Here’s The Deal

Hosted by Here's The Deal

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128

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Jul 2026

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About the show

Here's The Deal's mission is three words Educate, Elevate, and Inspire. We take nearly 30 years of experience in the commercial finance industry to inform and inspire you to start your own business, or to improve a business you already own. We interview experts in several essential business services, Attorneys, CPA's, Commercial Real Estate Brokers, and more to give you the vital information you need to start, grow, and improve your business. We also interview business owners to share their experiences challenges faced to inspire you.

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60 recent

July 31, 202629 min

How Do I Start A Business After 50? PART 1 OF 4

Is your job really safe? Four of my friends just found out it wasn't. This is Part 1 of a four-part series on starting a business after fifty. I've done it. My last guest Bonnie has done it. My business coach Eric has done it — and it keeps coming up. If you've had a career redirection, or you've just been working for somebody for so long that you're ready to take the skills you've built and use them for yourself, this series is for you. There's no fluff here, no platitudes, and we're not asking for permission. Just the things we've won through hard work. There's going to be some cost — but it's going to pay off. In this episode, we cover: Why “renting” your income (i.e. having a job) isn’t as safe as it feels, no matter how long you’ve been there Building equity in yourself the same way you build equity in a home The myth of the “perfect plan” — and why a good plan violently executed beats a perfect plan next week The truth about what owning a business actually costs you at first (hint: it’s not golf on Fridays) Why corporate’s redundant systems waste money — and what changes the day you’re the owner Why the smartest investment you’ll ever make is in yourself A homework assignment: name the one myth that’s been holding you back The best time to start a business was years ago. The second best time is right now. Chapters 0:00 Why This Series Exists 0:51 Betting On Yourself & Building Equity 2:49 Own Your Time, Own Your Skills 4:55 The Truth About “Safe” Jobs 6:59 Renting vs. Owning Your Income 8:51 Building Equity In Yourself 9:43 The Myth of the “Perfect Plan” 12:09 Movement Generates Information 14:21 Not Everyone’s Built to Be an Entrepreneur 16:26 The Truth About Starting a Business (Long Hours Ahead) 18:54 You Don’t Have to Take Every Client 21:07 Brace for the Pain, Then Push Through 23:23 The 50+ Advantage 24:56 Building the Culture You Wish You Had 27:14 Redundant Systems. Wasted Money. 29:22 Homework: Name Your Myth Subscribe for Part 2, where we talk about what can kill your bet faster than a bad market: a bad partner. New episodes from HTD Media Group — Get Seen. Heard. Remembered.

July 7, 20261 hr 8 min

Two Shows. One Table. No Scripts.

Two shows. One table. No scripts. This is the podcast swap: Bonnie Schutz — CEO of Tandem Resource Solutions and host of Delegate 2 Elevate Get Sh!t Done — and Chris Flowers interview each other in one unscripted conversation airing on both feeds. Two Gen X founders with 57 combined years inside corporate America and commercial banking break down: why "going Cortez" (quit, burn the ships, cash the 401(k)) is the most expensive way to start a business; the three rules before launching a podcast; why owners really refuse to delegate (trust, ego, AND control); the HR complaint that ended Bonnie's 27-year corporate run and launched her company; and why "I'm not gonna buy your job — I wanna buy a business" should shape every decision from day one. Plus: how Tandem stacks its team with military spouses, single moms, and second-act women through the MSEP program. Connect with Bonnie: tandemresourcesolutions.com | delegate2elevatepodcast.com | preferredservicepros.com Watch the full video episode on YouTube — Here's The Deal (@heresthedeal827). Get Seen, Heard and Remembered → info@heresthedeal.biz | heresthedeal.biz/marketing #heresthedealbiz #mybizcoaches #videomarketing #easycomfortableconnected

June 25, 202613 min

Is your job really safe? The honest answer.

Is your job really safe? In Episode 15 of Here's The Deal, Chris Flowers answers it straight: a steady paycheck isn't security — security is having options. He uses three friends who were loyal, topped their field, and were still walked out in fifteen minutes to expose the myth of the "cushy 9-to-5,". Then he lays out the Owned vs. Rented income framework from 30 years around money: when you work for them, you rent your income, your title, your schedule and your future from a landlord who can evict you any day. The only asset you'll ever fully own is the one you built — your name, your story, your skills, your audience. This one's part wake-up call, part battle cry, with faith and grit underneath it. You don't have to build it alone. If you want to talk about owning your time, let's talk. info@heresthedeal.biz · heresthedeal.biz/marketing

June 9, 202628 min

How Much Should Small Businesses Spend on Marketing? (The Real Answer)

New Episode Drop! How Much Should Small Businesses Spend on Marketing? (The Real Answer) How much should a small business actually spend on marketing? The SBA says 7–10% of revenue… but that benchmark is built on Fortune 500 data, not your business. In this episode, Chris Flowers breaks down the real answer using 30 years of commercial finance: it's not what you spend, it's WHERE you spend it — and your margins decide everything. Inside this episode: • Why the 7–10% rule can break a thin-margin business • The #1 mistake owners make in a downturn (and why you should double down instead) • Why marketing is an INVESTMENT, not an expense — treat your budget like inventory • The LTV:CAC ratio explained in plain English (the banker's rule: 3:1 or better) • Where to actually put your dollars: short-form video, long-form video, live video, email, and SEO • Meta vs. Google Ads — the honest take, and why you might be renting attention instead of owning assets • The 'microwave mentality' that kills marketing ROI Here's The Deal | Peoria, AZ Podcast Coaching & Production — You Bring The Story, We Refine The Vision Video Content & Marketing — Easy. Comfortable. Connected. Ready to be seen? info@heresthedeal.biz | heresthedeal.biz/marketing Subscribe for weekly straight-talk on business, marketing, and storytelling. CHAPTERS (adjust timestamps to final cut) 0:00 Intro 1:00 The SBA 7–10% rule — and why it's not the whole story 2:50 Why your margins dictate everything 3:30 The #1 mistake: cutting marketing in a downturn 5:56 The $1,000/year trap (66% of owners fall in) 6:30 Marketing as investment, not expense — treat it like inventory 7:00 LTV:CAC explained — the banker's ratio 12:00 Where to actually spend: video, email, SEO 17:00 The 'microwave mentality' trap (90–180 days) 18:00 Meta vs. Google Ads: the honest answer 24:00 Renting attention vs. owning assets 25:48 Bottom line: judge against YOUR margins #heresthedealbiz #mybizcoaches #videomarketing #easycomfortableconnected #smallbusinessmarketing #marketingbudget #marketingROI #businessgrowth

June 1, 202633 min

HTD Ep. 13 — Who Are You Without Your Business?

If I wiped your business out tomorrow, who would you be Monday morning? This episode pivoted on me the second that question came up — because it's one most founders can't answer without flinching. Here's the deal: the business isn't the problem. The identity problem is — and it costs you money, your relationships, and sometimes your health. In this one, Chris Flowers digs into: • Why "I am the business" turns every lost deal and bad month into a personal failure • The **Ego Tax** — the dead products and "nobody can do it like me" delegation quietly draining your profit • How to train and trust the right people (and where the bottom lines stay locked) • **Conviction vs. Ego** — conviction listens to the data and adjusts; ego just tries to prove a point • The military rule that runs through it all: *slow is smooth, smooth is fast* • The **Sunday Night Test**: Can you take a week off with no email? Got two close friends outside your industry? Can you describe yourself in 60 seconds without mentioning your business? • Why you build your identity NOW — as a spouse, parent, friend, person of faith — not after the business sells or folds The deals come and go. That time with your family doesn't come back. 🌐 Full episode + show notes: heresthedeal.biz 🎙️ Podcast Coaching & Production — "You Bring The Story, We Refine The Vision." → info@heresthedeal.biz · heresthedeal.biz/marketing 🎬 Video Content & Marketing — "Easy. Comfortable. Connected." → info@heresthedeal.biz · heresthedeal.biz/marketing Here's The Deal | Educate, Elevate, Inspire | Peoria, AZ | heresthedeal.biz #heresthedealbiz #mybizcoaches #videomarketing #easycomfortableconnected

May 29, 2026Episode 121 hr 7 min

They started in a storage room, now they're at 27 locations.

Episode 12 of Here's The Deal — Jorge & Jesus Ruiz from @thetacospot tell us how they built a birria empire from a barbershop kitchen. → Signed the buildout with no money → First customer waited 30 minutes → Mom made them hug to save the business → Goal: 1,000 stores Real story. Real grit. Real tacos. ▶️ To see the full video, go to our YouTube channel: Here's The Deal Podcast. 📍 Based in Peoria, AZ 📞 623-308-9732 📧 info@heresthedeal.biz 🌐 heresthedeal.biz/marketing 📅 calendly.com/heresthedeal/chrisflowers 🎙️ Podcast Coaching & Production — You Bring The Story, We Refine The Vision. 🎬 Video Content Creation & Marketing — Easy. Comfortable. Connected. #heresthedealbiz #mybizcoaches #videomarketing #easycomfortableconnected #TheTacoSpot #BirriaTacos #PhoenixEats #PeoriaAZ #FamilyBusiness #FranchiseGrowth #EntrepreneurStory #SmallBusinessAZ #PodcastEpisode

May 12, 20260 min

The Content You Forgot Could Pay You

RAW TO READY™ You already have the content. Now turn it into fast, clean, credible content that represents your brand the right way. ✅ You send the photos, videos, or voiceover ✅ Professional editing & cleanup ✅ Fast, clean, credible content HTD Marketing. The story sells, not the numbers. Easy • Comfortable • Connected 📩 info@heresthedeal.biz

May 8, 202616 min

Ep 11 — Handshakes Are Making A Comeback

Handshakes are making a comeback — and HTD is here for it. Video calls aren't going anywhere. They built bridges that didn't exist before, and Chris does them every week with clients around the world. But there's a ceiling. You can't catch the side conversation, the energy in the room, or the "let's grab coffee after" through a Zoom screen. In this episode of Here's The Deal, Chris breaks down: → Why video calls have a hard ceiling for trust and rapport→ The difference between productive networking and busy networking (a lesson from 30 years in commercial banking)→ Why one quality networking group beats five mediocre ones→ The "Unplugged" movement — and why young professionals are the ones leading the no-screens charge→ A simple 4-step framework for networking that actually moves the needle He shares a story about being the oldest guy in the room at a young professionals' unplugged meetup — and what it told him about where business connection is heading. If you're a business owner, content creator, or anyone who's been hiding behind email and DMs, this one's for you. Wi-Fi connects devices. Eye contact connects people. Work with HTD:Podcast Coaching — info@heresthedeal.biz /marketingVideo Marketing — heresthedeal.biz/marketingBook a call — calendly.com/heresthedeal/chrisflowersPhone — 623-308-9732 Educate. Elevate. Inspire.

May 6, 202631 min

Demand doesn't knock, IT SCREAMS

Most entrepreneurs wait for opportunity… But opportunity doesn’t knock. IT SCREAMS. In this episode of Here's The Deal, Chris Flowers breaks down: ✅ How market demand forced him to launch podcast coaching & production ✅ Why most entrepreneurs miss obvious revenue opportunities ✅ The real reason delegation, automation, and AI matter ✅ How to stay in your genius while scaling your business ✅ Why AI will never replace authentic storytelling ✅ The 3 questions every entrepreneur must ask before delegating If you’ve been sitting on your podcast, business idea, or next revenue stream… This episode may be the kick in the teeth you needed. You bring the story. We refine the vision. 🎯 Book your strategy call: info@heresthedeal.biz /marketing #heresthedealbiz #mybizcoaches #videomarketing #easycomfortablecosteffective

April 29, 202628 min

Podcasting Saturated? Nope — $200B Says Otherwise

HTD Episode 9 — Saturated? Nope. You're Just Late, And That's Still Early.Everybody's telling me the podcast market is saturated. The data says otherwise — and in this episode, I drop the receipts.The creator economy just crossed $200 BILLION and is growing 22% annually. The U.S. creator economy alone projects to hit $671B by 2035. There are 4.5 million podcasts in existence, but only 10–11% are actively publishing. *44% of podcasts quit before episode 3.* Just *21 episodes* puts you in the top 1% on the planet.If you're an entrepreneur, small business owner, or someone with expertise sitting on the sidelines wondering if you missed the boat — Chris has news for you: *the ship hasn't even been built yet.* 00:00 The saturation myth 01:00 Three keys: clear message, consistency, commitment 02:20 The $200 billion creator economy 04:58 Crowded market vs. growing market 07:00 4.5M podcasts, 90% abandoned 09:30 Your life is your unfair advantage 13:00 Audiences don't want information — they want YOU 14:55 Why podcast trust beats most other media 17:20 Stay in your lane 19:47 Block your recording time like a client appointment 22:30 Why consistency beats talent (the Jerry Rice principle) 25:00 The 100th episode mark 27:00 HTD Podcast Coaching & Production launch🎙️ *HTD Podcast Coaching & Production:* "Bring Us The Story. We Refine The Vision."Message development → Show format → Weekly production → Thumbnails → Multi-platform distribution → Social clips. The full stack.📧 *FREE 30-minute consultation:* info@heresthedeal.biz/marketing🌐 *Subscribe for more:* Educate. Elevate. Inspire. *Easy. Comfortable. Connected.* — *Follow HTD:* LinkedIn → Chris Flowers / Here's The DealFacebook → Here's The DealInstagram → @heresthedealbizTikTok → @heresthedealbizBuzzsprout, Spotify & Apple Podcasts → Here's The Deal🎙️ *Subscribe via any podcast app:* RSS Feed → https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2613143.rss #heresthedealbiz #mybizcoaches #videomarketing #easycomfortableconnected #podcasting #creatoreconomy #podcastcoaching #entrepreneurpodcast #howtostartapodcast #podcastproduction #businesspodcast #smallbusinesstips #contentcreator #podcastlaunch #podcaststats2026