• E199 | The Burnout Blind Spot: Protecting Your Mindset While Building a Legacy
    May 15 2025

    In this episode of Tycoons of Small Biz, hosts Austin Peterson and Landon Mance discuss the critical topic of burnout among entrepreneurs. With their combined experiences as business owners, investors, and operators, they delve into the causes, consequences, and preventive measures of burnout. They emphasize the importance of mental health and outline strategies to maintain balance, such as scheduling breaks, seeking therapy, setting emotional boundaries, and engaging in stress-relieving activities. The episode also highlights the financial aspect of burnout, discussing how lifestyle creep and poor financial planning can exacerbate stress. The hosts aim to provide actionable insights to help entrepreneurs protect their mental energy and build sustainable businesses. The episode concludes with a call to action for listeners to assess their mental well-being and adopt one new habit to safeguard their mindset.

    Download the Mental Health Self-Assessment at www.backboneplanning.com/resources

    03:27 The Importance of Burnout Awareness

    05:53 Personal Experiences with Burnout

    15:15 Financial Strategies to Combat Burnout

    24:18 Tools and Tips for Mental Recovery

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    37 mins
  • E198 | Strategic Debt: Friend of Foe?
    Apr 25 2025

    Strategic Debt: Power Move or Pitfall? 💥

    Most business owners hear the word “debt” and immediately cringe… but what if we told you it can actually be a smart tool to grow your business?

    In this episode of Tycoons of Small Biz, we break down:

    ✅ The difference between good debt, bad debt, and flat-out stupid debt

    ✅ How to scale without selling your soul (or your equity)

    ✅ Why your cash flow forecast should be your new BFF

    ✅ Real talk about using debt to fuel growth—not just put out fires

    If you're still treating debt like a dirty word, this convo will change your mind—and maybe your bottom line. 💼💸

    📌 Pro tip: Download our Strategic Debt Planning Guide: backboneplanning.com/resources

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    33 mins
  • E197 | From Growth to Liquidity: Your Business as a Wealth-Building Asset
    Apr 10 2025

    In this episode of 'Tycoons of Small Biz,' hosts Austin Peterson and Landon Mance discuss the critical journey from building business growth to achieving liquidity for small business owners.

    The episode focuses on the significance of treating a business as part of a comprehensive financial plan, ensuring business owners achieve financial independence outside the business.

    Key topics include the importance of building transferable value, effective strategies for reinvestment, and diversified wealth management. The hosts also outline various exit and liquidity options such as internal transitions, partner buyouts, and third-party sales. They emphasize the need for systematic planning to create a business that can sustain and grow with minimal dependence on the owner, thereby increasing its overall market value.

    The episode concludes with actionable steps for integrating business value into personal wealth planning.

    03:02 Today's Topic: From Growth to Liquidity

    03:21 The Financial Plan for Business Owners

    04:21 Excitement for the Episode

    05:30 Challenges in Business Strategy

    12:48 Building Transferable Value

    22:29 Paths to Liquidity

    25:04 Third Party Sales and Business Value

    28:22 Integrating Business Value into Personal Wealth

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    36 mins
  • E196 | Smart Tax Planning; Business Owner Case Studies
    Mar 27 2025

    In this episode of Tycoons of Small Biz, hosts Austin Peterson and Landon Mance dive into smart tax planning strategies for small business owners.

    They discuss the importance of proactive tax planning, share insights from their experience, and provide case studies demonstrating significant tax savings. The episode underscores the necessity of collaborating with tax and financial advisors to navigate complex tax codes and structure investments effectively.

    Key takeaways include reviewing entity structures, maximizing deductions thoughtfully, and planning taxes quarterly. Real-life examples illustrate the efficacy of oil and gas investments, qualified opportunity zones, and charitable planning in optimizing tax outcomes, ensuring business growth, and preserving value.

    01:08 The Importance of Small Business

    01:47 Smart Tax Planning for Business Owners

    07:10 Case Study: Franchise Tax Savings

    15:32 Case Study: Business Owner Divorce

    24:31 Key Takeaways and Actionable Strategies

    28:44 Conclusion and Next Episode Preview

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    32 mins
  • E195 | Small Business Tax Strategies: Keep More of What You Earn
    Mar 12 2025

    Join Austin Peterson and Landon Mance in this episode of Tycoons of Small Biz as they delve into crucial tax strategies for small business owners.

    Discover the importance of year-round tax planning, learn about commonly overlooked tax deductions, and understand the impact of strategic spending on your business's value. From the benefits of a cost segregation study to the significance of meeting with your financial advisor and CPA, this episode offers valuable insights to help you save on taxes and grow your business.

    Don't miss actionable steps and case studies of successful tax planning strategies from real clients.

    02:31 Tax Strategies for Business Owners

    07:06 Overlooked Tax Deductions

    08:49 Importance of Year-Round Tax Planning

    26:31 Entity Structure and Tax Implications

    28:42 Actionable Steps and Final Thoughts

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    33 mins
  • E194 | Preparing for the Unexpected: Emergency Funds & Contingency Planning
    Feb 26 2025

    In this episode of Tycoons of Small Biz, hosts Austin Peterson and Landon Mance discuss the importance of emergency funds and contingency planning for small business owners. Drawing on their experience as financial planners and business consultants, they share insights on preparing for unexpected events such as economic downturns, employee fraud, and health issues. They explain how to determine the right amount of emergency funds, where to keep these funds, and the role of various types of insurance. This episode provides actionable advice on crisis management to help business owners mitigate stress and enhance business stability.

    01:45 The Importance of Emergency Funds

    02:09 Real-Life Examples of Business Challenges

    05:41 How Much Cash Should a Business Have?

    09:46 Effective Cash Management Strategies

    26:44 The Role of Insurance in Business

    29:10 Conclusion and Key Takeaways

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    31 mins
  • E193 | Retirement Planning for Entrepreneurs: Building Wealth Beyond Your Business
    Feb 11 2025

    Hosts, Austin Peterson and Landon Mance of Backbone Planning Partners, discuss retirement planning for small business owners. They address the common notion of relying solely on the business as a retirement plan, emphasizing the importance of diversification and establishing separate retirement accounts like SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs, and 401(k)s. They advocate for setting aside a significant portion of income toward retirement, providing actionable strategies for building wealth beyond the business. The discussion also highlights the need for financial independence and the potential role of cryptocurrencies in future retirement planning.

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    32 mins
  • E192 | Mastering Cash Flow: The Lifeblood of Your Small Business
    Jan 14 2025

    In this episode of 'Tycoons of Small Biz,' the focus is on the critical importance of cash flow management for small businesses. Austin explains how cash flow is essential for business growth and financial stability. He shares practical insights on managing accounts receivable and payable, proactive forecasting, and leveraging surplus cash effectively. Additionally, Austin discusses the significance of not being overly reliant on lines of credit, the benefits of hiring a fractional CFO, and the value of using automated invoicing systems. Listeners are encouraged to engage in maintaining liquidity while pursuing growth and to routinely evaluate their cash flow to ensure sustainable business operations. The episode also includes a review and actionable advice for building strong cash flow practices, preparing for seasonal fluctuations, and making strategic hires to aid in business growth.

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    30 mins