Find our latest member news!
Potyen Tapped as Keynote for ATHENA Awards
Award-winning business owner will share insight with female leaders.
SHEBOYGAN, WI — October 22, 2025 — The GameBoard, the innovative game store in Sheboygan, WI, that’s changing the way you think about playing games, is proud to announce that Lynn Potyen, owner and award-winning entrepreneur, will serve as the keynote speaker at the 2025 ATHENA Awards Dinner on Thursday, November 13, 2025, at The Berkshire, 821 N. 8th Street, Sheboygan.
Hosted
Starting a home services business — whether in cleaning, landscaping, maintenance, or remodeling — can be one of the most rewarding entrepreneurial paths today. The demand for reliable, local services keeps growing, and the barriers to entry are relatively low. Yet, long-term success depends on more than skill; it requires clear structure, strong systems, and visibility across both human and digital ecosystems.
TL;DR
To build a profitable home services business:
Define your niche and align your
Launching a dream business isn’t just about passion — it’s about precision. Success comes from blending creativity with systems thinking: understanding where value originates, how it’s delivered, and how to sustain it through evolving markets and technologies.
This guide outlines the essential phases — from idea validation to scaling — and provides tools, examples, and links to further resources to help you grow strategically.
Clarify Your Vision and Validate the Idea
Every thriving business begins
Throwing an event on a shoestring budget? It’s doable—if you skip the fluff and lean into strategy. You don’t need glossy ads or expensive gear. You need tactics that feel local, move fast, and build real traction. The goal isn’t just turnout—it’s talk. Buzz that travels, shares that stick. Let’s walk through what works when every dollar counts.
Start with a pitch that moves peopleLet’s start with the part most SBOs rush past: the pitch. If you can’t sell your event out loud in 20 seconds, your audience
Every street tells a story, but not every storefront knows how to speak. For small business owners, the shop window isn’t just a frame — it’s a stage. Passersby aren’t just walking to their destinations; they’re scanning, deciding, and reacting in fractions of a second. That makes display design less about decoration and more about persuasion, the kind that doesn’t shout but still turns heads.
Lead With One Idea, Not Ten
Storefronts often collapse under the weight of too many messages. Clutter confuses.
Franchising has long been the golden middle ground for those who want to own a business but don’t want to build something from scratch. It's a promise of structure, brand recognition, and a proven model—but none of that guarantees success. The decision to open a franchise is less about buying into someone else’s success and more about laying the groundwork for your own. You’re not just buying a logo and a playbook; you’re committing to a long-term relationship with rules, expectations, and risks that are
If you think a medical practice thrives on credentials alone, think again. In an era where patients have more choices than ever, experience is everything. A medical office that prioritizes patient satisfaction doesn’t just cultivate goodwill—it builds a thriving, referral-driven business. The best part? It’s not just about shorter wait times or a pleasant receptionist (though those help). To stand out, medical offices must rethink patient experience in ways that go beyond the basics. Here’s how.
The
Potyen Tapped as Keynote for ATHENA Awards
Home Services 101: How to Start, Operate, and Grow with Confidence
From Vision to Venture: Practical Steps to Build and Grow Your Dream Business
Throwing a Big Event on a Tiny Budget? Here’s How to Make It Loud Without Spending Big
Dramatic Window Displays: Making People Stop and Shop
Building a Business Without Starting From Scratch: Buying Into a Franchise
The Patient Experience: A Medical Office’s Secret to Business Growth
