If you want to scale your business, your financial systems have to scale with you—or they’ll quietly become the thing that breaks everything.

In this episode of Build Boldly, host Pat Rodgers sits down with Paul Anthony, founder and CEO of Opstart, to break down how entrepreneurs should set up bookkeeping, accounts receivable, accounts payable, banking, payroll, and taxes from day one.

Paul shares why “winging it” with finances leads to lost cash, missed tax credits, valuation issues, and unnecessary stress, and how clean, scalable systems protect your time and your bottom line as you grow.

You’ll learn:

• How to properly separate personal and business finances early
• Why accurate bookkeeping is the foundation for every financial decision
• How to set up AR/AP systems that don’t steal your time
• Which tools actually work (QuickBooks, Gusto, Ramp, Bill.com)
• When to outsource bookkeeping vs. hire a controller or fractional CFO
• How poor financial hygiene can hurt fundraising, acquisitions, and exits
• Why scalable systems matter long before you hit $1M in revenue

Whether you’re just getting started or cleaning up financial chaos, this episode gives you a clear, practical roadmap to build a financial foundation that supports real growth.

Learn more about Paul Anthony and Opstart on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-anthony-8a256087/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/opstartsb/

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Connect with Pat Rodgers on LinkedIn
Learn more about RISE Commercial District Website | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn

Build Boldly is produced by Palm Tree Pod Co.

As companies grow, founders often become the biggest bottleneck. In the final episode of the Business Roadmap series, host Pat Rodgers tackles one of the most overlooked drivers of business success: personal growth for business owners.

Pat shares practical, experience-driven advice on how to transition from doing everything yourself to working on the business by identifying your weakest points, hiring or outsourcing strategically, and letting go of control so your business can scale.

This episode covers how to:

• Identify and fill leadership gaps through hiring, outsourcing, or contractors
• Shift from operator to strategic leader without losing momentum
• Find the right mentors inside and outside your industry
• Build a personal book club to support continuous learning
• Block non-negotiable time to think strategically instead of fighting daily fires
• Create a support system, including a non-business “hype person,” to handle the emotional weight of leadership

Pat also shares why neglecting personal development doesn’t just hurt the business, it impacts employees, families, and long-term sustainability.

If you’re an entrepreneur, founder, or business owner feeling stretched thin, this episode will help you reclaim clarity, build the right support systems, and grow both personally and professionally, so your business can thrive long term.

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Connect with Pat Rodgers on LinkedIn
Learn more about RISE Commercial District Website | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn

Build Boldly is produced by Palm Tree Pod Co.

If your business isn’t growing, it’s usually not a product problem—it’s a sales or marketing problem. In episode 3 of the Build Boldly Business Roadmap series, host Pat Rodgers dives into one of the most important skills every entrepreneur must master: sales and marketing.

Pat breaks down how business owners can build a repeatable, measurable sales system using a CRM, clearly define their Ideal Client Profile (ICP), and eliminate friction that slows deals down. He explains why tracking wins and losses matters, how to replicate top-performing sales behaviors, and how to align sales goals with compensation and realistic timelines.

On the marketing side, Pat makes a strong case for treating marketing as a non-negotiable investment, not an afterthought. He walks through how to set a marketing plan and budget, why outsourcing early often makes more sense than hiring in-house, and how local SEO can drive high-intent leads for businesses that serve specific geographies.

You’ll learn how to:
-Implement and use a CRM to track leads, deals, and performance
-Identify and double down on your Ideal Client Profile
- Replicate top sellers’ behaviors with a sales playbook
- Remove friction from your sales process
- Set sales goals tied directly to compensation
- Build a marketing plan that actually drives revenue

This episode is a tactical guide to building a sales and marketing engine that scales. Next week, Pat wraps up the Roadmap series with Personal Growth and Leadership.

Until then, like, share, and Build Boldly.

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Connect with Pat Rodgers on LinkedIn
Learn more about RISE Commercial District Website | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn

Build Boldly is produced by Palm Tree Pod Co.