Beyond The Owner's Trap

About Beyond The Owner's Trap

Beyond the Owner's Trap: Running a trades or service business looks great from the outside. From the inside, it can feel like you're doing everything — the sales, the scheduling, the fires nobody else can put out — and there's no end in sight. Beyond the Owner's Trap is a show for owners who are stuck in that spot. Every episode, host Alan Melton sits down with real trades and service business owners — contractors, remodelers, roofers, accountants, and more — and talks about what running their business is actually like. Not the highlight reel. The long hours. The hiring headaches. The stuff nobody posts about. Alan's been there himself. He's founded or acquired 18 companies and coached over 1,100 small business owners through Small Business Coach Associates. He's built things up, and he's been stuck in the trap more than once. He doesn't coach from theory — he coaches from scars. Each episode digs into where a business really stands today, what's actually hard about it right now, and what it would take to get some breathing room back. Some guests are just starting to climb out of the day-to-day grind. Others have already found their way through, and share what actually changed for them. If you own a trades or service business and you're tired of being the bottleneck, this show is for you. New episodes regularly — subscribe so you don't miss one. Build a business. Build freedom. Lead a legacy.

Publisher

Alan Melton

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

10 Aug 2026

Latest episode

27 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

13 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   27 Oct 2026

   Out of the Trees: How Erich Schneider Built a Company That Could Sell | Beyond the Owner’s Trap

   Erich Schneider came out of the Air Force with no business training and started a tree care company in 1996, in a town with 90 tree services in the phone book. His edge was simple: show up when you say you will, and do what you say you’ll do. Along the way he helped build the industry’s Certified Tree Care Safety Professional program and served on the TCIA board. Thirty years later, Schneider Tree Care has four offices across Upstate South Carolina and Charlotte, more than 100 employees, and a team that runs the day-to-day without him. Last December he sold the company to TreeServe and stayed on to lead his team through the change. The shift that made it possible: he stopped being the guy who had to climb every tree and see every job, and became the visionary while his brother Kurt ran the daily operation. What you’ll hear: • The day he climbed 64 trees and couldn’t straighten his arms • The near-miss that shaped his safety culture, and how he helped build the industry’s CTSP program • How DISC and EOS split the work between two brothers • Why buyers aren’t buying you — they’re buying a system • The emotional side of selling a 30-year company that nobody warns you about • What he’s still holding onto, and where he lands on the Stage Check About Alan Melton & SBCA Alan Melton is the founder of Small Business Coach Associates. He’s coached 1,100+ business owners on marketing, sales systems, and operational clarity. Credentials: Inc. 500 founder (#422) | SBA Small Business Person of the Year, 1994 | Florida Governor’s Sterling Award, 1999 | #1 Small Business Coach, Life Coach Magazine 2026. Free strategy session: smallbusinesscoach.org (http://smallbusinesscoach.org/) | Subscribe for new episodes. About Beyond the Owner’s Trap Real small business owners on what it takes to grow. Hosted by Alan Melton. Connect with Erich Schneider Schneider Tree Care: https://schneidertree.com (https://schneidertree.com/) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erich-schneider-94677912/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/erich-schneider-94677912/) Taylors, SC — serving Upstate SC and Charlotte, NC Connect with Alan Melton Website: https://smallbusinesscoach.org (https://smallbusinesscoach.org/) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/2228822/ (https://www.linkedin.com/company/2228822/) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BeyondTheOwnersTrap (https://www.youtube.com/@BeyondTheOwnersTrap) Timestamps 01:51 From the Air Force to 90 competitors in the phone book 04:38 64 trees in one day 07:52 “Nobody can do this job as well as me” 09:49 Helping build the industry’s safety program 15:13 Two brothers, DISC and EOS 19:08 The decision to sell 34:13 What he’s still holding onto 38:40 Stage Check #BeyondTheOwnersTrap #SmallBusinessOwner #TreeCare #Arborist #TradesBusiness #SellingABusiness #EOS #FamilyBusiness

2. 

   20 Oct 2026

   Hire Ops First: How Nick Hernandez-Sepper Broke His Own Bottleneck | Beyond the Owner's Trap

   Nick Hernandez-Sepper went from the Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point to flying as a Naval Flight Officer to the defense industry. Then he joined a veteran-owned painting network and opened PAINT CORPS of Oklahoma City South. For his first months as owner, he ran everything himself: crews in the morning, estimates in the afternoon, invoices at night. Twelve to fourteen hours a day, seven days a week. Then he made a call most new owners get backwards. Instead of hiring a salesperson first, he hired operations. That one hire moved him from half his day in sales to all of it, and now he's building the training to hand off his sales book next. What you'll hear: - Why his franchise recruiter's first question was "Are you sure you want to do this?" - The "115% day" that ran his life all summer - Why he hired ops before sales, and why he could have done it a month sooner - How he treats subcontracted crews like partners, not payroll - His plan for a "fact-finding winter" in a seasonal trade - What he's still holding onto, and the order he plans to let it go About Alan Melton & SBCA Alan Melton is the founder of Small Business Coach Associates. He's coached 1,100+ business owners on marketing, sales systems, and operational clarity. Credentials: Inc. 500 founder (#422) | SBA Small Business Person of the Year, 1994 | Florida Governor's Sterling Award, 1999 | #1 Small Business Coach, Life Coach Magazine 2026. Free strategy session: smallbusinesscoach.org (http://smallbusinesscoach.org/) | Subscribe for new episodes. About Beyond the Owner's Trap Real small business owners on what it takes to grow. Hosted by Alan Melton. Connect with Nick Hernandez-Sepper Website: paintcorps.com/oklahoma-city-south (http://paintcorps.com/oklahoma-city-south) Email: okcsouth@paintcorps.com (mailto:okcsouth@paintcorps.com) LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/nicolas-hernandez-sepper-emba-pmp-4b5879a4 (http://linkedin.com/in/nicolas-hernandez-sepper-emba-pmp-4b5879a4) Oklahoma City, OK Connect with Alan Melton Website: smallbusinesscoach.org (http://smallbusinesscoach.org/) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanmelton/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanmelton/) YouTube: youtube.com/@BeyondTheOwnersTrap (http://youtube.com/@BeyondTheOwnersTrap) Timestamps 0:00 Intro 1:50 From naval flight officer to painting contractor 3:40 "Are you sure you want to do this?" 10:16 The 12 to 14 hour days and the 115% schedule 17:26 The moment he knew it couldn't last 21:24 Crews as partners, not payroll 27:09 What he's still holding onto 31:35 Stage Check #BeyondTheOwnersTrap #OwnersTrap #VeteranOwnedBusiness #PaintingContractor #SmallBusinessOwner #HomeServiceBusiness #OklahomaCity

3. 

   13 Oct 2026

   Built Around One Person: How Ardith Rademacher Let Her Team Lead | Beyond the Owner’s Trap

   For 25 years, Ardith Rademacher has been the name construction companies call when they need to find or grow their next leader. Her firm, Ardith Rademacher & Associates, built its reputation across Texas and Kansas City one relationship at a time. But for most of that quarter-century, the firm ran exactly like the companies she was helping fix: everything moved through one person. In this episode, Ardith walks through what it actually looked like to scale too fast while saying yes to everything, why she stayed the sole public voice of her firm for two decades, and the moment she finally brought in the right operations partner. She and Alan talk honestly about the difference between a process problem and a people problem, why “hire slow, fire fast” doesn’t always work in a labor-short industry, and what it took for her to trust her team enough to take a real vacation. What you’ll hear: Why Ardith calls herself an “accidental recruiter” who never planned to start a company The real cost of being the only name clients and candidates trust How confusing a process problem for a people problem can quietly stall a business The hiring tool that changed how her team gets built What changed the week she realized her team does better when she’s gone Where Alan places her on the 7 Stages to Business Freedom — and why Alan Melton is the founder of Small Business Coach Associates. He’s coached 1,100+ business owners on marketing, sales systems, and operational clarity. Credentials: Inc. 500 founder (#422) | SBA Small Business Person of the Year, 1994 | Florida Governor’s Sterling Award, 1999 | #1 Small Business Coach, Life Coach Magazine 2026. Free strategy session: smallbusinesscoach.org (http://smallbusinesscoach.org/) | Subscribe for new episodes. Beyond the Owner’s Trap: Real small business owners on what it takes to grow. Hosted by Alan Melton. Connect with Ardith Rademacher: Website: strathire.com (http://strathire.com/) LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ardith-rademacher-99431a1 (http://linkedin.com/in/ardith-rademacher-99431a1) Connect with Alan Melton: Website: smallbusinesscoach.org (http://smallbusinesscoach.org/) LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/small-business-coach-associates (http://linkedin.com/company/small-business-coach-associates) YouTube: youtube.com/@BeyondTheOwnersTrap (http://youtube.com/@BeyondTheOwnersTrap) Timestamps: 05:47 – Meet Ardith Rademacher 06:42 – Why construction, and why go out on her own 12:52 – Scaling too fast: saying yes to everything 17:22 – Life inside the trap: the sole public voice of the firm 23:02 – The moment she finally brought in help 39:02 – What she’s still learning to let go of 43:11 – Stage check: where Alan places her on the 7 Stages #OwnersTrap #ConstructionIndustry #ExecutiveSearch #SmallBusinessGrowth #Delegation #BusinessCoaching

4. 

   6 Oct 2026

   Everything Was Paper: Brian LaFreniere's Turnaround | Beyond the Owner's Trap

   Brian LaFreniere spent 25 years in oil and gas, most recently helping lead the planned spinoff of Speedway's retail business. When COVID ended those plans and a move to Texas came next, he chose his family instead. He bought Ashlee Fence Company, a fence business serving Dayton and Cincinnati that had run for 35 years on paper. No CRM. No processes. Five and a half years later, he's built real systems, hired a general manager, and launched a new deck division. And he's honest about what he still needs to let go of. Alan assesses Ashlee Fence Company at upper Stage 5 (Profitability), approaching Stage 6 (Success), in his 7 Stages to Business Freedom framework. Brian's take: some days he goes through all seven before lunch. What you'll hear: Why Brian left a corporate career to keep his family in Ohio What he found inside a 35-year-old business that ran on paper The tension between commercial deadlines and residential customers What a passive storage business taught him about his time The two things he's still working to let go of Who he's really building the business for 🎙️ ABOUT ALAN MELTON Alan Melton is the founder of Small Business Coach Associates. He's spent 24 years coaching 1,100+ business owners on marketing, sales systems, and operational clarity. Credentials: Inc. 500 Founder — #422, East Coast Transportation | SBA Small Business Person of the Year 1994 | Florida Governor's Sterling Award 1999 | #1 Small Business Coach, Life Coach Magazine 2026 | #1 Business Coach Blog, Feedspot 2026. Free strategy session: smallbusinesscoach.org 📌 CONNECT WITH BRIAN LAFRENIERE & ASHLEE FENCE COMPANY Website: https://ashleefence.com (https://ashleefence.com) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-lafreniere (https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-lafreniere) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleefence21 (https://www.instagram.com/ashleefence21) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ashleefencecompany (https://www.facebook.com/ashleefencecompany) 📌 CONNECT WITH ALAN MELTON Website: https://smallbusinesscoach.org (https://smallbusinesscoach.org) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanmelton (https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanmelton) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BeyondTheOwnersTrap (https://www.youtube.com/@BeyondTheOwnersTrap) ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Meet Brian LaFreniere 01:40 Leaving corporate for family 05:16 A business that ran on paper 06:30 What Brian still does that he shouldn't 10:42 The cash flow roller coaster 18:08 Lessons from a passive business 23:24 Letting go of customer issues 25:39 Who is he building this for? 30:27 Stage check 35:36 Is this your story too? #BeyondTheOwnersTrap #SmallBusinessOwner #FenceCompany #BusinessAcquisition #Delegation #FamilyBusiness #OwnersTrap Beyond the Owner's Trap: Real small business owners on what it takes to grow. Hosted by Alan Melton. 🎧 Also on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeart, and Amazon Music.

5. 

   29 Sept 2026

   The Business Isn't Me: How Diana Gomez Found Herself After Her Best Year | Beyond the Owner's Trap

   Diana Gomez left her own design studio in Monterrey, Mexico to help her husband Roberto bring handcrafted iron doors to the United States. Today she's Co-Owner and COO of Exclusive Iron Doors in San Antonio, a 25-year family business that ships custom doors nationwide through e-commerce, wholesale, and an in-person showroom. During the pandemic, the business had its best year ever. At the same time, Diana was caring for a sick husband, running the house, teaching her kids, and keeping the company moving, until she hit a wall. What came next was the hardest work of all: learning that the business is not who she is. What you'll hear: What it takes to run a business and a marriage with the same person How a record year became Diana's breaking point Why "good enough" stopped sounding lame to her How she and Roberto split the load when one of them is running at 60% Why they're moving manufacturing to Texas Where Diana lands on the 7 Stages to Business Freedom About Alan Melton & SBCA: Alan Melton is the founder of Small Business Coach Associates. He's coached 1,100+ business owners on marketing, sales systems, and operational clarity. Credentials: Inc. 500 founder (#422) | SBA Small Business Person of the Year, 1994 | Florida Governor's Sterling Award, 1999 | #1 Small Business Coach, Life Coach Magazine 2026. Free strategy session: smallbusinesscoach.org (http://smallbusinesscoach.org/) | Subscribe for new episodes. About Beyond the Owner's Trap: Real small business owners on what it takes to grow. Hosted by Alan Melton. Connect with Diana Gomez: Exclusive Iron Doors: https://exclusiveirondoors.com (https://exclusiveirondoors.com/) Living the Work Podcast: https://livingtheworkpodcast.com (https://livingtheworkpodcast.com/) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diana-paola-gomez-davila-00712a57 (https://www.linkedin.com/in/diana-paola-gomez-davila-00712a57) San Antonio, Texas Connect with Alan Melton: Website: https://smallbusinesscoach.org (https://smallbusinesscoach.org/) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanmelton/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanmelton/) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BeyondTheOwnersTrap (https://www.youtube.com/@BeyondTheOwnersTrap) Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome and Diana's story 01:44 Leaving a design studio to join Roberto's vision 07:03 Where business ends and marriage begins 09:56 The best sales year and the crash 16:43 "The business is not me" 26:18 Moving manufacturing to Texas 32:06 Leaders, systems, and AI 39:34 Stage Check: where Diana stands #BeyondTheOwnersTrap #FamilyBusiness #SmallBusinessOwner #WorkLifeBalance #CustomManufacturing #BusinessPartners #OwnersTrap

6. 

   22 Sept 2026

   From Sales Rep to $680K in 60 Days: How Jonathan Brosher Built Better Roofing & Restoration

   Jonathan Brosher spent five years selling roofs for other companies before getting his own license — on purpose. He launched Better Roofing & Restoration in Tampa Bay in August 2024. Two months later Hurricane Milton hit, and the brand-new company did $680,000 in sixty days. Two years in, it holds a BBB A+ rating, an Angie's Super Service Award, and Owens Corning Preferred Contractor status. With Florida roofing down roughly 30% statewide, it's on pace to match its hurricane-year revenue as an 80% retail business — built on one rule: "We are not storm chasers. We're storm catchers." What you'll hear: The $680K first sixty days after Hurricane Milton "Now I'm a salesperson, now a production manager, now a receptionist" — and paid last Why sales talent doesn't make you a leader Why he's a storm catcher, not a storm chaser What breaks first if the business doubles His five-year vision: more locations, leaders as partners, a free roof for every million Alan assesses Better Roofing & Restoration at Stage 5 — Profitability — in his 7 Stages to Business Freedom framework. ───────────── 🎙️ ABOUT ALAN MELTON Founder of Small Business Coach Associates. 24 years coaching 1,100+ business owners — from $250K startups to $10M+ companies — on marketing, sales systems, and operational clarity. Inc. 500 Founder #422 | SBA Small Business Person of the Year 1994 | Florida Governor's Sterling Award 1999 | #1 Small Business Coach, Life Coach Magazine 2026 | #1 Business Coach Blog, Feedspot 2026 📅 Free strategy session: smallbusinesscoach.org (http://smallbusinesscoach.org) ───────────── 📌 CONNECT WITH JONATHAN BROSHER 🌐 betterroofing.com (http://betterroofing.com) | 📞 (813) 455-1954 | 📧 office@betterroofing.com (mailto:office@betterroofing.com) 📱 @better.roofing | 💼 linkedin.com/in/jonathanbrosher (http://linkedin.com/in/jonathanbrosher) 📍 New Port Richey, FL — serving Tampa Bay ───────────── 📌 CONNECT WITH ALAN MELTON 🌐 smallbusinesscoach.org (http://smallbusinesscoach.org) | 📺 youtube.com/@BeyondTheOwnersTrap (http://youtube.com/@BeyondTheOwnersTrap) | 💼 linkedin.com/in/alanmelton (http://linkedin.com/in/alanmelton) ───────────── ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 00:11 — What the Owner's Trap really is 05:57 — "Now I do everything" — and getting paid last 10:34 — Sales talent doesn't make you a leader 16:50 — "Storm catchers, not storm chasers" 21:28 — Earning BBB, Angie's, and Owens Corning status 23:52 — What breaks first if the business doubles 26:16 — Five-year vision and the free-roof goal 28:27 — The Stage Check: solidly in Stage 5 32:23 — Five years in sales before his own license 34:41 — Hurricane Milton: $680K in sixty days 37:27 — Where to find Better Roofing, and close ───────────── #OwnersTrap #RoofingBusiness #RoofingContractor #TampaBay #TradesBusiness #SmallBusinessOwner #BusinessCoach #AlanMelton #BeyondTheOwnersTrap #SevenStagesToBusinessFreedom 🎧 Available on Youtube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeart, and Amazon Music

7. 

   15 Sept 2026

   From Basement Office to 2x National Contractor of the Year: 36 Years of Gehman Design Remodeling

   Dennis Gehman started his remodeling company in 1990 in his home's basement — after building his own house so well that neighbors asked for help. Thirty-six years later, Gehman Design Remodeling is a 21-person design-build firm in Harleysville, PA, twice named National Contractor of the Year by NARI. But by his own admission, Dennis isn't fully out of the trap — still the one his longest-tenured employees call first, even with two sons now in leadership. What you'll hear: - How a basement office in 1990 became a twice-award-winning firm - Why faith has been a constant in every hire and hard decision - Why he keeps every trade in-house, and calls himself "a control freak" for it - The Great Recession bet that nearly cost him his barn-turned-showroom - Why he believes firing someone the right way "frees up their future" - What Dennis is still holding onto as his sons take the lead Marketing note: Dennis has pursued one industry award every year for 36 years — a reputation system that costs nothing and can't be bought. Alan assesses Gehman Design Remodeling at Stage 5 — Profitability — moving toward Stage 6 — Success — in his 7 Stages to Business Freedom framework. 🎙️ ABOUT ALAN MELTON Founder of Small Business Coach Associates. 24 years coaching 1,100+ business owners on marketing, sales systems, and operational clarity. Credentials: Inc. 500 Founder — #422 | SBA Small Business Person of the Year 1994 | Florida Governor's Sterling Award 1999 | #1 Small Business Coach, Life Coach Magazine 2026 | #1 Business Coach Blog, Feedspot 2026. 📅 Free strategy session: smallbusinesscoach.org (http://smallbusinesscoach.org) | 🔔 Subscribe so you never miss an episode. 📌 CONNECT WITH DENNIS GEHMAN & GEHMAN DESIGN REMODELING 🌐 gehmanremodeling.com (http://gehmanremodeling.com) | 📞 (215) 513-0300 | 📍 Harleysville, PA 🏆 2x NARI National Contractor of the Year | MCR | CKBR 📌 CONNECT WITH ALAN MELTON 🌐 smallbusinesscoach.org (http://smallbusinesscoach.org) | 📺 youtube.com/@BeyondTheOwnersTrap (http://youtube.com/@BeyondTheOwnersTrap) | 💼 linkedin.com/in/alanmelton (http://linkedin.com/in/alanmelton) ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 — Intro: The Owner's Trap defined 0:31 — Meet Dennis Gehman 1:52 — Guest introduction 2:23 — Starting the business in a basement 5:00 — Faith as the foundation of 36 years 9:11 — The real cost of 36 years in clients' homes 11:46 — Why all trades stay in-house 13:51 — The project manager system behind Gehman's referrals 17:23 — The hardest season: the moment Dennis questioned everything 20:40 — The award strategy, and winning National Contractor twice 26:08 — Elijah and Aaron: the next generation enters the business 31:44 — What Dennis is still holding onto after 36 years 36:42 — What Gehman Design should mean in 30 more years 39:09 — Stage Check: Alan's 7 Stages diagnosis 42:27 — Wrap-up and close #OwnersTrap #SmallBusinessOwner #TradesBusiness #FamilyBusiness #Leadership #Craftsmanship #Remodeling #ReputationMarketing 🎧 Also on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeart, and Amazon Music.

8. 

   8 Sept 2026

   How Kelly King Bought a 47-Year Family Metal Shop & Discovered the Owner's Trap | Stodtmeister Iron

   Kelly King didn't build Stodtmeister Iron — he bought it. Ten years ago, he left corporate finance and operations to take over a nearly 50-year-old, family-founded metal fabrication shop in Sparks, Nevada — one that had been run almost single-handedly by its founder. Today Stodtmeister Iron operates two locations — Sparks, NV and Rancho Cordova, CA. But by his own admission, Kelly's still not fully out of the trap — still doing design work, still leading the team, still working around 70 hours a week. What you'll hear: - How a finance and operations exec ended up buying a metal shop he barely knew - The moment he realized the business had zero structure — and what he did about it - Why fixing the culture meant hiring, promoting, and letting people go on core values - What a 70-hour week looks like when you're still doing design work and leading the team - His honest answer to whether he's "arrived" — and what freedom would look like - The real cost of the Owner's Trap: missing time with family and weekends Alan assesses Stodtmeister Iron at Stage 5 — Profitability — with clear movement toward Stage 6 — Success — in his 7 Stages to Business Freedom framework. 🎙️ ABOUT ALAN MELTON Alan Melton is the founder of Small Business Coach Associates. He's spent 24 years coaching 1,100+ business owners on marketing, sales systems, and operational clarity. Credentials: Inc. 500 Founder — #422, East Coast Transportation | SBA Small Business Person of the Year 1994 | Florida Governor's Sterling Award 1999 | #1 Small Business Coach, Life Coach Magazine 2026 | #1 Business Coach Blog, Feedspot 2026. 📅 Free strategy session: smallbusinesscoach.org (http://smallbusinesscoach.org) | 🔔 Subscribe so you never miss an episode. 📌 CONNECT WITH KELLY KING & STODTMEISTER IRON 🌐 stodtmeisteriron.com (http://stodtmeisteriron.com) | 📧 info@stodtmeisteriron.com (mailto:info@stodtmeisteriron.com) | 📞 (775) 358-9455 | 💼 linkedin.com/in/kellydk68 (http://linkedin.com/in/kellydk68) 📍 Sparks, NV and Rancho Cordova, CA 📌 CONNECT WITH ALAN MELTON 🌐 smallbusinesscoach.org (http://smallbusinesscoach.org) | 📺 youtube.com/@BeyondTheOwnersTrap (http://youtube.com/@BeyondTheOwnersTrap) | 💼 linkedin.com/in/alanmelton (http://linkedin.com/in/alanmelton) ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 1:57 — Cold open: a business that can't run without you 3:45 — Buying a 47-year-old metal shop he knew nothing about 6:53 — "There wasn't any structure at all" 11:08 — A day in the life: shop floor to design desk, 70 hrs/week 14:12 — Fixing the culture: hiring — and firing — on core values 18:16 — "Culture eats strategy for lunch" 20:25 — What "arrived" would actually look like 23:32 — The real cost: missing family time and weekends 26:10 — Stage Check: Alan's 7 Stages diagnosis 29:08 — Wrap-up: the invitation to viewers 31:18 — The close: where to find Kelly and Stodtmeister Iron #OwnersTrap #SmallBusinessOwner #TradesBusiness #BusinessCulture #Leadership #FamilyBusiness #MetalFabrication #ConstructionIndustry 🎧 Also on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeart, and Amazon Music.

9. 

   2 Sept 2026

   From Grief to Growth: How Betty Mooney Grew Brick Restoration to Texas' #1 | Beyond the Owner's Trap

   Betty Mooney didn't just inherit a business — she inherited a legacy. When her father and founder, Roberto, passed away in 2019, Betty stepped from the CFO's chair into the President's seat at Brick Restoration, the family masonry company he built one repair at a time in Houston back in 1993. Since then, she's grown Brick Restoration into a three-location operation with more than 20,000 completed projects, recognized as Texas's number one masonry contractor — opening a brand-new Dallas-Fort Worth market in the middle of a pandemic, and leading her team through the hardest loss of her career. What you'll hear: How her father's invention-driven mindset turned a trowel and a bucket into a 30-year family business What it took to step into the President's chair after losing her dad The pandemic-era decision that took Brick Restoration into a second Texas market The hardest season of Betty's career — and how her team carried each other through it Why she's now focused on building out her leadership bench, not just her own processes Alan's live Stage Check on where Betty stands in the 7 Stages to Business Freedom Alan Melton is the founder of Small Business Coach Associates. He's coached 1,100+ business owners on marketing, sales systems, and operational clarity. Credentials: Inc. 500 founder (#422) | SBA Small Business Person of the Year, 1994 | Florida Governor's Sterling Award, 1999 | #1 Small Business Coach, Life Coach Magazine 2026. Free strategy session: smallbusinesscoach.org (http://smallbusinesscoach.org) | Subscribe for new episodes. Real small business owners on what it takes to grow. Hosted by Alan Melton. Connect with Betty Mooney & Brick Restoration: brickrestoration.com (http://brickrestoration.com) | linkedin.com/in/betty-mooney-70056513 (http://linkedin.com/in/betty-mooney-70056513) | Houston & Dallas-Fort Worth, TX Connect with Alan Melton: smallbusinesscoach.org (http://smallbusinesscoach.org) | https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanmelton/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanmelton/) Timestamps: 06:03 – What the Owner's Trap really is 08:04 – Growing up around her father's invention-driven masonry business 17:57 – The season her father was diagnosed, and what that meant for the business 20:21 – Losing a longtime employee — the hardest season of Betty's career 24:08 – How her father's passing gave her room to finally lead 28:02 – The pandemic decision to open a second market in Dallas-Fort Worth 35:43 – Why she's building her leadership bench, not just her own skill set 39:56 – The Stage Check: where Betty stands in the 7 Stages to Business Freedom #FamilyBusiness #MasonryContractor #BusinessLeadership #SmallBusinessOwner #TexasBusiness #OwnersTrap

10. 

    26 Aug 2026

    Dance Without Limits: How Beth Bradley Built the Upstate's Largest Studio | Beyond the Owner's Trap

    Beth Bradley grew Dance Without Limits from 30 students in one room to the largest dance studio by student volume in the Upstate of South Carolina, without a paid advertising budget. Using a Google 3-Pack strategy, community press, guerrilla marketing, and a coaching partnership that helped her stop being the best teacher and start being the CEO, she built a studio with 800-plus students, two locations in Greenville and Simpsonville, 19 employees, and 110 weekly classes. In 2026, Beth was named the SC Women in Business Award winner, featured in Greenville Business Magazine, and is a past Business Resilience Award winner from the Greenville Chamber for keeping the studio alive through COVID. SC Women in Business Award 2026: https://www.greenvillebusinessmag.com/stories/2026-sc-women-in-business-awards-98,42525 (https://www.greenvillebusinessmag.com/stories/2026-sc-women-in-business-awards-98,42525) In this episode, Alan Melton, who has coached Beth for 8 years, reveals the marketing strategies behind her growth: the Google 3-Pack strategy that replaced paid ads, the press releases that brought a TV news crew to her door, and how learning to delegate freed her to grow the business. What you'll hear: Why the dance industry said her non-competitive model couldn't work The Google 3-Pack strategy that drove enrollment without a paid ad budget COVID: from 350 students to 99, and the rebuild to 800-plus Where Alan places Beth on his 7 Stages to Business Freedom framework If you've grown through word of mouth but haven't cracked the code on marketing, Beth's story is a masterclass in low-budget, high-impact growth. ───────────────────── ABOUT ALAN MELTON & SMALL BUSINESS COACH ASSOCIATES Alan Melton is the founder of Small Business Coach Associates. He's coached 1,100+ business owners on marketing, sales systems, and operational clarity. Credentials: Inc. 500 founder (#422) | SBA Small Business Person of the Year, 1994 | Florida Governor's Sterling Award, 1999 | #1 Small Business Coach, Life Coach Magazine 2026 Free strategy session: smallbusinesscoach.org (http://smallbusinesscoach.org) | Subscribe for new episodes. ───────────────────── ABOUT BEYOND THE OWNER'S TRAP Real small business owners on what it takes to grow. Hosted by Alan Melton. ───────────────────── CONNECT WITH BETH BRADLEY dancewithoutlimits.co (http://dancewithoutlimits.co) Facebook: Dance Without Limits | Instagram: @danceNolimits Greenville, SC and Simpsonville, SC ───────────────────── CONNECT WITH ALAN MELTON smallbusinesscoach.org (http://smallbusinesscoach.org) LinkedIn: Alan Melton | YouTube: Beyond the Owner's Trap ───────────────────── TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Intro 3:03 Meet Beth 16:00 Google 3-Pack strategy 18:01 COVID hits 21:02 350 to 99 students 31:57 Chaos to freedom ───────────────────── #DanceWithoutLimits #SmallBusinessMarketing #WomenInBusiness #BeyondTheOwnersTrap #SmallBusinessCoach

11. 

    18 Aug 2026

    From Newborns to $9M & Inc. 5000: Sean Schmitt & Alexander Johns | Beyond the Owner's Trap

    Sean Schmitt and Alexander Johns started A&S Construction in 2021 with $5,000 and two newborns at home, pivoting from currency exchange in the middle of COVID. Four years later: 2026 Inc. 5000 list, revenue approaching $9 million, a team of 20+, and a 2026 Best Culture Award. Alan Melton sits down with Sean and Alex to talk about what it actually cost them to build A&S Construction — the 100-hour weeks, the newborns at home, the co-founder tension, the heartbreak of being taken advantage of, and the turning points that changed everything. What you'll hear in this episode: Pivoting to construction with $5,000 and a vision for $10 million What 100-hour weeks with newborns at home actually felt like Being taken advantage of — and how they chose to respond The personal SWOT that ended the co-founder tension The $4,000/month digital marketer they almost hired Going from $4.4 million to $9 million in two years Why the Culture Award means more to Sean than the Inc. 5000 What Sean wants his kids to see in what he and Alex built Whether you're a construction business owner, a co-founder navigating partnership tension, or an owner working around the clock wondering if it's worth it — this episode is for you. 🎙️ ABOUT BEYOND THE OWNER'S TRAP Hosted by Alan Melton, founder of Small Business Coach Associates, 24-year coaching veteran and advisor to 1,100+ small business owners. Real owners share the unfiltered truth about what worked, what broke, and the difference between owning a business and being owned by one. 🔔 Subscribe so you never miss an episode. 📌 CONNECT WITH SEAN & ALEX 🌐 Website: www.ascoflouisville.com (http://www.ascoflouisville.com) 📞 Phone: 502-614-5050 📱 Facebook | Instagram | YouTube: A&S Construction of Louisville 📌 CONNECT WITH ALAN MELTON 🌐 Website: smallbusinesscoach.org (http://smallbusinesscoach.org) 📅 Book a free strategy session: smallbusinesscoach.org (http://smallbusinesscoach.org) 💼 LinkedIn: Alan Melton ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Intro 1:17 Meet Sean Schmitt & Alexander Johns 3:58 COVID pivot from currency exchange 6:46 Newborns and 100-hour weeks 7:36 What they thought owning a business meant 10:37 The hardest point: 4am starts and betrayal 12:25 Co-founder tension at 18 months in 13:19 Cracking $1M in year one 17:30 Reaching out to Alan in 2022 19:30 The $4,000/month marketer they almost hired 22:30 The personal SWOT: roles get defined 26:30 Finding the right-hand person and letting go 29:30 $4.4M to $9M: what drove the growth 34:23 What are you still holding onto? 36:53 What Sean wants his kids to see 38:58 Alan's reflection on their journey 41:36 Best Culture Award & Top Trex Builder in Kentucky 43:20 Episode wrap-up 📺 ALSO AVAILABLE ON 🌐 smallbusinesscoach.org/podcast (http://smallbusinesscoach.org/podcast) #BeyondTheOwnersTrap #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneurship #Inc5000 #Construction #BusinessCoach #CoFounder

12. 

    14 Aug 2026

    The Promise, The Badge, The Inc. 5000 | Chicago Cop Builds $9M Security Firm | Chris Sherwin

    Chris Sherwin is a full-time Chicago police officer who built USIA — Ultimate Security and Investigations of America — from $3M to $9M in 10 months while living 1,300 miles from his business. In 2026, USIA landed on the Inc. 5000 list of America's fastest-growing private companies. USIA is a law enforcement-owned private security firm specializing in executive protection, corporate security, and risk mitigation. Chris built the business from a $10,000 line of credit while working full-time on a K9 unit. In this episode, he opens up about the promise he made his wife when he traded a corporate career for a badge, the moment he realized he was the bottleneck in his own company, and what it actually took to let go. This is a real conversation about escaping the owner's trap: admitting you're the problem, building a team you can trust, and keeping a promise even when it's uncomfortable. Connect with Chris and USIA at usaprivatesecurity.com (http://usaprivatesecurity.com). Subscribe and leave a review — it helps other owners find this show.

13. 

    10 Aug 2026

    From Dream to Reality: An Accountant's Journey to Business Freedom

    Alicia Klausmeier built Dream Accounting Advisory as a solo bookkeeper in 2018, and she's felt the owner's trap firsthand more than once — including a stretch during COVID homeschooling two young kids all day and closing the books until 2 a.m. On this episode, Alicia shares how she learned to delegate, set real boundaries, and build a team she trusts enough to actually take a vacation, and why growth keeps pulling her back into the day-to-day even now. She and Alan dig into the difference between owners who know their numbers and owners who understand them, the financial blind spots that keep businesses working harder without growing, and the handful of metrics — cash runway, gross margin, receivables — every owner should check weekly, not just at tax time. Alicia also walks through a real client turnaround: a compensation-structure fix that took a business from losing money every month to profitable within three months. If you've ever looked at your financials and felt more confused than informed, this conversation on breaking free from the owner's trap will change how you look at your numbers. Connect with Alicia: Dream Accounting Advisory - https://dreamaccountingadvisory.com/ (https://dreamaccountingadvisory.com/) LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alicia-klausmeier/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/alicia-klausmeier/) Subscribe to Beyond the Owner's Trap so you don't miss the next conversation with an owner who's been there.

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