A family business; a wonderful situation if everyone is working together. But often there are situations; parents that won't give responsibility to a child; siblings that can't agree or siblings where one works very hard and the other does not. These are just a couple of examples. Tom Hubler visits to share an hour full of ideas of the important components of a family business. This was a fascinating visit with a gentleman who truly showed and shared a high level of expertise. If your business has multiple family members involved, this is a good investment of your time to listen.

With all the changes in the way people act and shop, what do you need to do differently with your point of sale system? What is the number one concern you should have for your business? What opportunities are there for you to take advantage of in your business? Can you easily handle cashless transactions? Dick Calio, POS expert, spent the hour with us to answer your questions about what opportunities and challenges are before us as the economy begins to reopen.

You utilized your gut feeling when you decided to purchase or start your small business. All small businesses have opportunities for growth that come their way. There are also what appears as an opportunity that turns out to be a trap. Jacob Curtis, CPA shares his methodology for determining how to make the decision in your small business.

Heidi Kaisand has quite the story that she shares on Small Business Conversations. A decade ago she started a quilting store. Eight years ago she added to those responsibilities her work with the industry magazine, American Quilt Retailer. A year later she purchased the publication and is now the publisher and editor. She also creates online academies for other business owners in the trade. Her business is unique in that it finds ways to include the customers with their purchases. Heidi makes equipment available for the customers to use and she has multi-day camps for customers who travel hours to buy and use the equipment. The second floor of the building is part dormitory and part workshop for the customers. Heidi has an amazing story and you can hear the details in this month's Small Business Conversations with Tom Shay

The July Small Business Conversations brings a very unique perspective to looking at small business. Dave Wendland has seen and worked with thousands of small businesses through his company Hamacher Resource Group. We ask Dave to share his experiences of the traits of the best small business owners he has seen and worked with; easy to understand with ideas of how you can duplicate these special traits.

Do customers identify your business because of low prices? Is it because it is you, the owner, is seen and heard in your advertising? Perhaps your business is known for supporting a local animal rescue organization. None of these are brand voicing. Listen as Devon Clements of J Schmid Creative Agency explains, discusses and shares examples of how developing the way you connect with your customers can retain customers and bring new customers to your business. That is brand voicing.

As we finish the first quarter of 2023, we are finding an increasing number of articles telling of large businesses facing challenges of theft. Is it internal theft? Is it accounting errors? Is it individuals stealing or is it organized theft? With the reports of big businesses we take the opportunity to invite our favorite loss prevention person, Jerry Obarski, to share his thoughts and experiences. These articles from national sources may have correct information but we find what is more important is to listen to a career expert on the topic.

The SBDC (Small Business Development Centers) is the best resource a small business owner could ask for. The bonus is that their services are free to new and existing small business owners. During this episode, Tee Rowe, president of America's SBDC and Greg Jordan, state director of the Kansas SBDC spend an hour with Tom Shay to tell of the many services that your business can receive assistance with through your local SBDC. Together they explain how to find your local SBDC office as well as give examples of the many success stories they have had over the years. Satisfaction surveys show an approval rating in excess of 93% by small business owners who have worked with the SBDC.

Ken Banks, branding, marketing and advertising expert with a career of  having worked with a "who's who" in the world of big business. Ken  visits to discuss with us what small businesses can learn for the  efforts of big businesses. We discuss trends with social media and  traditional advertising. Listening to our hour with Ken Banks is like  your having hired your own personal advertising consultant.

Soon we will all be bombarded with articles and television interviews telling us how to establish goals for the new year. Are goals only to be established to begin on January 1? Can you adjust a goal? Can you abandon a goal? Are all goals good? How do you measure your goals? Some goals are outcome based while others are activity based; what is the difference? These questions and many more during our hour long visit with Gwen Bortner on Small Business Conversations with host Tom Shay

A little known aspect of the CARES Act from the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic is the existence of the Employee Retention Credit (ERC). Does your business qualify for these funds? How is the amount of ERC determined that you receive? If you received PPP funds is your business disqualified? Are there certain employees that disqualify you? Should I use one of the firms I find on the Internet offering to prepare the ERC paperwork? Is there more paperwork to do than just the ERC application? Is the money guaranteed? How soon do I get the ERC? So many valid questions. Our expert, Mike McCormick, CPA of Financialclaritygroup.com answers these questions and more. We think we just found some funds for some small business owners listening to this month's Small Business Conversations with Tom Shay.

Of course you know that there is going to be the day when you transition out of your business. Other than closing the business, you may sell the business to a family member, an employee, create an employee stock ownership plan, or sell to a third party. With any of these options one of the biggest questions is determining the value of the business. Ah, that is the big challenge. And, that is what Kurt Tobin does for a living. As our guest on Small Business Conversations, Kurt talks about the three methods for determining the price. We discussed the place in the transaction the real estate agent should have. This is a program you will likely want to bookmark in your favorite podcasts because someday it is going to be applicable to you and your business.

When was the last time you examined the fees your business was being charged for processing bank card transactions? Are you aware of the "add on services" that are a part of the transaction fees that you might not need? Just how does the bank card transaction system work? What should I look for in having the right company to handle my bank card transactions? And very importantly, how can I get the best rate? Stu Kehler, of Retail Control Systems and Mocha Payments visits Small Business Conversations with Tom Shay to answer questions which may help you save on the cost of processing.

Every business faces risks; some risks you know; some risks you don't know. Our guest, Ivy Walker, for this episode of Small Business Conversations is also a small business owner. She authored the book, Twelve-Minute Risk Management, is a "must read" for small business owners. You will learn how to identify and address existing and potential risks in your small business.  The book is written in a unique manner that allows you to quickly understand the risk concern along with suggestions. As you listen to this month's episode you will quickly understand that Ivy Walker is one of us as she speaks our language; speaks and acts as a highly qualified seasoned entrepreneur.

You want people to think of you and your business as the experts within your industry. Today the easiest and best way of doing so is by way of your having a podcast for your business. During this program, Tom Shay visits with Cliff DuVernois, expert on podcasting and the host of the website Experts on Podcasting.  With Cliff having interviewed hundreds of podcasters, he shares with us the many inside secrets he has learned. You'll be surprised at how easy and inexpensively you can create a podcast you can use to tell your existing and potential customers that you are where they should do business.

The SBDC (Small Business Development Centers) is a tremendous source of information and assistance for your small business. With most all services provided at no cost, this department of the SBA (Small Business Administration) has offices in all fifty states. Our guest for the March 2022 program is Tee Rowe, president of America's SBDC and Greg Tucker, director of the Missouri SBDC. During the program our guests explain how you can get an advisor for your business and the many live events and webinars available to your business. Whether you have an opportunity before your small business, or your small business is facing challenges, our guests explain how this is an excellent time for you to connect with the SBDC office in your state.

Ken Banks has had an amazing career in advertising; Circuit City, PetsMart, Levitz Furniture, Eckerd Drugs and one of the largest ad agencies in the USA. Ken joins us for the March 2022 Small Business Conversations with Tom Shay to examine television advertising messages and discuss how the experience and sizable dollars spent by these businesses can give us ideas of how we can advertise. While not likely on television, we can apply the lessons to our social media efforts as well as any other formats we would choose to share our message.

This program was unique as we asked listeners to share with Ron and Tom the details of their business so that during the program we could provide suggestions of a premium loyalty reward program for customers. The traditional loyalty program is often a, "buy a certain quantity of an item and be rewarded with a free one". A premium loyalty program is one where the customer pay a fee to be a member of a select group of customers who are provided with additional products, services and opportunities to participate in a special group. Listen as Ron and Tom do an "off the cuff" series of suggestions for small businesses during the program. Listen and you will likely find ideas for a premium reward program for your business.

Pam Danziger is a prolific author, columnist and speaker. During this program we discuss how the four Ps (product, price, promotion and placement) have become the four E's (Experience, Exchange, Evangelism and Everyplace). Listening to this one hour program with Pam Danziger can have a sizable affect on how you position your business - product or service oriented - in your effort to attract and retain customers.

Goldman Sachs 10000 Small Businesses is a school for entrepreneurs. Think of it as getting a masters degree in owning your business. Daniel Pitts Winegarden, lead faculty, join us for an hour to share the details of how our listeners can apply to be one of the scholars. Daniel explained what was taught and how scholars are held accountable for their efforts and the follow up. Goldman Sachs is making this amazing investment, and have for 10 years, by providing the school at no cost to scholars. This was an amazing hour of hearing how the school works and the observations by Daniel Pitts Winegarden.