The SmallBizChat with Melinda Emerson

Pricing problems often point to deeper issues with cash flow, lead generation, or client boundaries. Linda Hunt explains how service businesses can establish a minimum aligned price, charge for scope and repeatable delivery, and stop absorbing extra work for free. She also shares why small business owners should review and adjust pricing at least annually.

Financial freedom is not just about earning more, it is about creating more choices. Terri Ijeoma shares how new investors can get educated, open a brokerage account, and learn with a watch list before trading real money. She also reflects on losing $26,000 overnight and explains how position sizing, reward to risk calculations, stop losses, discipline, and patience can help protect wealth.

Your energy, focus, and stamina shape how you lead your business. Edward Jones shares why entrepreneurs should prioritize peak span, not just lifespan, through better sleep, nutrition and movement. He discusses eating more protein, reducing ultra-processed carbs and seed oils, building muscle, tracking sleep, and using AI to create a practical wellness plan.

In this episode of The SmallBizChat podcast, Melinda Emerson hosts a panel with Tonya Thomas, Saul Cohen, and Garrick C. Francis for a lively conversation about the tools and ideas that help small businesses keep moving. They share favorite podcasts, business apps, and old school marketing tactics, along with the books that have shaped their thinking.

In this episode of The SmallBizChat, Melinda Emerson talks with Garrick C. Francis about building a legacy by design before retirement. They discuss how small business and corporate experience shape a legacy mindset, the move from success to significance, and why legacy goes beyond assets. The conversation covers life events that prompt leaders to rethink purpose, separating founder identity, reducing founder gravity, and seeing legacy as relationships, mentorship, service, and stewardship. Garrick also shares the habits and internal work needed for intentional legacy planning, plus the value of taking a legacy deployment gap before the next chapter.

In this episode of The SmallBizChat, Melinda Emerson talks with Scott Romesser about why customer care is central to business growth. They discuss how to create a strong first impression, common service mistakes small businesses make, and why existing customers can become a business’s best marketing channel. Scott shares ways to stand out, support customers with limited staff, empower frontline employees, and use AI without losing the human touch. The conversation also covers feedback, differentiation, and caring for customers before they become customers.

In this episode of The SmallBizChat, Melinda Emerson is joined by Saul Cohen to explore strategies for increasing business valuation. They discuss the differences between an operator and an investor mindset, addressing common revenue misconceptions. The conversation covers key drivers of business valuation, the importance of knowing and tracking key performance indicators, and effective tax planning for selling a business. Saul also highlights the emotional aspects of selling and common mistakes that can reduce business value.

In this episode of The SmallBizChat, Melinda Emerson is joined by Tonya Thomas to explore the pitfalls of becoming a bottleneck in business and how it can impede growth. They discuss the critical responsibilities of a CEO and the challenges associated with delegation, highlighting common mistakes when hiring operations or virtual assistants. The conversation includes a comparison of US-based versus overseas virtual assistants and presents a real-life example of a CEO overcoming overwhelm.

In this episode of The SmallBizChat, Melinda Emerson starts with an introduction, providing an overview of the podcast and encouraging subscriptions. The episode is sponsored by Cofounder.ai. Melinda then introduces the "Hit It and Quit It" segment, where she engages in a rapid-fire discussion about business favorites, including podcasts, apps, marketing tricks, and books.

In this episode of The SmallBizChat, Melinda Emerson welcomes Susan Hall Walker to discuss the inspiring journey behind the Ibu Movement and its impact on artisan networks. Susan shares the origins of Ibu and how it operates to expand and support artisan communities globally. The conversation highlights shifts in consumer preferences toward handmade goods and the operational challenges faced by artisan groups. Susan delves into the process of transforming local crafts into global brands and envisions the future of the global artisan economy.