corridor principle, we explore how action reveals opportunity and how passion often follows competence and wins, not the other way around. Jim’s new book, The Real Environmentalist, adds a powerful dose of optimism, profiling entrepreneurs profitably, solving climate issues in water, air, plastics, and coral restoration, showing why builders, not institutions, are moving the needle. If you’ve been waiting for a sign to start, this is it: make a small bet, test for real demand, and let the next step reveal itself. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs a nudge, and leave a review with the one “boring” business you’d improve in your city.

    51 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Hosted by Mark Zweig and Eric Howerton. Our Mission is to inspire, empower, and equip entrepreneurs with the knowledge and insights they need to succeed in their ventures. Through engaging conversations with industry experts, seasoned entrepreneurs, and thought leaders, we aim to provide valuable strategies, actionable advice, and real-world experiences that will enable our listeners to navigate the challenges, seize the opportunities, and build thriving businesses.

Information

  • Creator
    Big Talk About Small Business
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    127
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Big Talk About Small Business
  • Show Website
    Big Talk About Small Business