Best Overall
How I Built This
In depth discussions.
Successful guests.
Some outdated episodes.
Best For Short Format
The 10-Minute Entrepreneur
Thought-provoking.
Ideal for busy people.
Lack of depth.
Best For Digital Business
The Digital Entrepreneur
Ideal for busy people.
Engaging & structured.
Digital business focus only.
Small business owners usually have a busy schedule with little time for professional development. However, learning about entrepreneurship can be extremely valuable and help you build a more successful business.
Podcasts are a convenient and accessible way to learn about what it takes to build a successful small business. If you’re not sure where to get started, check out these best podcasts for small business owners.
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The Best Podcasts for Small Business Owners
With over five million podcasts, there is a show for everyone. Here are some of the best options for small business owners.
1.How I Built This
Best Overall
How I Built This
With over 19 million combined monthly downloads, How I Built This creator Guy Raz is one of the most successful podcast hosts.
The former NPR radio host launched How I Built This in 2016, and the podcast quickly became one of the most popular podcasts about entrepreneurship. It’s still one of the best podcasts for small business owners.
Each episode features a different guest who discusses their journey to building a successful brand. Over the years, the founders of highly recognizable brands like Five Guys, Airbnb, Patagonia, and MailChimp have appeared on the show.
Guy Raz knows how to keep the conversation flowing in a way that feels natural and engaging, and the podcast is easy to listen to. It’s also a great reminder that even the largest brands started out small.
Pros
Discover compelling stories about brands you’re familiar with.
The guests often discuss entrepreneurship challenges in depth.
You’ll get to learn from a wide range of successful business owners with unique experiences and insights.
Cons
The format can vary a lot with episodes ranging from 30 minutes to an hour.
The older episodes can feel outdated.
2.The 10-Minute Entrepreneur
Best for Short Format
The 10-Minute Entrepreneur
Lengthy podcast episodes can be difficult to fit into your schedule. With the 10-Minute Entrepreneur, you can learn important concepts and discover new ideas even if you only have a few minutes a day. With new episodes released daily or every other day, it’s easy to make this podcast a part of your morning routine.
The short format is perfect for starting your day with some insightful content that will get you thinking. The podcast includes a mix of short interviews with entrepreneurs and thought leadership episodes that focus on recent trends or entrepreneurship topics such as how to set goals, which financial numbers to track, or how to get through a period of stagnation.
Pros
The topics feel varied and thought-provoking.
The short format is ideal for busy entrepreneurs.
The interviews are straight to the point and provide actionable advice.
Cons
The short format means the podcast doesn’t explore advanced concepts in depth.
3.The Digital Entrepreneur
Best for Digital Business
The Digital Entrepreneur
The Digital Entrepreneur focuses on digital business ventures. While older episodes often provided educational content about entrepreneurship, the format has evolved over the years and has shifted toward interviews with business owners.
This podcast is a great resource for exploring modern business models. Whether you’re thinking about selling digital goods or services or want to look into expanding an existing business into the digital space, you’ll find valuable information in this podcast.
Plus, most of the guests own small or medium businesses and share stories that feel relatable.
Pros
The 30-minute format is ideal for presenting topics in a nuanced manner.
The guests bring unique expertise to the table.
The interview format feels engaging and structured.
Cons
The podcast no longer focuses on purely educational content.
Some of the information won’t be relevant if you don’t have an interest in digital business models.
4.Startup Stories
Startup Stories
Startup Stories is one of the best podcasts for small business owners if you’re looking for inspiration!
This podcast is about sharing success stories. Guest entrepreneurs talk about how they launched their projects and turned them into profitable businesses. There is plenty of tangible advice along the way, and you’ll find some proven ideas that worked for other entrepreneurs.
Recent episodes have been focusing on AI and are a compelling and accessible way to keep up with the latest trends while exploring new opportunities. Plus, the storytelling format makes it easy to get lost in the episodes and have fun while learning something new.
Pros
The 30-minute episodes are engaging and fun to listen to.
Each episode features a story and some advice from a different business owner.
The podcast does a great job of keeping up with the latest trends.
Cons
What worked for the guests might not apply to your unique situation.
5.Duct Tape Marketing
Duct Tape Marketing
It’s common for entrepreneurs to wear many hats, including the role of digital marketing expert. There can be a steep learning curve for those who aren’t familiar with key marketing concepts.
Duct Tape Marketing is a podcast that makes marketing accessible. The episodes last 20 to 30 minutes and explore important marketing concepts, discuss the latest trends, and help you discover new ideas through guests sharing their experiences with marketing.
The focus is on small businesses, which means all the information is relevant to your marketing goals and budget. Some of the content about digital marketing can feel a little technical, but this podcast remains a great addition to your daily routine if you’re looking to take your marketing skills to the next level.
Pros
The 20 to 30-minute format is perfect for delivering value without running too long.
You’ll learn about essential marketing concepts and discover strategies that work.
All the information is relevant to small businesses.
Cons
Some of the marketing concepts discussed aren’t immediately accessible and will require additional research.
How Can Podcasts Help Small Business Owners?
Besides making you feel connected to a community of entrepreneurs, podcasts are a valuable learning tool.
Why Listen to Podcasts?
Podcasts teach and entertain in a way that is accessible and easy to consume. It’s no surprise that 42% of Americans listen to podcasts.
When it comes to professional development and entrepreneurship, podcasts are a great way to discover new ideas. There is an entire community of business owners who are eager to share the lessons they have learned, and taking advantage of these free resources will create value for your business.
You can learn how other entrepreneurs have solved problems and discover business models you hadn’t considered. Podcasts are also a great way to learn about the latest trends and explore use cases that are relevant to your industry.
Exploring new perspectives and fresh ideas will help you innovate and stimulate your mind.
Plus, podcasts geared toward business owners often use short formats. Episodes range anywhere from a few minutes to an hour, and you can pick a show with a duration that works for your schedule. If you’re a multi-tasker, you can even listen to podcasts while working, driving, or exercising.
What To Look For in a Podcast for Small Business Owners
Listenership is up for podcasts, and new shows pop up all the time. However, not all podcasts are equal in terms of the value they provide.
The Host and Guests
Most entrepreneurship podcasts feature a host who shares advice or engages guests and gets them to tell their stories.
Find out more about these people and their credentials. The best podcasts for small business owners feature people who have proven expertise in their industry.
Revenue Generation
Podcasts typically earn money through ads or sponsorship. However, some podcasts claim to offer educational content but actually work as a lead generation channel for affiliate programs or paid courses.
Sitting through a few ads and sponsored messages is worth it if you’re learning from the podcast, but constant promotions can feel tiresome.
Format and Duration
How long can you dedicate to listening to podcasts? Longer episodes can explore concepts in-depth and provide more value, but a short-form podcast will be easier to fit into your schedule.
The format is another important consideration. The best podcasts about entrepreneurship have a clear structure and walk you from one concept to the next in a logical manner.
Format and duration are a matter of personal preferences, but making a podcast part of your daily routine will be easier if the duration is consistent and the format allows you to retain information easily.
Variety
The great thing about podcasts is that there are so many options available. You don’t have to listen to the same shows all the time and can try new podcasts to discover fresh perspectives.
Don’t hesitate to try new shows, ask business owners for recommendations, and explore podcasts outside of the entrepreneurship category to discover new concepts.
what next?
Making some time to listen to How I Built This on a regular basis will pay off. This podcast is highly enjoyable thanks to the engaging stories the guests and host tell, and you’ll learn a lot about what it takes to build a successful business.
For entrepreneurs who are pressed for time, the 10-Minute Entrepreneur is a great substitute. These short episodes are easy to fit into your daily routine, and the innovative concepts presented in this podcast will get you thinking and help you discover new ways of doing things.
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