COLD HARD FACTS…
Most of what’s out there for service business owners is:
Geared to brand new baby business owners and covers only the basics.
Focused on scaling your service business with a course, program, or agency business model.
Full of total and complete BS that will waste your time and money.
This leaves you, a seasoned service business owner, with very limited options if you want support from people who get it.
Especially as you don’t need anymore cookie-cutter systems, you need real support as you run a sustainable, simple business.
That’s precisely why we created the Staying Solo™ Squad.
I’ve heard the same concerns (and complaints) from my clients and community for years.
They’re frustrated as they haven’t found anything that provides support specific to them as a service business owner at a doable price point. They feel like they don't really fit into other communities as a solo, service-based business.
The Staying Solo Squad is a cross between a membership and a mastermind based on everything we’ve learned over the past seven years while running 10+ masterminds and mentoring 100+ service business owners.
We’re bringing together the elements that make the BIGGEST difference for service business owners without any of the fluff.
Hold Up.
What’s Staying Solo?
The most common business advice doesn’t serve solo business owners. The narrative focuses on building something BIG by scaling and hiring a team, yet the reality is that 80% of the businesses in the U.S. are sole proprietors.
By choosing to stay solo, you’re not playing small; you’re choosing to be strategically small.
This is what Staying Solo™ is all about.
The six pillars of the Staying Solo Framework are designed to provide you with a way to refine what you’re already doing in your business.
My goal is to help you build your business in a way that truly works for YOU. A business that serves you and supports your life.
Who Is This For?
Established freelancers, creatives, consultants, and coaches who are tired of the same old BS and want real support and community.
The Squad is a good fit for you if you're running a service
business serving other entrepreneurs or B2B clients, and you want to be in a space where the conversation isn't about quick fixes, fake flexes or making 7-figures.
BS-Free Business is a values-based business. We're actively committed to more humane, sustainable business practices and that informs everything we do in the Squad.
You can learn more about our values and community commitments here.
What’s Included?
The Staying Solo Squad runs for eight months, starting August 1, 2024. During our time together, here’s what you can expect:
Staying Solo Business Assessment
We’ll kick things off with the Staying Solo Business Assessment, which will help identify where to focus your time and energy in the coming months. Based on the six elements of the Staying Solo Framework, we’ll provide customized results and recommendations on how to make the most of our time together.
Monthly Hot Seat Calls
We’ll gather each month to cover any questions or challenges you may face. During this fun and supportive gathering, you’ll get feedback from the BS-Free Business team and your peers.
Kickoff Workshop
In mid August, we’ll gather on Zoom to map out your game plan for the next six months. We’ll discuss the results of your business assessment and fine-tune your plans for the rest of 2024 and beyond.
Monthly Game Plan Call
At the start of each month, Sara will host the monthly game plan call to help you map out your plan for the month and help you stay on track. This call will be one part planning and one part accountability. (Sara’s the reason I can stay focused the way I do!)
Staying Solo: Deep Dive Workshops
Every other month, we’ll do a deep dive into one of the Staying Solo pillars based on the needs of the group. Each workshop will be delivered live, and then available as a replay with video, audio, transcripts available, along with a workbook.
Slack Community
Hang out with your squad daily over in the Slack Community. You can get your questions answered, celebrate wins and get high-level feedback from Maggie, Sara, and the community. This will quickly become your fave place to hang out and ask all your business questions.
Coworking Sessions
Gather with fellow members of The Squad to get things done during our coworking sessions held throughout the month. Whether you're working on a big client project or your business, this focused time will help you knock it off your list.
A Typical Month as a Member of the Squad
Monthly Game Plan Session
You start your month by reviewing your priorities and making a realistic plan for the coming weeks. You’ll set goals that work for you as a solo service business owner.
Weekly Accountability
Get support on getting things done and following through in the Slack community.
Monthly Hot Seats
Gather with Squad members to get real-time input from me, Sara and the entire crew on your biggest questions, challenges and business dilemmas.
Ongoing Support
Ask your questions in the Slack group to get help when and where you need it. I’m very present and will give you specific, nuanced guidance.
Plus, for this round of the Squad, we’re adding two (optional) sprints to help you build the skills you need to thrive in 2024 and beyond. We’re talking things like getting proactive about referrals and relationships, and selling strategy.
“I love how grounded the Squad is. It's nice to be in a group with folks who are just "doing the dang thing." In artist groups, there's a lot of hustle culture meets "follow your dreams" energy and it's nice to be in a place where we love what we do but also have balanced lives.
It’s a really supportive network with practical advice. For about a year, I kept joking with an accountability buddy that I wanted a course or group called "the Midwest-ass guide to doing the dang thing," I think this group is that, but with Canadians leading the way.”
Gail Gallagher,
Producer/Composer, Sparklebard Studios
“There's no competition, just lots of useful insight, recommendations, advice, and cheering each other on in the Squad. Everyone is as willing to help as they are to ask for advice. Nothing feels one-sided and there are no egos. I love knowing I have a group to ask questions and get support from. If you’re a solo business owner and want a genuine community with zero judgment, the Squad is the place to be.”
Emily Gertenbach,
B2B SEO Writer & Consultant, (e.g.) creative content
Hey, I'm Maggie, and Service Businesses Are My Business
Services businesses are my business. I work exclusively with freelancers, consultants, creatives, and agency owners to help them build simple, sustainable businesses.
When you work with me, you get my brain on your business, which includes 25 years working in service businesses, 19 of which have been spent running my various businesses. Plus, my professional prowess is in marketing, copywriting, and PR.
Best of all, I actively run a content marketing agency, so I still work with clients nearly every day and am in the trenches with you.
PLEASE NOTE: This Isn’t the Maggie Show
My role is to bring together a fantastic group of people and act as your guide and facilitator. One of my superpowers is bringing together amazing groups of people who can support each other through the ups and downs of building a business.
In The Squad, you'll build new relationships, learn from one another, and help each other.
Meet Sara, Community Director at BS-Free Business
My right hand at BS-Free Business, Sara, will work alongside me to support you in The Squad. (And yes, before you ask, we're sisters.)
Listen, I know you’ve probably been in groups before where suddenly, the leader is nowhere to be found, and you’re left in the hands of someone you barely know. That's NOT what's going to happen here! I've intentionally added Sara as part of this experience to complement what I bring to the table.
In addition to her role at BS-Free Business, she's the Client Services Director at my content marketing agency, Scoop Studios. Before that Sara spent 15+ years in marketing, training and operations roles with well-known financial services and telecommunications brands in the corporate world.
Sara’s Superpowers
Making plans, and making plans happen. She helps you take action.
Being ultra realistic and saving you from overcommitting to all the things.
Providing gentle encouragement and motivation when you need it.
(TL:DR, if you know anything about the Enneagram, I’m an 8, which is the challenger, and she’s a 2, which is the helper. She’s the perfect balance to my real talk in the Squad.)
Join the
Now
The Squad is currently in session. You can join our wait list to be notified when we're open for new members.
“I was looking to find a community of other business owners in the same place as me and dealing with the same things so I could have accountability and support. The community aspect was the biggest draw for me to join. I genuinely believe that to be successful, you need to be in a community. That’s what I appreciate about The Squad — having a place to be celebrated, held accountable, and even get feedback, which is very hard to come by these days. My business has greatly benefitted from being part of The Squad.”
Misa Bacon,
Founder & CEO, Perfectly Kept Books®
“I've loved connecting with folks in the community in and outside the events. Seeing what everyone is up to or struggling with, celebrating, and experiencing in the (sometimes crazy) online business world is grounding and uplifting. Plus, getting feedback from Maggie and the rest of the community at an accessible investment level is priceless.”
Becca Rich,
Founder & Educator, The Holistic Time Coach
Questions?
Excellent, we're 100% here for them. In fact, PLEASE ask questions as it means you’re doing your homework.
“I joined The Staying Solo Squad as I wanted a community of solopreneurs to share ideas and support while growing our businesses. What I love most about this community is the openness of the other members in their business operations.
As a business owner it's easy to get into a comfort bubble, so it's nice when ideas are respectfully questioned and make me think about things from a different perspective. The community doesn't feel forced. Everyone in the group is genuinely excited to be there and share their knowledge.”
Erin Rue,
Founder, Uplevel Your Accounting LLC
Join the
Now
The Squad is currently in session. You can join our wait list to be notified when we're open for new members.
