10 TV shows that capture the challenges (and rewards) of running a small business

FOX Image Collection via Getty Images When small business owners think of television, they’re likely pondering how a commercial might boost their brand or how screens inside their store might direct customers toward the best deals. The average entrepreneur may not see television as a learning opportunity. However, they can glean countless lessons from narrative dramas and reality television shows alike. Shows like “Kitchen Nightmares” and “The Profit” serve as master classes where highly qualified industry experts travel around the world diagnosing the problems of various struggling businesses. While fictional shows offer less real-world learning lessons, there’s still something to gain from viewing the small business struggle on screen. “The Bear” and “Better Call Saul” both provide catharsis in accurately portraying the more universal challenges of running a business. Characters’ decisions can be valuable guides for what to do and, better yet, what not to do in the business world. For entrepreneurial viewers, Simply Business looked at contemporary TV and spotlighted 10 shows that best communicate the challenges and triumphs of starting and running a small business. IMDb user rating provides context on the show’s reception. Only shows with a 7.0 score or higher were considered. StartUp Steve Zak Photography/FilmMagic // Getty Images – IMDb user rating: 7.8 – On air: 2016-2018 An original series produced by Crackle, “StartUp” is a fiction crime drama-thriller following an unlikely trio as they attempt to create and market their cryptocurrency while exploring the underground world of mobs and the dark web. Computer genius Izzy Morales (Otmara Marrero) headlines the show as she finds an unlikely partnership with the son of a money launderer named Nick Talman (Adam Brody), who uses his father’s money to invest in Morales’ invention GenCoin. Tensions rise when the duo finds themselves forced into collaboration with Ronald Dacey (Edi Gathegi), a member of the local Haitian gang. At the same time, an FBI agent (Martin Freeman) relentlessly looks for any opportunity to take GenCoin down. Season 1 provides insight into the complexity of starting a business and gathering investors, even when the product is entirely revolutionary. Seasons 2 and 3, on the other hand, focus on the difficulties of business expansion, knowing who to trust (i.e., not the Russian mob, as the trio quickly learns), and staying above board with your business decisions. Making It Gary Gershoff/WireImage // Getty Images – IMDb user rating: 7.9 – On air: 2018-2021 Thanks to streaming heavyweight Netflix acquiring “The Great British Bake Off,” American audiences became hooked on the concept of low-stakes competition shows filled to the brim with positive judges and endearing contestants. NBC saw this demand and stepped up to the plate, creating the craft-based reality competition show “Making It.” Hosted by comedic duo Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman (of “Parks and Recreation” fame), the show features eight humble artists with specialties who compete each week to earn the title of “Master Maker.” “Making It” features many different crafters, including woodworkers, muralists, felt artists, and more, and the show strives to celebrate each artist’s individuality instead of enforcing one distinct set of standards. “Making It” doubles as an educational show, thanks to the practical knowledge of the judges. Creative ambassador of the store Barneys, Simon Doonan, and Etsy trend forecaster Dayna Isom Johnson showcase their business and craft acumen through thoughtful commentary. The Grand Hustle Phillip Faraone // Getty Images for Viacom – IMDb user rating: 7.4 – On air: 2018-present BET’s “The Grand Hustle” takes several cues from the NBC classic “The Apprentice,” namely pitting a group of aspiring entrepreneurs against each other to vie for a position with a successful businessman. Where the shows differ, however, is in their host and choice of contestants. At the helm, “The Grand Hustle” has rapper, actor, and businessman T.I. aka Clifford Harris, Jr., who BET executive Connie Orlando calls “a champion of Black entrepreneurship.” T.I. pulls a diverse array of candidates, eight with higher education degrees and eight with a natural gift for business, giving them equal opportunities to prove themselves each week. Challenges range from selling T.I.’s clothing line to hosting a major listening party for T.I.’s record label. “The Grand Hustle” is an inspiring watch for small business owners because it celebrates an individual’s accomplishments no matter their career stage. The Bear