The How of Business - How to start, run, grow and exit a small business.

The latest in key franchise trends, including AI-driven efficiency, stronger franchisor support, and high-demand service industries.
Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/601-franchise-trends-giuseppe-grammatico/
Franchising continues to evolve rapidly driven by advancements in AI, operational efficiency, and a renewed focus on franchisee success.
In this episode, Henry Lopez is joined by franchise expert Giuseppe Grammatico to break down the most important trends shaping today's franchise landscape and what they mean for aspiring business owners.
A major shift highlighted in this conversation is the increased level of support franchisors are providing. From AI-powered call centers handling hundreds of simultaneous interactions to more hands-on coaching and field support, franchise systems are investing heavily in helping owners improve performance and profitability.
As Giuseppe explains, "Support was the major thing… brands are doubling down to make sure franchisees succeed."
They also explore why service-based industries, especially home services, restoration, and senior care, continue to see strong demand. Demographic trends, remote work, and rising home equity are fueling growth in these sectors, creating opportunities for both full-time and semi-passive franchise ownership.
Another key takeaway is what it takes to succeed as a franchisee. Contrary to common belief, prior industry experience is often not required. Instead, success depends on transferable skills like leadership, sales, and, most importantly, coachability.
Whether you're exploring franchising as a full-time venture or a side hustle to diversify income, this episode provides practical insights to help you evaluate if franchising is the right path for you.
Giuseppe Grammatico - The Franchise Guide - is a franchise consultant, author, speaker, and host of the Franchise Freedom podcast. He specializes in helping individuals identify and invest in franchise opportunities that align with their goals, skills, and desired lifestyle.
This episode is hosted by Henry Lopez. The How of Business podcast focuses on helping you start, run, grow and exit your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, small business coaching, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

How small business owners can escape price-driven competition by redefining their market and creating a new category instead of competing in crowded spaces.
Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/600-kevin-maney-create-your-category/
Many small business owners enter crowded markets and end up competing primarily on price. But according to author and business strategist Kevin Maney, there is another path: create your own category.
In this conversation, Henry Lopez speaks with Kevin Maney about the ideas in his latest book "The Category Creation Formula." The discussion explores how entrepreneurs can redefine the problem they solve and differentiate their business in ways that eliminate direct price competition.
Kevin explains that market categories exist primarily in the minds of customers. Businesses that successfully define a new category often become the default leader in that space and capture most of the attention and economic value. Rather than competing to be slightly better or slightly cheaper, the goal is to become meaningfully different.
Kevin introduces the Category Creation Formula: Context + Missing + Innovation = New Category
First, business owners must understand the context of how their customers' world is changing. Next, they identify what is missing in the current solutions. Finally, they introduce an innovation that solves that missing piece in a compelling new way.
The conversation also explores the importance of storytelling in marketing. Instead of starting with features or products, businesses should begin with the problem customers experience. When customers feel understood, they become more open to new solutions.
As Kevin explains: "It's better to be different than to try to be better."
Through examples ranging from laundromats in Brooklyn to dishwasher repair services, Henry and Kevin demonstrate how entrepreneurs can redefine a problem, create a new category, and stand out even in highly saturated markets.
If you're building or growing a small business, this episode offers practical insights into escaping the trap of competing only on price.
Kevin Maney is a bestselling author, longtime business journalist, and co-founding partner of Category Design Advisors, where he helps leadership teams define and lead new market categories. He previously co-authored the influential book Play Bigger, which introduced the concept of category design to mainstream business audiences. Kevin's writing has appeared in major publications including Newsweek, Fortune, Wired, USA Today, and The Atlantic.
This episode is hosted by Henry Lopez. The How of Business podcast focuses on helping you start, run, grow and exit your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, small business coaching, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

When to outsource your bookkeeping, how outsourcing compares to hiring an in-house bookkeeper, and best practices for working effectively with a bookkeeping service.
Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/599-outsource-your-bookkeeping/
Knowing when to outsource your bookkeeping is an important decision for small business owners. As your business grows, bookkeeping becomes more complex, more time-consuming, and more critical to making informed decisions.
In this episode, Henry Lopez is joined by bookkeeping expert Jodi Arrant to discuss when it makes sense to outsource your bookkeeping instead of doing it yourself or hiring a bookkeeper in-house. They explore the common signs that indicate it's time to get help, the advantages of outsourcing, and what to look for when choosing a professional bookkeeping service.
Henry and Jodi also explain how business owners should work effectively with a bookkeeper to ensure accurate financial reports and better decision-making. Even when you outsource bookkeeping, Henry emphasizes that business owners must stay engaged with their financials and review their reports regularly.
"If you're running your business without accurate financials, you're steering partially blind." - Henry Lopez
They also discuss practical best practices for reviewing financial reports, communicating with your bookkeeper, and building the processes needed to keep your financial records accurate and useful.
Henry also shares more about The How of Business: Bookkeeping, a service designed specifically for small business owners who want professional bookkeeping support without hiring a full-time bookkeeper.
This episode is hosted by Henry Lopez. The How of Business podcast focuses on helping you start, run, grow and exit your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, small business coaching, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

If your leaders don't know how they're measured, you can't expect consistent performance or real ownership.
Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/598-do-your-leaders-know-the-score/ 
Frustrated with inconsistent performance from your managers or senior team members? The issue may not be motivation, it may be measurement.
In this episode, Henry Lopez breaks down why leadership performance problems often stem from a lack of role clarity, measurable outcomes, and transparent KPIs.
Without clearly defined metrics, even highly motivated leaders drift. Expectations become subjective. Feedback becomes emotional. And performance becomes inconsistent.
Henry explains the difference between expectations and KPIs and why outcomes, not activity, must be measured.
He walks through:
How to define company-level KPIs first
How employee KPIs must roll up to business goals
Why 2 to 5 KPIs per leader is the right number
The importance of transparency in formulas and data sources
Why ownership requires control
How KPIs improve engagement, fairness, and accountability
As Henry says, "If employees don't know how you measure their performance, you can't expect them to win."
If you want stronger leadership, clearer accountability, and more consistent results in your small business, this episode provides a practical framework you can implement immediately..
This episode is hosted by Henry Lopez. The How of Business podcast focuses on helping you start, run, grow and exit your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, small business coaching, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

Five practical reasons your small business will sell and how to intentionally build long-term exit value.
Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/597-why-your-business-will-sell/  
Most business owners say they want to sell one day but very few actually build a business someone would want to buy.
In this episode, Henry Lopez outlines five practical reasons your business will sell and the disciplines required to build exit readiness long before you're ready to exit. A sellable business isn't created at the moment you decide to sell - it's built over years through intentional design.
Henry shares the five core elements that dramatically increase sellability:
A scalable, repeatable offer
Predictable and recurring revenue
Documented systems
Owner independence
A credible growth story
Visit the show notes page for this episode to download the Business Sellability Scorecard.
Referencing ideas from Built to Sell by John Warrillow, Henry reinforces the principle that "a sellable business is a productized business" - one with clearly defined and standardized offerings instead of highly customized one-off projects.
Whether you plan to sell or not, building a sellable business creates greater freedom, stronger profitability, and more control over your future.
This episode is hosted by Henry Lopez. The How of Business podcast focuses on helping you start, run, grow and exit your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, small business coaching, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com