Welcome to Startup Gems! We find undiscovered startup growth hacks, stories and case studies from every random nook and cranny of the internet. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur, an aspiring startup enthusiast, or simply someone seeking inspiration, Startup Gems is your source for the stories that ignite the flames of innovation.
Check out my newsletter at https://TKOPOD.com and join my community at https://TKOwners.com━I sat down with Mike Herod, who turned a simple Facebook post into a surprisingly profitable shop class business for kids. We talked about how he started with almost no money, grew it through homeschool groups and word of mouth, and eventually landed a $30,000 contract teaching just two hours every Friday. Mike breaks down exactly what tools you need, how he prices classes, where he finds customers, and why keeping the projects simple is key. We also talk about how this can stay a small weekend side hustle or grow into a much bigger business.Learn more about Mike and VoSKILL:https://www.voskill.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VoSKILLTrainingInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/voskill_training/Enjoy!---Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-ytAsk me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-askLearn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjkLearn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cofFollow me on Twitter here: http://tkopod.co/p-xFree weekly business ideas newsletter: http://tkopod.co/p-nlShare this podcast: http://tkopod.co/p-allScrape small business data: http://tkopod.co/p-os---
Check out my newsletter at https://TKOPOD.com and join my community at https://TKOwners.com━I went out to Frisco, Texas to meet Angela Henson, a 20-year-old who turned her parents' front porch into Little Bit Bakery, a home bakery doing around $2,000 in sales every Saturday morning. Angela showed me exactly how she runs the business, from baking sourdough, cinnamon rolls, cookies and bagels to managing preorders and selling out to lines of customers in about an hour. We talked about how she started without a big audience, how one simple TikTok helped the business take off, and the steps someone could follow to start their own micro bakery from home. We also broke down pricing, costs, cottage food laws, social media and why selling directly to your local community can be such a powerful business model.Check out Angela and Little Bit Bakery:https://www.littlebitbakery.net/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/littlebit.bakeryEnjoy!---Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-ytAsk me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-askLearn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjkLearn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cofFollow me on Twitter here: http://tkopod.co/p-xFree weekly business ideas newsletter: http://tkopod.co/p-nlShare this podcast: http://tkopod.co/p-allScrape small business data: http://tkopod.co/p-os---
Learn more about opening a Laundry Spot franchise:https://laundryspot.com/franchiseinfoCheck out my newsletter at https://TKOPOD.com and join my community at https://TKOwners.com━I sat down with Tyler Purcell, co-founder of Laundry Spot, at their flagship location in Hamilton, Ohio, to see how a laundromat can generate more than $1 million a year. Tyler walked me through their massive 130-pound washing machine, proprietary detergent system, commercial laundry operation, and the technology they use to manage the business remotely. We also broke down startup costs, financing, margins, site selection, and the grand-opening strategy that helped them quickly attract customers. Finally, Tyler explained why buying an old “passive” laundromat can become a low-paying job and how Laundry Spot has grown into a franchise with 36 territories sold.Enjoy!---Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-ytAsk me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-askLearn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjkLearn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cofFollow me on Twitter here: http://tkopod.co/p-xFree weekly business ideas newsletter: http://tkopod.co/p-nlShare this podcast: http://tkopod.co/p-allScrape small business data: http://tkopod.co/p-os---
Check out my newsletter at https://TKOPOD.com and join my community at https://TKOwners.com━I sat down with Steph Spector, a freelance writer, editor, and coach making around $6K to $7K a month in the age of AI. We talked about why companies still pay her up to $1,200 per article, how she uses tools like Claude, Gemini, and ChatGPT without letting them replace her voice, and why real human experience is becoming more valuable. Steph also breaks down how beginners can build a portfolio, find clients through Upwork and cold outreach, and turn freelance writing into a real business.Find Steph and learn more about working with her:https://stephspector.com/Enjoy!---Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-ytAsk me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-askLearn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjkLearn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cofFollow me on Twitter here: http://tkopod.co/p-xFree weekly business ideas newsletter: http://tkopod.co/p-nlShare this podcast: http://tkopod.co/p-allScrape small business data: http://tkopod.co/p-os---
Check out my newsletter at https://TKOPOD.com and join my community at https://TKOwners.com━I sat down with Parker J. Smith, a 25-year-old entrepreneur who went from driving DoorDash to generating $81,000 in monthly revenue from a water filtration business he launched just 85 days earlier. We break down how he started with around $500, uses licensed plumbers to handle the installations, and finds customers through simple Facebook ads that show the price upfront. Parker also shares his costs, margins, tech stack, follow-up strategy, and why overlooked home service businesses may offer more opportunity than crowded online businesses.Follow Parker:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parkerjaysmith/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@parkerjaysmithX: https://x.com/parkerjaysmithLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/parkerjaysmithYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@parkerhomeservicesEnjoy!---Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-ytAsk me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-askLearn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjkLearn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cofFollow me on Twitter here: http://tkopod.co/p-xFree weekly business ideas newsletter: http://tkopod.co/p-nlShare this podcast: http://tkopod.co/p-allScrape small business data: http://tkopod.co/p-os---
Check out my newsletter at https://TKOPOD.com and join my community at https://TKOwners.com━I sat down with Billy Howell again to see how he's using Grok Bot to run his newsletter, manage outreach, research products, and automate repetitive work. We break down how to build a focused team of AI agents, turn a simple offer into revenue, and avoid using AI as another form of procrastination. After our conversation, I test Grok Bot myself and use it to build a working productivity app in under an hour.Billy's previous episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFP7wnWkX4whttps://open.spotify.com/episode/3KBpKAa5BmhDuM1zdHLtlA?si=6B3hY8WcQbmh2F-rM_XcwQBilly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCa6nzp_BwAIuuJN89cwkQNQBilly on X: https://x.com/billyjhowellEnjoy!---Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-ytAsk me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-askLearn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjkLearn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cofFollow me on Twitter here: http://tkopod.co/p-xFree weekly business ideas newsletter: http://tkopod.co/p-nlShare this podcast: http://tkopod.co/p-allScrape small business data: http://tkopod.co/p-os---
Check out my newsletter at https://TKOPOD.com and join my community at https://TKOwners.com━I sat down with Nathan to break down his surprisingly simple trailer rental business. He runs it alongside a full-time job, spends only a few hours a week on it, and is now making around $4,000 a month in profit. We talked about how he bought his first trailers, automated almost the entire rental process, finds customers through Google and Facebook Marketplace, and which trailers he would buy first if he were starting over. We also get into how you can test demand in your own area before going all in. Free Trailer Rental Guide:https://trailerrental.guide/Check out Lanco Trailer Rentals here: https://lancotrailers.com/Nathan on X: https://x.com/shinyobjectceoEmail: nathan@lancotrailers.comEnjoy!---Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-ytAsk me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-askLearn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjkLearn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cofFollow me on Twitter here: http://tkopod.co/p-xFree weekly business ideas newsletter: http://tkopod.co/p-nlShare this podcast: http://tkopod.co/p-allScrape small business data: http://tkopod.co/p-os---
Check out my newsletter at https://TKOPOD.com and join my community at https://TKOwners.com━In this solo episode I'm breaking down why I spent millions on a 231-acre ranch outside Dallas, how I negotiated nearly $400K off the asking price, and all the business ideas I discovered along the way. I talk about using AI to analyze the deal, making money with grass-fed beef, renting land, flipping heavy equipment, building temporary storage facilities, creating a pond database, Airbnbs, and even starting a new 888 Ranch YouTube channel. Most importantly, I break down how you can use a lot of these ideas without ever owning a ranch yourself.888 Ranch site - http://tripleeightranch.com888 Ranch Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@tripleeightranchEnjoy!---Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-ytAsk me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-askLearn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjkLearn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cofFollow me on Twitter here: http://tkopod.co/p-xFree weekly business ideas newsletter: http://tkopod.co/p-nlShare this podcast: http://tkopod.co/p-allScrape small business data: http://tkopod.co/p-os---
Check out my newsletter at https://TKOPOD.com and join my community at https://TKOwners.com━Mike Stewart is a 30 year music and radio guy who figured out something nobody else in local marketing is doing. He writes jingles for plumbers, roofers and pest control guys, then runs them as skippable YouTube ads in their zip code. Everybody skips. That is the whole point. They already heard the name.He sold the same pest control jingle over a hundred times at two grand a pop. One of his clients got eight million skips in Abilene, Texas for almost nothing. Another went from zero to 80 grand in a summer off a one page website and $250 a month in ads.The part that matters for you: he used to need a recording studio and a session singer in Nashville to pull this off. Now it is Suno and ElevenLabs and about fifteen minutes. Which means anybody can do it, and there are 31 million small businesses in this country who have no idea it exists.Mike's site: https://localinternetpresence.comEnjoy!---Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-ytAsk me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-askLearn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjkLearn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cofFollow me on Twitter here: http://tkopod.co/p-xFree weekly business ideas newsletter: http://tkopod.co/p-nlShare this podcast: http://tkopod.co/p-allScrape small business data: http://tkopod.co/p-os---
Check out my newsletter at https://TKOPOD.com and join my community at https://TKOwners.com━I sat down with Rachel Smith to break down the simple community board business she and her husband built after spotting an opportunity inside a local restaurant. Rachel explains how they give restaurants a free specials board, sell advertising spots to local businesses, and make around $3,200 in profit per board. We also get into how they use the boards as a foot in the door to sell higher-ticket services like websites, reputation management, and AI automation, helping them grow the business to around $10K-$15K per month. Rachel walks through exactly how they find host locations, get referrals, sell the ad spots, and why this can work as a low-cost side hustle.You can learn more from Rachel at Community Cash Playbook on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CommunityCashPlaybookCommunity Board Playbook: https://communityboardplaybook.com/Big Sky Automation Services: https://bigskyautomationservices.com/Enjoy!---Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-ytAsk me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-askLearn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjkLearn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cofFollow me on Twitter here: http://tkopod.co/p-xFree weekly business ideas newsletter: http://tkopod.co/p-nlShare this podcast: http://tkopod.co/p-allScrape small business data: http://tkopod.co/p-os---
Check out my newsletter at https://TKOPOD.com and join my community at https://TKOwners.com━I sat down with Alex Smereczniak, co-founder of Franzy, to break down why franchising might be one of the most overlooked ways to build wealth. We went through four interesting franchise models including freight brokerage, facility management, oil filtration, and mobile fuel delivery, looking at startup costs, revenue potential, royalties, and how much can potentially be financed. Alex also explains what to look for in a Franchise Disclosure Document, the red flags that should make you walk away, and why the right franchise depends heavily on the person running it. We also get into Chick-fil-A, Subway, Crumbl, boring franchises quietly making millions, and how people build large franchise portfolios without putting up all the capital themselves.Check out Franzy: https://go.franzy.com/chris-koernerFollow Alex on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexfromfranzy/X: https://x.com/AlexfromFranzyLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-smereczniak-40310329/Enjoy!---Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-ytAsk me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-askLearn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjkLearn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cofFollow me on Twitter here: http://tkopod.co/p-xFree weekly business ideas newsletter: http://tkopod.co/p-nlShare this podcast: http://tkopod.co/p-allScrape small business data: http://tkopod.co/p-os---
Check out my newsletter at https://TKOPOD.com and join my community at https://TKOwners.com━I sat down with Ryan Schuetter and we broke down how he went from a $52K/year job to making $15K/month helping small businesses implement AI. Ryan shares how he started the business for just $20, landed his first clients by having 100+ conversations with people in his network, and built offers ranging from AI cohort groups to $5K-$10K/month consulting. We also break down his DASA framework, why in-person networking is such an advantage, and how even a shy introvert with no sales or coding experience can get started.You can find Ryan here:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RyanSchuetterInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryan.schuetter/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanschuetterFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/ryan.schuetter.9/Newsletter: https://ryanschuetter.com/contactEnjoy!---Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-ytAsk me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-askLearn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjkLearn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cofFollow me on Twitter here: http://tkopod.co/p-xFree weekly business ideas newsletter: http://tkopod.co/p-nlShare this podcast: http://tkopod.co/p-allScrape small business data: http://tkopod.co/p-os---
Check out my newsletter at https://TKOPOD.com and join my community at https://TKOwners.com━I sat down with Braden Harman and we broke down how he built an estate sale business that can be started with almost no money and quickly became a six-figure operation. We talked about how estate sales work, what to charge, how to find your first clients, and why the aging Baby Boomer generation is creating a huge opportunity in this space. Braden also explained how he eventually realized the estate sale business was an even better lead-generation machine for off-market real estate deals, helping him acquire dozens of properties.You can learn more about Braden and his strategy at FlippingCouches.com, find local estate sales at EstateSales.net, and check out the business-in-a-box option he mentioned at EstateSaleBiz.com.Enjoy!---Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-ytAsk me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-askLearn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjkLearn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cofFollow me on Twitter here: http://tkopod.co/p-xFree weekly business ideas newsletter: http://tkopod.co/p-nlShare this podcast: http://tkopod.co/p-allScrape small business data: http://tkopod.co/p-os---
Open a Bluevine Business Checking account, earn up to 3.0% APY, and get a $500 cash bonus when you apply with code CJK500 and meet the eligibility requirements: https://www.bluevine.com/partner/chris-koernerRead Bluevine's full AI study:https://www.bluevine.com/blog/small-business-ai-trends-report-2026━Check out my newsletter at https://TKOPOD.com and join my community at https://TKOwners.com━I sat down with 17-year-old Bentley Taggart, who is averaging around $200 / $300 per hour flipping couches in his spare time. He broke down how he finds poorly listed couches, negotiates sellers down, and uses AI-generated backgrounds to make them look more valuable online. Bentley also shared how he bought one couch set for $100 and sold it for $1,580, turning his money into nearly 15X in less than a day. We talked about what types of listings to look for, how to negotiate better deals, and why this is a side hustle almost anyone can start. You can follow Bentley on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/bentleyhustles/Enjoy!---Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-ytAsk me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-askLearn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjkLearn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cofFollow me on Twitter here: http://tkopod.co/p-xFree weekly business ideas newsletter: http://tkopod.co/p-nlShare this podcast: http://tkopod.co/p-allScrape small business data: http://tkopod.co/p-os---
beehiiv is the newsletter platform I've used for over a year and a half because their data shows you exactly what's working. Get 30% off three months at beehiiv.com/chris━Check out my newsletter at https://TKOPOD.com and join my community at https://TKOwners.com━Get Sandy's free tools, templates, documents, and more at https://sleeautomation.com/resourcesI sat down with Sandy Lee to talk about how she went from having no technical or SEO experience to building multiple income streams that now generate over $50,000 a month. She shared how she landed her first $3,000 monthly client on Upwork using ChatGPT, a short Loom video, and a simple strategy of selling the idea before building the product. We also talked about using AI to create apps, automate client work, grow a personal brand, and attract inbound opportunities, all while Sandy works a full time job and raises three young kids. You can follow her journey and learn from her tutorials on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@sandyleeaiEnjoy!---Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-ytAsk me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-askLearn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjkLearn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cofFollow me on Twitter here: http://tkopod.co/p-xFree weekly business ideas newsletter: http://tkopod.co/p-nlShare this podcast: http://tkopod.co/p-allScrape small business data: http://tkopod.co/p-os---
Check out my newsletter at https://TKOPOD.com and join my community at https://TKOwners.com━https://viralvue.com/I sat down with Trevin Peterson (https://x.com/trevinofficial) to break down how people are making money by filming simple Amazon product review videos with their phones. We talked about how the Amazon Influencer Program works, how to get approved, which products to review, and why longer, authentic videos often perform best. Trevin also shared how creators can get free products from brands, earn increased commissions, cross-post their videos to YouTube, and use tools like Viral Vue to find products with strong demand and low competition. Finally, he walked us through exactly how to film a simple review and explained how some people have scaled this into a serious part-time income.Enjoy!---Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-ytAsk me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-askLearn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjkLearn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cofFollow me on Twitter here: http://tkopod.co/p-xFree weekly business ideas newsletter: http://tkopod.co/p-nlShare this podcast: http://tkopod.co/p-allScrape small business data: http://tkopod.co/p-os---
beehiiv is the newsletter platform I've used for over a year and a half because their data shows you exactly what's working. Get 30% off three months at beehiiv.com/chris━Check out my newsletter at https://TKOPOD.com and join my community at https://TKOwners.com━https://printourpet.com/I sat down with Spencer, the founder of Print Our Pet, to break down how he turned a roughly $40 investment and one weekend of work into a seven-figure custom pet gift business. We talked about launching on Shopify, scaling through Etsy, managing 80 remote artists, and generating more than $800,000 in just two holiday months. Since sales have slowed down, we brainstormed new growth ideas involving fresh Facebook ad creative, AI-generated artwork, influencer marketing, TikTok Live auctions, and tools like HeyGen and Nano Banana.Enjoy!---Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-ytAsk me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-askLearn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjkLearn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cofFollow me on Twitter here: http://tkopod.co/p-xFree weekly business ideas newsletter: http://tkopod.co/p-nlShare this podcast: http://tkopod.co/p-allScrape small business data: http://tkopod.co/p-os---
Check out my newsletter at https://TKOPOD.com and join my community at https://TKOwners.com━In this solo episode I'm breaking down seven communication tactics that can help you sell more, lead better, and get people to actually listen. I share how a simple wristband marketing idea saved my first iPhone repair business, along with stories from pitching Best Buy, working with John McAfee, and dealing with a nightmare customer. We talk about writing a stronger opening, admitting flaws, using stories instead of relying only on data, avoiding jargon, being more specific, using silence effectively, and ending every conversation with a clear recommendation. Ultimately, the businesses and founders that win are not always smarter. They are simply better at communication.Mike Yoder's drone deer recovery / agricultural spraying episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6FiPCzifAswU5Emk5pDqhj?si=Kq_KDsO8Qc2rMGZXzSW0PgShannon's roadside peach stand episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/36hKbPhYFvZbmF2mYfBKZs?si=0IkRD88VRbSYsGUhgi3fSAKevin's Toasted Tours episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/08O8KUblydXRCMSg5UMF2w?si=vJBWG2UtRMmyf7jP0UO2pgEpisode 9: https://open.spotify.com/episode/28TPrmpkrBO4YFw39KcIo9?si=spVVUsOARLSa3Qgf16KD6wEnjoy!---Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-ytAsk me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-askLearn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjkLearn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cofFollow me on Twitter here: http://tkopod.co/p-xFree weekly business ideas newsletter: http://tkopod.co/p-nlShare this podcast: http://tkopod.co/p-allScrape small business data: http://tkopod.co/p-os---
Get 30 days free on HighLevel only with my link: https://www.gohighlevel.com/TKOPOD⸻Ride the AI tidal wave together. Join the community of consultants learning to charge $500–$5k/mo :https://playmakersai.com/━Check out my newsletter at https://TKOPOD.com and join my community at https://TKOwners.com━I sat down with George to break down how he generated roughly $225,000 in nine months building AI-powered mobile apps without any coding experience. He shared how he launched WrestleAI, grew it through niche influencers, and used paid ads to scale two newer apps to $10K in just 45 days. We also walked through his exact app launch playbook, including finding a strong visual feature, partnering with creators, testing Meta ads, and building recurring revenue through yearly subscriptions. Finally, we talked about his goal of reaching $1 million in revenue before turning 20 and whether he should focus on one major company or build an entire portfolio of niche apps.You can follow George on X at https://x.com/GeorgeLampro20Enjoy!---Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-ytAsk me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-askLearn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjkLearn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cofFollow me on Twitter here: http://tkopod.co/p-xFree weekly business ideas newsletter: http://tkopod.co/p-nlShare this podcast: http://tkopod.co/p-allScrape small business data: http://tkopod.co/p-os---
Get 30 days free on HighLevel only with my link: https://www.gohighlevel.com/TKOPOD⸻Ride the AI tidal wave together. Join the community of consultants learning to charge $500–$5k/mo :https://playmakersai.com/━Check out my newsletter at https://TKOPOD.com and join my community at https://TKOwners.com━I sat down with Brandon Doyle to break down his experiment giving Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, Grok, and Perplexity $1,000 each to invest in the stock market. He explains how he prompted each AI model, made weekly trades based on their recommendations, and turned the whole thing into a competition. We go through the results, including how Claude more than doubled its money, while Gemini lost over half of its portfolio after making increasingly risky bets. We also talk about leveraged ETFs, knowing when to sell, and what this experiment taught Brandon about investing and human psychology. This is not financial advice!!!Enjoy!---Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-ytAsk me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-askLearn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjkLearn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cofFollow me on Twitter here: http://tkopod.co/p-xFree weekly business ideas newsletter: http://tkopod.co/p-nlShare this podcast: http://tkopod.co/p-allScrape small business data: http://tkopod.co/p-os---
Ride the AI tidal wave together. Join the community of consultants learning to charge $500–$5k/mo :https://playmakersai.com/━Check out my newsletter at https://TKOPOD.com and join my community at https://TKOwners.com━Try the free Obsession Audit tool:https://obsessionaudit.com/In this solo episode, I explain why “follow your passion” is terrible advice and share a tactical process for discovering what you're genuinely obsessed with. I break down eight practical exercises using your YouTube history, spending habits, childhood interests, energy levels, envy, and AI to uncover the patterns hiding in your life. Most importantly, I explain why passion usually follows progress and why taking action is the fastest way to find work you truly care about.Enjoy!---Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-ytAsk me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-askLearn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjkLearn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cofFollow me on Twitter here: http://tkopod.co/p-xFree weekly business ideas newsletter: http://tkopod.co/p-nlShare this podcast: http://tkopod.co/p-allScrape small business data: http://tkopod.co/p-os---
We'll build your lead gen site for you: niche, geo, SEO, all of it. Apply for Done For You: https://form.typeform.com/to/Gj1Ab3Wp━beehiiv is the newsletter platform I've used for over a year and a half because their data shows you exactly what's working. Get 30% off three months at beehiiv.com/chrisAlso, they're not telling anyone what it is yet, but beehiiv's Summer Release Event on July 16 is worth clearing your calendar for. RSVP: http://beehiiv.com/summer-release-2026━Check out my newsletter at https://TKOPOD.com and join my community at https://TKOwners.com━I sat down with Luke Van Der Veer and we talked about how he built a business renting lead generation websites to local businesses. Luke shared how he went from running an SEO agency to firing almost all of his clients and building his own digital assets instead. We got into how he picks the right local niches, why boring services like towing, tree service, carpet cleaning, and concrete can work so well, and what makes a website easier to rank. Luke also broke down how he finds buyers for the leads, why he prefers flat monthly fees but has recently grown a lot through revenue share, and how he now uses his SEO skills to buy and grow real businesses. You can find Luke at https://websiterentalcoaching.com/Enjoy!---Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-ytAsk me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-askLearn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjkLearn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cofFollow me on Twitter here: http://tkopod.co/p-xFree weekly business ideas newsletter: http://tkopod.co/p-nlShare this podcast: http://tkopod.co/p-allScrape small business data: http://tkopod.co/p-os---
beehiiv is the newsletter platform I've used for over a year and a half because their data shows you exactly what's working. Get 30% off three months at beehiiv.com/chrisAlso, they're not telling anyone what it is yet, but beehiiv's Summer Release Event on July 16 is worth clearing your calendar for. RSVP: http://beehiiv.com/summer-release-2026━Check out my newsletter at https://TKOPOD.com and join my community at https://TKOwners.com━I sat down with Kyle Miklasz, founder of Big Sky Barnhouse, to talk about how he turned an old Wisconsin dairy barn into a wildly successful Airbnb business. Kyle shared how he found the property off-market, put everything on the line to buy it, then used a single $500 Instagram reel to generate around $80,000 in bookings before opening. We also talked about why he focuses on large-group, experience-driven stays instead of generic rentals, how he finds overlooked barns and warehouses, and how his newest Wild Wild Warehouse launch became his biggest one yet. Finally, Kyle broke down how someone with less money can still get into the space through Airbnb co-hosting.You can find Kyle here:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kylemiklasz/Big Sky Barnhouse: https://bigskybarnhouse.com/Big Sky Barnhouse Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bigskybarnhouse/Wild Wild Warehouse Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildwildwarehouse/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylemiklasz/Enjoy!---Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-ytAsk me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-askLearn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjkLearn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cofFollow me on Twitter here: http://tkopod.co/p-xFree weekly business ideas newsletter: http://tkopod.co/p-nlShare this podcast: http://tkopod.co/p-allScrape small business data: http://tkopod.co/p-os---
Check out my newsletter at https://TKOPOD.com and join my community at https://TKOwners.com━I sat down with Alex Kirby and we talked about how he went from being a pastor making around $35K a year, to building a landscaping business, then turning a simple staffing idea into $100K in sales in his first 100 days. Alex breaks down how he started by texting friends and family, why he believes global talent is such a huge opportunity for small business owners, and how anyone can start placing overseas talent without a big budget, audience, or complicated tech stack. We also talked about finding your first customer, sourcing and vetting candidates, what questions to ask in interviews, how to charge $3K to $7K for placements, and why this works especially well for blue-collar businesses.You can find Alex at https://bridgewaystaffing.co/ and https://thealexkirby.com/Enjoy!---Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-ytAsk me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-askLearn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjkLearn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cofFollow me on Twitter here: http://tkopod.co/p-xFree weekly business ideas newsletter: http://tkopod.co/p-nlShare this podcast: http://tkopod.co/p-allScrape small business data: http://tkopod.co/p-os---
Check out my newsletter at https://TKOPOD.com and join my community at https://TKOwners.com━I sat down with Caleb Panza, co-founder of Post For Me, and we talked about how he and his business partner went from losing their jobs to building a SaaS product that crossed $10K MRR. Caleb broke down how they launched with almost no audience, why posting transparent MRR updates on Twitter started driving attention, and how they used real customer questions to build resource articles that now get picked up by Google, ChatGPT, Claude, and other AI tools. We also talked about pricing, churn, onboarding, the tools they use to build software, and the simple playbook anyone can follow to start a SaaS business by solving a problem they actually understand. You can find Caleb on Twitter/X at https://x.com/CalebPanza, check out Post For Me at https://www.postforme.dev/, and learn more about Day Moon Development at https://www.daymoon.dev/Enjoy!---Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-ytAsk me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-askLearn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjkLearn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cofFollow me on Twitter here: http://tkopod.co/p-xFree weekly business ideas newsletter: http://tkopod.co/p-nlShare this podcast: http://tkopod.co/p-allScrape small business data: http://tkopod.co/p-os---
beehiiv is the newsletter platform I've used for over a year and a half because their data shows you exactly what's working. Get 30% off three months at beehiiv.com/chris━Check out my newsletter at https://TKOPOD.com and join my community at https://TKOwners.com━I sat down with Brandon Doyle and we talked about five offline business ideas that can make $10K in a year, month, week, or even a day. We started with the story of Brandon's teenage son buying liquidation rugs, flipping them on Facebook Marketplace, and using the money to buy his first car. Then we got into portable mini golf rentals, cornhole courses, backyard movie screen rentals, and even flipping original artwork from other countries. Finally, we broke down a simple but surprisingly lucrative temporary fence rental business that Brandon's friend built and sold for $600K in just 18 months. You can find Brandon on Twitter and Instagram under Brandon Doyle.Enjoy!---Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-ytAsk me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-askLearn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjkLearn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cofFollow me on Twitter here: http://tkopod.co/p-xFree weekly business ideas newsletter: http://tkopod.co/p-nlShare this podcast: http://tkopod.co/p-allScrape small business data: http://tkopod.co/p-os---
Check out my newsletter at https://TKOPOD.com and join my community at https://TKOwners.com━In this episode, I break down why Anthropic's Fable 5 was shut down after just three days, why the government treated it like a weapon, and what that means for anyone trying to build an AI business. I also share five business ideas you can prepare for now while the model is offline.Enjoy!---Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-ytAsk me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-askLearn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjkLearn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cofFollow me on Twitter here: http://tkopod.co/p-xFree weekly business ideas newsletter: http://tkopod.co/p-nlShare this podcast: http://tkopod.co/p-allScrape small business data: http://tkopod.co/p-os---
beehiiv is the newsletter platform I've used for over a year and a half because their data shows you exactly what's working. Get 30% off three months at beehiiv.com/chris━Check out my newsletter at https://TKOPOD.com and join my community at https://TKOwners.com━I sat down with Don from Boo Boo's Lemonade and we talked about how a simple fresh squeezed lemonade stand turned into a real business doing around $250K in sales in just eight months. We broke down the exact recipe, pricing, startup costs, margins, farmers market setup, catering opportunities, and how they rent out their lemonade cart for events. Don also shared how they landed a $19K frozen banana catering order after getting the idea from one of my videos, and why simple businesses like this are often the ones people overlook. You can find them at https://boobooslemonade.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/booboos.lemonadeEnjoy!---Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-ytAsk me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-askLearn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjkLearn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cofFollow me on Twitter here: http://tkopod.co/p-xFree weekly business ideas newsletter: http://tkopod.co/p-nlShare this podcast: http://tkopod.co/p-allScrape small business data: http://tkopod.co/p-os---
Check out my newsletter at https://TKOPOD.com and join my community at https://TKOwners.com━I sat down with Carson and Jackson and we talked about how they built a land flipping business by helping home builders find off-market lots. They broke down how they get a builder's buy box first, then go find landowners willing to sell for less, keeping the difference as profit without usually buying the land themselves. We also talked about why they prefer land over houses, how they find sellers through cold calls, direct mail, Zillow, and referrals, and the risks to watch out for like wetlands, slope, utilities, and protected wildlife. Finally, they shared how they've scaled the business, what their team looks like, and why consistency matters more than any fancy tool. You can learn more about Carson and Jackson at https://www.carsonandjackson.com/Enjoy!---Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-ytAsk me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-askLearn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjkLearn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cofFollow me on Twitter here: http://tkopod.co/p-xFree weekly business ideas newsletter: http://tkopod.co/p-nlShare this podcast: http://tkopod.co/p-allScrape small business data: http://tkopod.co/p-os---
Check out my newsletter at https://TKOPOD.com and join my community at https://TKOwners.com━I sat down with Derek from Backyard Movie Theater to talk about how a simple Christmas gift for his family accidentally turned into a real events business. He started with a cheap inflatable screen in his backyard, landed his first HOA booking before he was ready, learned the hard way, and then upgraded into a full commercial outdoor movie setup. We talked about his packages, how much he charges, and how he built a higher end inflatable indoor theater with carpet, lights, AC, and a full movie experience. Derek also broke down his newest add on, LED dance floors, and why weddings, schools, and private events could become a huge part of the business. You can find Derek at https://backyardmovietheater.com/Enjoy!---Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-ytAsk me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-askLearn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjkLearn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cofFollow me on Twitter here: http://tkopod.co/p-xFree weekly business ideas newsletter: http://tkopod.co/p-nlShare this podcast: http://tkopod.co/p-allScrape small business data: http://tkopod.co/p-os---
Check out my newsletter at https://TKOPOD.com and join my community at https://TKOwners.com━I sat down with Mike Stuart, a tile guy from Iowa who started a concrete coatings business and quickly grew it to over $60,000 a month. We talked about how he got started with garage floor coatings, why the blue collar world still has so much opportunity, and how simple things like answering the phone, showing up on time, and being upfront about pricing can make you stand out. Mike broke down the numbers behind the business, including startup costs, material costs, pricing, ad spend, margins, and how he gets most of his leads from Facebook ads. We also talked about learning the trade through YouTube, making mistakes early, hiring crews, and why courage is often the biggest advantage when starting a business. You can find Mike at https://oldcapcoatings.com/ and https://www.instagram.com/oldcapcoatings/ or email him at mike@oldcapcoatings.comEnjoy!---Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-ytAsk me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-askLearn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjkLearn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cofFollow me on Twitter here: http://tkopod.co/p-xFree weekly business ideas newsletter: http://tkopod.co/p-nlShare this podcast: http://tkopod.co/p-allScrape small business data: http://tkopod.co/p-os---
Check out my newsletter at https://TKOPOD.com and join my community at https://TKOwners.com━I sat down with Jon Cheney again and we went deeper on how he actually finds customers after building AI products. We talked about how he turned a simple local news pitch into hundreds of thousands of dollars in potential deals, why good storytelling matters more than bragging, and how to make your business interesting enough for media to cover. Jon also broke down how press releases, social media, and building in public helped him grow his AI business. Finally, we talked about getting over the fear of putting yourself out there, posting consistently, and taking asymmetric bets that can change your business forever. You can find Jon on:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joncheneyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheneypianoFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/cheneypianoX: https://x.com/cheneypianoTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cheneypianoWebsite: https://genaipi.orgEnjoy!---Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-ytAsk me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-askLearn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjkLearn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cofFollow me on Twitter here: http://tkopod.co/p-xFree weekly business ideas newsletter: http://tkopod.co/p-nlShare this podcast: http://tkopod.co/p-allScrape small business data: http://tkopod.co/p-os---
Check out my newsletter at https://TKOPOD.com and join my community at https://TKOwners.com━I sat down with Phil and we talked about how he started an AI automation agency with no coding background and landed a $50,000 consulting contract by simply starting with people he already knew. He shares how he first built voice agents in GoHighLevel, then used Claude to help create proposals, pricing, contracts, and client solutions. We also talked about his work with a chiropractor, where he built automations and content systems for a new laser treatment offer, plus a grant writing tool for a nonprofit. The big takeaway from this one is that you do not need to know everything before you start. You just need to talk to business owners, listen for pain points, and use AI to help solve real problems.Enjoy!---Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-ytAsk me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-askLearn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjkLearn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cofFollow me on Twitter here: http://tkopod.co/p-xFree weekly business ideas newsletter: http://tkopod.co/p-nlShare this podcast: http://tkopod.co/p-allScrape small business data: http://tkopod.co/p-os---
Check out my newsletter at https://TKOPOD.com and join my community at https://TKOwners.com━I sat down with Brandon Doyle again and we tested what happens when an AI agent tries to build real businesses from scratch. Brandon showed me how he uses OpenClaw through iMessage, then we talked through a few business ideas an agent could launch, including custom bedtime stories, website outreach for local businesses, and Facebook Marketplace arbitrage. A month later, Brandon came back with real results. His bedtime story business got over $300/month in MRR, but the big win was using an AI agent to build websites for local businesses, send them postcards with QR codes, and turn that into a little over $8,000/month in recurring revenue. You can find Brandon on X at https://x.com/Brandondoyle and learn more about his company at https://getdavid.ai/.Enjoy!---Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-ytAsk me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-askLearn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjkLearn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cofFollow me on Twitter here: http://tkopod.co/p-xFree weekly business ideas newsletter: http://tkopod.co/p-nlShare this podcast: http://tkopod.co/p-allScrape small business data: http://tkopod.co/p-os---
beehiiv is the newsletter platform I've used for over a year and a half because their data shows you exactly what's working. Get 30% off three months at beehiiv.com/chris━Check out my newsletter at https://TKOPOD.com and join my community at https://TKOwners.com━I sat down with Jon and Lucas from Resale University and we talked about how they built a reselling business by flipping overlooked electronics like VCRs, digital cameras, camcorders, Dell docking stations, and TI calculators. They shared how they started by selling stuff around the house, then moved into thrift stores, yard sales, Facebook Marketplace, eBay, and eventually bulk electronics suppliers. We also broke down their first big deal, where they bought around $5,000 worth of electronics and made a few thousand dollars in profit with only about 15 hours of work. Finally, we talked about the simple playbook anyone can use to start reselling, even with just a few hours a week. You can find Jon and Lucas on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/reseller_uni/Enjoy!---Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-ytAsk me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-askLearn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjkLearn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cofFollow me on Twitter here: http://tkopod.co/p-xFree weekly business ideas newsletter: http://tkopod.co/p-nlShare this podcast: http://tkopod.co/p-allScrape small business data: http://tkopod.co/p-os---
beehiiv is the newsletter platform I've used for over a year and a half because their data shows you exactly what's working. Get 30% off three months at beehiiv.com/chris━Check out my newsletter at https://TKOPOD.com and join my community at https://TKOwners.com━In this solo episode I'm breaking down one of my favorite business ideas right now: API arbitrage and the great unbundling. I talk about how huge companies were built by unbundling parts of Craigslist, and why the same thing is happening today with tools like Apify, Clay, Zapier, OpenAI, and Claude. I share the story of Nico, who went from working in his family's restaurant to building a software business doing $3,500/month in recurring revenue with almost no technical background. Then I walk through a bunch of simple business ideas anyone can build by wrapping existing tools in a cleaner, easier product. If you want to implement AI into small and medium sized businesses, check out https://www.playmakersai.com/Enjoy!---Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-ytAsk me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-askLearn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjkLearn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cofFollow me on Twitter here: http://tkopod.co/p-xFree weekly business ideas newsletter: http://tkopod.co/p-nlShare this podcast: http://tkopod.co/p-allScrape small business data: http://tkopod.co/p-os---
Check out my newsletter at https://TKOPOD.com and join my community at https://TKOwners.com━I sat down with Colin Stroud, founder of Go Somewhere, and we talked about how he built a business helping business owners get way more value out of the credit card points they're already earning. Colin broke down how he charges $875 for a consulting call, made $231,000 in his first full year, and gets most of his clients from LinkedIn. We also talked about why most people use points the wrong way, how business owners can earn more from their existing spending, and why “earn and burn” is usually better than hoarding points forever. You can find Colin at https://www.gosomewhere.world and on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/gosomewhere/Enjoy!---Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-ytAsk me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-askLearn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjkLearn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cofFollow me on Twitter here: http://tkopod.co/p-xFree weekly business ideas newsletter: http://tkopod.co/p-nlShare this podcast: http://tkopod.co/p-allScrape small business data: http://tkopod.co/p-os---
Check out my newsletter at https://TKOPOD.com and join my community at https://TKOwners.com━I sat down with Ryan Doser to talk about how he's turning Claude skills into a real digital product business. Ryan breaks down what a Claude skill actually is, why it's basically an SOP for AI, and how he launched a Claude Code Skill Stack that made over $3,000 in 30 to 45 days. We also talked about how anyone can turn their own knowledge into sellable AI skills, whether it's for marketing, SEO, YouTube, gardening, trading cards, or almost anything else. Ryan also showed how he uses Claude Code to turn YouTube videos into SEO blog posts, build landing pages, create a personal marketing OS, and run workflows across tools like Stripe, WordPress, Appify, Google Calendar. You can find Ryan at https://ryandoser.com/Enjoy!---Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-ytAsk me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-askLearn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjkLearn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cofFollow me on Twitter here: http://tkopod.co/p-xFree weekly business ideas newsletter: http://tkopod.co/p-nlShare this podcast: http://tkopod.co/p-allScrape small business data: http://tkopod.co/p-os---
I'm proud to have Bizee sponsor this video. I've been using their platform for years to start my LLCs and continue to gain valuable support from their service. It's a company I genuinely trust and am excited to recommend to you. https://bizee.com/━Check out my newsletter at https://TKOPOD.com and join my community at https://TKOwners.com━I sat down with Natalie Rosario to talk about how she makes money through government contracting without doing the actual work herself. She explained how she finds contracts on SAM.gov, gets quotes from subcontractors, marks up the price, and keeps the profit. We talked about her first hazardous waste contract, a catering contract that made her $11,000 in two weeks, and a $962,000 landscaping contract where she used past pricing data to understand the opportunity. Natalie also broke down how beginners can start with an LLC, use AI tools like Claude and ChatGPT to understand proposals, and search past government spending on USAspending.gov. We also covered why reliable subcontractors matter, why many people quit too early, and how one contract can create steady income for years.Follow Natalie here:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natalietheceo/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@natalietheceoTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bizmotionwithnatWebsites mentioned:SAM.gov: https://sam.gov/Contract opportunities: https://sam.gov/opportunitiesUSAspending: https://www.usaspending.gov/APEX Accelerators: https://www.apexaccelerators.us/Enjoy!---Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-ytAsk me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-askLearn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjkLearn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cofFollow me on Twitter here: http://tkopod.co/p-xFree weekly business ideas newsletter: http://tkopod.co/p-nlShare this podcast: http://tkopod.co/p-allScrape small business data: http://tkopod.co/p-os---
Check out my newsletter at https://TKOPOD.com and join my community at https://TKOwners.com━I sat down with Marc Hyman and we talked about how he built a simple iced coffee cart business using a gutted Home Depot tool cart instead of an expensive coffee truck or espresso machine. Marc broke down why cold coffee, nitro coffee, and simple event setups can be such a profitable “business in a box.” We talked through the numbers, including how a cup costs around $3 to make, sells for around $8.50, and how his best event cleared about $8,000 in net profit over two days. We also got into the best locations for this type of business, including festivals, farmers markets, car washes, gas stations, and other overlooked spots with built-in foot traffic. You can find Marc at https://sunburstnitrocoffee.comEnjoy!---Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-ytAsk me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-askLearn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjkLearn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cofFollow me on Twitter here: http://tkopod.co/p-xFree weekly business ideas newsletter: http://tkopod.co/p-nlShare this podcast: http://tkopod.co/p-allScrape small business data: http://tkopod.co/p-os---
Check out my newsletter at https://TKOPOD.com and join my community at https://TKOwners.com━I sat down with Kyle, also known as the Website Landlord, and we talked about one of the most interesting low-overhead online business models I've seen in a while. Kyle explained how he builds simple local SEO websites for niches like junk removal, auto glass repair, and epoxy flooring, ranks them on Google, and then rents the leads out to local businesses for recurring monthly income. We talked about why these sites don't need to look pretty, how he got his first client to wire him $6,000 within 20 minutes, and how he eventually scaled this into a business doing around $100k/month with very low overhead. We also got into lifestyle businesses, time freedom, passive income, and why Kyle intentionally keeps the business simple instead of chasing massive growth. You can learn more at https://rentlocalsites.com and follow Kyle on:TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@websitelandlordYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@KyleReviewsCoursestopspotkyle@gmail.comEnjoy!---Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-ytAsk me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-askLearn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjkLearn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cofFollow me on Twitter here: http://tkopod.co/p-xFree weekly business ideas newsletter: http://tkopod.co/p-nlShare this podcast: http://tkopod.co/p-allScrape small business data: http://tkopod.co/p-os---
Check out my newsletter at https://TKOPOD.com and join my community at https://TKOwners.com━I sat down with William Lindholm, who built a wild new business around cold caking, sending cakes to prospects to book sales meetings. We talked about how he started with birthday cake automation in Norway, moved to San Francisco, pivoted into outbound sales, and hit $120,000 in monthly revenue just weeks after the pivot. William broke down why physical gifts cut through better than cold calls, emails, and DMs, especially as AI makes online outreach noisier. We also talked about using cakes for agencies, real estate, accounting, customer retention, and how he uses AI agents to source and negotiate with bakeries. You can find William on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-daymaker/contact@daymaker.comhttps://www.daymaker.com/Enjoy!---Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-ytAsk me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-askLearn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjkLearn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cofFollow me on Twitter here: http://tkopod.co/p-xFree weekly business ideas newsletter: http://tkopod.co/p-nlShare this podcast: http://tkopod.co/p-allScrape small business data: http://tkopod.co/p-os---
Check out my newsletter at https://TKOPOD.com and join my community at https://TKOwners.com━I sat down with Michael McCoy, co-founder of Prepa Pizza, to talk about how he turned a simple pizza dough kit into a multi-million dollar business. He started by making the kits in his basement with his wife and selling them at local farmers markets, where he did around $60,000 in one summer working part-time. We also talked about how he took the business online, scaled with Facebook ads, hit over $160,000 in a single month, and why farmers markets are one of the best places to test simple product ideas. You can check out Michael's business here: https://prepapizza.com/https://www.instagram.com/myprepapizza/michaeljamesmccoy@gmail.comEnjoy!---Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-ytAsk me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-askLearn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjkLearn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cofFollow me on Twitter here: http://tkopod.co/p-xFree weekly business ideas newsletter: http://tkopod.co/p-nlShare this podcast: http://tkopod.co/p-allScrape small business data: http://tkopod.co/p-os---
Check out my newsletter at https://TKOPOD.com and join my community at https://TKOwners.com━I sat down with Brett Williams from DesignJoy and we talked about how he built a one man productized service business that grew into a massive cash-flow machine. He broke down how he launched with no audience, made around $10,000 on day one, kept his full-time job until the business was doing $80,000 a month, and eventually grew it to peaks of $200,000 a month with almost no overhead. We also talked about what makes productized services so powerful, why design and branding matter even more in the age of AI, and what kinds of agencies people can start right now using skills like copywriting, short form editing, thumbnail design, and AI-first development. Brett also shared his favorite AI tools, his best prompting advice, and why speed and simplicity are winning more than ever.https://x.com/BrettFromDJEnjoy!---Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-ytAsk me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-askLearn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjkLearn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cofFollow me on Twitter here: http://tkopod.co/p-xFree weekly business ideas newsletter: http://tkopod.co/p-nlShare this podcast: http://tkopod.co/p-allScrape small business data: http://tkopod.co/p-os---
Check out my newsletter at https://TKOPOD.com and join my community at https://TKOwners.com━I sat down with Corey Ganim and we broke down a simple but really smart service business built around AI assessments for small businesses. We talked through how he went from a friend offering to pay $1,000 for AI help to turning that into a repeatable offer using a voice agent, Claude, and a clean client report. We got into how the assessment works, what kinds of AI tools and simple software get recommended, and why the real money often comes from the upsell after the initial audit. Corey also shared practical ways to get your first customers, including local meetups, office hours, free assessments, and even door knocking. Finally, we talked about why you do not need to be a real AI expert to sell this, you just need to be a little ahead of the average client. You can find Corey through his Build With AI podcast on YouTube and podcast platforms.Find Josh:YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/@coreyganimcorey@returnmytime.comEnjoy!---Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-ytAsk me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-askLearn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjkLearn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cofFollow me on Twitter here: http://tkopod.co/p-xFree weekly business ideas newsletter: http://tkopod.co/p-nlShare this podcast: http://tkopod.co/p-allScrape small business data: http://tkopod.co/p-os---
beehiiv is the newsletter platform I've used for over a year and a half because their data shows you exactly what's working. Get 30% off three months at beehiiv.com/chris━Check out my newsletter at https://TKOPOD.com and join my community at https://TKOwners.com━This guy turned $90 into $50K in a year selling ad space on postcards that get mailed to thousands of homes. He finds local businesses in Facebook groups, closes 95% of his deals over text — one plumber paid him $1,100 in five messages. No cold calls, no Zoom, no employees, no ads. He just connects local businesses to local homeowners through the mail and pockets $4–5K profit per run. He even showed me the exact Facebook post he uses and the trick that gets business owners to DM him first. This one blew my mind.Find Josh:
beehiiv is the newsletter platform I've used for over a year and a half because their data shows you exactly what's working. Get 30% off three months at beehiiv.com/chris━Check out my newsletter at https://TKOPOD.com and join my community at https://TKOwners.com━The Most Overlooked Way to Make Money with AI (+10 More Ideas) - Chat with Michael Girdley | Ep. #181https://open.spotify.com/episode/67kATaWJ935Ec4O3oViPWN?si=WehmyjUfTeiAnLbk0xX0kAMichael Girdley is back and we went even harder this time. I sent his ideas to my newsletter, you guys voted, and we only talked about the best ones.We got into AI persona marketplaces, a MasterClass killer where you actually talk to Steve Jobs, the return of local journalism, an app that yells at you for getting distracted, negotiating 70% off college tuition, and why AI audits might be the best business any of you can start right now. One idea was so good I started building it in Claude while we were still recording.Find Michael on X at https://x.com/girdley or at https://girdley.com. He's also launching Bedrock (https://girdley.com/bedrock) for quality of earnings if you're buying a business, and https://www.fixedlabs.ai/ for AI audits.Enjoy!---Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-ytAsk me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-askLearn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjkLearn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cofFollow me on Twitter here: http://tkopod.co/p-xFree weekly business ideas newsletter: http://tkopod.co/p-nlShare this podcast: http://tkopod.co/p-allScrape small business data: http://tkopod.co/p-os---
beehiiv is the newsletter platform I've used for over a year and a half because their data shows you exactly what's working. Get 30% off three months at beehiiv.com/chris━Check out my newsletter at https://TKOPOD.com and join my community at https://TKOwners.com━Vadim is 18 years old, has zero coding experience, and just made $5,000 in his first month from an app he vibe coded using Claude Code. His app Vugola competes with Opus Clip, a company that raised $50 million, and he built the whole thing without writing a single line of code. We talk about how he built it, the AI tools he's using to run his entire company with agents, and why he thinks every business needs to be built agentic-first.Find Vadim on Twitter/X: https://x.com/VadimStrizheusTry his app: https://vugolaai.comEnjoy!---Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-ytAsk me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-askLearn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjkLearn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cofFollow me on Twitter here: http://tkopod.co/p-xFree weekly business ideas newsletter: http://tkopod.co/p-nlShare this podcast: http://tkopod.co/p-allScrape small business data: http://tkopod.co/p-os---
Check out my newsletter at https://TKOPOD.com and join my community at https://TKOwners.com━Mike Yoder started a drone deer recovery service in Ohio and made $50,000 in his first 10 weeks. Four years later he's doing over $32 million a year selling thermal and agricultural spray drones. In this episode he breaks down exactly how he got his first customers, the unit economics of spray drone businesses (70%+ profit margins), and why this might be the biggest untapped opportunity in blue collar entrepreneurship right now. If you know someone in the military, send them this episode.Find Mike:https://www.youtube.com/@dronedeerrecoverymike@hledrones.comDrone Deer Recovery — https://dronedeerrecovery.comhttps://nuwayag.com/@nuwayag on all platformsEnjoy!---Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-ytAsk me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-askLearn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjkLearn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cofFollow me on Twitter here: http://tkopod.co/p-xFree weekly business ideas newsletter: http://tkopod.co/p-nlShare this podcast: http://tkopod.co/p-allScrape small business data: http://tkopod.co/p-os---
Check out my newsletter at https://TKOPOD.com and join my community at https://TKOwners.com━Kip Roland went from a suspended Amazon account and a newborn baby to building a $450K/year live selling business — starting with zero followers, zero experience, and a storage unit full of kitchen appliances. In this episode, Kip breaks down exactly how live selling works on Whatnot and TikTok, how he sources liquidation goods for 80–90% off retail, what his first stream looked like (150 items sold in under two hours), and how anyone can make their first $1,000 in profit live selling. He also covers hiring streamers, switching categories, selling food on live, and why he thinks live selling is the biggest untapped opportunity in e-commerce right now.Links mentioned:Kip on X/Twitter: @kip_rolandKip's free newsletter on live selling: https://liveselling-academy.kit.comLive Selling Academy (with Shannon Jean): https:www.liveselling.academy/TKO — Get 2 months for $20B-Stock (liquidation sourcing): https://bstock.comWhatnot (live selling platform): https://whatnot.comEnjoy!---Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-ytAsk me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-askLearn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjkLearn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cofFollow me on Twitter here: http://tkopod.co/p-xFree weekly business ideas newsletter: http://tkopod.co/p-nlShare this podcast: http://tkopod.co/p-allScrape small business data: http://tkopod.co/p-os---
Check out my newsletter at https://TKOPOD.com and join my community at https://TKOwners.com━Meet Jon Cheney. A year ago he woke up, had an idea, and built an entire business in a weekend with zero coding experience and $400. By Tuesday he had his first customer — who paid him $15,000. A year later he's at $2.5 million in revenue, over 50% profit, and on pace for $7 million this year with just a handful of employees.Jon breaks down exactly how he found his first customers, how he prices his services, and the simple 3-part framework he uses to close deals. No hype, no fluff. If you've ever thought about starting something but felt like you didn't have the right skills or money, this one's for you.Find Jon here:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joncheneyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheneypianoFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/cheneypianoTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cheneypianoWebsite: https://genaipi.orgEnjoy!---Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-ytAsk me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-askLearn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjkLearn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cofFollow me on Twitter here: http://tkopod.co/p-xFree weekly business ideas newsletter: http://tkopod.co/p-nlShare this podcast: http://tkopod.co/p-allScrape small business data: http://tkopod.co/p-os---
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