Our Mission:
We believe honorable, free trade expands
peace, prosperity and freedom across the planet.

From Plumber’s wife to Business Builder!  Once upon a time, I almost sank our family business. I assumed I knew enough about business to run a dinky little plumbing company. After all, I had spent about $100,000 of my parents' money on my college degree in Business Administration. In fact, I graduated at the top of my class. Still, I didn't know how to balance a checkbook!

I got involved in my husband's company after his partner died unexpectedly. Boy was I humbled! It seemed like lots of money was moving through the company, but at the end of the month there was never any money left. Thankfully, I found terrific mentors, savvy contractors who taught me how to keep score in business, how to put a simple Biz Plan together, how to make money.  I help make ordinarily dry-as-dust business planning powerful, easy-to-do and fast-to-cash.  You can create a profitable business – and you can do it in a weekend. 

I started Bare Bones Biz- a venture capital and consulting company - in 1995, to help folks of all ages turn their big ideas into successful businesses. I’m a columnist for PHC News, Business Journals, and lots of trade magazines– providing "in the trenches" insight that business owners can relate to.  As president of Benjamin Franklin, The Punctual Plumber, a home service company, I helped the company grow from zero to $40 million in franchise sales, 47 locations, in less than 2 years.

I've contributed to Make Mine a Million, Nexstar Legacy Foundation, HGTV, Ozark’s Public Television, Office Depot, American Express Open Forum, The Springfield Business Journal, Plumbing, Heating and Cooling Magazine, Plumbing and Mechanical Magazine, Count Me In, Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling Contractors of America, Nexstar Association, Messe Frankfurt, AHR Exposition, International Engineering Association, Quality Service Contractors of America, National Chimney Sweeps Guild, International Cleaning Specialists Magazine, Business News Media, TMB Publishing Group, Onsite Waste Management Group, Radiant Panel Association, Interior Design Association of Western New York, Springfield Medical Managers Association, BlogTalkRadio, The Inspector's Journal, National Association of Home Builders, National Association for Women Business Owners, Roofing Contractor Magazine, Walls & Ceilings Magazine.

The Bare Bones Business Basics series and an essential part of our plan to help expand freedom across the planet. So this website is THE community for BASIC business information.

Bare Bones Biz is an exciting company. I love my team! We work together to develop books, products, seminars and services designed to help you have more fun and make more money in business. We apply the principles we recommend in the books. It is a matter of integrity. Our company is a living, breathing testimonial to the power of The Bare Bones Biz Plan.

Gail Gudell Shauna Wiertzema Michelle Teter Jon Gibson

Basic business information is empowering. Good people with an understanding of business can positively impact the world in a profound way. A society with a peaceful, ethical, honorable exchange of goods and services works...in your business, in our country, across the planet. Let me know how we can be of service to YOU.