Ep 346: Inflation-Proof Your Business: What to Do When Everything Costs More.

Y'all, everything has gone up. The gas station. The grocery store. Your flights. Your shipping boxes. Your software subscriptions. Everything. And if you're a small business owner right now, you are feeling it in a very real way.

But here's what I want you to know before we dive in — you are not alone. In fact, more than 70% of small business owners believe prices will continue to rise. So if you've been sitting there wondering if your business can survive all of this, I want you to take a breath. And then I want you to pay close attention, because I'm about to walk you through six things you can start doing right now to inflation-proof your business.

These aren't fluffy ideas. These are real, practical strategies from someone who has been a business owner for 26 years and has had four businesses. Let's go.

1. Get Crystal Clear on Your Numbers

This is the one everyone hides from. And I get it — looking at your numbers can feel scary. But you cannot fix what you don't know. Before you do anything else, you need to know exactly where you stand.

Are you using a bookkeeping tool? I love Simplifi — it's Quicken's easy version and it imports your bank accounts and credit cards automatically so you can see where every dollar is going. If you don't want to do it yourself, hire a bookkeeper. You can find one through friends, through your local network, or on platforms like Fiverr or Upwork.

Grab a cup of coffee, put on some music that makes you happy, and sit down with your numbers. Know your real profit margins. Know how they compare to previous years. If you thought you had a 50% profit margin and you're really only at 20%, that changes everything. You have to know.

2. Trim the Fat

Once you know your numbers, it's time to look hard at what is costing you extra time and money — and cut it.

Start with your subscriptions. I'll be honest with y'all — I recently discovered I had been paying $39 a month for a dupe perfume subscription I forgot I signed up for. Eight months. Gone. Don't be me. Go through every subscription and ask yourself: do I actually need this?

Then look at how you're delivering your products or services. Are you offering personal deliveries that aren't making you money? Are you offering add-ons or extras that take your time but barely move the needle on profit? I used to charge $10 for monogramming on products in my online gift boutique. My embroiderer charged me $7. I was making $3. That is not a business strategy, that is a donation.

Look at everything — your inventory, your service offerings, the extras you throw in because you want to be nice. Ask yourself: if I were an outside auditor looking at this business, what would I cut?

3. Double Check Your Marketing and Double Down on What's Working

A lot of business owners, especially newer ones, are doing all the things. TikTok, Instagram, local events, email, ads — all of it. And here's the question I want you to ask yourself: what is actually working?

Not what has the most followers. Not what gets the most likes. What is actually bringing you paying customers?

If Instagram is bringing you business, keep doing it and do more of it. If you've been showing up on TikTok for a year and nobody has ever ordered from your TikTok, it's time to let your ego go and stop doing it. Vanity metrics are not paying your bills.

Do a real audit of how your customers are finding you. Is it referrals? Word of mouth? A specific platform? Whatever it is — double down on that and stop spending time and money on what isn't working.

4. Raise Your Prices — and Communicate It With Confidence

I know. This is the one you've been dreading. But hear me out.

Your customers are living in the same economy you are. They are going to the same gas station. They are paying more for their groceries too. They get it. What they need from you is clarity, confidence, and a little bit of sympathy in how you communicate the change.

Something like: "Inflation has affected our costs just like it's affected yours. We've made the decision to adjust our pricing, and here's what that looks like going forward." You can even give your loyal customers a grace period at the old price before the new pricing kicks in for everyone.

The worst thing you can do is keep your prices the same until your business stops being profitable. You did not start this business to be a martyr. You started it to make a real income doing something you love. Raise your prices. Communicate it well. And do it with confidence.

5. Leverage What Makes You Different

Here's the truth: there is something about you and your business that nobody else can replicate. And in a season of inflation, that's your greatest competitive advantage.

Maybe it's your personality. Maybe it's your follow-up. My periodontist texted me after my surgery to check on me. Y'all — she texted me personally. And now I tell everyone about her. That kind of thing doesn't cost a lot of money. It costs intentionality.

My son runs a power washing and staining business. In a totally commodity industry, he stands out because of his outgoing personality — he talks with his clients, learns about them, makes every interaction feel personal. People keep coming back not just because of the quality of his work, but because of who he is.

What is it about you? Your faith? Your philanthropy? Your all-organic products? Your personal touch? Whatever it is — lean into it, infuse it into your marketing, and make sure every customer interaction reflects it. That's what makes people come back and tell their friends.

6. Use AI and Automation to Save Time and Money

AI has genuinely changed the way I run my business — and if you're not using it yet, now is the time to start.

I record this podcast, pull the transcription, drop it into AI, and in seconds I have a blog post draft, email ideas, social captions — you name it. What used to take me hours now takes minutes. And then I go back through, add my personality, adjust my voice, and make it mine.

That's the key. You are not letting AI be the face of your business. You are the face of your business. But AI is an incredible tool that can handle the time-consuming tasks so you can focus on what only you can do. I use Claude and I love it. Once you start, you will not go back.

Here's the Bottom Line

The winning strategy is not to hide out until the inflation storm passes. The business owners who are still standing when this levels out are the ones who looked at their numbers, made smart decisions, and kept showing up.

You did not start this business to just survive. You started it because it means something — to you, to your family, to the people you serve. So get out there, be strategic, and do the work. You've got this.

And remember — only you can offer what you offer in the way that you offer it. Now go make a difference.