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Dr. Becca Tag returns to the ABA Business Leaders Podcast for Part 2 of a conversation that began with burnout, self-care, systemic challenges, and the realities facing ABA clinicians and leaders. This time, April, Stephen, and Becca focus on the question left open after the first discussion: what do we do with that understanding? The conversation explores why there is no universal “easy button” for complex human problems, why leaders need to keep updating their understanding of themselves and the people around them, and how behavior analysts can apply the same curiosity and contextual thinking they use clinically to leadership and organizational systems. Becca also discusses interoception, nervous system regulation, self-worth, feedback, power differences, and the importance of understanding the patterns that shape our own behavior. For ABA business owners, the episode is a reminder that sustainable change starts with accurate information, curiosity, and a willingness to update the model when the context changes. In this Episode, You'll Learn · Why Part 2 shifts the conversation from naming burnout and systemic challenges toward action · Why no outside expert can understand another person’s experience better than that person · How leaders can treat understanding as an ongoing process rather than something they finish · Why expecting an organization to change overnight can create additional pressure · How interoception and nervous system differences can affect the way people notice their own needs · Why leaders may become less patient, flexible, or responsive when their own capacity is depleted · How power differences change the responsibility leaders have when giving advice, feedback, or direction · Why self-worth should not depend on credentials, productivity, compensation, or professional status · How case conceptualization can be applied to ourselves before trying to change our own behavior · Why accurate information and trustworthy feedback can create a stronger sense of safety · How leaders can use curiosity to identify breakdowns in policies, training, supervision, and organizational systems · Why ABA professionals need to learn the process of behavior analysis, not simply how to follow a protocol Have Questions for April and Stephen? Call the ABA Business Leaders Hotline: (737) 330-1432 Resources and Links Business Essentials List: https://www.3piesquared.com/blog/the-essential-list-for-a-successful-business_24 ABA Business Leaders Support Group: https://forms.office.com/r/cigPR8wFFC Schedule a Consultation with Stephen: https://3piesquared.com/stephen-booking-page Free ABA Business Readiness Assessment: https://3piesquared.com/aba-business-readiness-assessment ABA Billing Tips Guide: https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Billing_Tips ABA Business Leaders Podcast CEUs: https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Business_Leaders_Podcast_CEUs Podcast Production This podcast was produced by Max McLellan of MKM Audio. Want to start or grow a podcast for your business or brand? https://www.mkmaudio.com/contact

How can ABA business owners give employees a clear path to grow while making training and pay decisions more consistent? Stephen and April Smith of 3 Pie Squared welcome Mallory to introduce their ABA training platform and explain the thinking behind its growth path system.  Mallory has helped develop the platform's training structure and shares how employees can continue learning within their roles. The conversation covers branches, stages, badges, and individual skills, along with competency checks that help supervisors see what a staff member has mastered and where support is needed.  For ABA owners balancing clinical responsibilities, staffing, and financial decisions, the discussion offers a practical way to connect expectations, development, and compensation. Stephen and April also explain which parts of the system are free and how feedback from users will guide future improvements.  In This Episode Youll Learn  Why staff need ongoing development and a visible future within an ABA practice How growth paths organize roles, career stages, badges, and individual skills How BTs can develop within their current role and explore other career directions How skill requirements clarify required training, certifications, and completion expectations How supervisors can assign specific skills and track demonstrated competency How tagging can connect staff development to the skills needed for particular clients How course participation and completed badges make progress easier to see How growth paths can support more structured comparisons of job candidates How skill acquisition can be linked to pay increases with company-defined controls Why subjective performance ratings can create inconsistent feedback How company values can guide training and employee development decisions What is included in the free system and why some courses have separate costs Resources  Business Essentials List ABA Business Leaders Support Group Schedule a Consultation with Stephen Free ABA Business Readiness Assessment ABA Billing Tips Guide ABA Business Leaders Podcast CEUs Have a question for Stephen and April  Call the ABA Business Leaders Hotline: (737) 330-1432. Share your questions, stories, and ABA business challenges for discussion on the podcast.  This podcast was produced by Max McLellan of MKM Audio.  Want to start or grow a podcast for your business or brand? Contact MKM Audio.

The podswap with ABA on Tap continues. In Part 2, Stephen and April welcome ABA on Tap hosts Mike Rubio, BCBA, and Dan Lowery, BCBA, to the ABA Business Leaders Podcast after Stephen and April joined them for Part 1 the previous week.  The conversation picks up with Stephen’s “vision test” and a practical question: does a company’s mission statement describe how the organization operates, or is it simply language on a page? The group discusses how values show up through decisions about billable hours, training, staff support, compensation, profitability, and growth.  They also examine the limits of financial KPIs, the need for clinical and quality measures, RBT training and turnover, the difficulty of moving BCBAs into leadership roles without leadership preparation, and the importance of listening to the people delivering services every day.  Mike and Dan also reflect on building Ascend Behavioral Solutions and the role 3 Pie Squared’s resources played as they developed their own company.  In This Episode, You'll Learn  How Stephen’s “vision test” can help owners evaluate whether a mission or vision has meaning inside the business How to evaluate whether your mission and vision truly guide the businessWhy employee experience often reveals company values better than a mission statementHow generic AI-generated plans can miss the owner’s deeper thinkingWhy profitability matters without becoming the only measure of successHow financial, clinical, and quality KPIs can work togetherWhy RBT training, support, compensation, and turnover are connectedHow leadership roles can pull experienced BCBAs away from clinical workWhy ABA owners need both clinical judgment and business knowledgeHow listening to RBTs can uncover issues leadership may missWhy asking “Why are we doing this?” can help businesses get back on trackContinue the Podswap  This is Part 2 of the conversation. Listen to Part 1 on ABA on Tap.  Have a Question? Call the ABA Business Leaders Hotline: (737) 330-1432  Resources & Links  Business Essentials List  ABA Business Leaders Support Group  Schedule a Consultation with Stephen  Free ABA Business Readiness Assessment  ABA Billing Tips Guide  ABA Business Leaders Podcast CEUs Podcast Production  This podcast was produced by Max McLellan of MKM Audio. Want to start or grow a podcast for your business or brand? Get in touch with MKM Audio.

Welcome back to the ABA Business Leaders Podcast, brought to you by 3 Pie Squared. In this episode, Stephen and April Smith are joined by Brian Lopez and Kara Batson of Jumpstart Autism Collective for a practical conversation about what quality really means in ABA services and how business owners can build systems that support it. Brian, Director of Psychological Services and Research, shares how Jumpstart evolved from a sole-provider practice into a more structured organization. Kara, Director of Professional Development, explains how that same commitment to continuous improvement shaped the company's training, internship, feedback, and quality-assurance systems. The conversation explores why quality is never a finished product. From setting a clear vision and building repeatable systems to creating a culture of candid feedback, measuring clinician competency, narrowing the populations you serve, and learning when to step out of the way as an owner, the team shares lessons developed through years of iteration. In this episode, you'll learn: How to turn vision into clinical and operational systems Why failure, measurement, and iteration drive quality improvementHow interdisciplinary consultation supports complex learners and cliniciansHow values and feedback shape company cultureHow to identify systems vs. training issuesHow Jumpstart built a structured BCBA internshipWhy a focused client population can improve quality and trainingHow owners can build trust, delegate, and step out of daily decisionsWhy self-assessment and humility matter in leadership Resources & Links Business Essentials List https://www.3piesquared.com/blog/the-essential-list-for-a-successful-business_24?utm_source=chatgpt.com ABA Business Leaders Support Group https://forms.office.com/r/cigPR8wFFC?utm_source=chatgpt.com Schedule a Consultation with Stephen https://3piesquared.com/stephen-booking-page?utm_source=chatgpt.com Free ABA Business Readiness Assessment https://3piesquared.com/aba-business-readiness-assessment?utm_source=chatgpt.com ABA Billing Tips Guide https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Billing_Tips?utm_source=chatgpt.com ABA Business Leaders Podcast CEUs https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Business_Leaders_Podcast_CEUs?utm_source=chatgpt.com Podcast Production This podcast was produced by Max McLellan of MKM Audio. Get in touch with MKM Audio https://www.mkmaudio.com/contact?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Welcome back to the ABA Business Leaders Podcast, brought to you by 3 Pie Squared. In this episode, Stephen and April Smith are joined by Taylor Beagle, BCBA and Director of Product Experience at 3 Pie Squared, to officially introduce 3 Pie Squared's new ABA practice management software. Built from the ground up with input from BCBAs and people who have worked inside ABA practices, the platform is designed around the real operational and clinical challenges ABA business owners, and their teams face every day. Taylor brings 10 years of ABA experience to the product, having worked his way from RBT through roles including trainer, BCBA, assistant director, and clinical director. In this conversation, he joins Stephen and April to explain how that experience helped shape a platform built specifically for the needs of ABA providers. From managing your waitlist and client intake to scheduling, billing, data collection, documentation, parent communication, staff permissions, and training, the episode explores how 3 Pie Squared is bringing the systems needed to run an ABA practice together in one place. In this episode, you'll learn: -Why 3 Pie Squared decided to build its own ABA practice management software -How Taylor's experience from RBT to clinical director influenced the platform -Why building the software with direct input from BCBAs matters -How the platform helps organize waitlists and streamline client intake -How centralized, HIPAA-compliant messaging can improve communication with families and staff Have a question for Stephen and April? Call the ABA Business Leaders Hotline: (737) 330-1432 Have a question, a story to share, or a recruiting nightmare you'd like Stephen and April to discuss on the podcast? Give them a call. Resources & Links Business Essentials List https://www.3piesquared.com/blog/the-essential-list-for-a-successful-business_24?utm_source=chatgpt.com ABA Business Leaders Support Group https://forms.office.com/r/cigPR8wFFC?utm_source=chatgpt.com Schedule a Consultation with Stephen https://3piesquared.com/stephen-booking-page?utm_source=chatgpt.com Free ABA Business Readiness Assessment https://3piesquared.com/aba-business-readiness-assessment?utm_source=chatgpt.com ABA Billing Tips Guide https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Billing_Tips?utm_source=chatgpt.com ABA Business Leaders Podcast CEUs https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Business_Leaders_Podcast_CEUs?utm_source=chatgpt.com Podcast Production This podcast was produced by Max McLellan of MKM Audio. Want to start or grow a podcast for your business or brand? Get in touch with MKM Audio https://www.mkmaudio.com/contact?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Welcome back to the ABA Business Leaders Podcast, brought to you by 3 Pie Squared.  In this episode, Stephen and April sit down with Joseph Bolden, Head of Recruiting at 3 Pie Squared, to take a deep dive into one of the biggest challenges facing ABA business owners: finding, hiring, and retaining the right people.   The wrong hire can create operational problems, impact your existing team, increase turnover, and ultimately affect the families you serve. On the other hand, taking the time to identify the right person and build a strong hiring process can create a healthier culture and give owners more room to grow.  Stephen, April, and Joseph discuss everything from writing better job descriptions and using platforms like Indeed and LinkedIn to understanding what candidates want from their next opportunity.   In this episode, you'll learn:  Why hiring for an ABA company requires more than simply checking someone's credentials How Joseph's background in ABA operations shaped his approach to recruiting Why the needs of a startup can be very different from those of an established ABA practice The importance of understanding company culture before hiring Why a strong clinical background doesn't necessarily mean someone is ready to lead a team  Have a question for Stephen and April? Call the ABA Business Leaders Hotline: (737) 330-1432 Have a question, a story to share, or a recruiting nightmare you'd like Stephen and April to discuss on the podcast? Give them a call. Resources & Links Business Essentials List https://www.3piesquared.com/blog/the-essential-list-for-a-successful-business_24?utm_source=chatgpt.com ABA Business Leaders Support Group https://forms.office.com/r/cigPR8wFFC?utm_source=chatgpt.com Schedule a Consultation with Stephen https://3piesquared.com/stephen-booking-page?utm_source=chatgpt.com Free ABA Business Readiness Assessment https://3piesquared.com/aba-business-readiness-assessment?utm_source=chatgpt.com ABA Billing Tips Guide https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Billing_Tips?utm_source=chatgpt.com ABA Business Leaders Podcast CEUs https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Business_Leaders_Podcast_CEUs?utm_source=chatgpt.com Podcast Production This podcast was produced by Max McLellan of MKM Audio. Want to start or grow a podcast for your business or brand? Get in touch with MKM Audio https://www.mkmaudio.com/contact?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Running an ABA business can be incredibly rewarding, but it can also be demanding. Between operational challenges, leadership responsibilities, staffing, and the constant needs of the people you serve, it can be easy to lose sight of what made you want to do this work in the first place.  In our final episode of National Wellness Month, April and Stephen explore what it means to rediscover and protect the joy of running an ABA business. They talk openly about the ways stress and routine can take over, and how intentional practices can help business owners reconnect with their purpose.  April and Stephen share personal experiences, mindset shifts, and practical strategies for finding more meaning in the everyday moments of business ownership. From paying attention to your energy and tracking what brings you joy to practicing mindfulness and gratitude, this conversation offers a reminder that building a successful ABA business doesn't have to mean losing the enjoyment that comes with it.  🔑 Key Topics & Insights  Why joy can get lost in the day-to-day demands of running an ABA business How to reconnect with your purpose and remember your "why" Why joy doesn't always happen naturally and how to intentionally create space for it April's approach to tracking joy and identifying what brings energy into your life Stephen's perspective on finding meaning in the mundane parts of business ownership  Have a question for Stephen and April?  Call the ABA Business Leaders Hotline: (737) 330-1432  Resources & Links  Business Essentials List  The Essential List for a Successful Business  ABA Business Leaders Support Group  Join the ABA Business Leaders Support Group  Schedule a Consultation with Stephen  Schedule a consultation with Stephen  Free ABA Business Readiness Assessment  Take the Free ABA Business Readiness Assessment  ABA Billing Tips Guide  Get the ABA Billing Tips Guide  ABA Business Leaders Podcast CEUs  Learn More About ABA Business Leaders Podcast CEUs  This podcast was produced by Max McLellan of MKM Audio.  Want to start or grow a podcast for your business or brand?  Get in touch with MKM Audio

As part of National Wellness month, we’re re-airing some classic older episodes which look at Mental Health, Burnout and more. In one of our most insightful episodes to date, we welcomed Chris, Liz, and Rebecca from AByay! to the ABA Business Leaders Podcast to talk about something that doesn’t get nearly enough attention: the real, day-to-day experience of being a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) in the ABA field.  RBTs are often the unsung heroes of ABA. They’re the ones in homes, schools, and clinics, putting in the time, building the relationships, and helping clients make meaningful progress. And yet, they’re frequently left out of bigger-picture conversations, under-supported, and emotionally drained.  What Advocacy Looks Like for RBTs: What does it mean for an RBT to speak up in a field where power dynamics can be steep? The AByay! team shared strategies for setting boundaries, asking for feedback, and pushing for the support RBTs deserve without burning bridges or burning out.  The Role of Joy and Preferred Stimuli: April touched on how this is often overlooked, but also an important part of practice. Even though this varies from tech to tech, Rebecca shared helpful insight on how to motivate engagement.  The Emotional Weight of RBT Work: This episode dives into how RBTs can sustain themselves emotionally and how businesses can stop treating RBT turnover as a part of the process.  🎧 Final Thoughts  If you're an RBT: this episode is your permission to take up space and advocate for your needs.  If you're a BCBA or business owner: this is your call to examine your systems, your culture, and your leadership style.   Have a question for Stephen and April?  Call the ABA Business Leaders Hotline: (737) 330-1432  Resources & Links  Business Essentials List  https://www.3piesquared.com/blog/the-essential-list-for-a-successful-business_24  ABA Business Leaders Support Group:  https://forms.office.com/r/cigPR8wFFC  Schedule a consultation with Stephen  https://3piesquared.com/stephen-booking-page  Free ABA Business Readiness Assessment  https://3piesquared.com/aba-business-readiness-assessment  ABA Billing Tips Guide  https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Billing_Tips  ABA Business Leaders Podcast CEUs  https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Business_Leaders_Podcast_CEUs  This podcast was produced by Max McLellan of MKM Audio Want to start or grow a podcast for your business or brand? Reach out here: https://www.mkmaudio.com/contact

In this episode of the ABA Business Leaders Podcast, Stephen and April Smith are joined by Mallory and Jennifer to discuss empathic leadership and the experience of RBTs and other frontline ABA professionals.  The conversation covers workplace culture, burnout, recognition, career development, professional growth, and the importance of applying the principles of reinforcement to your own team. They also discuss the emotional connection technicians develop with clients and how small acts of appreciation can make a meaningful difference.  In this episode:  Supporting and valuing RBTs Workplace culture and burnout Recognition and positive reinforcement Career development and CEUs The idea of a "dead-end job" Supporting technicians through client transitions Building a culture of appreciation  Have a question for Stephen and April?  Call the ABA Business Leaders Hotline: (737) 330-1432  Resources & Links  Business Essentials List  https://www.3piesquared.com/blog/the-essential-list-for-a-successful-business_24  ABA Business Leaders Support Group  https://forms.office.com/r/cigPR8wFFC  Schedule a consultation with Stephen  https://3piesquared.com/stephen-booking-page  Free ABA Business Readiness Assessment  https://3piesquared.com/aba-business-readiness-assessment  ABA Billing Tips Guide  https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Billing_Tips  ABA Business Leaders Podcast CEUs  https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Business_Leaders_Podcast_CEUs  Podcast Production  This podcast was produced by Max McLellan of MKM Audio.  Want to start or grow a podcast for your business or brand?  https://www.mkmaudio.com/contact

In this special National Wellness Month re-release, Stephen and April Smith revisit one of the most honest conversations they've had about burnout, workplace culture, and the realities of working in ABA. Inspired by real posts shared across Reddit, TikTok, Twitter, and other online communities, they react to the frustrations, challenges, and ethical dilemmas that many RBTs, BCBAs, and ABA professionals experience every day.  Drawing on their experience building, scaling, and exiting a seven-figure ABA company, Stephen and April discuss why so many clinicians feel unsupported, where business owners often go wrong, and how ethical leadership creates better outcomes for both staff and clients.   Whether you're a clinician, practice owner, or aspiring ABA entrepreneur, this episode offers an honest look at the issues affecting the industry, along with practical insights on building a healthier workplace.  In this episode:  Why Stephen and April decided to react to real ABA workplace stories Common reasons ABA professionals say they "hate their job" The impact of burnout, poor leadership, and unrealistic expectations Ethical challenges facing RBTs and BCBAs How business owners can improve staff retention and workplace culture Why advocating for yourself and your clients matters Creating sustainable, values-driven ABA businesses  Have a question for Stephen and April?  Call the ABA Business Leaders Hotline:  📞 (737) 330-1432  Resources & Links  Business Essentials List  https://www.3piesquared.com/blog/the-essential-list-for-a-successful-business_24  ABA Business Leaders Support Group  https://forms.office.com/r/cigPR8wFFC Schedule a consultation with Stephen  https://3piesquared.com/stephen-booking-page  Free ABA Business Readiness Assessment  https://3piesquared.com/aba-business-readiness-assessment  ABA Billing Tips Guide  https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Billing_Tips  ABA Business Leaders Podcast CEUs  https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Business_Leaders_Podcast_CEUs    This podcast was produced by Max McLellan of MKM Audio.  Want to start or grow a podcast for your business or brand?  https://www.mkmaudio.com/contact

How much training should an RBT receive before working with clients? Is online training as effective as in-person instruction? And why are so many talented clinicians leaving the ABA profession?  In this episode of the ABA Business Leaders Podcast, Stephen and April Smith are joined by Allyson Wharam to discuss how effective staff training directly impacts clinical quality, employee retention, supervision, and long-term business success. Drawing on research, real-world experience, and lessons from working with ABA organisations across the industry, the conversation explores why organisations need to move beyond minimum compliance and instead build intentional learning systems that develop confident clinicians and stronger leaders.  Whether you're launching a new ABA practice or managing multiple locations, this episode offers practical insights into creating a culture where employees continue learning, supervisors are equipped to lead, and businesses retain great people for the long term.  In this episode you'll learn:  How top ABA firms win with great trainingWhy smart course design beats the formatMust-know rules for staff trainingHow growth keeps your best staffHow to build high-performing RBTs, BCBAs, and leadersHow coaching drives better resultsHow to create a culture that keeps growing Sponsored by MarginKeepers  This episode is proudly sponsored by MarginKeepers, the accounting firm built specifically for ABA businesses. From bookkeeping and payroll to financial reporting and strategic guidance, they helps practice owners understand their numbers, improve profitability, and make confident business decisions.  Learn more:https://3piesquared.com/business-affiliate/MarginKeepers Have a question for Stephen and April?  📞 ABA Business Leaders Hotline: (737) 330-1432    Resources & Links  MarginKeepers  https://3piesquared.com/business-affiliate/MarginKeepers  Business Essentials List  https://www.3piesquared.com/blog/the-essential-list-for-a-successful-business_24  Schedule a consultation with Stephen  https://3piesquared.com/stephen-booking-page  Free ABA Business Readiness Assessment  https://3piesquared.com/aba-business-readiness-assessment  ABA Billing Tips Guide  https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Billing_Tips  ABA Business Leaders Podcast CEUs  https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Business_Leaders_Podcast_CEUs    This podcast was produced by Max McLellan of MKM Audio.  https://www.mkmaudio.com/contact

Is ABA Canceled? What Every ABA Business Owner Needs to Know  With social media full of headlines asking whether ABA is "getting canceled" or if the industry is in crisis, it's easy for business owners to feel uncertain about the future. In this episode, Stephen and April tackle those concerns head-on.  Rather than focusing on fear, they explore what's really happening in the ABA industry, why increased scrutiny isn't necessarily a bad thing, and how ethical providers can position themselves for long-term success. From documentation and billing practices to clinical quality and leadership, this conversation is a practical reminder that strong businesses are built on strong foundations.  This episode is for ABA practice owners, clinical directors, and aspiring entrepreneurs who want to build an ethical, sustainable, and compliant business. Whether you're just starting your practice or leading an established organization, Stephen and April share practical insights to help you navigate industry changes with confidence while continuing to deliver high-quality care.  In this episode, you'll learn:  Why increased oversight of ABA providers is happening. Whether the ABA industry is truly "in trouble." The difference between unethical providers and ethical business owners. Common compliance and documentation mistakes that create unnecessary risk. Why quality assurance should become part of your regular operations. How small operational improvements can protect your practice. Why business owners shouldn't make decisions based on fear or social media narratives. Free resources available to help strengthen your ABA business.   Have a question for Stephen and April?  📞 Call the ABA Business Leaders Hotline: (737) 330-1432  This podcast was produced by Max McLellan of MKM Audio  Want to start or grow a podcast for your business or brand? Reach out here: www.mkmaudio.com     Resources & Links  Business Essentials List  https://www.3piesquared.com/blog/the-essential-list-for-a-successful-business_24  ABA Business Leaders Support Group  https://forms.office.com/r/cigPR8wFFC Schedule a Consultation with Stephen  https://3piesquared.com/stephen-booking-page  Free ABA Business Readiness Assessment  https://3piesquared.com/aba-business-readiness-assessment  ABA Billing Tips Guide  https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Billing_Tips  ABA Business Leaders Podcast CEUs  https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Business_Leaders_Podcast_CEUs

Saving money sounds like good business. But what happens when being frugal starts costing you more in lost time, staff frustration, compliance risk, and burnout?  In this episode of the ABA Business Leaders Podcast, Stephen and April Smith unpack the hidden cost of underinvesting in your ABA business. Drawing from their own experience of piecing together free and low-cost systems, they explore why the cheapest option is not always the most cost-effective one.  Have a Question for Stephen and April?  Call the ABA Business Leaders Hotline: (737) 330-1432  Resources & Links  Business Essentials List  https://www.3piesquared.com/blog/the-essential-list-for-a-successful-business_24  ABA Business Leaders Support Group  https://forms.office.com/r/cigPR8wFFC Schedule a Consultation with Stephen  https://3piesquared.com/stephen-booking-page  Free ABA Business Readiness Assessment  https://3piesquared.com/aba-business-readiness-assessment  ABA Billing Tips Guide  https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Billing_Tips  ABA Business Leaders Podcast CEUs  https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Business_Leaders_Podcast_CEUs    This podcast was produced by Max McLellan of MKM Audio.  Want to start or grow a podcast for your business or brand? Reach out here:  https://www.mkmaudio.com/contact

Ever wondered why handbooks are so crucial to ABA business success? A strong employee handbook helps create consistency, protects your business, and gives your team confidence in how your organization operates. In this episode, Stephen and April Smith continue their discussion on building the operational foundations of a successful ABA practice by breaking down five essential policies every employee handbook should include. From confidentiality and electronic communication to social media, safety procedures, and mandatory reporting, they explain why clear expectations reduce risk and improve accountability across your organization. Whether you're launching your first ABA company or refining your existing systems, this episode offers practical guidance to help protect both your business and your employees. Resources & Links  Business Essentials List  https://www.3piesquared.com/blog/the-essential-list-for-a-successful-business_24  ABA Business Leaders Support Group  https://forms.office.com/r/cigPR8wFFC Schedule a Consultation with Stephen  https://3piesquared.com/stephen-booking-page  Free ABA Business Readiness Assessment  https://3piesquared.com/aba-business-readiness-assessment  ABA Billing Tips Guide  https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Billing_Tips  ABA Business Leaders Podcast CEUs  https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Business_Leaders_Podcast_CEUs    Have a question for Stephen and April?  📞 Call the ABA Business Leaders Hotline: (737) 330-1432    This podcast was produced by Max McLellan of MKM Audio.  Want to start or grow a podcast for your business or brand?  https://www.mkmaudio.com/contact

A Special Podcast Swap with Allyson's In the Field Podcast  This week, April and Stephen Smith of 3 Pie Squared and the ABA Business Leaders Podcast joined Allyson's In the Field: The ABA Podcast for a special podcast swap episode.  April and Stephen share the story behind building and operating their ABA practice for 12 years before transitioning into full-time consulting. The conversation explores the realities of starting an ABA business, scaling sustainably, building leadership teams, creating operational systems, and maintaining ethical profitability.  The episode also discusses the challenges of delegation, founder identity, work-life boundaries, and why many BCBAs® are unprepared for the leadership demands of business ownership.  Key Topics  ✔ Starting an ABA practice without a business background  ✔ Why founders need a clear vision before scaling  ✔ Building systems that support delegation and growth  ✔ The relationship between profitability and ethical practice  ✔ Developing BCBAs into effective leaders  Key Takeaways  You don't know what you don't know when starting a business. Vision should guide growth, not follow it. Systems create consistency, scalability, and freedom. Profitability supports ethical clinical practice. Leadership skills must be intentionally developed. Founder identity should extend beyond the business itself.   Resources & Links  Grab Stephen’s Book Here!: "The ABA Business Leader's Guide: How to Start, Grow, and Sustain an Ethical ABA Practice Without Losing Your Soul" by April and Stephen Smith Free Consultation Booking Link  &  Business Essentials List Listen to Allyson’s Podcast SideKick Learning ABA Business Leaders Support Group: