Mind Your Business With Sara & Helen

How do you attack the week when you return to your desk on Monday morning? Sara & Helen reckon it's the perfect time for targeted reporting on things like sales, margin and cashflow - not only to get your affairs in order for the week ahead, but also the months and even year to come. Because, in measuring what needs to be managed over the course of the next seven days, you should be able to identify what requires your attention in the medium and long-term too. As Helen says, 'bad news delivered early enough can become good news' - and the sooner you spot a potential problem the easier it is to resolve. In our feature Over A Brew in partnership with Not On The High Street, we have advice from Stephanie from StephieAnn Design, who makes handcrafted fashion, accessories and personalised gifts. Just like us, Steph is all about finding your tribe!

Could this be our best Q&A yet? Sara certainly thinks so. The girls deal with questions about social media, networking and email marketing agencies that are relevant to all small business owners. Email you queries to hello@mybpod.com, or get in touch via the channels below.

It's tempting to think of your staff as family, especially if you're a small business owner. But while everyone craves a happy workplace, it's imperative to maintain professional, adult-to-adult relationships with your team if you want your business to grow. Do not treat them like kids! Will you do a job instead of an employee because it's quicker to do it yourself? Is everyone always in agreement with you or reluctant to challenge your ideas? Does the thought of giving feedback to a colleague - because they are also a friend - fill you with terror? If the answer to these questions is 'yes', it's time to reconsider your approach to management. Sara and Helen explore the pitfalls of parenting your staff, and have oodles of practical advice to help you empower them. And in Over A Brew with Not On The High Street, we receive lovely words of wisdom from illustrator, designer and Tulustra founder, Lucy.

Your personal hotshot consultancy team is back to solve your problems - and provide invaluable advice for ALL business owners in the process. In our latest salon, Sarah needs help with a competitor unfairly piggybacking on her hard work, designer Louise feels threatened by AI, and Vicky wants to know how to protect her brand. As ever, Sara and Helen have the answers! Email your question to hello@mybpod.com, or get in touch via the channels below.

With the holiday season in full swing, expect emails by the pool, conference calls on the beach and crisis management over long, lazy lunches. Some people find it hard to switch off from work, others simply don't - or don't want to! However you navigate a well-earned break, Sara and Helen share advice on making the experience as enjoyable stress-free as possible - which in turn could have lasting benefits for you and your business. We also launch our new feature, Over A Brew, in partnership with Not On The High Street, in which founders share their words of wisdom. First up, Stephen & Katie from BrickByBrick23.

Ian wants advice on how to hire when you can't compete with the big hitters on wages, Caroline is wondering whether to invest in physical premises for her online business, and Heather is worried about President Trump's tariffs. As ever, Sara and Helen have loads of practical advice. Email your questions to hello@mybpod.com, or get in touch via the channels below

In a very candid tete-a-tete, Sara and Helen explore what the goals for your business should be, how you decide upon them, and what impact they have on your life beyond work. As is evident from the discussion - which is as personal as ever - your business and your life are inextricably linked, which means breaking your back to grow isn't necessarily the right course of action. Meanwhile, Helen reveals how she's lost a member of staff as a result of the podcast, and Sara makes a clarion call to our new Prime Minister on behalf of small businesses. We also have our final instalment of Let's Be Frank, for exciting reasons which will become clear ...

Michelle has a seasonal business and needs help getting through the winter, Belle is wondering how to negotiate the minefield that is paid advertising, and Emma has the opportunity to get permanent premises for her floristry business. As ever, our entrepreneurial agony aunts Sara and Helen have plenty of useful thoughts! Email your small business dilemmas to hello@mybpod.com

It's intimidating, as a small business owner, battling sprawling, multinational corporations. But don't forget why people want to bring their custom to you, and the competitive advantage that gives you over the so-called big hitters. That's the 'Special Sauce', as Helen describes it. Celebrity service, attention to detail, trust, that personal touch - all very achievable goals, especially given the (relatively cheap) technology at hand. Here, Sara and Helen share ways in which you can make your little company appear huge - ramping up profits without sacrificing your core values. We also have a welcome return from their dad, Frank, in our regular feature ... Let's Be Frank!