Most small businesses don't fail because of a bad idea. They fail because of what happens behind the scenes — the operations no one explained, the finances that quietly got out of hand, the marketing that never connected, and the moments where the wrong decision at the wrong time cost everything. The Business Behind Small Business exists for that gap.

Each episode, host Sevana Stone breaks down one piece of what it actually takes to run a small business — from pricing and packaging to contracts, payroll, cash flow, government contracting, and knowing when to bring in outside help. Every episode opens with a story from business history: a real company, a real founder, a real lesson that maps directly to what small business owners face today. Then a local business owner or subject-matter expert joins the conversation as a co-host — not as an interview subject, but as an equal at the table.

This is a small business education podcast for owners who are tired of surface-level advice. If you're running a company in the DMV — or anywhere — and you want to understand the real mechanics of staying in business, growing profitably, and not learning the expensive lessons twice, this show is for you. New episodes publish twice monthly. The BBSB Roundtable brings the conversation to a small, invite-only group of local owners every month. Mind the business behind your business. Proudly sponsored by the Old Town Fairfax Business Association.