Running A Small Business: Interview With Beth Brodsky

Running a small business requires a lot of creativity if you’re a solopreneur like Beth Brodsky, Founder and President of BOrganized LLC. Is your home office a mess? Are you moving and need help packing or unpacking? Beth will take the stress out of your disorganized life.

Beth went from being a District Attorney to a professional organizer! Here’s how she did it….

How do you distinguish yourself among competitors?

Beth Brodsky: My entire business is based on my reputation. Many other organizers send in subcontractors to do the work for them. I am present on almost every project and if I can’t be there I send in well trained organizers who know the kind of work product I produce. When your reputation is your brand you can’t risk sending in an untrained person to get the job done.

Do you have a partner or do you do everything yourself?

Beth Brodsky: I do everything myself. My business is small and so I don’t have to outsource just yet. When you are getting started its important to do everything yourself- including the numbers. You have to make sure that it all adds up before you even think about putting this in someone else’s hands.

Service businesses live or die by their reputations. Every interaction you have with a customer either builds or erodes that reputation.

Three Takeaway Tips

First, one unhappy customer can do more damage to your reputation than ten happy customers can help it.

Notice how Beth manages her capacity and her reputation at the same time.

She has a network of professionals in her field she trusts who have the same work ethic and professionalism she does. She vets them before they meet the client.

Second, Beth doesn’t ask the client to be her quality control.

BOrganized ensures the client gets the best possible outcome. These professional relationships should be reciprocal. If one of Beth’s professional organizers in her network needs her help, I’m sure she’s there to give it.

Third, Do everything yourself before you hand it off to anyone.

When it comes to running a small business Beth said she does “even the numbers”. That means you should learn the basics of bookkeeping before you hire a bookkeeper even if you’re not great at it. Why? You need to be able to read your financial statements and to know what’s happening in your business before you delegate it.

If you don’t, you’re handing the keys to the kingdom to someone who doesn’t have nearly the vested interest you do in the success of running your small business. Don’t assume your bookkeeper or accountant will teach you. It’s not their job.

In our last article, Beth gave us great advice about building your network and gaining credentials in a new industry if your a career changer.

Here, she tells us that an important part of running a small business is reading your financial dashboard so you can make important course corrections. We agree with her; the numbers tell the important story.

If numbers intimidate you, have no fear.

We’ll show you how to double your profits with the same effort in any economy. Take our Instant CFO Course, you’ll never be the same.

Here’s a note from one of our entrepreneurs:

“Dawn, I can’t thank you enough!! I can finally read my profit and loss statements! For ten years I’ve felt so inadequate not understanding such a key aspect of my business. In five minutes you clearly explained in detail how to use this invaluable tool; in a language I can understand! Thank you! I can’t wait for the next class!”

It’s all there for you in our training videos. Quick, easy and fun.

Need more help? Don’t Panic! Ask Dawn!

We’ll get back to you either online or via phone. Your choice. It’s the only live help desk online for small businesses.

And it’s free for now.

We don’t like to drive a car with our eyes closed. Neither should you run a small business without knowing the basics. We make it easy.