The Small Business School Podcast

Ready to leave the small business struggle behind? The Small Business School Podcast supports small business owners in scaling a business that is profitable, purposeful, and doesn’t leave you burnt out. No matter whether you run your business online or you own a brick-and-mortar, you can expect our world class experts to support you with mindset, tactics, and everything in between so you can have the business you dreamed of. Based on our lived experience, we know that small business CAN be easy and we are here to show you how. The Small Business School Podcast is hosted by Staci Millard, a CPA by trade with over 15 years of experience seeing the behind the scenes of thousands of small businesses. After growing and selling her first 7 figure business, Staci has been on the ground running - mentoring small businesses and working to increase success rates. Staci strongly believes you don’t need to have gone to business school to be successful so you can expect nothing

The Small Business School Podcast is a business podcast hosted by Staci Millard, with 402 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Staci Millard hosts The Small Business School Podcast, a business show with 402 episodes published.

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  Episode #403

  Changing the Funding Conversation for Canadian Women Entrepreneurs with Erin Sisko

  Sep 29, 202622 min

  What started as a $20,000 funding award three years ago has grown into an initiative worth close to $125,000, and a much bigger mission to change how Canadian women entrepreneurs access funding and build valuable businesses. Erin Sisko joins me to talk about the 2026 Capital Elle Business Impact Awards, why she wants more women thinking beyond simply starting a business, and how this year’s award is tackling gaps in networks, growth capital, and acquisition opportunities. What you'll takeaway from this episode: The Capital Elle Business Impact Awards have grown significantly. This year’s award is valued at close to $125,000, with nearly 45 partners coming together to support Canadian women entrepreneurs. Every applicant gets value. Applying immediately unlocks more than $500 worth of business resources from Canadian women founders across the country. The mission goes beyond funding individual winners. Erin wants to help change Canada’s funding ecosystem so more women can access the resources they need to scale and build valuable companies. Women need to think about their businesses as assets. The goal isn’t simply to create a job or income for yourself, but to understand the value-driving levers that can turn your business into an appreciating, wealth-creating asset. Don’t count yourself out before you apply. This year’s award focuses on three key access gaps: networks, growth capital, and acquisition opportunities. If you’re questioning whether you’re ready or deserving, Erin’s message is simple: put your name forward. If you’re a Canadian woman entrepreneur, take the 10 minutes and put your name forward. And if you know a woman building something valuable who should hear about this opportunity, send this episode her way. Links & Resources: Capital Elle Business Impact Awards: https://www.elleiance.ca/award (Application deadline - October 28 at 9:00 PM ET) Follow Elleiance through their newsletter , Instagram , or LinkedIn to stay connected to future awards and opportunities. Staci's Links: Instagram . Website .

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  Episode #401

  Mindset, Money & the Math Behind a Profitable Business with Nicole and Kaila from My Aligned Purpose

  Sep 22, 202633 min

  Wanting a more profitable business is one thing. Building the strategy, understanding the numbers, and becoming the business owner who can actually execute it is another. Nicole and Kaila of My Aligned Purpose join me to talk about their Aligned CEO Method, why mindset and math have to work together, and how to move beyond trading more of your time for more money. We get into recurring revenue, pricing, business metrics, what your goals actually require from you, and their new book designed to help women build profitable businesses and get their time back. Key Takeaways Mindset and math have to work together. A spreadsheet can show you exactly how to hit a revenue goal, but if you’re not willing or ready to take the actions behind those numbers, the plan doesn’t matter. Stop relying on more hours to make more money. Moving from a “maxed-out founder” to a “visionary expert” means building a business model that can grow without requiring you to personally deliver every dollar of revenue. Recurring revenue still requires value. The goal isn’t to put customers on a payment plan and do less. Sustainable recurring revenue comes from delivering something people continue to value in a way that also works for you. Know what your goal is actually going to cost you. It’s easy to say you want a $250K year, but are you willing to build the audience, sell at the necessary price point, invest the time, or make the tradeoffs required to get there? Learn your business metrics. Customer lifetime value, acquisition costs, conversions, profit margins, and other key numbers aren’t just for “numbers people.” Understanding them gets you into the conversations—and decisions—that help businesses grow. A profitable business isn’t built on strategy alone, and it isn’t built on mindset alone. You need to understand the numbers, be willing to do what the goal requires, and create a business model that supports the life you actually want. Grab Kayla and Nicole’s new book at myalignedpurpose.com/book and start putting their Aligned CEO Method into practice. Staci's Links: Instagram . Website .

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  Episode #399

  Episode 399 & Beyond: The Future of Small Business School

  Jun 30, 20268 min

  In this reflective solo episode of Small Business School , host Staci Millard shares a major milestone, episode 399, and announces a thoughtful pause and evolution for the podcast. As she steps into building new software alongside her accounting firm, Staci opens up about the importance of reinvention, intentionality, and allowing space for growth. She also shares what listeners can expect moving forward, including a shift in publishing cadence, more intentional guest curation, and a renewed focus on high-impact, strategic content. Key topics covered: Reaching 399 episodes of Small Business School The evolution of entrepreneurship over time and “delusional optimism” when starting something new Staci’s new venture: building software alongside her accounting firm Lessons from building multiple businesses from scratch The importance of evolving business models as you grow Why intentionality matters more as your workload and impact increase The decision to pause new podcast episodes for the summer Using the summer to focus on software development and long-term business strategy Reviewing and refining what’s worked (and what hasn’t) in podcast formats Staci is looking forward to celebrating episode 400 and beyond as a major milestone and turning point this Fall! Staci's Links: Instagram . Website .

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  Episode #398

  Building a Business That Can Be Sold with Ola Adeyemi

  Jun 25, 202635 min

  In this episode of Small Business School , host Staci Millard sits down with business coach Ola Adeyemi to unpack what it really takes to build a business that is not only profitable, but also sellable. Fresh off her experience exiting a print and embroidery business in the UK, Ola shares the hard-won lessons that reshaped how she now coaches entrepreneurs through growth, leadership, and systems. Key topics covered: Ola’s entrepreneurial journey: from running a clothing line to scaling and exiting a print & embroidery business in the UK The reality of business exits (and why most founders aren’t prepared for them) Why “building a business to sell” changes everything The difference between hiring for growth vs hiring for gaps Using a skills matrix to restructure and right-size a team Why smaller, more aligned teams often outperform larger ones Letting go of tasks you’re “good at but don’t enjoy” The importance of DISC profiling in team performance The financial blind spots most entrepreneurs miss before exit Why knowing your numbers weekly can transform decision-making The “Five Ways” framework: leads, conversion, frequency, average spend, and profit margin How systems create freedom, scalability, and business value Building a business that supports the life you actually want From hiring missteps to financial blind spots and the emotional reality of exiting a founder-led business, this conversation challenges entrepreneurs to rethink how they build from day one. Connect with Ola: Instagram: @ola_bisi_adeyemi Staci's Links: Instagram . Website .

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  Episode #397

  Navigating Entrepreneurial Startup Support with Isabel Nolan from Startup Canada

  Jun 23, 202628 min

  In this episode of Small Business School , Staci Millard sits down with Isabel Nolan from Startup Canada to unpack the incredible (and often overlooked) ecosystem of support available to entrepreneurs across Canada. From free programming and funding opportunities to the power of networking and mindset, this conversation is a must-listen for anyone starting or growing a business. Key topics covered: The role of Startup Canada in supporting entrepreneurs nationwide Free programs, pitch competitions, and funding opportunities available Why networking is more powerful than most entrepreneurs realize The mindset traits that lead to success (and what holds people back) The importance of confidence, market research, and asking for help Common mistakes entrepreneurs make when scaling too quickly Misconceptions around funding, grants, and investment Success in business isn’t about having everything figured out—it’s about taking action, asking for help, and surrounding yourself with the right resources and people along the way. Connect with Isabel: Instagram: @startupcanada Website: https://www.startupcan.ca/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabelnolan/ Staci's Links: Instagram . Website .

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