It’s Family Business

Most business owners spend years thinking about how to start, grow and strengthen their business — but what about how they’ll eventually step away from it?

In this episode, Cheryl is joined by small business consultant and author Ingrid Thompson to explore why your exit strategy shouldn’t be an afterthought.

Whether selling your business is years away, already on your mind, or something you’ve never seriously considered, Ingrid explains why the decisions you make today can have a significant impact on what your business is ultimately worth — and whether there’s actually a business to sell when the time comes.

Cheryl and Ingrid unpack what makes a business valuable beyond its physical assets, from recurring revenue and client retention to profitability, systems, processes and a strong team. They also discuss one of the biggest challenges for service-based businesses: building a business that isn’t entirely dependent on the owner.

The conversation covers the signs it may be time to consider an exit, how businesses are valued, what needs to be in place before going to market, who you need on your advisory team, and how to navigate the often-sensitive process of communicating a sale or closure to employees and clients.

And if selling isn’t an option? Ingrid shares why closing a business doesn’t necessarily mean failure — sometimes it simply means that chapter has reached its natural end.

If you own a Pilates studio, health or wellbeing business, or any service-based business, this episode offers plenty to think about — whether your exit is two years away, ten years away, or not yet on your radar.

Email marketing can be one of the most powerful tools in your business — but for many small business owners, it’s also one of the easiest to neglect.
In this episode, Kirsten and Cheryl break down how to build an email marketing strategy that does more than send the occasional newsletter. From growing your email list and creating automated email sequences to nurturing customers, increasing retention and ultimately driving more sales, this discussion is packed with practical strategies you can put into action today!

Using Pilates studios and boutique fitness businesses as real-world examples, we cover:
How to grow your email list through website sign-ups, giveaways, collaborations and events
Why email marketing can be more valuable than relying on social media alone
The essential automated email flows every small business should consider
Welcome sequences, reminder emails and win-back campaigns
How segmentation and personalisation can improve engagement
The 70/20/10 rule for planning email marketing content
How often you should email your customers
Why it might be time to rethink the traditional monthly newsletter
The email marketing metrics that actually matter — including opens, clicks and conversions

Whether you own a Pilates studio, fitness or wellness business, clinic, retail business or another small business, this episode will help you turn your email list into a valuable marketing channel that keeps your business connected with customers — even when you’re busy doing everything else.

If email marketing keeps falling to the bottom of your to-do list, start here.

What does a business really look like from different seats at the table?
In this episode of It’s Family Business, we’re joined by Elise Burgess, daughter of Adrian and Cheryl. Having recently undertaken her own entrepreneurial journey, Elise brings a unique perspective on how business feels from both sides.
Together, we explore how business looks completely different depending on your role as either an employee, a leader, a founder, or someone just starting out on their own. From misconceptions about working for your parents, to the unseen pressures business owners carry, this conversation unpacks what most people never get to see behind a small business.
We dive into the realities of balancing family and work, the shift in mindset between being an employee and becoming a business owner, generational differences in the workplace, and the lessons that come from growing up around entrepreneurship. The Panel also touches on trust, leadership, delegation, workplace dynamics, and what it really takes to build and sustain a business.
Whether you’re a young professional building your career, an aspiring entrepreneur, or a business owner navigating leadership and growth, this episode offers an honest look at the perspectives, pressures, and lessons that shape life inside a business.

In this episode you'll learn about:
• The biggest misconceptions about working in a family business
• What changes when you step into ownership or leadership
• The hidden responsibilities business owners carry behind the scenes
• How different generations approach work and business differently
• Why business looks completely different depending on your role
• Lessons from growing up around entrepreneurship and building a business from the ground up

If you’ve ever wondered what employees don’t see, what founders carry, or why people in the same business can experience it so differently, this episode is for you.

In this episode of It's Family Business, Cheryl sits down with Lizzie Renkert— founder of Lizzie Renkert Creative and former fashion magazine editor — to talk about the realities of running a business, working with family, and building a career that actually fits your life.
Lizzie shares her journey from the fast-paced world of fashion publishing to co-founding successful fashion label We Are Kindred, before ultimately launching her own boutique creative agency focused on brand storytelling, marketing strategy, social media, content creation, and small business growth.
Lizzie also shares powerful advice for aspiring business owners and creatives, including why experience matters, how to navigate uncertainty, and the importance of building a business that aligns with your lifestyle and values.
If you’re a small business owner, entrepreneur, creative, marketer, working parent, or someone dreaming about starting your own business, this episode is packed with relatable insights and practical wisdom.
🎧 Listen now to hear an authentic conversation about family business, entrepreneurship, creativity, resilience, and finding success on your own terms.

What does it really take to run a successful family business with your partner—without it tearing your relationship apart?

In this episode of It’s Family Business, we sit down with Dale and Kirsty Neale, owners of a thriving service-based business in the funeral industry, to unpack their journey from humble beginnings to building a 40+ staff operation.

They share honest insights into:
Scaling a business from scratch while raising a family
Managing a growing team and creating a strong workplace culture
Navigating the challenges of working with your spouse
Balancing business demands with family life and personal priorities
The reality of 24/7 businesses and how it impacts relationships
Lessons learned from business failures, partnerships, and big risks
Defining success—beyond money, status, and growth
From “never saying no” in business to learning when to step back and prioritise family, this episode is packed with real, unfiltered advice for business owners, couples in business, and anyone thinking about starting a family-run company.
Whether you’re scaling your business, struggling with work-life balance, or wondering how to successfully work with your partner—this conversation offers practical takeaways and relatable moments you won’t want to miss.