As a small business owner, you'll have a million different questions. The award-winning Sound Advice podcast is the place to go for answers. In season one, we talked about how to make your business financially successful – in year one and beyond. Writing a business plan that works, finding your first customer, starting up with zero capital, and being tax compliant—you name it, we covered it. On season two, we’re digging even deeper into what it’s really like to run a business, with unfiltered advice and real, human stories from successful founders and CEOs. With a little help from a super line-up of entrepreneurs, and your host and esteemed finance journalist, Kate Bassett, get a weekly dose of the everything you need to build your own business future.
Simon Squibb: Secure investment for your dream business
Becoming homeless and jobless at 15 wasn't enough to stop Simon Squibb from dreaming big. Instead, this was the catalyst to his extraordinary entrepreneurial journey. Today, he is a multi-millionaire, founder of 19 companies, and investor of 78 more. With a personal mission to help others achieve similar dreams, Simon created HelpBnk. Alongside his social media channels, this investment platform aims to give 10 million people the funds, advice, and motivation to kickstart their own ventures. So, whether you're a startup founder or curious about how to take your business to the next level, this episode is jammed-packed with priceless advice on securing investment, crafting a winning pitch, and even learning how to decode the investor's perspective. This is an episode you don't want to miss, filled with Simon’s infectious inspiration and proven strategies that will propel your business towards success.
7/8/2024 • 52 minutes, 40 seconds
We are back with Season 3 - Entrepreneurs Unfiltered
And we are back with Season 3! Yes, Entrepreneurs Unfiltered is kicking off again next week and we promise to bring you real stories and honest advice from proven entrepreneurs. Coming up on the show, we have the Queen of PR herself, Lynne Franks, creator of London Fashion Week, who is sharing all her marketing secrets. Aron Gelbard, founder of letterbox flower company Bloom & Wild, explains how to build a superbrand. Plus, meet the man who started a business with a Spice Girl and the woman who promises to help you defeat your imposter syndrome for good!
1/30/2024 • 2 minutes, 11 seconds
Sophia Procter: Creating (and selling) a brand-new product
Meet Sophia Procter, a former communications manager and the founder and CEO of Munchy Play. After almost ten years at British Airways, Sophia faced redundancy upon returning from maternity leave in 2017. But she wouldn’t be defeated so easily–Sophia rallied, turning that tumble into an opportunity to follow her entrepreneurial dreams and start her own business.Determined to make things more fun for her picky-eater son, she put a train track around the plate–and it worked like a charm. Her son not only came to the table but ate his meal without any fuss. That was the "lightbulb moment”. Join us as Sophia shares her unfiltered story of creativity and perseverance, and how she brought a never-before-done idea to life.
5/8/2023 • 29 minutes, 40 seconds
(REPLAY) Sam Jones: How to fund your start-up
His Dragon's Den pitch is imortalised as the tv show's 'best ever', and Harry Redknapp describes him as having the workrate of a top footballer. This is how Sam Jones convinced stars like Tinie Tempah to invest in his tech start-up, Gener8.
5/1/2023 • 39 minutes, 25 seconds
(REPLAY) Katie Cross: Create a letterbox business on a shoestring budget
Thinking of setting up your own creative business in the New Year? The fabulous founder of Cake or Death talks making a sell-out product from your side hustle. It's practically an MBA in leopard print letterbox brownies.
4/24/2023 • 37 minutes, 6 seconds
(REPLAY) Govind Balakrishnan: How to come back from 'no'
Govind Balakrishnan grew up in India wanting to be a physicist. Instead, he joined the strategy team for BBC News and it was working with war reporters that sparked his idea for Curio, the narrated journalism app.
4/17/2023 • 48 minutes, 39 seconds
(REPLAY) Julie Deane: How to build a resilient business
Julie Deane talks to Bex and Steve Hare, the CEO of Sage, about the wildly inspiring start-up story of The Cambridge Satchel Company and how she overcame some mind-boggling setbacks and drove its success. (The SMB Barometer we refer to is here).
12/26/2022 • 57 minutes, 55 seconds
(REPLAY) David Hieatt: How to grow a good idea
What's more important; the ability to make, or the ability to sell? Both, says the co-founder of Hiut Denim. Here's how he built a global brand from nothing.
12/19/2022 • 36 minutes, 27 seconds
(REPLAY) International Women's Day: Sharmadean Reid MBE - Make a list and just go for it
Covert discrimination, invisible barriers, being broke, raising a million, feminism, intersectionality - if you want to reach your next business milestone, then you NEED this episode with the inspirational founder of WAH Nails and The Stack World.
12/12/2022 • 36 minutes, 45 seconds
(REPLAY) How to boss your tax
We know tax can be scary and numbers daunting but don't worry, this episode features 5 small business owners laying out the fundamentals to getting tax right – and what they've learned from some hairy moments…
12/5/2022 • 43 minutes, 39 seconds
Let's Be Honest... 'Resilience is knowing when to stop' (Nat Bannister)
Sound Advice is known for truth-telling and our mini-sodes give more insight from our star entrepreneurs. How do you make your passion project into a profitable business, and keep your sanity? Enter the founder of Gutsy Girls, Natalie Bannister.Listen to the full episode here:AppleSpotify
10/31/2022 • 7 minutes, 53 seconds
Let's Be Honest... 'Side hustling is hard' (Rob Abrahams)
Sound Advice is known for truth-telling and our mini-sodes give more insight from our star entrepreneurs. This is how barristers clerk Rob Abrahams retrained and took jobs in his spare time to set up RJA Plumbing business. Listen to the full episode here:AppleSpotify
10/3/2022 • 3 minutes, 32 seconds
Let's Be Honest... 'The best businesses start in the garage' (Steve Oliver)
Sound Advice is known for truth-telling and our mini-sodes give more insight from our star entrepreneurs. Steve Oliver co-founded musicMagpie in his garage and turned it into the world’s most popular eBay shop, with an annual group turnover of £150m.Listen to the full episode here:Apple Spotify
8/8/2022 • 3 minutes, 45 seconds
Let's Be Honest... 'You have to believe in yourself' (Jess Gohl)
Sound Advice is known for truth-telling and our mini-sodes give more insight from our star entrepreneurs. Her tutor told her she was ‘too business minded’. Her parents said she was mad. That didn’t stop Jess Gohl from launching her creative business.Listen to the full episode here:AppleSpotify
7/25/2022 • 3 minutes, 16 seconds
Let's Be Honest... 'Every start up needs an accountant' (Mike Psaras)
Sound Advice is known for truth-telling and our mini-sodes give more insight from our star entrepreneurs. After a South-American sabbatical, accountant Mike ditched the suit and tie to help founders be that bit smarter with their money. Listen to the full episode here:AppleSpotify
7/11/2022 • 6 minutes, 6 seconds
Let's Be Honest... 'Social media is non-negotiable' (Rob Huysinga)
Sound Advice is known for truth-telling and our mini-sodes give more insight from our star entrepreneurs. The co-founder of ice cream chain Pan-N-Ice has a massive 1.3 million followers on TikTok, and tells us how he converts them to customers.Listen to the full episode here:AppleSpotify
6/27/2022 • 5 minutes, 27 seconds
Let's Be Honest... 'Investors might be sexist to you' (Zara Nanu)
Sound Advice is known for truth-telling and our mini-sodes give more insight from our star entrepreneurs. The founder of Gapsquare shares how venture capitalists assumed she was a waitress - when she was there to pitch for £1m. Listen to the full episode here:AppleSpotify
6/13/2022 • 4 minutes, 17 seconds
Let's Be Honest... 'The eureka moment is a myth' (Arthur Kay)
Sound Advice is known for truth-telling and our mini-sodes give more insight from our star entrepreneurs. The founder of Bio-Bean and Skyroom wants to flip the emphasis on having that first idea, to how you incrementally turn that spark into reality.Listen to the full episode here:AppleSpotify
5/30/2022 • 5 minutes, 8 seconds
Let's Be Honest... 'Running a business could mean big lows as well as highs' (Autumn Rabbitts)
Sound Advice is known for truth-telling and our mini-sodes give more insight from our star entrepreneurs. The founder of Plumb and Rabbitts candidly describes how she felt like quitting her incredible cake business when she experienced casual racism. Listen to the full episode here:AppleSpotify
5/16/2022 • 9 minutes, 36 seconds
Let's Be Honest... 'There's never a perfect time to launch a business' (Rachel Clark)
Sound Advice is known for truth-telling and our mini-sodes give more insight from our star entrepreneurs. The founder of beauty business Nut and Noggin shares how obsessing about perfecting your product will only lead to missed opportunities. Listen to the full episode here:AppleSpotify
5/2/2022 • 6 minutes, 21 seconds
Let's Be Honest... 'It's hard to juggle a side-hustle with your day job.' (Ryan Panchoo)
Sound Advice is known for truth-telling and our mini-sodes give more insight from our star entrepreneurs. The founder of Borough22 tells how he went from baking doughnuts at home for local customers, to quitting his job and supplying Selfridges.Listen to the full episode here:Apple Spotify
4/18/2022 • 9 minutes, 42 seconds
Let's Be Honest... 'You will hear "no" a lot' (Sam Watson-Jones)
Sound Advice is known for truth-telling and our mini-sodes give more insight from our star entrepreneurs. The founder of Small Robot Company believed in his prototype made from Blu-tack and elastic bands but when early customers didn’t, he persisted.Listen to the full episode here:AppleSpotify
4/4/2022 • 4 minutes, 44 seconds
Let's Be Honest... 'I didn't know anything when I started my side-hustle' (Jess Ratty)
Sound Advice is known for truth-telling and our mini-sodes give more insight from our star entrepreneurs. This week, the founder of The Cornwall Camper Company shares how she taught herself everything she needed to know through Google and YouTube.Listen to the full episode here:Apple Spotify
3/21/2022 • 5 minutes, 5 seconds
Let's Be Honest... 'Having a baby was the elephant in the pitch room' (Sarah Norford-Jones)
Sound Advice is known for truth-telling and our mini-sodes give even more insight from our star entrepreneurs. This week, the co-founder of YEO Messaging—and 2 other International Women's Day guests—confide the challenges of being women in business.Listen to the full episode here:AppleSpotify
2/28/2022 • 4 minutes, 39 seconds
Let's Be Honest... 'Expect rejection—it's OK to get a "no"' (Sahar Hashemi)
Sound Advice is known for truth-telling and our mini-sodes give even more insight from our star entrepreneurs. This week, Sahar Hashemi reveals how she persevered when 19 bank managers told her that Coffee Republic was a 'crazy' idea.Listen to the full episode here:AppleSpotify
2/14/2022 • 6 minutes, 55 seconds
Let's Be Honest... 'I trusted an investor, and he ghosted me' (Solveiga Pakštaitė)
Sound Advice is known for truth-telling and our mini-sodes give even more insight from our star entrepreneurs. This week, Solveiga Pakštaitė confides what she did when an angel investor disappeared, leaving her without the funds to pay her staff.Listen to the full episode here:Apple Spotify
1/30/2022 • 3 minutes, 43 seconds
Let's Be Honest... 'It was a struggle to get a manufacturer to take my side-hustle seriously' (Mathew Porter)
Sound Advice is known for truth-telling and our mini-sodes give even more insight from our star entrepreneurs. This week, Mathew Porter confides how manufacturers stonewalled his idea to bring glass straws to market. Listen to the full episode here: Apple Podcasts Spotify
1/17/2022 • 3 minutes, 14 seconds
Let's Be Honest... 'Success has to be metrics driven' (Alec Dobbie)
Sound Advice is known for truth-telling and our mini-sodes give even more insight from our star entrepreneurs. This week, Alec Dobbie confides he had some harebrained ideas that never would have made money. Listen to the full episode here:Apple :http://1sa.ge/1EJw50H9jgBSpotify : http://1sa.ge/TI0z50H9jmJ
1/3/2022 • 2 minutes, 48 seconds
Let's Be Honest... 'You will make mistakes' (Julien Callède)
Sound Advice is known for truth-telling and our mini-sodes give even more insight from our star entrepreneurs. This week, Julien Callède confides the mistakes he made in the early days of setting up Made.com Listen to the full episode here: Apple: http://1sa.ge/LWQP50H9jeF Spotify: http://1sa.ge/Ajkr50H9jkO
12/27/2021 • 5 minutes
Let's Be Honest...'You don't need lots of cash' (Carl Reader)
Sound Advice is known for truth-telling and our mini episodes are designed to give you even more insight from our star entrepreneurs. This week, Carl Reader confides how to start up on a shoestring budget.Listen to the full episode here: Apple: http://1sa.ge/hANZ50H2EbY Spotify: http://1sa.ge/MizS50H2EeX
12/5/2021 • 4 minutes, 3 seconds
Introducing... Let's Be Honest mini-sodes
Let’s Be Honest, it’s hard to start a small business. Sound Advice is known for its truth-telling, that’s our USP, and our brand-new mini series is designed to give you even more insight from our star entrepreneurs.
