Big Talk About Small Business

Big Talk About Small Business
  • 5.0 (9)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

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. 19h ago ·  Video

    Niche Concepts: Surviving Small Town Seasonality with Hillary Zio

    Opening a restaurant without mastering overhead costs is a guaranteed path to closure. Sommelier and restaurateur Hillary Zio details her transition from big city consultant to small-town hospitality operator. She unpacks the financial strain of overstaffing a 24-seat concept during off-season months and exactly how she slashed payroll to reach profitability. Beyond the dining room floor, she outlines the hidden zoning headaches of commercial real estate. You will walk away understanding the mechanics of micro-seasonal menus and how to align your business model with your local demographic. For hospitality operators struggling with seasonal cash flow, this conversation provides a blueprint to cut expenses and adapt your service model. Subscribe and share this episode with a peer who needs to audit their operating costs. What is the biggest unexpected expense you encountered in your first year of business? Subscribe and tune in for new episodes of Big Talk About Small Business with Mark Zweig and Eric Howerton. Each week we focus on practical insights and real-world strategies to grow your business! Apply to be on the show!  https://www.bigtalkaboutsmallbusiness.com/guest-coordination/ Stay Connected:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bigtalk.pod/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564547079280 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/big-talk-about-small-business TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bigtalkpod https://www.bigtalkaboutsmallbusiness.com/

  2. Oct 21 ·  Video

    Process Over People: Fixing Key-Person Risk with Jimmy Lewis

    Manual data entry is quietly killing your operational efficiency. Jimmy Lewis of TrueFocus Automation builds custom bots that eliminate repetitive friction for title and mortgage companies. We unpack exactly how to map out undocumented workflows and transfer them to software agents without causing a staff panic. Moving from manual keying to robotic process automation requires intense front-end scoping. Jimmy breaks down the actual development costs, managing offshore engineering teams, and why mapping step-by-step actions beats forcing off-the-shelf programs to fit your specific business logic. For small business owners relying on a single employee to manage undocumented legacy systems, this conversation offers a strict blueprint to digitize those tasks before they break. Subscribe and share this episode with an operator fighting workflow bottlenecks. What manual process in your daily operations takes up the most time? Subscribe and tune in for new episodes of Big Talk About Small Business with Mark Zweig and Eric Howerton. Each week we focus on practical insights and real-world strategies to grow your business! Subscribe and tune in for new episodes of Big Talk About Small Business with Mark Zweig and Eric Howerton. Each week we focus on practical insights and real-world strategies to grow your business! Apply to be on the show!  https://www.bigtalkaboutsmallbusiness.com/guest-coordination/ Stay Connected:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bigtalk.pod/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564547079280 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/big-talk-about-small-business TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bigtalkpod https://www.bigtalkaboutsmallbusiness.com/

  3. Oct 14 ·  Video

    Free Work Wins: Hijacking Competitor Blueprints with Rens Hayes

    Structural engineering is quietly bleeding developers dry through unmanaged design decisions. Rens Hayes of H+O Structural Engineering explains how accountable, data-driven frameworks stop this hidden cash drain. Rens breaks down his risk-free peer review model, auditing proformas to capture millions in wasted structural steel costs. He outlines the friction of challenging established design norms and bypassing standard low-fee bidding wars. The conversation transitions into operations, covering the logistical hurdles of open-book financials. By sharing the balance sheet, his firm shifts staff from blind producers into invested stakeholders tracking AR days. For service-based founders escaping commoditized pricing, this provides a blueprint to build a value gap instead of slashing fees. Subscribe and share this episode with an operator navigating a stubborn market. What outdated industry norm are you trying to rewrite? Subscribe and tune in for new episodes of Big Talk About Small Business with Mark Zweig and Eric Howerton. Each week we focus on practical insights and real-world strategies to grow your business! Apply to be on the show!  https://www.bigtalkaboutsmallbusiness.com/guest-coordination/ Stay Connected:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bigtalk.pod/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564547079280 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/big-talk-about-small-business TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bigtalkpod https://www.bigtalkaboutsmallbusiness.com/

  4. Oct 7 ·  Video

    Automated Lead Gen: Stopping Silent Leaks with Elias Curtis

    Search traffic is migrating to artificial intelligence platforms, leaving static websites behind. Elias Curtis of Transformed Design Inc. joins the show to explain how operators must adapt their digital footprints to survive. The conversation unpacks the transition from legacy sites to AI-powered digital assets. Elias breaks down generative engine optimization and answer engine optimization. He details the logistics of programmatic SEO, demonstrating how deploying thousands of targeted, hyper-local pages captures market share organically. The discussion also tackles the mechanics of lead conversion, detailing how automated systems patch the holes where neglected prospects usually abandon ship. For owners bleeding leads due to outdated technology, this breakdown offers a clear roadmap to repair broken pipelines and capture AI-driven traffic. Subscribe and share this episode with a founder struggling to modernize their digital presence. Are you currently seeing a drop in traditional search traffic for your primary services? Chapters: 0:00 - Co-Founding With Your Spouse 6:47 - Evolving into AI Web Development 11:02 - SEO vs. GEO vs. AEO Explained 21:55 - Fixing Broken Lead Conversion Pipelines 28:15 - Scaling Reach with Programmatic SEO 34:39 - Outro and Final Advice Subscribe and tune in for new episodes of Big Talk About Small Business with Mark Zweig and Eric Howerton. Each week we focus on practical insights and real-world strategies to grow your business! Apply to be on the show!  https://www.bigtalkaboutsmallbusiness.com/guest-coordination/ Stay Connected:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bigtalk.pod/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564547079280 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/big-talk-about-small-business TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bigtalkpod https://www.bigtalkaboutsmallbusiness.com/

  5. Sep 30 ·  Video

    Ditching Corporate: Engineering a Creative Business with Dan Bennett

    Burnout forces hard pivots, but stepping away often provides the exact blueprint needed to scale. Dan Bennett of Hot Sauce Video unpacks his transition from unfulfilled engineer to running a profitable subscription video service. Dan breaks down the mechanics of moving from a chaotic freelance model to a structured pipeline supporting B2B cash flow. He details the friction of hiring remote editors and why prompt payroll outranks flashy perks for retaining talent. The conversation tackles the mental weight of ownership, contrasting the daily agency grind with the isolation required to maintain strategic vision. For creative founders trapped in production cycles, this discussion offers a roadmap to productize services and reclaim margins. Subscribe and share this episode with a fellow operator trying to systematize their craft. How do you mentally disconnect when your business demands constant attention? Chapters: 0:00 Introduction & The Tipping Point 1:33 From Engineer to Video Creator 10:42 Relocating for Better Opportunity 14:36 The 10-Day Off-Grid Reset 26:14 Empathy and the Entrepreneurial Mindset 37:37 Hiring and Retaining Editing Talent Subscribe and tune in for new episodes of Big Talk About Small Business with Mark Zweig and Eric Howerton. Each week we focus on practical insights and real-world strategies to grow your business! Apply to be on the show!  https://www.bigtalkaboutsmallbusiness.com/guest-coordination/ Stay Connected:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bigtalk.pod/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564547079280 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/big-talk-about-small-business TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bigtalkpod https://www.bigtalkaboutsmallbusiness.com/

  6. Sep 23 ·  Video

    Beating Big Budgets: Competing with Institutional Buyers with John Medina

    The real estate market punishes operators who prioritize volume over vetting. John Medina transitioned from plumbing to executing hundreds of flips and wholesale deals in Los Angeles. Success requires more than capital; it demands strict margin calculations and the discipline to walk away from bad assets. John breaks down how his team sources distressed properties, structures assignments with institutional cash buyers, and manages rehab crews to protect profits. He shares the painful lessons learned from forced growth, including an $80,000 mistake cleaning up twelve thousand buried tires. His current strategy focuses on targeted marketing and controlled hiring. For independent wholesalers trying to refine their lead generation, this conversation maps out how to compete against massive corporate budgets. Subscribe and share this episode with a peer looking to dial in their acquisitions. What is the most expensive oversight you have uncovered during a property walkthrough? Subscribe and tune in for new episodes of Big Talk About Small Business with Mark Zweig and Eric Howerton. Each week we focus on practical insights and real-world strategies to grow your business! Apply to be on the show!  https://www.bigtalkaboutsmallbusiness.com/guest-coordination/ Stay Connected:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bigtalk.pod/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564547079280 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/big-talk-about-small-business TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bigtalkpod https://www.bigtalkaboutsmallbusiness.com/

  7. Sep 16 ·  Video

    Monetize Your Expertise: The Digital Twin Playbook with Stephanie Sylvestre

    Scaling a service business traditionally means trading time for dollars until capacity breaks. Stephanie Sylvestre explains how digitizing your operational frameworks into custom AI agents solves this bottleneck. Off-the-shelf tools spit out generic advice, but building a true digital twin requires ingesting your personal IP, tone, and decision-making logic. We break down the exact mechanics of cloning a consultant's brain. Expect a $10,000 to $20,000 investment and intense agile testing to refine the agent's output. The return on investment hits immediately by offloading junior staff training and expanding client output without adding payroll. For agency owners hitting revenue ceilings, this breakdown provides a path to separating billable capacity from physical time. Subscribe and share this episode with an operator looking to expand. What core management process would you hand off to your digital twin today? Subscribe and tune in for new episodes of Big Talk About Small Business with Mark Zweig and Eric Howerton. Each week we focus on practical insights and real-world strategies to grow your business! Apply to be on the show!  https://www.bigtalkaboutsmallbusiness.com/guest-coordination/ Stay Connected:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bigtalk.pod/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564547079280 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/big-talk-about-small-business TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bigtalkpod https://www.bigtalkaboutsmallbusiness.com/

  8. Sep 9 ·  Video

    Disrupting the Trades: Building the Uber of Lawn Care with Quinn Childress

    Transforming a push-mower hustle into a nationwide network requires serious operational grit. Quinn Childress explains how he built Willow Street Lawns and Lawnley, engineering the "Uber of lawn care." He bypassed traditional funding by scaling through direct sales and compounding relational effort. Instead of fighting for slim margins, his platform automates job dispatch and payment collection. This lets local owner-operators farm out excess capacity and earn passive income across state lines. Quinn details the logistics of maintaining quality control with subcontractor networks and explains how a blue ocean strategy can revitalize any mature trade. For trade owners struggling with local hiring constraints, this conversation provides a blueprint to scale geographically without massive overhead. Subscribe and share this episode with an operator trying to break out of their regional market. How do you manage overflow jobs during your peak season? -- Chapters: 0:00 Hook and Studio Intro 2:10 Overcoming Extreme Poverty 6:01 The Push Mower Origins 13:43 Lawnley: The Uber of Lawn Care 20:00 Creating the Lawn Care Olympics 27:19 Compounding Interest in Business -- Subscribe and tune in for new episodes of Big Talk About Small Business with Mark Zweig and Eric Howerton. Each week we focus on practical insights and real-world strategies to grow your business! Apply to be on the show!  https://www.bigtalkaboutsmallbusiness.com/guest-coordination/ Stay Connected:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bigtalk.pod/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564547079280 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/big-talk-about-small-business TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bigtalkpod https://www.bigtalkaboutsmallbusiness.com/

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
9 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
    164
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Big Talk About Small Business
  • Show Website
    Big Talk About Small Business