Host image
not yet added
not yet added
Host 1
Name not yet published
- Personality
- To be announced.
- Role in the show
- To be announced.
- Catchphrase
- None published yet.
AKR Marketing Designs presents
A confidential meetingA comedy podcast for people who sign the front of the check.
Running a Business Is Serious. Surviving It Requires a Sense of Humor.
Business Anonymous is where business owners, managers, and accidental entrepreneurs laugh about customers, employees, payroll, vendors, marketing, meetings, cash flow, and all the other things nobody warned us about.
No corporate speeches. No fake success stories. Just honest business problems, useful observations, and enough humor to make Monday slightly less painful.
PG-rated. Business-owner approved. Human Resources may have questions.
Meeting room 01In session
CONFIDENTIAL
Business Anonymous
You are not the only one.
Please take a seat
Bring your questions. Leave your polished answer at the door.
Now streaming
Business Anonymous is now on Amazon Music. Check it out!
Pull up a chair and find the show on Amazon Music.
Welcome in
Welcome to the Meeting
Chair reserved for the person who said “absolutely.”
You know the moment.
A customer asks whether your company can do something you have never done before. You smile confidently and say, “Absolutely.”
Then you close the door, look at your staff, and ask, “Does anybody know how to do that?”
Business Anonymous is built around those moments. Each episode takes a real frustration, awkward conversation, expensive mistake, unreasonable request, or ridiculous business habit and turns it into something owners can laugh about—and occasionally learn from.
“Hi, my name is ________, and I agreed to the deadline before asking when it was.”
The agenda
Real Business Problems. Anonymous Names. Questionable Decisions.
Business Anonymous is a short comedy podcast about the daily circus of owning and operating a business.
The meeting may cover:
01Customers who say, “It should only take five minutes”
02Employees who disappear when the phone rings
03Meetings that should have been a two-sentence email
04Vendors who promise Tuesday but never mention which Tuesday
05Marketing ideas that sounded better at midnight
06Cash flow, pricing, payroll, and overhead
07The owner who has become the entire organizational chart
08Business advice from people who have never owned a business
09The strange things owners do to keep everything moving
Stories are edited to protect privacy, keep the humor PG-rated, and stay grounded in the everyday realities of running a business.
Attendance sheet
Meet the People Running the Meeting
Host information is being finalized. We will publish real names, images, roles, and catchphrases here when they are ready.
Host image
not yet added
not yet added
Host 2
Name not yet published
- Personality
- To be announced.
- Role in the show
- To be announced.
- Catchphrase
- None published yet.
Latest episode
Estimates that somehow become negotiations
HOST A: I just got an email asking for a “ballpark estimate” and a congratulatory GIF — like, congratulations on what, my generosity? Also, real quick: apparently a former ICC judge just won the Nobel Peace Prize and the USS Lincoln sailed…
TitleEstimates that somehow become negotiations
Episode length9:18
Publication dateOctober 10, 2026
Listen to the latest episode
Meeting minutes
Minutes From Previous Meetings
9:18
Estimates that somehow become negotiations
HOST A: I just got an email asking for a “ballpark estimate” and a congratulatory GIF — like, congratulations on what, my generosity? Also, real quick: apparently a former ICC judge just won the Nobel Peace Prize and the USS Lincoln sailed…
Listen to episode10:45
Change orders
HOST A: I sprinted into a job site this morning because my crew texted me “emergency” and it turned out someone wanted a chandelier that “feels nostalgic.” Hi—I’m Huck Ryder, and yes, I bring emergency-level enthusiasm to things that do not…
Listen to episode11:26
Scope creep
HOST A: I just hung up with a client who texted "tiny tweak" and then sent an eight-photo mood board titled "ambience." I’m standing in my office holding a measuring tape like it’s a scepter. If you like stories where five minutes becomes a…
Listen to episode9:38
Customers threatening a bad review
HOST A: Madison — someone just offered me a "viral apology" in exchange for a discount. They wanted a trending moment and a refund. When did contrition get monetized? HOST B: That sounds... economically efficient. Are we accepting…
Listen to episode9:46
Fake Google reviews
HOST A: Calvin, I just watched our five-star average get mugged by someone with no receipt—and I’m emotionally petitioning Google for a restraining order. Madison Vega here, and if you’ve ever been betrayed by a star, you’re in the right…
Listen to episode9:15
Bad Google reviews
HOST A: I got a one-star once because a customer said our appointment “felt like a surprise party” — and not in a good way. HOST B: That sounds like a party I would apologize to. Welcome to Business Anonymous. I'm HOST B. HOST A: And I'm…
Listen to episode8:37
Chargebacks
HOST A: I just had my bank pull money from my account like an ex taking the houseplants—except with less dignity and more processing fees. Welcome to Business Anonymous, I’m HOST A, professional at being financially ghosted. HOST B: I’m…
Listen to episode8:52
Chasing invoices
HOST A: I just opened my inbox and half the attachments were UFO sighting reports and the other half were overdue invoices—either the aliens are auditing us or my bookkeeping went interstellar. HOST B: File that under "things I did not…
Listen to episode10:21
Late-paying customers
HOST A: Okay, real opening — I spilled coffee on my laptop, QuickBooks winked at me like it knew a secret, and I realized the thing missing from my life wasn’t romance or sleep: it was other people actually paying their invoices. Welcome to…
Listen to episode9:41
People who say “my cousin can do it cheaper
HOST A: Did you see the bear that won Fat Bear Week? Gentle giant Backpack looks like every contractor I've ever hired — naps through the day, shows up for the photo op, and somehow leaves a five-star review. HOST B: And Ken Griffin writing…
Listen to episode10:48
Customers comparing your price to Facebook Marketplace
HOST A: I just had a potential client wave a fuzzy photo of a handwritten price at me like it was gospel—“roofing, cheap.” I almost offered to pay their kid for the photo. Hi, I’m Jack Mercer, and yes, that’s my livelihood getting compared…
Listen to episode8:37
Competitors racing to the bottom
HOST A: I pulled open a crate labeled “special deal” from the back of my truck and a gull stared at it like it owed him rent. If your prices look like that crate, welcome to the tidal zone of bad decisions. HOST B: And welcome to Business…
Listen to episode11:24
Being afraid to raise prices
HOST A: I tried to raise a price last week and felt like I’d proposed marriage to a client—they were confused, hurt, and now there’s a spreadsheet with our breakup song. I’m Marcus, professional drama queen for small-business accounting.…
Listen to episode11:33
Owners underpricing jobs
HOST A: Stop the presses—if your estimate still says “price negotiable” in biro, we need to have a graveyard intervention. Welcome to Business Anonymous. I’m HOST A—the person who will sell you a dream and then invoice you for the nap I…
Listen to episode10:54
Revenue that looks great but profit that doesn’t
HOST A: I bribed a vendor with this thing and now he thinks payroll is a zoo. If you’re overhearing us, this is Business Anonymous—I'm Jack Mercer, the chief mischief officer—and that's Madison, whose spreadsheets are the most judgmental…
Listen to episode8:33
Cash-flow panic
HOST A: My bank account just performed a Houdini impression when payroll hit—money in, applause, now you see it, now you don't. HOST B: Jack Mercer, dramatic as always. Madison here—welcome to Business Anonymous. Today: cash-flow panic…
Listen to episode8:52
Business credit cards
HOST A: Business Anonymous—I'm the one who buys the inflatable CFO and argues the receipt was an "office morale expense." HOST B: And I'm the one who files that receipt under "miscellaneous trauma." Today we're untangling business credit…
Listen to episode9:22
Customers asking for discounts after agreeing to the price
HOST A: I scrolled past a photo of a sea turtle laying eggs on a SoCal beach and thought, if that turtle can pick a spot and stick to it, why do some clients treat contracts like window-shopping? HOST B: And then there’s a nor’easter…
Listen to episode10:53
Customers who want champagne service on a beer budget
HOST A: Morning—if your phone woke you up with chaos and your inbox filed for custody of your sanity, you’re in the right place. I’m Jack, and today we’re ripping the Band-Aid off the thing that ruins margins: clients who expect bespoke…
Listen to episode10:18
The employee who is always “five minutes away
HOST A: Claire, if one more tech texts “five minutes” and then takes forty, I’m going to staple a sundial to his dashboard and charge him rent. HOST B: That’s your punishment? I’d just subtract 35 minutes from his paycheck and keep the…
Listen to episode9:57
Hiring someone who looked great in the interview and turned into a disaster
HOST A: I was in the parking lot five minutes ago, waving someone off because they tried to hand back a uniform mid-trial and complain it wasn’t a “fit.” I shouted, “We don’t do returns on half-used enthusiasm!” — and that’s why we have to…
Listen to episode7:23
Contrasts in Roofing Business Success Strategies
HOST A: Welcome to Business Anonymous—the support group for people who thought owning a small business meant freedom, flexibility, and being your own boss. I'm Jack. HOST B: And I'm Madison. It does mean freedom, Jack. You’re free to work…
Listen to episode7:53
Navigating the challenges of auto repair entrepreneurship
HOST A: Welcome to Business Anonymous—the support group for people who thought owning a small business meant freedom, flexibility, and being your own boss. I'm Jack. HOST B: And I'm Madison. It does mean freedom, Jack. You’re free to work…
Listen to episode8:57
And other service businesses. Bad customers
HOST A: A customer asked if “rush” meant I could teleport. I told them sure—right after I invent a flux capacitor and a weekend where payroll fixes itself. HOST B: A client texted at 7 p.m. asking if I could do a quote now if they left the…
Listen to episode6:54
Testing Ideas Before Starting a Business
HOST A: Welcome to Business Anonymous—the support group for people who thought owning a small business meant freedom, flexibility, and being your own boss. I'm Jack. HOST B: And I'm Madison. It does mean freedom, Jack. You’re free to work…
Listen to episode13:36
Small manufacturers
HOST A: I once called a zip tie a “lifetime solution” and then updated its LinkedIn to “formerly employed.” HOST B: My favorite parts list item was “future economy.” It’s in the accessories section between optimism and warranty. HOST A…
Listen to episode10:55
Cheap customers
HOST A: A client once offered to pay in "exposure" and interpretive dance. I told them our bank only accepts USD and quiet standing ovations. HOST B: Someone asked me for a "quick favor" that turned into a full overnight rebrand with ten…
Listen to episode7:41
Improving business visibility and operational structure
HOST A: Welcome to Business Anonymous—the support group for people who thought owning a small business meant freedom, flexibility, and being your own boss. I'm Jack. HOST B: And I'm Madison. It does mean freedom, Jack. You’re free to work…
Listen to episode9:10
Family members working in the business
HOST A: If you’ve ever hired someone because they cried at the family reunion, congratulations—you’ve joined a very exclusive club. Jack Mercer here, and across from me is Madison Lee, and welcome to Business Anonymous. Today: how hiring…
Listen to episode10:08
The owner doing everybody else’s job
HOST A: I was fixing a sprinkler three feet from my phone when a vendor texted "Can you do it today?" and I replied, "Sure — I can do anything except be two places at once and also look like a competent business owner." Welcome to Business…
Listen to episode9:37
Clinics
HOST A: I’m in a pickup truck outside the clinic holding a payment terminal like it’s a poker chip—Madison, this is my life now. Welcome to Business Anonymous, I’m Jack Mercer, founder and occasional roadside CFO. HOST B: I’m Madison, your…
Listen to episode10:27
Cleaning companies
HOST A: I tried to buy back a Sunday on an app once. Turns out time is nonrefundable. HOST B: I labeled a broken office plant "remote consultant" so my calendar looked less lonely. HOST A: Welcome to Business Anonymous—the support group for…
Listen to episode9:20
Auto repair
HOST A: A customer once handed me a receipt and said, "This proves I paid you." I said, "It proves you paid someone. Could be my evil twin." HOST B: I had someone ask if we did "vintage restorations"—they meant the 2001 sticker still on…
Listen to episode10:41
Landscaping
HOST A: I had a client ask for “Naples-perfect” grass—so I showed up with a tiny umbrella and a glass of rosé. He wanted the club look without lifting a finger. I still billed the finger-lifting. HOST B: I told a homeowner “low maintenance”…
Listen to episode8:29
HVAC shops
HOST A: The thermostat in my house has more mood swings than my high school drama class — cool off, heat up, passive-aggressive Post-it notes. HOST B: I told a client their thermostat needed counseling; they asked if I accepted relationship…
Listen to episode10:19
The Roofing Company Owner’s Day
HOST A: Roofers of Naples, raise your coffee—this one’s for you. If your cash flow looked like a weather forecast, it’d be “partly paid with occasional storms.” HOST B: And if your crew’s attendance were a hurricane warning, we’d all be…
Listen to episode10:17
Contractors
HOST A: My last remodel turned into a streaming event — episode one: “We start”; episode two: “We stall”; episode three: “Where’s my warranty?” I didn’t even pay for premium. HOST B: I once told a client a subcontractor would be there…
Listen to episode9:44
Fencing
HOST A: I had a client ask for a fence that keeps the neighbors out, the raccoons in, and the Wi‑Fi strong. I said, “Sir, that’s a backyard, not Silicon Valley.” HOST B: I once quoted a job where the homeowner wanted a fence that matched…
Listen to episode8:01
From tow truck driver to business titan
HOST A: Welcome to Business Anonymous—the support group for people who thought owning a small business meant freedom, flexibility, and being your own boss. I'm Jack. HOST B: And I'm Madison. I a Madison, it does mean freedom, Jack. You’re…
Listen to episodeConfidential intake
What Happened at Your Business This Week?
Did a customer make an impossible request? Did a meeting go completely off the rails? Did you make a decision that seemed brilliant until the invoice arrived?
Tell us about it. We may turn it into a future Business Anonymous episode.
Names and identifying details can be changed. Please do not submit confidential customer, employee, medical, legal, or financial information.
Sponsored by AKR
When You’re Done Laughing, Let’s Fix the Business Problem
Business Anonymous is sponsored by AKR Marketing Designs.
AKR helps service companies improve their websites, search visibility, AI visibility, local presence, content, social media, podcasting, and lead flow.
Because laughing about the problem helps. Fixing it helps more.
Pull up a chair
Media, Guest and Partnership Inquiries
Interested in appearing on Business Anonymous, sharing a business story, discussing a partnership, or featuring the show?
Contact AKR Marketing Designs through the website or call 430-897-0114.
Before we start
Questions Asked Before the Meeting Starts
Is Business Anonymous safe for work?
Yes. The show is designed to be funny and honest while remaining PG-rated.
Who is the podcast for?
Business owners, entrepreneurs, managers, salespeople, consultants, and anyone who has survived a staff meeting that should have been an email.
Are the stories real?
Episodes may be inspired by real business situations. Names, industries, and identifying details may be changed for privacy and comedy.
Can I submit a story anonymously?
Yes. Do not include private customer, employee, medical, legal, or financial information.
Can I appear as a guest?
Potential guests can use the submission form or contact AKR Marketing Designs.
Where can I listen?
Business Anonymous is now available on Amazon Music. You can also listen to the latest episode and browse the full episode archive on this page.
Business Is Hard. The Podcast Doesn’t Have to Be.
Listen to Business Anonymous and discover that somebody else is dealing with the same ridiculous problem you are.
Business Anonymous is produced for entertainment and general educational purposes. The show does not provide legal, financial, tax, medical, employment, or professional advice. Stories may be edited or altered to protect privacy and improve clarity or humor.