When did small business stop being fun?

~ Are you spending too much energy worrying about things in business you can’t control?

~ Are you making the most of the things small businesses can do better than big businesses?

~ Could bringing more fun, personality and joy into your business actually make it stronger?

Small business is tough. It’s always been tough. And in 2026, there’s no shortage of things making it feel even harder.

Economic uncertainty, inflation, rising interest rates, merchant fees and changing consumer spending are putting pressure on businesses and households alike. But in this episode of Money Secrets, Fi asks a different question: when do we get to start having fun again? 

Because while you can’t control the economy, inflation, government policy or the latest interest rate decision, you can control how you show up, how you communicate with your customers, who you choose to work with, how you price and the experience you create.

Fi also unpacks why competing on price is rarely the answer for small business. Instead, our advantage lies in the things big businesses struggle to replicate: personalisation, genuine relationships, agility, direct conversations with customers and the ability to create experiences that feel thoughtful, valuable and human.

And maybe part of doing that is letting business (and marketing) be a little more fun. From handwritten notes to playful social content and finding joy in solving problems, Fi explores how bringing more personality and energy into your business can change not only how customers experience your brand, but how you experience running it. 

Plus, Fi shares a sneak peek at the new Peach brand campaign dropping next week. A campaign built around exactly this idea of combining the hard parts of business with play, fun and a little competitive spirit.

Because small business might be hard, relentless and full of problems to solve. But, that doesn’t mean we can’t have some fun while we’re doing it.

🎧 Tune in for Fi’s take on what small businesses can control, why competing on price isn’t the answer, and how bringing more fun back into business could be exactly what we need right now.

 
What you’ll hear in this episode:

• Focus on what you can control. You can’t control the economy, inflation, interest rates or government policy. You can control how you show up.
• Consumers are still spending (they’re just more discerning). More considered choices about where discretionary income goes, makes understanding your customers even more important. 
• Small business can’t win by competing on price. Your advantage is personalisation, customisation, agility and genuine customer relationships. 
• Marketing and communication matter more than ever. Learn how to clearly communicate what you do, why someone should choose you and the value you bring (then back it up).
• Go the extra mile in ways big businesses can’t. Thoughtful touches and personal experiences can create genuine joy for your customers and give them a reason to choose a small business. 
• Your marketing is allowed to be fun. Instagram and LinkedIn are tools you can use to connect, experiment and show more personality instead of repeating the same marketing messages. 
• Find joy in solving problems. Problems are part of owning a business, but changing how you approach them (even by being a little playful) can change the entire experience.
• You are the ceiling of your business. Fresh energy, perspective and joy can help you challenge the limits you’ve unconsciously placed on your business and how you show up within it.
• A new Peach campaign is coming. From marketing that felt stale and serious and to creating something that shows both the difficult realities of business and the fun.

💡 If this conversation resonates and you want hands-on support, you can work with Fi one-on-one or join Good Money Club, where small business owners learn how to make and manage money with clarity, confidence, and impact.

– Good Money Club (doors are open now)

Peach Weekly – Sign up for sharp, practical business thinking delivered straight to your inbox.

Say hi: [email protected] 

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In this podcast, Money Secrets, host Fiona (Fi) Johnston, Chartered Accountant, small business advocate, and impact enthusiast, dives into the conversations we need to have about money. The secrets that once stayed behind closed doors (or on the golf course) are finally out in the open.

Fi’s mission? To get more money into the hands of good people, like you. She believes small businesses can change the world, but only if we’re making money and managing it well.

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Thank you to everyone involved for bringing this podcast together. We are excited to hear from you with any questions, feedback or suggestions for future episodes that you might have. Send a Direct Message to @peach.business

If you are excited for what’s to come, please like this episode, follow the podcast and share it with your friends. We are thrilled you’re here.

Check out my FREE Pricing Training you need to set your prices for profitability.

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This podcast episode was recorded on the lands of the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation and I’d like to acknowledge them as the Traditional Owners and custodians of this land and water that I live, work and play on. I’d like to pay respect to elders both past and present, and note that sovereignty has never been ceded. This always was and always will be Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land.