Business
Fixing scope creep when it goes wrong
Scope creep sounds like a big project until you break it into the three decisions that actually matter.
Jul 29, 2026 · 3 min read
The journal
Notes on building, selling and shipping
A curated archive on websites, apps, marketing, competitors — plus food, travel and the rest of life. 500 articles, all published and ready to read.
500 articles published
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Business
Saying no to bad projects: our field notes
Saying no to bad projects sounds like a big project until you break it into the three decisions that actually matter.
Jul 24, 2026 · 3 min read
Business
Planning customer interviews for a busy season
Most of the advice on customer interviews is written for companies with a marketing department. This one is written for the rest of us.
Jul 7, 2026 · 3 min read
Business
Hiring your first contractor: the beginner's roadmap
Every month a client asks us about hiring your first contractor. The short answer is: start smaller than you think.
Jul 2, 2026 · 3 min read
Business
A better workflow for pricing your first service
We keep answering the same questions about pricing your first service, so we wrote the long version down once.
Jun 27, 2026 · 3 min read
Business
Refund and revision policies: myths and reality
There is a cheap way, a fast way and a good way to handle refund and revision policies. Here is how we pick.
Jun 10, 2026 · 3 min read
Business
Getting paid on time in one weekend
There is a cheap way, a fast way and a good way to handle getting paid on time. Here is how we pick.
Jun 5, 2026 · 3 min read
Business
The honest cost of cash flow for seasonal shops
Most of the advice on cash flow for seasonal shops is written for companies with a marketing department. This one is written for the rest of us.
May 19, 2026 · 3 min read
Business
Common mistakes with one-person operations
One-person operations sounds like a big project until you break it into the three decisions that actually matter.
May 14, 2026 · 3 min read
Business
How we approach launch checklists
Launch checklists sounds like a big project until you break it into the three decisions that actually matter.
Apr 27, 2026 · 3 min read
Business
The complete guide to bookkeeping without tears
Every month a client asks us about bookkeeping without tears. The short answer is: start smaller than you think.
Apr 22, 2026 · 3 min read
Business
Contracts in plain language and the customer's point of view
There is a cheap way, a fast way and a good way to handle contracts in plain language. Here is how we pick.
Apr 17, 2026 · 3 min read
Business
A month of scope creep: what changed
There is a cheap way, a fast way and a good way to handle scope creep. Here is how we pick.
Mar 31, 2026 · 3 min read
Business
The quiet details behind saying no to bad projects
Every month a client asks us about saying no to bad projects. The short answer is: start smaller than you think.
Mar 26, 2026 · 3 min read
Business
Customer interviews: our field notes
Every month a client asks us about customer interviews. The short answer is: start smaller than you think.
Mar 9, 2026 · 3 min read
Business
How to compare options for hiring your first contractor
Most of the advice on hiring your first contractor is written for companies with a marketing department. This one is written for the rest of us.
Mar 4, 2026 · 3 min read
Business
What nobody tells you about pricing your first service
Most of the advice on pricing your first service is written for companies with a marketing department. This one is written for the rest of us.
Feb 27, 2026 · 3 min read
Business
A better workflow for refund and revision policies
Most of the advice on refund and revision policies is written for companies with a marketing department. This one is written for the rest of us.
Feb 10, 2026 · 3 min read
Business
Before and after: getting paid on time
Every month a client asks us about getting paid on time. The short answer is: start smaller than you think.
Feb 5, 2026 · 3 min read
Business
Cash flow for seasonal shops in one weekend
We keep answering the same questions about cash flow for seasonal shops, so we wrote the long version down once.
Jan 19, 2026 · 3 min read
Business
One-person operations on a small budget
One-person operations sounds like a big project until you break it into the three decisions that actually matter.
Jan 14, 2026 · 3 min read
Business
Common mistakes with launch checklists
Every month a client asks us about launch checklists. The short answer is: start smaller than you think.
Dec 28, 2025 · 3 min read
Business
Bookkeeping without tears in real life, not in theory
Bookkeeping without tears sounds like a big project until you break it into the three decisions that actually matter.
Dec 23, 2025 · 3 min read
Business
How long contracts in plain language really takes
We keep answering the same questions about contracts in plain language, so we wrote the long version down once.
Dec 18, 2025 · 3 min read
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