The Business Behind Your Business - Real Advice to Help Small Business Owners Build, Lead and Thrive
Conversations to help your business grow and thrive — like having your own board of expert advisors in your pocket.
The Business Behind Your Business is the go-to podcast for small business owners who want practical guidance, clearer decision-making, and strategies that actually work in the real world.
Hosted by Paul Sweeney, each 15–30 minute episode takes you behind the scenes of how small businesses grow, lead teams, manage money, and solve the problems that keep owners up at night. Whether you’re running a team of one or twenty, you’ll find relatable stories, expert insights, and tools you can put into action straight away.
From improving cash flow and pricing for value to building systems, reducing overwhelm, and preparing for long-term success, our guests share straightforward advice without the jargon.
What you’ll learn:
* How small businesses make money — and where they lose it
* Leadership and team-building strategies that actually work
* Smart marketing ideas for busy owners
* Financial planning and forecasting explained simply
* How to scale without burning out
* What successful businesses do differently behind the scenes
If you want your business to run better, grow stronger, and give you more freedom, this show gives you the practical steps and confidence to make it happen — one smart decision at a time.
Subscribe and join thousands of business owners who are building better businesses, not just bigger ones.
Episodes
222 episodes
Stop Chasing New Customers: How Email Drives Sustainable E‑Commerce Growth
If you’re running an e‑commerce business (or any business that relies on repeat customers) and feel like you’re constantly chasing the next sale, this episode will change how you think about growth. In this conversation, Paul Sweeney sits down ...
Stuck in Referrals and Hope? Build a System That Delivers Leads on Repeat
If you’re a B2B business owner who relies heavily on referrals and finds yourself stuck in unpredictable cycles of feast and famine, this episode is for you. In this conversation, Paul Sweeney is joined by LinkedIn growth expert Colin Gallagher...
Why Buying a Business Can Beat Property (When You Do It Right)
Most business owners are told that property and passive investments are the safest way to build wealth. But what if buying the right business — structured and funded properly — could deliver stronger returns, faster cash flow, and grea...
From Founder-Dependent to Scalable: Closing the Accountability Gap
Many business owners believe their biggest challenges are rising costs, staffing issues, or external market pressures. But what if the real threat to profit, growth, and freedom is something far less visible? In this episode of The Business...
Losing 30% of Your Traffic? How AI Search Is Reshaping E‑Commerce
What if your products are great, your website looks professional, and your SEO has been solid for years — yet customers are quietly disappearing? In this episode of The Business Behind Your Business, host Paul Sweeney sits down with e‑...
Going Global: Smart International Patent Strategies
If you’ve built a great product or developed a powerful idea and are thinking about taking it global, one critical question quickly arises: how do you protect your intellectual property internationally without burning through your cash?<...
Women, Wealth & Wellness: Redefining What True Wealth Really Means
What does true wealth really mean — and who gets to define it? In this episode of The Business Behind Your Business, host Paul Sweeney is joined by Nancy Griffin, founder of Women, Worth & Wellness, for a powerful...
The Money Is in the Mailbox: How to Actually Win Business on LinkedIn
Most business owners open LinkedIn with a sense of dread. Cold pitches, generic messages, and wasted time have led many to believe the platform simply doesn’t work. In this episode of The Business Behind Your Business, host Paul Sweene...
The Hidden Value Problem: How Creators and Businesses Lose (and Recover) Millions
In a digital world where it’s easier than ever to create and distribute content, many business owners and creators are unknowingly losing value from the assets they’ve already built. In this episode of The Business Behind Your Business...
Why Most Professionals Get the Jump to Business Ownership Wrong
Is it possible to build wealth and freedom without quitting your day job or sacrificing your family life?In this episode of The Business Behind Your Business, Paul Sweeney is joined by Billy Keels, former corporate execut...
If I Gave You $250,000, Would Your Business Waste It?
What would actually happen if you injected $250,000 into your business tomorrow—would it create real value, or disappear into unfocused spending? In this episode of The Business Behind Your Business, host Paul Sweeney sits down with Ro...
Thinking About a Private Equity Exit? Avoid These Costly Founder Mistakes
If you’re a business owner thinking about private equity, growth, or an eventual exit, this episode could save you years of stress — and potentially millions of dollars. Most founders only learn how private equity really works after<...
Franchising Without Losing Your Heart: How to Scale a Values-Led Business
What happens when you want to grow your business—but you refuse to lose its heart in the process? In this episode of The Business Behind Your Business, host Paul Sweeney sits down with Nuttha Goutier, founder of Sabai Thai Spa, to expl...
From Bottleneck to Freedom: How to Reclaim Your Time Without Slowing Growth
Most business owners don’t start their companies dreaming of 80-hour weeks, missed family milestones, and being trapped as the bottleneck — yet that’s exactly where many end up. This episode is a must-listen for any entrepreneur who feels time-...
Disruption by Design: How to Stop Tech Projects from Failing
If you’ve ever wondered why digital transformation projects fail or felt unsure about what “disruption” actually means, this episode brings much-needed clarity. You’ll learn the difference between digitalisation, transformation, and disruption ...
Scaling Without Compromise: How PLNT Burger Grows With Purpose
If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s truly possible to grow and scale a business without compromising on the values it was founded on, this episode will give you the blueprint. In today’s conversation, you’ll learn how PLNT Burger has expanded ...
Global Opportunities: How to Sell to the US Federal Government From Anywhere
If you’ve ever assumed that American government contracts are only for big companies—or only for businesses based in the United States—this episode will change everything you think you know. In this eye-opening conversation, you’ll learn how yo...
From Invisible to In-Demand: How to Make Your Business Impossible to Ignore
If you’ve ever felt frustrated because you know your business offers something incredible—but the world isn’t noticing—this episode is for you. Many business owners excel at creating a great product or delivering exceptional service, y...
The Biggest Payday You’re Not Ready For: How to Prepare Your Business for Sale
If you’re a business owner, one day you will exit your business — whether by choice or circumstance. But here’s the uncomfortable truth: most business owners are not ready when that moment arrives. And that lack of preparation could co...
The Hidden Cost of Cost Cutting: Why Businesses Need a Better Strategy
Running a business often comes with the constant pressure to reduce expenses and improve profit. But what if cost cutting alone isn’t the right answer? What if the real opportunity lies in rethinking how you resource, structure, and in...
Clean Up Your Business: Fix Your Data, Fix Your Decisions
Running a business becomes overwhelming when your data, systems, and processes slip into chaos—making it harder to make smart decisions, stay profitable, and plan for the future. In this episode, you’ll learn exactly how to clean up your busine...
Bootstrapping a Start-Up: Real Lessons from a $30M Founder
If you’ve ever wondered how to scale your business from a solo operation to a multimillion-dollar enterprise — without outside investors — this episode is for you. Bryan Clayton, CEO and co-founder of GreenPal, joins host Paul Sweeney to share ...
Delegate Up, Not Down: The Secret to Founder Freedom
What if your business could run smoothly—even grow—without you being the one to make every decision, solve every problem, or put out every fire? It’s not a fantasy. It’s completely possible. In this episode of The Business Behind Your Busin...
Stop Waiting for the Bank: Smarter Ways to Fund Your Business
If you’ve ever struggled to find funding for your start-up or early-stage business, this episode is for you. Many founders assume that capital raising is only for big corporations or venture-backed tech firms—but as Dr David Cunic reveals, smal...
They’ll Fight Over It When You’re Gone: Building a Legacy with Dave Munson
What if your business was built to outlast you? In this inspiring episode, Dave Munson, founder of Saddleback Leather Company, shares how he turned a simple idea for a long-lasting leather bag into a global brand known for its craftsmanship, pu...
