I sat down with Daniel Astleford , a CPA and the owner of a unique fireworks business. In this episode, Daniel shares how he manages both a remote CPA firm and a fireworks stand business in Texas. We discuss the unexpected opportunities and the hurdles that come with acquiring and scaling seasonal businesses, the challenges of working with silent partners, and the ins and outs of running a fireworks business legally. Links and Actions : Learn more about Daniel's Fireworks Business : https://biga...
Nov 27, 2024•49 min•Season 2Ep. 97
Become a Certified Sleep Consultant : https://tkopod.co/sleep I sat down with Jayne Havens , the founder of The Snoozefest.com . In this episode, Jayne shares her journey from being a stay-at-home mom to becoming a certified sleep consultant , running a highly successful business that helps parents get their children to sleep better. We talk about how she turned her skills into a successful business. She also shares the details of her sleep consulting services and how she is training others to f...
Nov 25, 2024•32 min•Season 2Ep. 96
HoldCo Bros are back! Nik and I sit down to continue our discussion from last week (check out Part 1 - Episode #92 if you missed it!). In this episode, we continue brainstorming cool business ideas , like how to capitalize on website change monitoring for arbitrage and creating a tax Sherpa concept for entrepreneurs. We also do our "marry, date, or kill" segment to assess which of these ideas are worth pursuing, testing, or dropping. Learn more about Nik here : http://linktr.ee/cofoundersnik Tim...
Nov 22, 2024•23 min•Season 2Ep. 95
I sat down with Alex Nelson ( https://x.com/weddingvenueguy ), the owner of The Midnight Gem , a successful wedding venue in Swisher, Iowa . In this episode, we talk about how he went from concept to pre-booking $300,000 in weddings before construction was even completed. We also discuss how he achieved his $800,000+ annual revenue , how he differentiated his venue from the typical Iowa barns, and his approach to scaling profits with events beyond weddings. Timestamps below. Enjoy! --- Watch thi...
Nov 20, 2024•43 min•Season 2Ep. 94
I sat down with Connor Gross ( https://x.com/c_gro ), for Part 2 of our discussion on creative business ideas. If you haven't listened to Part 1 (Episode #90) , go check it out to get the full context! In this episode, we talk about a " hole in one " challenge business in New Zealand that makes use of a lakeside setup to bring in around $650,000 in annual revenue. We also talk about how games of skill can be turned into sustainable business models, including franchise opportunities. Lastly, we c...
Nov 18, 2024•30 min•Season 2Ep. 93
HoldCo Bros are back! Nik and I discuss four exciting ideas, but in this first part, we talk about two main ideas: growing a subreddit as a powerful business tool and a creative business-in-a-box solution for wantrepreneurs. We talk about how to effectively use Reddit as a growth hack , including automation tools like Zapier and AI , and also brainstorm a comprehensive package for those starting side hustles , but this is only Part 1 - stay tuned for the Part 2 next week! Learn more about Nik he...
Nov 15, 2024•33 min•Season 2Ep. 92
I sat down with Korey McDavid , founder of Juiced Fuel ( https://juicedfuel.com/ ), to discuss the ins and outs of the mobile fuel delivery business . Korey shares how he came up with the idea, how he launched with under $100,000, and what it takes to manage a business that's breaking new ground in personal and marine fuel delivery. We also talk about the challenges of building a custom app , securing the first customers , and scaling . Timestamps below. Enjoy! --- Watch this on YouTube instead ...
Nov 13, 2024•27 min•Season 2Ep. 91
I sat down with Connor Gross ( https://x.com/c_gro ), a familiar face on the podcast, to dive into some exciting new ideas and business strategies. We talked about productivity and how to truly gauge an employee's work speed , the challenges of the candle industry (since Connor’s dad owns a big candle business in New Jersey), and some innovative concepts for tackling these markets. This conversation was so packed with insights that we had to split it into two episodes ! Make sure to tune in next...
Nov 11, 2024•33 min•Season 2Ep. 90
HoldCo Bros are back! Nik and I talk about three ideas in this episode, following up from Episode #86 . We cover GPT for Google Sheets , a creative dating idea , and Water Finds . Plus, we play our 'marry, date, or kill' game to decide which idea we’d pursue, test, or drop. It's a fun, insightful episode, so be sure to share, like, and subscribe! Learn more about Nik here: http://linktr.ee/cofoundersnik Timestamps below. Enjoy! --- Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-yt Ask me a ques...
Nov 08, 2024•33 min•Season 2Ep. 89
This is part four - THE FINAL PART of ' Every Business I've Ever Started ' If you want even more business ideas , check out the previous episodes to hear about every business in episode #14, 21 and 79. Timestamps below. Enjoy! --- Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-yt Ask me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-ask Learn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjk Learn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cof Follow me on Twitter here: http://tkopod.co/p-x Free weekly b...
Nov 06, 2024•28 min•Season 2Ep. 88
I sat down with Shannon Houchin , the founder of Roadside Republic . In this episode, we discuss the incredible business model of roadside produce stands , which Shannon scaled to over 100 locations in her first summer , generating impressive revenue with minimal overhead. We highlight why this business works so well, including its low startup costs (around $200 ), high margins (up to 70% ), and lack of lease requirements or heavy regulation. Shannon shares the tactics she used, from finding the...
Nov 04, 2024•50 min•Season 2Ep. 87
HoldCo Bros are back! Nik and I talk about three topics today. First, an update on our perfume vending machine business , now called Side Vending , as we expand to new vending machine concepts. It’s been a wild journey, and we’ve got some crazy stories to share. Then, we break down the recent shutdown of a company called The Pro’s Closet and discuss how you can monetize other companies’ email lists - 300,000 email addresses that are going to waste! Finally, we talk about Negotiations as a Servic...
Nov 01, 2024•27 min•Season 2Ep. 86
I sat down with Henry O'Brien , founder of SUSO Skate Co. , who launched a mobile roller skating business during the COVID pandemic and saw it explode in popularity. In his first three months, Henry made $120k at 30-40% margins , which eventually grew to 70% net margins . Henry sets up mobile roller rinks in malls , parking lots , or any available space, making roller skating accessible to communities everywhere. We talked about his launch strategy , the numbers , user-generated content , PR and...
Oct 30, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Season 2Ep. 85
I sat down with Sam Unkart , an entrepreneur who’s done it all. From building fences to installing stock tank pools and even launching a sauna and cold plunge facility . In this episode we do three deep dives into each of Sam’s business ventures and learn how he’s tackled different markets and industries. We talked about the fencing and pergola business Sam launched after quitting his corporate job , the booming industry of stock tank pools perfect for millennial backyard parties, and his unique...
Oct 28, 2024•52 min•Season 2Ep. 84
HoldCo Bros are back! Nik and I sat down to share some fun and actionable business ideas . We talk about job board ideas , one funny business idea , AI-generated family photos , and launching an automation agency using Zapier vs Make.com . We also discuss how we’d approach launching a seasonal home service business. Learn more about Nik here: http://linktr.ee/cofoundersnik Timestamps below. Enjoy! --- Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-yt Ask me a question on or off the show here: h...
Oct 25, 2024•43 min•Season 2Ep. 83
I sat down with Jason Feller , who went from managing private clubs for 20 years to running his own trash bin cleaning business . Tired of missing his kids' activities, Jason decided to make a change. He invested $48,000 into a trash bin cleaning trailer and now serves 300 recurring customers . We talked about customer acquisition tactics , from leveraging Facebook groups to direct marketing, and the challenges Jason faced transitioning from a career in club management to running his own busines...
Oct 23, 2024•46 min•Season 2Ep. 82
I sat down with Edward Sturm , a viral growth marketing expert who's known for his Fake Celebrity prank in New York City that went viral with hundreds of millions of views. In this episode, Edward shares a brilliant idea to take over abandoned meetup groups for just $50-$100, giving you access to thousands of free leads and potential customers. We also discuss curious learner bias , unbundling large SaaS tools using AI , and creative ways to grow your business. Learn more about Edward here: http...
Oct 21, 2024•46 min•Season 2Ep. 81
HoldCo Bros are back! Nik and I are talking about business ideas and what's happening in our companies . In this episode, we discuss the business potential of Instagram's Close Friends feature , how influencers can use it to boost engagement , and how you could help. We also cover the concept of Negative COGS (Cost of Goods Sold) - acquiring products for free or how you can get paid to acquire products and then sell them- with examples like EcoScraps . We talk about a lake weed removal business ...
Oct 18, 2024•33 min•Season 2Ep. 80
This is part three of ' Every Business I've Ever Started ' Today, I’m doing something a little different. In this episode, I'm taking each business I've ever started and giving you actionable ideas on how you could start a similar business today . I believe that almost any business idea can be executed at any time , with a bias for action being key. Some ideas work in certain contexts, sure, but most of them are timeless if you put your spin on it. If you want even more business ideas , check ou...
Oct 16, 2024•37 min•Season 2Ep. 79
I sat down with my good friend Sam Thompson ( https://x.com/ImSamThompson ) and in this episode we talk about using AI to clone yourself, clone others, and make money by offering access to those clones. We also cover some cool new digital product opportunities and new tech business ideas. Sam lives in the digital startup world, and he's the perfect balance to our usual guests who focus on physical products or service businesses. Timestamps below. Enjoy! --- Watch this on YouTube instead here: tk...
Oct 14, 2024•42 min•Season 2Ep. 78
HoldCo Bros are back! Nik and I talk about electronics recycling and how it's possible to enjoy 100% gross margins in this industry. We also break down the fascinating treasure hunt business , featuring Project Skydrop - a real-world treasure hunt with $27,000 in gold at stake. Plus, we discuss some hacky, kitschy ideas involving guerrilla marketing and Chrome extensions-type ideas that anyone can try. Learn more about Nik here: http://linktr.ee/cofoundersnik Timestamps below. Enjoy! --- Watch t...
Oct 11, 2024•40 min•Season 2Ep. 77
I sat down with my good friend and office mate, Stephen Olmon ( https://x.com/stephenolmon ). Stephen owns a holding company ( https://www.severalventures.com ) and, like me, is addicted to startups. We talked through a bunch of business ideas, but kept circling back to one in particular: a meeting listening software that detects inappropriate behavior. Imagine a note-taking tool, but one that also identifies issues in real time - turning them into profit opportunities. We also discussed ideas l...
Oct 09, 2024•43 min•Season 2Ep. 76
I sat down to discuss an incredible niche business, J&D Lake Services - a pond cleaning company started by college students Declan & Joe. They literally went to Home Depot, bought a garden rake, and began scraping the bottoms of ponds for wealthy homeowners, "raking" in an incredible 75% net margin. Before their entry, pond cleaning companies relied on dumping chemicals, which would harm fish and plants. J&D Lake Services took a different approach: manually removing weeds. It’s hard,...
Oct 07, 2024•52 min•Season 2Ep. 75
HoldCo Bros are back! Nik and I break down why print shops, despite being capex heavy and often ignored, are actually goldmines. We also talk about starting a GPO (Group Purchasing Organization) for niche industries and how to make money selling pricey widgets to airline manufacturers because you have to be FAA registered. Learn more about Nik here: http://linktr.ee/cofoundersnik Timestamps below. Enjoy! --- Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-yt Ask me a question on or off the show ...
Oct 04, 2024•44 min•Season 2Ep. 74
I sat down with Heather Torres , the founder of Porch Pumpkins , who has literally invented an industry. In this episode, we talk about how she turned decorating porches with pumpkins into a thriving business. We cover everything from her profit margins and gross revenue to her customer base and logistics strategy . Heather shares how she finds customers , what an average customer looks like, and how she would navigate if a recession came. Learn more about Heather Torres here: https://linktr.ee/...
Oct 02, 2024•47 min•Season 2Ep. 73
I sat down with Mitchell Sorkin, the ATM guy from Twitter. He owns 900 ATMs across Los Angeles, bringing in $864,000 a year in net profit. We talk about how he bought these locations rather than using cold calling to get them, and why this is an approachable business for anyone. The multiples are much lower than you'd think, making it a great opportunity in a well-established industry. At the end, we talk about few different business ideas beyond the ATM industry, including a unique AI business ...
Sep 30, 2024•47 min•Season 2Ep. 72
HoldCo Bros are back! This week, Nik and I continue our conversation from last Friday's episode, where we talked about Skool communities, lead generation ideas, and transparency in home building. If you missed it, make sure to check out episode #068! In this episode, we discuss creating products for business owners and explore how to find and capitalize on distressed business opportunities. We also talk about car negotiation as a service and the custom home building industry. I share some insigh...
Sep 27, 2024•48 min•Season 2Ep. 71
I sat down with Connor , an entrepreneur based in New York who owns self-storage, recruiting, and e-commerce businesses. In this second part of our conversation, we talk about creating a health product for athletes with only two ingredients and how to make it scalable. We also discuss how to convert cheap construction permit data into high-ticket lead sales , as well as a unique concept for a gym for personal trainers , giving them more autonomy over their clients. We also talk about the importa...
Sep 25, 2024•36 min•Season 2Ep. 70
I sat down with Johnny Robinson, who built a successful window washing business in Orange County that's still ranked #1 in the map pack. Now, Johnny helps others start home cleaning businesses with little to no upfront investment. In this episode, he gets into the tough realities of the industry, like vetting cleaners, but also explains why it’s a solid business to be in. We also talked about other opportunities, like the growing epoxy flooring industry, for those looking at tangential markets. ...
Sep 23, 2024•39 min•Season 2Ep. 69
HoldCo Bros are back! Nik and I discuss Skool , the platform created by Alex Hormozi for building paid communities. I scraped every group on Skool and found out which types of communities are making the most money. (Subscribe to my newsletter to get the scrape for free - link below.) We also talk about lead generation business ideas , both with and without programmatic SEO , and creative ways to use lead magnets . Then, we discuss how to bring transparency to home building and renovation costs ,...
Sep 20, 2024•36 min•Season 2Ep. 68
