Ever had a potential client seem ready to move forward… and then disappear?

Not a no. Not a yes. Just silence.

In today's episode, I'm breaking down the four hidden leaks in your sales process that are costing you clients and how to fix them so more of those conversations actually turn into booked clients. 

Topics discussed in this episode include:

• The 4 hidden leaksstalling your sales (and filling your pipeline with "maybes").

• Why great consult calls still fail without clear next steps.

• How your proposal might be creating hesitation.

• The real reason follow-up feels uncomfortable (and why you need to do it anyway). 

Sign up now for the Profitable & Preferred Summit.

For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com. 

If you enjoyed today's episode, please:

• Leave a positive review or rating at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ratethispodcast.com/stayingsolo

• Subscribe for new episodes every Monday.

• Sign up for email updates at www.bsfreebusiness.com/solo

You've heard the phrase trust recession but what does it actually mean for your marketing in 2026?

In this episode, we break down the research behind shifting buyer behaviour and why visibility alone no longer converts. If your marketing feels harder than it used to, this conversation will help you understand what's changed and how to adapt so your marketing earns trust, reduces buyer risk, and attracts the right clients.

Topics discussed in this episode include:

• What the "trust recession" really means for service businesses.

• Why visibility and familiarity no longer convert like they used to.

• The biggest reasons marketing isn't turning into clients right now.

• How to build credibility and reduce buyer risk in your messaging.

• What's actually working in 2026: fewer platforms, clearer positioning, and intentional marketing systems.

Sign up for the free Profitable & Preferred Summit.

For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com. 

If you enjoyed today's episode, please:

• Leave a positive review or rating at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ratethispodcast.com/stayingsolo

• Subscribe for new episodes every Monday.

• Sign up for email updates at www.bsfreebusiness.com/solo

If it feels like other people land better clients with ease, here's the truth: it's not luck, it's structure.

In this just-in-time episode, we run a Mini Client Audit to uncover what's actually blocking better clients from finding (and choosing) you. 

You'll hear:

• The visibility mistake most booked service providers don't realize they're making

• The subtle way you might be pushing your best-fit clients away without meaning to

• What's really happening after the sales call when things go silent

Landing better clients aren't about trying harder. They're about fixing the right things. And this episode shows you exactly where to start.

If you're ready for a real plan to get booked with better clients in 2026, that's exactly what we're building inside the Staying Solo Squad this January.

We're kicking things off by creating your One-Page Booked & Unbothered Sales Plan, the simple, sustainable roadmap to attract the right clients, build real trust, and keep the work (and money) flowing all year long.

Doors are open until December 18th. Join us.

Solo doesn't mean alone. You don't need to go it alone with your service business. In fact, you shouldn't. But what kind of support do you need, and when?

In this episode, we're diving into just what kinds of support you need as a solo business owner…and it's about way more than simply hiring a random coach or taking yet another course. 

Find out more at bsfreebusiness.com/solo-support

Most of us start our businesses for more flexibility and freedom, but somewhere along the way find that we're trapped in a cycle of hustling. To stay solo, you need a realistic planning process that works for you and keeps you from chasing things that simply don't matter to you.

In this episode of the Staying Solo series, we're talking about planning with a focus on how to do it in a way that actually works not just for your business but your brain and your life. 

Find out more at bsfreebusiness.com/rethinking-planning

Service business owners often think that the "service" part of the business model means they have to run themselves ragged serving their clients. Or that they need to work around the clock to reach their goals. Nothing could be further from the truth. 

In this episode, we're digging into the need for "space" as a solopreneur, what that really means, and why it matters more than most of us realize. 

Find out more at bsfreebusiness.com/staying-solo-by-creating-space.

Too many solo business owners are underpaid (or not paid at all) as they fall into the trap of overinvesting in the business or pricing their services too low. And I'm not here for it.

In this episode, we're looking at the nuts and bolts of paying yourself a salary as a solo business owner as part of our Staying Solo series. 

Find out more at: bsfreebusiness.com/getting-paid

Have you ever been told you're playing small? Or that for you to have a legit business, you need a team? Or that you must have a mindset issue if you're not wanting to constantly grow?

I definitely have, and in this episode, we're having a heart-to-heart about the idea that "staying solo" means you're playing small because nothing could be further from the truth. 

Find out more at: bsfreebusiness.com/staying-solo

It's the most wonderful time of the year…summer! It's time for fun in the sun, beach reads, being by the water, and living it up.  And now's the time to prepare for the summer slowdown so you can make the most of it.

In this episode, I'm sharing practical ideas for ensuring you have a summer slowdown, including getting your priorities in order, taking time off, downgrading your marketing, and more.

Find out more at: bsfreebusiness.com/summer-slow-down

In this episode, we're exploring the world of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and its use in the online business and coaching world, with a focus on what you, as a consumer, need to be aware of. 

I'm joined by Kathleen Oh, a coach trained as a Master Practitioner in NLP, to get her perspective on its problems and the potential for harm. 

Learn more at bsfreebusiness.com/neuro-linguistic-programming

Does selling your services stress you out? Do you wish you could skip it entirely and focus on doing what you do best? You're not alone in that I know many of you hate making sales because it sucks up so much time and energy. 

In this episode, we will ditch the stress and get your time back by diving into simple sales for every service business. 

Find out more at: bsfreebusiness.com/simple-sales

We've all been there. We're overwhelmed and ready to burn it all down if one more client asks you one more question. It's chaos, and you're out of capacity for any of it. 

In this episode, we examine how sustainable client service systems can help you tame the client service chaos. 

Find out more at: bsfreebusiness.com/client-service-chaos

What if there was a way to do less of the things that drag you down and more of what you enjoy doing in your business? What if what you've been taught about systems is way too complicated for what you actually need? 

In this episode, we're talking about creating sustainable systems for your service business, including why it can be so much simpler than you may think. 

Learn more at: bsfreebusiness.com/sustainable-systems

Ever hit a money milestone and instantly feel like it's… still not enough?

You're not broken, you're human. 

When money has felt unpredictable at any point in your life, "enough" doesn't feel safe; it feels suspicious. And that's usually when the internet tries to sell you a mindset fix you may not even need.

In this episode, we're digging into why your brain reacts this way and why choosing enough might be one of the most unexpectedly delightful decisions you can make in your business and your life.

Topics discussed in this episode include:

• Why money milestones may not feel safe.

• How scarcity conditioning and money trauma fuel the chase for "more".

• Why choosing enough is a countercultural power move.

• What enough actually looks like in your business and life.

• How sufficiency creates a steadier, more sustainable business.

For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com. 

If you enjoyed today's episode, please:.

• Leave a positive review or rating at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ratethispodcast.com/stayingsolor

• Subscribe for new episodes every Monday.

• Sign up for email updates at www.bsfreebusiness.com/solo

We're all familiar with the idea of being burnt out, especially over the last few years. Many of us have experienced burnout firsthand. But why is burnout so pervasive in online business? And should we trust the people peddling burnout solutions who used to sell us hustle culture?

In this episode, I explore the realities of burnout and your business with my guest Brittany Berger.

Find out more at bsfreebusiness.com

Back in late 2021, I made a decision that changed my business. I decided that starting in January 2022, our office would be closed on Fridays. This decision was made in addition to our two annual office closures in July and September, closing our office for 57 work days.

In this episode, I'm sharing how exactly I did it and what you need to consider before you take the plunge.

Find out more at: bsfreebusiness.com/closed-for-57-days

Social media is constantly changing, and what you may have been doing a year ago may not work today. This is resulting in alot of people taking a hard look at LinkedIn as a way to market and build a community for their business. 

In this episode, we're diving into what you, as a service business owner, need to know about LinkedIn for 2023. 

Find out more at: smallbusinessboss.co/LinkedIn-for-2023

In early 2021, I released the first edition of the Online Business Investment Survey to understand why people made the investments they did and what their experiences were really like. In a market with very little open discussion of people's experiences, this survey helped shed light on how people were manipulated and what they wanted from their investments.

Fast forward to 2023, and I'm still here banging my drum about the BS in the online business world, so I decided to do the survey again to explore how things have evolved over the past two years.

What I share in this podcast episode is a tiny snapshot of a much bigger industry problem where there's a massive disconnect between what's being sold and what's being delivered.

Learn more at bsfreebusiness.com/2023-online-business-investment-survey

*This week, we're sharing a new episode of Duped season 4 for your listening pleasure.*

Online business is steeped in manifestation talk, especially regarding money. But should you believe what your coach tells you about how investing in their high ticket mastermind is a way to accomplish your goals by betting on yourself? Are you missing some secret way of making money and making your dreams come true? 

In this episode, we're digging into manifestation, including the gaslighting and grifting that's everywhere.

Want more? Join us on Patreon for bonus and behind-the-scenes content. Find us at patreon.com/duped

Learn more on our website at duped.online

If there's one tried and true way of delivering services to clients, it's the retainer model. While it's often overlooked for project engagements or VIP days, a retainer with the proper structure can be incredibly powerful. 

In this episode, we're exploring everything you need to know about retainer clients. 

Find out more at bsfreebusiness.com/retainer-clients

Everyone is talking about VIP days, but are they right for you and your business? 

In this episode, we're looking at everything you need to know to answer the question of whether you should offer VIP day services or not. 

Find out more at bsfreebusiness.com/VIP-days

Maybe you're selling strategy, and you want to sell more of it in 2023. Maybe you've been thinking about selling strategy, and now it's time to start. 

In this episode, we're digging into everything you need to know to sell more strategy in 2023 with a BS-free look at what you may be missing or need to do next. 

Find out more at bsfreebusiness.com/sell-more-strategy

Confused about the latest trends or advice on selling your services? You're not alone in that, as there's so much advice out there, that is confusing and contradictory. 

In this episode, we're looking at myths about selling your services with a dose of my signature BS-busting. 

A new season of the BS-Free Service Business show starts now.

Find out more at bsfreebusiness.com/sell-your-services

*This week, we're sharing the first episode of Duped season 4 for your listening pleasure.*

We're back! And a lot has happened since our last season. In this episode, we're digging into the world of business coaching and how things have gone seriously off the rails.

Welcome to Season 4 of Duped. We're back, and we couldn't be more excited about what we have planned, as this season, we'll be diving into the world of online business scams.

In our first episode, we want to talk about how business coaching has gone seriously off the rails, along with a rundown of what's happening right now in the online space. 

Learn more at duped.online

Perfection isn't ambition — it's armour.

It keeps you safe from judgment, mistakes, and uncertainty… but it also keeps you stuck. And when your business relies on you taking action, that kind of safety gets expensive fast.

In today's episode, The Delight of Progress (Not Perfection), we're digging into what perfectionism is really protecting you from, and why choosing progress is actually the safer path forward.

Topics discussed in this episode include:

• How perfectionism keeps you stuck (and why it feels so productive).

• The hidden cost of waiting for "perfect".

• The tiny steps that create real momentum with messy action.

• Why progress is the true competitive advantage in your business.

For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com. 

If you enjoyed today's episode, please:.

• Leave a positive review or rating at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ratethispodcast.com/stayingsolor

• Subscribe for new episodes every Monday.

• Sign up for email updates at www.bsfreebusiness.com/solo

2022 is rolling to a close, and as I've done the last two years, I wanted to check in on the state of online business — especially as predictions I've made in 2020 and 2021 about ethical marketing and the use of trauma-informed language, along with other market conditions have come true.

Here's what you need to know about the state of ethical marketing and online business as we head into 2023.

Get the inside scoop right here: smallbusinessboss.co/ethical-marketing-and-online-business

You've probably heard of the term trauma informed, but do you really know what it means? And should you trust coaches who are trauma-informed? 

In this episode, my guests Nicole Lewis-Keeber and Shulamit Ber Levtov join me to explore the rise of trauma-informed coaching. 

Get the inside scoop: smallbusinessboss.co/trauma-informed-coaching

Planning season is upon us. Love it or hate it, it's a whole thing for us as business owners. In this episode, we're going to get real about planning for 2023.

My goal for you is to help you nail down what will make the most difference for you in the coming year and not get sucked into things that waste your time, money, and energy. This isn't about hating on planning, but instead skipping the hype. 

Get the inside scoop: smallbusinessboss.co/planning-for-2023

**This week, we're sharing a sneak peek of Duped with the kickoff episode of season 4 for your listening pleasure.**

Duped season 4 starts now! And in this first episode, we're going to look at the impending recession, and how celebrity entrepreneurs are now using that to mess with us and try to get our money. 

Learn more at duped.online

No one starts a business, let alone a micro agency, thinking about the highs and lows, but they're inevitable. Which is where this episode comes in, as I'm sharing five questions for every micro agency owner to explore. They may not be what you're expecting, but I can guarantee they'll get you thinking in a new way.

In this week's episode, we're wrapping up our series for micro agency owners with five questions every agency needs to ask. Some of these may surprise you, and others may challenge you to think differently. 

Get the inside scoop at smallbusinessboss.co/micro-agency-questions

Are you selling strategy right now in your agency? Do you feel like a thought leader or like you're totally unappreciated by your clients?

In this episode, we're looking at the power of strategy packages for your agency. And the hidden ripple effect selling strategy will have on everything from your revenue to your reputation. 

Get the inside scoop at smallbusinessboss/strategy-for-your-agency

When you're running a micro agency, you're likely going to learn a lot of things along the way. Sometimes it's surprising and other times you wonder if you're completely unhinged because you're learning things the hard way. 

No matter where you are in your journey as an agency owner, you're going to want to listen to this episode as we delve into lessons and hard-won wisdom from my journey as an agency owner. 

Get the inside scoop: smallbusinessboss.co/running-a-micro-agency

Agencies are pitched as the natural next step when growing a service business, but is an agency right for you? And if you're running an agency what do you need to consider as agencies aren't one-size-fits-all?

In this episode, we're looking at the world of micro agencies, including what they are, and some data that may surprise you. 

Get the inside scoop right here: smallbusinessboss.co/what-is-a-micro-agency

Is your business a little slow? Do you need better leads? Or you're just plain sick of the marketing you're doing? 

This episode is for you as we'll be talking about fresh ways to find clients, and why this is not the time to be relying on the magic of client attraction. 

Get the inside scoop: smallbusinessboss.co/finding-clients-in-2022

Have you ever thought you weren't good at sales? Or that you're missing some secret sales strategy? 

In this episode, we're digging into some of the terrible takes on sales I've seen lately and the alternatives, and how sales as an industry is designed to mess with you. 

Get the inside scoop at: smallbusinessboss.co/terrible-takes-on-sales

If you're trying to run your business with 2019 energy, no wonder you're exhausted. 

After years of uncertainty, you can't manage your time like a machine. You need to manage your capacity like a human.

And that starts with the Delightful No — the kind of boundary that protects your energy, your focus, and your sanity.

Topics discussed in this episode include:

• Why you're depleted, not disorganized.

• How collective stress has reshaped your true capacity.

• The myth of "I can handle it all with better time management."

• Why every yes has a cost.

• How the Delightful No protects your energy and focus.

• A simple YES Plan for using your capacity intentionally.

• Practical ways to say no without guilt.

For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com. 

If you enjoyed today's episode, please:.

• Leave a positive review or rating at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ratethispodcast.com/stayingsolor

• Subscribe for new episodes every Monday.

• Sign up for email updates at www.bsfreebusiness.com/solo

Have you ever been lying in bed and thought about what would happen to your business if you were unable to work? Or if you suddenly had to take time off? I know I sure have, and whenever I think about it, I don't always have clear answers to those questions.

That's why in this episode, we're talking to Julee Yokoyama about covering your ass in your business and how to plan for the unexpected.

Get the inside scoop right here: smallbusinessboss.co/planning-for-the-unexpected

You're probably already doing strategy work in your business, but you're not getting paid for it. Or you've got strategy offers and you feel like they're not quite right or you're struggling to sell them. No matter what's going on with selling strategy in your business, I've got you.

In this episode, I'm diving into everything I've learned from my Sell the Strategy offer and what you need to consider if you want to start selling strategy.

Get the inside scoop right here: smallbusinessboss.co/sell-the-strategy-offer

As a business owner, sometimes you get a feeling. Like you're missing something. Or like things can't be this simple. I'm here to tell you that feeling may be lying to you.

In this episode, we're looking at some places where BS sneaks into our business and very practically how to deal with it, as everyday actions are what makes all the difference in building a sustainable service business.

Get the inside scoop right here - smallbusinessboss.co/cut-the-bs

So many of the business strategies and tactics that we're taught feel overwhelming. Like we need to learn something new and start over. But what if we didn't need to constantly add new things and simply would build on the foundation we already have?

In this episode, we're diving into how to actually build a service business that's sustainable and cutting through all the BS around scale. I'm sharing key questions to ask, the problem with overconfidence, and how the secret of sustainability really lies in small, simple changes.

Get the inside scoop right here: smallbusinessboss.co/sustainability-for-service-business

Scaling your business is seen as the ultimate goal for every online business owner. As the saying goes, if you're not scaling, you're failing".

In this episode, I'm digging into the cult of scale, including why scaling isn't all it's cracked up to be and how the relentless quest for scale is doing more harm than good for many of us.

Get the inside scoop: smallbusinessboss.co/scale-and-sustainability

Working with clients one-on-one gets a bad rap in online business circles, and honestly, I really hate it.

In this episode, I'm talking about why working one-on-ones is not at all what the celebrity entrepreneurs make it out to be, along with how and why I STILL work with clients one-on-one and have no plans to stop anytime soon.

Get the inside scoop: smallbusinessboss.co/work-with-clients

Inflation. Recession. There's no escaping talk of an economic downturn but how do you separate fact from fiction? How do you know what's just hype designed to make you buy? And what's actually helpful? And most of all, what do you really need to know?

In this episode, we're getting real about a recession with a look at the actual numbers, the complete BS the online business world is currently spinning, and what you can do in your business so you're prepared.

Get the inside scoop right here: smallbusinessboss.co/recession

For many of you, you're heading into summer, and you may be wondering how you're going to juggle everything for the next two months. In this episode, we're going to talk about how to create your Summer Action Plan, including five boundaries to set!

Even if it's not summer for you as you're down under, you'll still find some helpful ideas for setting and managing boundaries when you work with clients.

Get the inside scoop right here: smallbusinessboss.co/boundaries-in-your-business

Despite what you may have been told, not all service businesses are created equal.

And that means not all advice for service business owners is applicable to everyone. 

The needs and nuances of creatives, coaches and consultants vary wildly, yet they're all given the same strategies and BS advice. 

So what advice should you actually be paying attention to? 

That's why in this episode, we're going to look at the key differences between various types of service businesses.

Get the inside scoop at smallbusinessboss.co/creatives-coaches-and-consultants

**This week we're sharing an episode from Duped Season 3 for your listening pleasure.**

Over the last 10 years, there have been countless ways that celebrity entrepreneurs have sold to us, courses, masterminds, memberships and so many more. These trends come and go, and one of the big ones right now is group programs.

In this episode of Duped, we're digging into all things group programs including the potential grifts of these programs that you need to know about right now.

Learn more at duped.online

Some days, you look at the online business world and wonder, what are we even doing?

We were sold freedom and ended up with nonstop optimization, fake urgency, and the pressure to perform 24/7.

In a world this chaotic, the smartest move you can make is building a business that isn't.

You can't control the economy, the algorithm, or a flaky client, but you can control how your business runs. And when you do, your business stops being the source of drama and becomes the calm in the storm.

In this episode, we're exploring the power of a delightfully boring business.

Topics discussed in this episode include:

• Why the business "freedom" dream isn't working.

• How hustle culture morphed into non-stop optimization.

• What a delightfully boring business really looks like.

• Why predictability reduces stress and boosts clarity.

• How to build a business that stays steady no matter what.

For detailed show notes and links to everything in this episode, please visit bsfreebusiness.com. 

If you enjoyed today's episode, please:.

• Leave a positive review or rating at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ratethispodcast.com/stayingsolo

• Subscribe for new episodes every Monday.

• Sign up for email updates at www.bsfreebusiness.com/solo

Have you ever seen biz advice telling you to "stop trading time for dollars"?

This is an all-too-common refrain when it comes to pricing your services, but there's something about this advice that misses the mark —

What does it actually MEAN?

Because while it may *sound* like good advice at first glance, there's way more nuance needed when discussing pricing.

In this episode, we're diving into the missing part of this conversation and what you really need to know about trading time for dollars.

Get the inside scoop at smallbusinessboss.co/trading-time-for-dollars

There are lots of lessons on the path to being a successful business owner, aren't there?

But if there's one lesson that stands out the most is that there's no singularly "right" way to create the business we want. 

What works for me may not work for you, and that's totally okay!

However, after nearly two decades of running a biz on my own, there ARE some lessons that I think everyone may benefit from.

That's why in this episode, I'm sharing my own "secrets of success" from 17 years in business.

smallbusinessboss.co/secrets-of-success

Do you know how to sell your strategy?

Maybe your offer isn't quite right. Maybe you're having a hard time selling it. Or maybe, you just don't have the first clue where to begin. 

I know I've made plenty of mistakes along the way when it comes to strategy. 

And that's why I'm super passionate about helping people learn how they can sell strategy effectively within their own business. 

In this episode, we're digging into seven mistakes to watch for when selling strategy along with a lot of actionable takeaways for you.

Get the scoop at:

smallbusinessboss.co/sell-strategy