Balanced

Steph Blain
  • 5.0 (1)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Welcome to Balanced the Podcast, your go-to for navigating the real world of small business and entrepreneurship! Hosted by Stephanie, a fellow business owner and bookkeeper, we get down to earth about everything from managing business finances and accounting to finding that elusive work life balance. Tired of feeling overwhelmed? Join us for practical business tips on financial organization, stress-free bookkeeping, and building a sustainable business without sacrificing your life. Whether you're just starting a business or deep in the entrepreneur journey, Balanced is here to help you achieve business success and live a balanced life. 

Episodes

  1. 12/09/2025

    The Fresh Start That Doesn't Wait For January First

    In this episode of Balanced, host Stephanie Blaine shares a powerful truth that business owners rarely admit: December doesn’t reveal new problems — it reveals the same problems you’ve been ignoring all year. Recording from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Stephanie reflects on running her business from the other side of the world and the surprising clarity that distance brings. She breaks down why year-end planning isn’t about vision boards, aesthetic goal-setting, or waiting for a “fresh start” on January 1st. It’s about finally fixing what’s been broken — the systems, boundaries, pricing, and yes, your bookkeeping. With her signature blend of real talk, humor, and practical action, Stephanie challenges you to stop delaying the hard stuff, stop romanticizing the reset button, and start making the changes your business has needed for months.  ⏱️ Timestamps  00:00 – Welcome  00:22 – Running a business from Vietnam  00:49 – Saying vs. actually working anywhere  01:37 – December planning reality  02:18 – What December really reveals  03:30 – January 1st isn’t a reset  03:55 – Fix what’s broken now  05:11 – Systems = freedom  06:05 – The one thing broken all year  06:39 – For most: bookkeeping  07:05 – December consult spots  07:41 – Freedom comes from systems  08:03 – Best time to fix is now  ✨ Perfect For: ✓ Entrepreneurs are consuming business advice but lacking clarity ✓ Small business owners are tired of guessing instead of knowing ✓ Creators and service providers ready to understand profitability ✓ Anyone serious about building a scalable, data-driven business 📌 Links & Resources:   💬 Book Your Free Consultation: https://link.bookkeeper.net/widget/bookings/bkconsults-ecommerce-2a1298cf-f8b9-46b9-a2f6-53890f394f0c 🌟 Join the Starlight DIY Club: https://starlightbookkeeping.com/starlight-diy-club 📺 Watch episodes + subscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@starlightbookkeeping?feature=shared 📸 Follow Stephanie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_stephblain_/ 🌐 Visit the website: https://starlightbookkeeping.com/ Want more tips on balancing business and life? Follow me on Instagram for insights on bookkeeping, business, and everything in between!

    8 min

  2. 11/26/2025

    Nobody Told Me I'd Be Paying for THAT: The True Cost of Entrepreneurship

    In this eye-opening episode of Balanced, host Stephanie Blaine pulls back the curtain on the real cost of entrepreneurship—the ones no one includes in those “I quit my 9–5!” celebration posts. From self-employment taxes and lost benefits to the sneaky subscriptions draining your account and the invisible emotional load you carry as a CEO, Stephanie breaks down every category of cost you must understand to run a profitable, sustainable business. With her signature blend of truth-telling, humor, and practical steps, she helps you get clear on the financial reality of being your own boss—so you can plan, price, and run your business like the CEO you are. If you’ve ever wondered, “Where is all my money going?” or felt blindsided by unexpected costs, this episode is your reality check (in the best way possible).  ⏱️ Timestamps (Short) 00:00 – Welcome to Balanced 00:22 – The dream vs. reality of entrepreneurship 00:43 – The celebration posts never show the real costs 01:21 – The romanticized “I’m my own boss” illusion 01:42 – The hidden financial + emotional costs 02:25 – Three types of costs: obvious, sneaky, invisible 02:50 – The obvious costs you still underestimate 03:14 – Self-employment tax reality check 03:33 – Health insurance + lost benefits 04:27 – The sneaky costs (subscriptions, tools, education) 05:39 – Contractors + service providers add up 06:03 – The real cost of working from home 06:40 – The invisible costs draining your energy 07:23 – The mental load of being in every department 08:45 – Income inconsistency + emotional toll 09:34 – Why this isn’t to scare you—but empower you 10:30 – Action Step #1: Review three months of statements 11:29 – Action Step #3: Calculate your real hourly rate 12:15 – Audit where you’re wasting time 12:41 – The cost of DIY vs hiring help 13:51 – You didn’t start your business to struggle 14:38 – Share the episode + normalize real talk 15:06 –  Closing message: balance your books, your business, your life  ✨ Perfect For: ✓ Entrepreneurs are consuming business advice but lacking clarity ✓ Small business owners are tired of guessing instead of knowing ✓ Creators and service providers ready to understand profitability ✓ Anyone serious about building a scalable, data-driven business Links & Resources: Book a free consultation Join the Starlite DIY Club – step-by-step bookkeeping guidance  Start with the desk. Clean up your calendar. And remember—every hour you organize now is a gift to your future self. Want more tips on balancing business and life? Follow me on Instagram for insights on bookkeeping, business, and everything in between! Want more tips on balancing business and life? Follow me on Instagram for insights on bookkeeping, business, and everything in between! Want more tips on balancing business and life? Follow me on Instagram for insights on bookkeeping, business, and everything in between! Want more tips on balancing business and life? Follow me on Instagram for insights on bookkeeping, business, and everything in between!

    15 min

  3. 11/19/2025

    The Unsexy Truth Every Business Guru Assumes You Already Know (But You Don’t).

    In this episode of Balanced, host Stephanie Blaine exposes one of the biggest blind spots in the online business world. You’re consuming advice from top industry leaders—Alex Hormozi, Jenna Kutcher, Amy Porterfield, Gary Vee—and it’s all incredible… but it’s built on one massive assumption they never talk about. They assume you already have your bookkeeping handled. Stephanie breaks down why every strategic decision, marketing strategy, course launch, and “double down on what’s working” advice depends on one thing: clean, organized, up-to-date financial data. Without it, even the best business advice becomes guesswork. With humor, tough love, and actionable steps, Stephanie helps you stop “playing business” and finally build the financial foundation your business needs to grow with confidence and clarity. ⏱️ Timestamps (Short) 00:00 – Welcome to Balanced: business + life in harmony 00:22 – Real talk: consuming content doesn’t equal clarity 00:42 – The gurus you follow… and the massive assumption they make 01:25 – The missing foundational step no one talks about 01:42 – Why every piece of advice assumes clean books 02:00 – The Alex Hormozi moment that made everything click 02:19 – The financial questions every strategic decision requires 02:42 – Why you can’t get help without accurate numbers 03:03 – Busy ≠ profitable 03:27 – The harsh truth: all advice is useless without bookkeeping 03:49 – Why clean books = smarter, faster business growth 04:11 – The pain of running a business blind 04:58 – The real difference between entrepreneurs who scale + those who don’t 05:19 – Action Step #1: Sign up for QuickBooks Online 05:37 – Action Step #2: Gather every bank + credit card statement 05:56 – Action Step #3: Block two hours to start or hire support 06:13 – Inside the Starlight DIY Club: bookkeeping support made simple 06:32 – You didn’t start your business to “wing it” 06:53 – Share the episode & normalize the unsexy stuff 07:14 – Follow Stephanie on Instagram 07:35 – Closing message: Balance your books, your business & your life ✨ Perfect For: ✓ Entrepreneurs are consuming business advice but lacking clarity ✓ Small business owners are tired of guessing instead of knowing ✓ Creators and service providers ready to understand profitability ✓ Anyone serious about building a scalable, data-driven business Links & Resources: Book a free consultation Join the Starlite DIY Club – step-by-step bookkeeping guidance  Start with the desk. Clean up your calendar. And remember—every hour you organize now is a gift to your future self. Want more tips on balancing business and life? Follow me on Instagram for insights on bookkeeping, business, and everything in between! Want more tips on balancing business and life? Follow me on Instagram for insights on bookkeeping, business, and everything in between! Want more tips on balancing business and life? Follow me on Instagram for insights on bookkeeping, business, and everything in between!

    8 min

  4. 11/05/2025

    5 Brutally Honest Questions Every Business Owner Needs to Answer

    In this episode of Balanced, host Stephanie Blain gets real with a dose of tough love every business owner needs to hear. If you’re feeling stuck, burned out, or wondering why your business growth has stalled, this conversation will be your wake-up call. Stephanie shares five brutally honest questions that challenge you to stop lying to yourself and start taking ownership of your success. From checking whether your work is truly worth paying for to facing the uncomfortable truths hiding in your books, this episode will help you trade denial for clarity — and clarity for growth. With her signature warmth, humor, and real talk, Stephanie walks you through the mindset shifts and practical steps that lead to lasting progress in business and in life. ⏱️ Timestamps (Short) 00:00 – Welcome to Balanced 00:42 – Tough love time: stop lying to yourself 01:02 – The 5 brutally honest questions that change everything 01:21 – Question 1: Would you pay you for your work? 02:40 – Question 2: Are you chasing busy or building wealth? 04:10 – Question 3: Do you actually know your profit margins? 05:55 – Question 4: Does your calendar reflect your priorities? 07:50 – Question 5: What are you pretending not to see? 09:55 – Facing the truth and finding freedom 10:13 – How awareness sparks real growth 10:30 – Free consultation to identify your business blind spots 10:52 – Inside the Starlight DIY Club: bookkeeping support made simple 11:36 – Closing thoughts: face the hard truths, reap the rewards ✨ Perfect For: ✓ Small business owners curious about AI and automation ✓ Entrepreneurs who want to work smarter, not harder ✓ Creators and service providers seeking more freedom and clarity ✓ Anyone ready to embrace tech without losing their human touch  Links & Resources: Book a free consultation Join the Starlite DIY Club – step-by-step bookkeeping guidance  Start with the desk. Clean up your calendar. And remember—every hour you organize now is a gift to your future self. Want more tips on balancing business and life? Follow me on Instagram for insights on bookkeeping, business, and everything in between! Want more tips on balancing business and life? Follow me on Instagram for insights on bookkeeping, business, and everything in between!

    12 min
  • 4 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

About

Welcome to Balanced the Podcast, your go-to for navigating the real world of small business and entrepreneurship! Hosted by Stephanie, a fellow business owner and bookkeeper, we get down to earth about everything from managing business finances and accounting to finding that elusive work life balance. Tired of feeling overwhelmed? Join us for practical business tips on financial organization, stress-free bookkeeping, and building a sustainable business without sacrificing your life. Whether you're just starting a business or deep in the entrepreneur journey, Balanced is here to help you achieve business success and live a balanced life. 

Information

  • Creator
    Steph Blain
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    4
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Balanced
  • Show Website
    Balanced