Growing from small business to mid-market changes everything—especially in finance. What used to work in “survival mode” no longer scales.

In the latest episode of the Empowering Healthy Business Podcast, Calvin is joined by Priya Chanduraj of FIN Team to talk about how finance becomes a driver of growth, not just a record-keeper.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• When to hire a controller, a CFO, or fractional support
  
  
  
• How to evaluate if your systems and controls are ready to scale
  
  
  
• Why forecasting and strategy alignment matter more as you grow

What it takes to prepare for M&A and outside capital

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Sponsored by SmartBooks. To schedule a free consultation, visit smartbooks.com.

Thanks for listening!

Host Cal Wilder can be reached at:
cal@empoweringhealthybusiness.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/calvinwilder/

Most B2B service businesses pour time and money into “lead gen,” only to be swamped with unqualified prospects and wasted effort. In this episode of Empowering Healthy Business, host Calvin Wilder talks with Tom Freedman of Defiant Enterprises about a smarter approach: building growth on referrals, not cold leads.

Tom shares his five-step framework for making referral-based selling repeatable and scalable, including how to:

• Reverse-engineer your numbers and model sustainable growth
• Position your offer, audience, and message for impact
• Use your CRM to track referral partners and conversations
• Build genuine partnerships instead of chasing cold leads
• Scale confidently by documenting your process and adding producers

If you’re tired of endless prospect lists and want a proven, relationship-driven way to grow, this episode will give you a clear, practical playbook you can start using right away.

Listen now and learn how to turn trusted introductions into paying clients.

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Sponsored by SmartBooks. To schedule a free consultation, visit smartbooks.com.

Thanks for listening!

Host Cal Wilder can be reached at:
cal@empoweringhealthybusiness.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/calvinwilder/

Running a business with scattered spreadsheets and one-off emails makes growth harder than it needs to be. In this episode of Empowering Healthy Business, host Calvin Wilder sits down with Jason Kramer of Cultivize to unpack how small businesses can use a CRM to bring order, consistency, and measurable results to sales and marketing.

You’ll hear practical ways to:

• Build a repeatable sales process that doesn’t depend on memory
• Use data to prioritize leads and focus on quality over quantity
• Track marketing ROI without guesswork
• Start simple with phased CRM adoption—and avoid common pitfalls

Whether you’re still managing leads in Excel or ready to scale with automation, this conversation breaks CRM down into clear, actionable steps you can use right away.

Listen now and learn how a CRM can become one of the simplest levers for growth in your business.

Send us a text

Sponsored by SmartBooks. To schedule a free consultation, visit smartbooks.com.

Thanks for listening!

Host Cal Wilder can be reached at:
cal@empoweringhealthybusiness.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/calvinwilder/

Working from home has become a permanent reality for many entrepreneurs, but too often business owners miss out on valuable tax savings.

In this episode of the Empowering Healthy Business Podcast, Calvin Wilder talks with Greg Reid, Head of Tax at SmartBooks, about how to take full advantage of the home office tax deduction.

You’ll learn:

• What qualifies as a home office under IRS rules
• Which expenses you can deduct, from office equipment to utilities and insurance
• How to calculate your deduction using square footage
• When depreciation makes sense—and what to know if you sell your home
• Why quarterly reimbursements and simple documentation keep you audit-ready
• Bonus: how to deduct mileage if your home office is your principal place of business

If you run a business from home—even part-time—this episode will help you avoid missed opportunities and keep more of your hard-earned money.

Send us a text

Sponsored by SmartBooks. To schedule a free consultation, visit smartbooks.com.

Thanks for listening!

Host Cal Wilder can be reached at:
cal@empoweringhealthybusiness.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/calvinwilder/

Finance and operations often operate in silos—but when they align, small businesses grow faster, make fewer mistakes, and stay profitable. In this episode of the Empowering Healthy Business Podcast, we break down why this alignment is critical and how to achieve it. You’ll learn:

• The key differences between finance and operations priorities
• Common challenges that cause miscommunication and inefficiency
• How to use data and metrics to bridge the gap between teams
• Essential metrics to track, like Gross Margin per Billable Hour, LTV:CAC, and Utilization Rate
• Practical tactics for building collaboration and accountability
• Why aligned teams grow 20–30% faster with fewer costly errors

By the end, you’ll see how finance and operations can work together seamlessly to maximize profitability and create sustainable growth.

Send us a text

Sponsored by SmartBooks. To schedule a free consultation, visit smartbooks.com.

Thanks for listening!

Host Cal Wilder can be reached at:
cal@empoweringhealthybusiness.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/calvinwilder/

Filing taxes for your small business doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. In this episode, you’ll learn practical steps to make tax season stress-free and efficient, including:

• How to gather and organize essential financial documents
• Why your business structure matters for tax filing
• The most common small business expenses you can deduct
• When and how to pay quarterly estimated taxes
• Choosing between tax software vs. hiring a professional
• How bookkeeping support can save time and maximize deductions

By the end, you’ll have a clear roadmap for preparing taxes and avoiding costly mistakes—so you can focus more on growing your business.

Send us a text

Thanks for listening!

Host Cal Wilder can be reached at:
cal@empoweringhealthybusiness.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/calvinwilder/

Does building a successful business really mean sacrificing your health, family, and freedom? In this episode, Calvin Wilder sits down with James Brown, founder of the Business Accelerator Institute, to challenge the myth that growth requires endless sacrifice. You’ll discover:

• Why the “sacrifice myth” leads to burnout and declining revenue
• How delegation turns from an expense into a high-ROI investment
• The three areas owners should focus their time on strategy, marketing, and sales
• Key financial ratios every service business should track (payroll, marketing, occupancy)
• How shifting your mindset helps you build a business that supports your life
• Practical ways to grow without working nights and weekends

James shares his journey of learning to let go, measure results, and focus on what truly drives growth. The message is clear: your business should work for you—not the other way around.

James has made available download resources at https://businessaccelerator.institute/ehb/.

Send us a text

Sponsored by SmartBooks. To schedule a free consultation, visit smartbooks.com.

Thanks for listening!

Host Cal Wilder can be reached at:
cal@empoweringhealthybusiness.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/calvinwilder/

This episode's topic is near and dear to many business owners. There are probably a lot of misconceptions about it. There's a lot of gray area about it. Just because the business spends money on something doesn't necessarily mean it is tax-deductible on the tax returns. There are documentation, compliance considerations. Greg Reed, CPA joins the show to discuss the tax deductibility of:

• Meals
• Entertainment
• Travel

Greg can be reached at smartbookstax.com or greed@smartbookstax.com.

Send us a text

Thanks for listening!

Host Cal Wilder can be reached at:
cal@empoweringhealthybusiness.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/calvinwilder/