Blunt Force Business: Real talk for small biz owners tired of BS. Weekly Blunt Force Facts = zero fluff, all action. Hosted by Brian (vet, RI Biz of the Year) & Patrick (growth expert, event builder). Join BOLD | IG | YouTube | Email us
Most small businesses scale too fast — without knowing their numbers. In this episode, we cover 4 financial metrics every small business owner must know before scaling in 2025: ROI, ROE, Working Capital, and Rate of Return.
These aren’t textbook theories. They’re real numbers you can run today with your last 12 months of data to see if your business is truly ready for growth.
(Resources referenced in the podcast are available on our free Skool channel)
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small business growth, financial metrics small business, how to scale small business, ROI small business, ROE explained, working capital ratio, rate of return formula, small business finance 2025, when to scale a business, small business tips
Most small business owners waste money chasing new leads with ads that don’t convert. The truth? The fastest way to grow your small business in 2025 doesn’t cost a dime—it comes from partnerships and referrals.
In this episode of Blunt Force Business, Brian LaFauci and Patrick Marino break down how small business owners can scale faster by building real relationships:
👉 Why most ads fail and waste money
👉 How partnerships expose you to new audiences instantly
👉 Referral systems that create steady, low-cost customer growth
👉 Real-world examples small business owners can start today
A rising tide lifts all boats—and partnerships can be the tide that lifts YOUR business.
Work With Us
Apply for the BOLD Business Growth Program → https://bluntforcebusiness.com/bold
Join our FREE Skool Community → https://skool.com/blunt-force-business
Watch & Subscribe
YouTube → /@bluntforcebusiness
Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/3LNW4V2
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/bluntforcebusiness
About the Hosts
Brian LaFauci — Veteran, business owner, consultant, and program creator for young entrepreneurs. Learn more → https://wonstrategy.com
Patrick Marino — Small business digital marketing expert helping local businesses attract more customers through SEO, paid ads, social media, and email. Learn more → https://southcoastinbound.com https://patrickmarinomarketing.com
#SmallBusinessGrowth #GetMoreCustomers #MakeMoreMoney #BusinessPodcast #Entrepreneurship
Most small business owners are bleeding time every single day — and time is money. Block scheduling is the game-changer that will help you get more customers, make more money, and finally take control of your business.In this episode of Blunt Force Business, Brian LaFauci and Patrick Marino break down how block scheduling unlocks real growth:Why unstructured days are killing your bottom lineHow block scheduling creates focus that drives revenueA step-by-step method to design your calendar for profitsWhy discipline with your time creates freedom in your business and your life👉 Important: This episode makes reference to worksheets. We’re no longer attaching them here. You can access ALL worksheets and resources for free inside our Skool community: https://skool.com/blunt-force-businessWork With UsApply for the BOLD Business Growth Program → https://bluntforcebusiness.com/boldJoin our FREE Skool Community → https://skool.com/blunt-force-businessWatch & SubscribeYouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@bluntforcebusinessSpotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/3LNW4V2Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/bluntforcebusinessAbout the HostsBrian LaFauci — Veteran, business owner, consultant, and program creator for young entrepreneurs. Learn more → https://wonstrategy.comPatrick Marino — Small business digital marketing expert helping local businesses attract more customers through SEO, paid ads, social media, and email. Learn more → https://southcoastinbound.com https://patrickmarinomarketing.com#SmallBusinessGrowth #MakeMoreMoney #Entrepreneurship
Too many small businesses stall out chasing perfection instead of making progress. In this episode, Brian LaFauci and Patrick Marino explain how this mistake costs owners money — and what to do differently.
We break down:
Why waiting for the “perfect plan” keeps businesses stuck
Why messy action beats endless planning
How progress leads directly to making more money
About the hosts:
Brian LaFauci is a veteran, business owner, and consultant helping entrepreneurs start and scale. Learn more at https://wonstrategy.com
Patrick Marino is a digital marketing expert specializing in helping small businesses attract more customers through SEO, paid ads, and social media. Learn more at https://southcoastinbound.com https://patrickmarinomarketing.com
Work with us: https://bluntforcebusiness.com/bold
Most small businesses chase new leads — but the real growth is in selling more to the people who already know you.
In this episode of Blunt Force Business, hosts Brian LaFauci (veteran, business growth consultant, and startup advisor) and Patrick Marino (digital marketing and local business expert) break down the power of remarketing. From digital retargeting ads to customer follow-ups, upsells, cross-sells, and referral marketing — they show you how to get more sales without constantly finding new leads.
What you’ll learn:
How remarketing turns warm leads into paying customers
Why follow-up and nurture campaigns outperform cold outreach
Smart ways to upsell and cross-sell your existing customer base
How to build a referral system that keeps customers coming back
The mindset shift from “more leads” to “better marketing”
👉 Ready to grow your business faster? Visit bluntforcebusiness.com/bold
What if you could launch your business without a single dollar in the bank? No investors, no loans, no big overhead — just free tools, creativity, and relentless hustle. In this episode of Blunt Force Business, we break down the Zero Cost Startup strategy: how to test, launch, and grow a business in 2025 without burning cash you don’t have.You’ll learn:How to start a business with no money by leveraging free tools (ChatGPT, Canva, CapCut, Notion, Stripe, Substack, and more)Why speed and execution beat “perfect planning” every timeOrganic marketing methods — cold outreach, networking, social content, and SEO — that cost nothing but drive resultsHow to monetize fast with low-ticket offers, lead magnets, and break-even funnelsThe mindset shift from “I need capital” to “I need courage and action”About the HostsBrian LaFauci is a veteran, business owner, and consultant specializing in startup, growth, and business brokerage. He also develops programs for young entrepreneurs through schools and nonprofits. Learn more at wonstrategy.com.Patrick Marino is a small business digital marketing expert focused on helping local businesses attract more customers through SEO, paid ads, organic social, email marketing, and website development. Learn more at southcoastinbound.com or patrickmarinomarketing.com.Work With UsReady to grow your business faster? Apply for the BOLD business growth program at bluntforcebusiness.com/bold.Watch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@bluntforcebusiness?sub_confirmation=1Follow on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3LNW4V2Ba1yf30ACzZTQgi?si=0a56345d44ff4e5dFollow us on Instagram: @bluntforcebusiness#StartupTips #SmallBusiness #ZeroCostStartup #Entrepreneurship #FreeBusinessTools #BluntForceBusiness
In today’s scroll-all-day economy, trends dominate attention — and smart small business owners know how to ride the wave. This episode unpacks how to identify cultural trends, leverage them to boost engagement, and tap into social media algorithms without losing your brand’s voice or alienating loyal customers.
We’ll cover:
Why trend-driven content increases visibility and reach
How to evaluate whether a trend fits your business or audience
Mistakes to avoid when hopping on viral moments
Real examples of brands getting it right (and wrong)
Whether you're marketing a local business or growing your personal brand, learn how to stay relevant, be discoverable, and convert attention into trust — all without selling out.
If you’re still doing everything yourself, you don’t own a business — you have a job with overhead. The truth is: you have to let it go. In this video, we’ll break down why small business owners must delegate in order to grow, and how to do it without losing control.You’ll learn:How to delegate the right tasks without sacrificing qualityThe power of systems and SOPs (standard operating procedures)When and how to hire — even on a budgetHow automation can replace repetitive, low-leverage workWhy letting go of control and money now leads to greater scale and freedomWhether you're running a local business, building a personal brand, or scaling an online service — this video is your blueprint for stepping back and leveling up.
Discover how to streamline your content marketing with the 3 B’s Framework: Bucket, Batch, and Branch. This episode of Blunt Force Business breaks down a simple, repeatable system to help small business owners plan, produce, and repurpose content effectively. Learn how to align your content with audience goals, batch your production for efficiency, and branch out your content across multiple platforms to maximize reach—all without increasing your workload.
Most small business owners wait until they're low on cash to look for funding — but that's the worst time to do it. In this episode, we break down when and how to secure small business funding while you’re in a strong position. Learn how to prepare your business for better loan terms, what funding options are available, and how to avoid high-interest debt traps by planning ahead.
👉 Perfect for entrepreneurs, startups, and growing businesses looking to get ahead of the cash crunch before it hits.
In this episode of Blunt Force Business, we break down the massive shift happening in internet search: how Gen Z, AI tools like ChatGPT, and social platforms like TikTok and Instagram are changing the rules for local businesses.
We’ll show you why relying only on SEO and Google Ads is no longer enough, and what steps small businesses need to take now to stay visible, stay relevant, and keep growing.
Learn how to:
Adapt your SEO strategy for 2025 and beyond
Optimize your social media for search
Make sure your business shows up where customers are actually looking
Use AI platforms to your advantage before your competitors do
If you want to future-proof your business and stay ahead of the curve, this episode is for you.
🎧 Subscribe to Blunt Force Business for brutally honest advice that drives real results — no jargon, no vanity metrics, just action.
#SEO #SmallBusinessMarketing #LocalSEO #SocialSearch #DigitalMarketing #BluntForceBusiness
Worried about a recession hurting your small business? In this episode of the Blunt Force Business podcast, hosts Brian Lafauci and Patrick Marino share actionable recession strategies for small business owners who want to survive—and grow—during an economic downturn.
Learn how to recession-proof your business, where to cut expenses (without killing your marketing), how to secure cash flow, and why scared money doesn't make money. If you're thinking about cutting Google Ads, Facebook Ads, or outreach—you'll want to hear this first.
What you’ll learn:
Recession survival tips for small business owners
Where to cut costs (and what NOT to cut)
How to market smarter during a downturn
Why advertising is cheaper during a recession
How to lock in loyal customers now
🔗 Join our BOLD program: https://bluntforcebusiness.com/bold
📸 Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/bluntforcebusiness
📺 Subscribe for more: https://www.youtube.com/@bluntforcebusiness
📩 Email us: info@bluntforcebusiness.com
👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for weekly episodes full of Blunt Force Facts—no jargon, no fluff, just results.
#SmallBusiness #RecessionProof #MarketingTips #BusinessPodcast #Entrepreneurship #BluntForceBusiness #LocalMarketing #DigitalMarketing
This is a digital marketing guide for anyone either getting started or anyone with a small business that's looking to finally start doing things the right way.
What Tyler and Patrick have found in their small business audits is that many business owners start with a real haphazard approach to marketing and miss a lot of the most basic and important steps.
We hope you'll enjoy the conversation!
You can find Tyler LaChapelle's digital optimization agency right here: https://dos-m.com
You know who has a lot of money? The government! Government contracts are great sources of revenue for small businesses and there are some advantages to pursuing this type of work. Brian and Patrick discuss the benefits of government contracting and Brian walks us through some of the best processes.
AI can be an intimidating concept to a small business owner whose expertise is far from tech. But the reality is the best owners are growing their business and making improvements constantly, When AI is seen as simply one of the tools that will help achieve all that, a world of possibilities opens up! Plus, with AI approaching full sentience, it's a good idea to learn how to get control of what potentially could be a robot overlord... before it takes control of you! Here are 5 ways small business owners can use AI right now!
As a small business owner, you need to know that your employees really want to know where they stand. One way of keeping up with employees is using a scorecard. Scorecards can contain subjective and objective measure and track employee performance, especially for a small business owner who is scaling and more detached from lower level employees. Brian and Patrick also talk about the pitfalls to avoid when creating scorecards. Looking for a free resource? Find the employee scorecard worksheet here: https://bluntforcebusiness.com/employee-scorecard-opt-in/
The concept of the marketing funnel helps you understand how you create customers, and where each of your prospects are on their journey to the sale. In this episode we help you drive prospects from awareness to purchase, and we help you develop specific messaging for each of them along the way. Small business owners often are told about things like 'marketing funnels' without the basic primer, so consider this, that!
We all want more sales but a lot of small business owners aren't quite sure of the issue... Or... We hear a lot of 'jargon' surrounding the sales funnel and we don't quite understand what that means! Well, here, we talk about the concept of the funnel and how to use it to both improve your sales process and discover issues that may be preventing sales. Learn how to understand and optimize your sales funnel here!
Lifetime customer value is the name of the game for any growing business. That's because it's cheaper to keep her! You'll use fewer resources (time and money) to maintain and monetize a current customer than to get a new one. When you make more money from your customers over their lifetime, you are more profitable overall. But we find that too many customers are focused on finding new customers, neglecting the impact of higher LTV (Lifetime Value) . (((Sometimes this value is referred to as CLV, Customer Lifetime Value))) Build greater lifetime customer value for sustainable and efficient business growth.
If you've been following us, you know how to make money with your small business. But once you start making money, how do you take care of yourself for your future? How do you take care of your employees? The ultimate questions for business owners revolve around retirement benefits for themselves and their employees, and exit strategy... which kinda works with that as well. Looking for more? Find Bryan Hoffman, our guest, here - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryan-hoffman-fscp%C2%AE-ba4903190/