Most business owners think the problem is sales. But sometimes the business is making money… and the owner is quietly draining it without realizing. In Episode 4 of the finance series, Meny Hoffman sits down again with Simeon Friedman of Saul N. Friedman & Co. to talk about one of the most overlooked parts of running a business: how to pay yourself properly without damaging your company. They break down salary vs distributions, LLCs vs S-Corps, cash flow discipline, partner compensation, and the dangerous habit of treating your business like a personal bank account. This episode is not about being cheap. It's about building a business that stays healthy long term. You'll learn: 👉 The difference between salary, guaranteed payments, and distributions 👉 Why many business owners accidentally destroy cash flow 👉 How reckless withdrawals hurt your leadership credibility 👉 The right way to move money between your business and investments 👉 Why clean financial structure matters when selling a company 👉 How personal expenses can quietly lower your business valuation 👉 Why consistency matters more than random withdrawals If you're building a business, taking distributions, investing personally, or running partnerships, this episode will help you think differently about money, structure, and long-term stability. This is episode four of the finance series. – 🎁 Special offer Start a free Pipedrive trial and receive a complimentary 45-minute CRM setup consultation at: https://flow.digital/ltb - Low in cash? Reach out to Moishy for your LOAN needs: https://ptexgroup.com/loans - 🎥 Watch & Connect 📲 More episodes: https://ptexgroup.com/podcast-main 🎯 Book a Clarity Session: https://calendly.com/ptex/strategy-meeting 📲 Follow @ltbhub on Instagram and LinkedIn – 🔗 Episode Links 👤 Learn more about Saul N. Friedman & Co. https://snfco.com 📩 For Promotions & Inquiries (LTB Podcast): https://api.whatsapp.com/send?phone=13474518368&text=Hi -- 💡 Meny's Practical Pointers 1. Pay yourself consistently. Random withdrawals create chaos for cash flow planning. 2. Your business is not your personal piggy bank. Separate business money from personal investments. 3. If your team is expected to control spending, leadership has to model that too. 4. Clean financials increase the value of your business when it's time to sell or raise money. 5. Before moving money, think long term. The "easy" shortcut today can create expensive problems later. – Episode Timestamps: 00:00 – Why this topic matters 04:00 – Suspended losses and hidden tax issues 09:30 – Salary vs distributions explained 15:30 – LLC guaranteed payments vs payroll 21:30 – How partnerships should handle compensation 27:00 – The danger of draining your business 33:00 – Leadership, spending, and company culture 38:00 – Moving money properly between entities 42:00 – Add-backs, valuations, and clean financials 45:00 – Final takeaways – #LetsTalkBusiness #MenyHoffman #SimeonFriedman #BusinessFinance #CashFlow #Entrepreneurship #Finance #Accounting #LLC #SCorp #BusinessGrowth #Leadership #SmallBusiness #PtexGroup

In this episode of “Let’s Talk Business,” Meny Hoffman sits down with Seth Farbman—serial entrepreneur, investor, and founder of multiple successful companies including Vintage Filings, Vstock Transfer, and Share Media—to talk about what it really takes to build, sell, and scale businesses. Seth shares his journey from sleeping on a couch while launching his first company, to executing multi-million dollar exits, to reinventing himself as a marketing strategist helping others share their story on LinkedIn. The conversation dives deep into the emotional side of entrepreneurship—what it feels like to step away from something you built, how to navigate identity after a major exit, and what founders often overlook when selling their companies. They also unpack practical lessons on CRM systems, client relationships, and how staying top-of-mind can be more valuable than chasing new leads. Seth explains why storytelling is the ultimate business skill, how great service starts with the person answering the phone, and what really moves the needle when building trust with clients. This episode is full of honest reflections and actionable insights for entrepreneurs across any industry—whether you’re just getting started or thinking about your next chapter. - This episode is brought to you by Ptex Group’s One-Off Clarity Sessions—a game-changer for business owners looking to get unstuck and move forward with confidence. Whether you need help refining your strategy, improving your branding, or overcoming a business challenge, Ptex Group’s expert-led 60-minute strategy sessions give you the clarity and actionable insights you need to make real progress. Book your session today at https://calendly.com/ptex/60-minutes-strategy-meeting-clone and take your business to the next level. - Book a Clarity Session with Meny Hoffman Panda Doc Seth’s Life Changing Book Vstock Transfer ShareMedia Seth’s LinkedIn For promotions & inquiries Episode Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome to Let’s Talk Business 01:27 – Meet Seth Farbman: builder, seller, and storyteller 03:02 – From lawyer to multi-exit entrepreneur 04:21 – The ups and downs after selling Vintage Filings 07:59 – Should you build a company to sell? 09:17 – Structuring your business for a successful exit 14:47 – Why non-competes matter more than you think 20:00 – What matters most: relationships, not just revenue 25:16 – The power of consistent messaging & storytelling 28:11 – How Share Media and LinkedIn marketing began 34:31 – AI’s role in content creation today 35:46 – Advice for entrepreneurs in today’s economy Practical Pointers  Build smart, not just to sell. If you focus on doing good work and solving real problems, the right people will come knocking. CRM isn’t optional. It’s not exciting—but if you’re not tracking your relationships and staying top-of-mind, you’re leaving a lot on the table. Details matter. Sometimes it’s not the pitch, the deck, or the product—it’s the person answering your phone that wins you the client. Learn to tell your story. Your story, is what connects people to your business. And if you don’t tell it, someone else will—and not the way you want. The exit isn’t the end. You’ve still got to show up, keep growing, and stay aligned with who you are and what you’re about.

Is it possible that the best way to grow your business is to avoid being a businessperson? It’s not typical to hear expert business advice from a game show host… but there’s nothing typical about Boruch Perlowitz. A filmmaker, game show host, teacher, pilot, and more, Boruch has carved out a unique niche in the Orthodox Jewish community as an entertainer and educator. Boruch believes that one of the secrets to his success is making sure not to think like a businessman and that his best marketing was not doing marketing at all. He has a fascinating perspective and a unique story, so don’t miss Meny’s conversation with Baruch as they discuss the kinds of marketing that work best when to prioritize quality over price, the corporate benefits that come with a positive attitude, the importance of delegating, dealing with failure, and much more. Baruch's films are famous for being both entertaining and educational, while also having high production values. Most of his day is devoted to his role as a game show host, where he entertains corporate and private clients in a creative and fun manner. One of the most interesting characters in the Orthodox Jewish scene, Boruch lives in New Jersey with his wife and children. Key Highlights: [00:01 - 16:01] Opening Segment • Making people happy is the best way to make yourself happy • How to strengthen company culture and build collaboration How quality time sets apart company cultures • Gossip and negativity are the number one killers of company culture • Why positivity is a gift that can be worked on by everyone [16:02 - 32:10] The Benefits of Being the 'Least Focused Businessman • Companies that prioritize spending quality time together have a strong culture • Doing something so good that people remarket it for you is the best marketing • How not being a businessman can help your business grow Willing to go above and beyond to create the best experience possible • The importance of not focusing on generating revenue, but on creating the best movie possible [32:11 - 47:55] Unlocking Success Through Passion and Personal Growth • Why passion and personal growth are necessary for a business to reach your fullest potential • How delegating tasks can help free up bandwidth and allow for more focus on creative projects • Focus on the good, change perspective, and learn from mistakes Validate emotions before offering a different perspective • See mistakes as learning opportunities and chances to grow [47:56 - 55:40] Closing Segment • Boruch on the rapid-four rapid question • Q&A: Is hiring family members a positive step or can it lead to disaster Want to connect with Boruch? Follow him on LinkedIn. Head to his website to learn more about his work! Key Quotes: "Offer a product that people are so in love with that they're gonna tell everybody about." - Boruch Perlowitz "The more you're not a businessman, the more your businesses grow." - Boruch Perlowitz "We are meant to grow and the way we grow is by facing challenges and the real way to grow is by learning from your mistakes." - Boruch Perlowitz Connect with Ptex Group: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn LEAVE A REVIEW + and SHARE this episode with someone who wants to achieve in business. Listen to previous episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts!

Being a small business owner does not mean you have to keep your vision small. After all, to become big later on requires you to begin with what little you have. Renowned author of The E-Myth, Michael Gerber, is no stranger to starting small. In his seminal book, Michael dispels the myths surrounding starting your business. Today, he takes that wisdom to us and shares the a-ha moment of how his book came to be. He talks about growing and scaling a small business, touching on the important ingredients – dream, vision, purpose, and mission. In this episode, awaken the entrepreneur within and get inspired to see that big why to grow and scale your business. On top of that, receive a copy of Michael Gerber’s latest book by visiting freebook.michaelegerber.com and My Online Trade School for Entrepreneurs at www.radicalu.com.

Not every business influencer looks or even thinks like Gary Vee and yet they could be just as amazing at what they do. Berel Solomon sports a beard and a kippah and would sooner be seen in a synagogue than in a private jet, but he is as remarkable as business influencers go. Berel is the CEO of Wealthy Executive Coaching, founder of Wealthy Commercials, and host of The Berel Solomon Show. Taking pride in his Jewish roots, Berel dedicates all his work in the world to the One above. Buckle up as he joins Meny Hoffman to talk about his career and purpose as an influencer for entrepreneurs and share invaluable business wisdom, including the importance of finding your zone of genius and operating within it to reach your full potential.

Effective communication through public speaking is the best way to grow your business. We may not be gifted with great communication skills right away, but it is possible to acquire. Meny Hoffman discusses these with Brenden Kumarasamy. Brenden is a public speaking coach and the founder of MasterTalk, which was created to help us master the art of communication. Leading an organization is not an easy task. Still, with Brenden’s powerful thoughts on fundamental concepts in being an effective communicator, we could take the leap to be the best leader we could be. He shares the proper balance between storytelling, inspiration, and informative speaking. Let’s dive into the challenges behind communication goal settings and practical advice with a public speaking coach expert.

Entrepreneurs know that business growth isn’t always on a high trajectory and sometimes, it takes more than forcing it upwards to really make it work. Erik Luhrs, also known as the Bruce Lee of revenue generation, talks to Meny Hoffman about working on both the internal and external factors to make a business work. Erik says that most of the time, people look at entrepreneurship as just making money, doing everything to get more sales and revenue but often times, people forget that you have to look from the inside-out. Starting from within, entrepreneurs must be able to pinpoint what caused their business to plateau and address it by doing things out of their routine. 

Rosetta Stone was struggling to stay relevant despite having a 97% brand awareness in the United States. But the company pulled through the difficult times by staying unique to their brand while pivoting according to necessity. The good news is that they did manage to stay relevant, thanks to the leadership of Matt Hulett. Matt is the President of the company, which is a world-renowned leader in technology-based language and literacy learning. Matt is helping entrepreneurs and other small or large business owners by giving practical advice in pivoting company progress in order to unlock their full potential. Join your host, Meny Hoffman as he sits down with Matt and discusses business leadership and how you can level up your company for the future.