“Hire a team, scale fast, never stop growing.” That’s the advice we’ve all heard. But what if that isn’t your dream? What if building a business that actually supports your life means not hiring a big team? This week, Maggie Patterson joins me to talk about her new book, Staying Solo, and why more business owners are choosing to stay lean, profitable, and in control—without sacrificing growth. We get real about the myths of solo business, the financial numbers people avoid, and the very real pressure to “look legit” online. If you’ve ever felt weird about staying small, this one’s for you. In this episode of the podcast, we talk about: Why staying solo is a valid long-term business model The real cost of growing too fast What most business owners aren’t tracking How Maggie marketed her book with a private podcast Why solo businesses are often more human …And More! This Episode Was Made Possible By: Riverside All-in-One Podcast & Video Platform Visit Riverside and use the code DREA to get 15% off any Riverside individual plan. We use it to record all our podcast interviews: https://onlinedrea.com/riverside About the Guest: Maggie Patterson is the creator of BS-Free Business® and the author of Staying Solo®. With 20 years of experience as a successful entrepreneur in client services, Maggie helps service business owners build what she proudly calls a “boring business”—strategically small, sustainable, and designed to fit their lives without the constant hustle. A podcaster and writer, Maggie is a vocal advocate for humane business practices rooted in respect, empathy, and trust. She hosts two podcasts, Staying Solo and Confessions of a Micro Agency Owner, and co-hosts the consumer advocacy podcast Duped: The Dark Side of Online Business. Website: www.bsfreebusiness.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bsfreebusiness/ Threads: https://www.threads.com/@bsfreebusiness Go to the show notes for all the resources mentioned in this episode: https://onlinedrea.com/359