The Flashquotes Podcast

How to hit $100K in 2026 with your mobile bar, photo booth, ice cream cart, or event rental business. Free revenue calculator inside 👉 https://go.flashquotes.com/100k Stop guessing and start planning. If you run a mobile service business and you're just "winging it" with your calendar, you're leaving money on the table. I’m breaking down the exact math you need to hit your first (or next) $100,000 year. We call this "Calendar Magic" - a simple framework to reverse-engineer your revenue goals so you know exactly how many events you need to book.   In this episode, you’ll learn: Why "booking as many events as possible" is a trap How to calculate your "Magic Number" for daily revenue The 3-step formula to predict your 2026 income How to use my free spreadsheet to plan your year in minutes ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - The "Calendar Magic" Concept 01:45 - Why Mobile Biz Owners Fail at Planning 04:12 - Step 1: Defining Your Available Days 07:30 - Step 2: Determining Your Average Ticket Price 10:15 - Step 3: The "Magic Math" for $100k 14:20 - Live Demo: Using the 100k Calculator 18:45 - How to Adjust if You're Off Track 21:30 - Final Thoughts & Download Info   🚀 READY TO GROW? Subscribe for more tips on scaling your mobile service business!   Want to learn more about how Flashquotes can help you book more?   Book a free call with us: https://go.flashquotes.com/demo100kyear   🎤 Level 5 Live Conference Join top mobile event operators, caterers, and founders for live strategy, systems, and real-world growth playbooks at our summer conference: https://go.flashquotes.com/l5l-100kyear Follow Us Instagram: @FlashquotesHQ TikTok: @FlashquotesHQ   #MobileBusiness #SmallBusinessTips #RevenuePlanning #EventBusiness #Flashquotes        

In this audience Q+A episode, the Flashquotes team answers real questions from mobile coffee and catering operators about quoting larger events, avoiding service bottlenecks, and adjusting menus to increase speed without sacrificing quality. We break down how to think in drinks per hour, when one cart can handle 200 guests, why adding staff doesn’t always increase output, and how service duration and event type completely change pricing decisions. The conversation also covers how to present multiple quote options, turn one successful event into recurring business, and where outbound efforts actually pay off if you want more consistent, predictable bookings. If you’re booking bigger events or feeling unsure how to price them clearly, this episode gives you practical frameworks you can apply immediately.     🔑 Topics Covered • Event capacity planning for large guest counts • Drinks-per-hour frameworks for quoting • Speed bottlenecks and equipment limits • Menu strategies for high-volume events • Pricing tradeoffs and client expectations • Recurring clients and outbound growth     ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome to the Flashquotes Podcast 01:10 – Audience Q+A format and community questions 02:00 – Capacity planning for a 200-person event 04:15 – Drinks-per-hour as the core planning metric 06:05 – Why adding baristas doesn’t double output 07:45 – Speed bottlenecks and espresso machine limits 09:30 – Menu adjustments to increase throughput 12:30 – When one cart is enough vs when it’s not 14:20 – Why shorter events can cost more 16:30 – Coaching clients on speed vs value 19:30 – Conferences, rush windows, and long lines 21:45 – Presenting multiple quotes to help clients decide 23:45 – How do you turn big events into recurring clients? 26:00 – First-event experience and follow-ups 28:30 – The “three bookings” idea 32:30 – If you’re doing outbound, where should you focus? 35:00 – Corporate clients vs weddings 38:00 – Offices, planners, and who actually controls the budget 41:15 – Why corporate bookings scale better long-term 44:30 – Seasonality, weekdays, and revenue stability 49:30 – Lessons learned from large events 52:00 – Building robustness into equipment and systems 56:30 – Final takeaways and wrap-up   Want to learn more about how Flashquotes can help you book more? Book a free call with us: https://go.flashquotes.com/janqa     🎤 Level 5 Live Conference Join top mobile event operators, caterers, and founders for live strategy, systems, and real-world growth playbooks at our summer conference: https://go.flashquotes.com/level5-christian       🎓 Claim our Free Masterclass for Mobile Cart Businesses https://go.flashquotes.com/masterclass-janqa       Follow Us Instagram: @FlashquotesHQ TikTok: @FlashquotesHQ     👍 Like and comment if you’re building or scaling a catering business 📩 Subscribe for weekly episodes on systems, sales, and growth for mobile event businesses      

Most coffee cart owners are guessing when it comes to pricing. But Christian Lynch from Phase Two Coffee explains how your booking percentage alone can instantly tell you whether you’re charging too much or leaving money on the table. In this episode, we break down real booking rate benchmarks, why “selling out of your own wallet” keeps businesses small, and how knowing your numbers gives you confidence when quoting, selling, and scaling. If you’ve ever wondered: “Am I underpriced or overpriced?” “Why am I booking a lot but still stressed?” “When should I actually raise prices?” This episode gives you a clear, numbers-based framework you can apply today.   ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Why pricing confusion keeps businesses stuck 02:26 Meet Christian Lynch (Phase Two Coffee) 03:07 The meaning behind “Phase Two” and positioning your brand 05:17 From mowing lawns to building a coffee business 06:14 Why working for free saved him hundreds of thousands 12:10 Transitioning from side hustle to full-time 18:45 Setting revenue targets and knowing your numbers 26:40 Common mistakes Christian sees in coffee cart owners 31:10 Selling out of your own wallet 39:21 Why cheap pricing attracts the wrong clients 41:03 The simple 3-part pricing framework 43:35 How to actually use slow season correctly 48:10 Why fast quotes increase trust and conversions 53:11 Using metrics instead of gut feelings 54:03 Booking rate benchmarks (underpriced vs overpriced) 58:40 Why high booking rates can be a warning sign 1:04:47 Going all-in and leaving side hustles behind 1:12:45 Trust, branding, and standing out long-term 1:17:46 Final thoughts and takeaways   Want to learn more about how Flashquotes can help you book more? Book a free call with us: https://go.flashquotes.com/demo-christian     🎤 Level 5 Live Conference Join top mobile event operators, caterers, and founders for live strategy, systems, and real-world growth playbooks at our summer conference: https://go.flashquotes.com/level5-christian       🎓 Claim our Free Masterclass for Mobile Cart Businesses https://go.flashquotes.com/masterclass-christian Follow Us Instagram: @FlashquotesHQ TikTok: @FlashquotesHQ   👍 Like and comment if you’re building or scaling a catering business 📩 Subscribe for weekly episodes on systems, sales, and growth for mobile event businesses

They almost shut down their catering program. Events were stressful. Growth felt capped. Every booking added more chaos instead of momentum. Then one shift changed everything. In this episode, the Valor Coffee team breaks down how they rebuilt their catering operation from the ground up and scaled from just a few events a month to 30+ using systems, people, and recurring corporate clients.   In this episode, you’ll learn: Why catering felt unscalable before it finally clicked The systems that turned chaos into consistency How to design a coffee cart operation that actually scales The people decisions that unlocked growth Why catering can outperform cafes when done right   ⏱️ Timestamps 0:00 FlashQuotes podcast intro + guest introductions 1:40 Why Valor revisited catering in 2025 3:17 Is coffee catering viable as a standalone business? 4:14 Why early catering felt chaotic and unscalable 6:45 Joey’s transition from barista to catering operator 12:53 Learning systems, CRMs, and managing growth 15:40 Where Valor is headed in the future 26:17 Growing from ~3 events/month to 30+ 36:52 Recurring corporate clients and predictable revenue 50:52 How systems like FlashQuotes support scale   Want to learn more about how Flashquotes can help you book more? Book a free call with us: https://go.flashquotes.com/demo-valor     🎤 Level 5 Live Conference Join top mobile event operators, caterers, and founders for live strategy, systems, and real-world growth playbooks at our summer conference: https://go.flashquotes.com/L5L-Valor     🎓 Claim our Free Masterclass for Mobile Cart Businesses https://go.flashquotes.com/masterclass-valor     Follow Us Instagram: @FlashquotesHQ TikTok: @FlashquotesHQ     Follow Valor https://www.youtube.com/@valor.coffee   👍 Like and comment if you’re building or scaling a catering business 📩 Subscribe for weekly episodes on systems, sales, and growth for mobile event businesses

This episode pulls together the moments our guests kept circling back to in 2025. The pain points. The breakthroughs. The systems that finally made things feel lighter. If you run a mobile event business, this is the condensed version of a full year of real conversations. ⸻ ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Jenna on Systems 3:25 Kent on Seo 7:52 Steven on Growth 11:55 Melisa on Scaling 16:23 Cynthia on Pitching 21:16 Dan on Letting Go of Control 26:31 Brandon on Transportation 31:03 Nikki on Training 34:43 Colin on Going Full Time 36:48 Michael on Hospitality 40:30 Noah on Mentorship 44:27 Kalli on Resilience     ⸻   ➡️ Start booking events faster with instant quotes: https://go.flashquotes.com/2025demo   ➡️ Claim our free Masterclass to learn from a multi 7 figure coffee cart owner: https://go.flashquotes.com/2025     ➡️ Join our conference for mobile cart businesses in 2026: https://go.flashquotes.com/2025L5L     ➡️ Join the Mobile Catering Accelerator: https://www.skool.com/mobile-catering-accelerator/about   📸 Instagram: @FlashquotesHQ 🐦 Twitter: @FlashquotesHQ 🎧 New episodes every Friday              

Subscribe for new episodes every Friday!   In this episode, we sit down with Brandon Sardi from Poor Boy Coffee to unpack the real story behind building a coffee business from the ground up. Brandon started with just $500, documented everything on Instagram, grew to over 60,000 followers, and still struggled to turn attention into consistent revenue. We break down the pivots that didn’t work, the ones that finally did, and the hard lessons Brandon learned along the way. From pop ups and roasting to coffee carts, SEO, and paid ads, this conversation is a raw look at what actually drives bookings for mobile event businesses. If you have ever wondered why your social media following is not converting, how to pivot without burning everything down, or what systems matter most once leads finally start coming in, this episode is for you. Whether you run a coffee cart, mobile bar, photo booth, or any event based business, this is a masterclass in turning hustle into something sustainable.   ➡️ Start booking events faster with instant quotes: https://go.flashquotes.com/poorboy-demo   ➡️ Claim our free Masterclass to learn from a multi 7 figure coffee cart owner: https://go.flashquotes.com/poorboy-masterclass   ➡️ Join our conference for mobile cart businesses in 2026: https://go.flashquotes.com/poorboy-L5L       📸 Instagram: @FlashquotesHQ 🐦 Twitter: @FlashquotesHQ   ⸻ ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Introduction and meeting Poor Boy Coffee 01:30 Starting a coffee business with $500 03:40 Growing to 60,000 followers and the illusion of traction 06:20 Why Instagram did not convert to catering sales 09:10 Early pop ups, cold brew only menus, and bootstrapping 12:40 The residency pop up phase and early momentum 15:30 Losing the space and being forced to pivot 18:10 Launching whole bean coffee and why sales dropped 21:40 Why transparency and documenting the journey worked online 25:10 Why opening a coffee shop did not make sense yet 28:30 Discovering coffee carts as a real business model 32:10 Getting the first catering leads and early mistakes 35:40 Learning SEO and ranking for coffee catering on Google 39:30 Switching from forms to instant quotes with FlashQuotes 42:10 Running Google Ads and hiring SEO support 45:30 Hitting a $22,000 month and what actually drove it 49:20 Lessons for anyone stuck between content and cash 52:00 Final advice on pivoting without quitting ⸻   🔑 Key Takeaways • Why followers do not equal bookings • How SEO quietly outperforms social media for catering • The pivot stack most mobile businesses go through • When coffee carts start making real money • Why systems matter more than hype once leads show up If this episode helped you, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another event pro who is in the messy middle of building their business.  

In this episode, we sit down with Dan Possehl from Vim Coffee Catering to break down what it actually takes to launch and scale a mobile event catering business in one of the hardest cities in the country: Las Vegas. Dan didn’t start with industry connections, preferred vendor status, or deep pockets. He started by saying yes, losing money, navigating brutal health department rules, getting events canceled last minute, and learning how Vegas really works behind the scenes.   If you run a coffee cart, mobile bar, photo booth, or event-based business and want to expand into tougher markets or new cities, this episode is packed with real, hard-earned lessons you won’t hear anywhere else.   We talk about breaking into gatekept venues, managing cash flow with net 30 and net 60 payments, staffing for massive convention swings, and why building in the hardest city can make every other city feel easy. Whether you are just getting started or already scaling, this is an honest look at growth under pressure and what actually moves the needle.   🔗 Links & Resources   FREE Coffee Cart Masterclass https://go.flashquotes.com/danvimmasterclass     Level 5 Live — The Mobile Catering Growth Conference https://go.flashquotes.com/danvimlevel5   Mobile Catering Accelerator (Free) https://www.skool.com/mobile-catering-accelerator/about   FlashQuotes Growth Guide https://www.flashquotes.com/growth-guide   Follow Us Instagram: @FlashquotesHQ TikTok: @FlashquotesHQ     ⸻ ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Why Vegas is one of the hardest cities for mobile catering 01:30 From barista to business owner 03:45 Launching a business in a city you do not live in 06:10 Health department setbacks and expensive early mistakes 09:00 Losing booked events and learning the Vegas gatekeeping game 12:45 Saying yes when it feels impossible 15:30 Cash flow reality with net 30 and net 60 payments 18:40 Staffing swings and managing convention volume 22:30 Buying equipment before you are ready 26:15 Why building in the hardest market makes you better 30:10 Team building and trusting people early 34:00 When automation becomes non-negotiable 38:20 Lessons for operators expanding to new cities 42:00 Final advice for mobile event business owners ⸻   🔑 Key Takeaways • Why Vegas operates differently than almost any other market • How to break into gatekept venues without connections • The hidden cash flow challenges of large events • Why saying yes early can accelerate learning and growth • How systems and automation support scale before burnout

Want a copy of the report Justin mentions in this episode? Grab it for free here: https://go.flashquotes.com/ep35eventreport   This week, Justin pulls back the curtain on what it actually takes to run a 7-figure mobile cart business during the busiest stretch of the year. From winterizing equipment to preventing breakdowns, managing 60 carts across multiple cities, and keeping baristas safe in snow and ice, this episode is a masterclass in operational excellence.   If you want to see the exact warehouse setup, backup systems, load-in workflow, and cart build Justin uses, watch the full FREE masterclass here: ➡️ https://go.flashquotes.com/masterclass-busyseasonep     And if you want to learn from Justin, Zach, and Daniel in person, don’t miss our annual industry conference Level 5 Live — a full day of hands-on strategy sessions, community, and deep-dive workshops for mobile event pros looking to scale. ➡️ https://go.flashquotes.com/ep35l5l     ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Welcome + December kickoff 01:05 Justin’s Christmas cocktail + holiday vibes 02:12 Shifting into peak-season operations 03:09 How Goodhart preps for the busiest 3 weeks of the year 04:30 Winter cities: snow, ice, and barista safety upgrades 04:34 The $45 tool that prevents thousands in lost bookings 13:17 Inside the event report: payroll, checklists, damage tracking 18:51 Service start-time verification + thermometer photos 23:19 Training 20 new baristas for holiday season 26:46 How the Google review bonus works 34:45 How Justin oversees warehouses in cities he doesn’t live in 35:21 Solving late event-report submissions with automation 41:58 Client sentiment: why tone at the event matters 42:40 The future of the event report inside FlashQuotes 45:44 LEVEL 5 LIVE conference announcement 48:16 Final thoughts + guest requests   🔗 Links & Resources   Book a Free Demo Call with Justin https://go.flashquotes.com/demo   FREE Coffee Cart Masterclass https://go.flashquotes.com/masterclass-busyseasonep   Level 5 Live — The Mobile Catering Growth Conference https://go.flashquotes.com/ep35l5l   Mobile Catering Accelerator (Free) https://www.skool.com/mobile-catering-accelerator/about   FlashQuotes Growth Guide https://www.flashquotes.com/software-tools   Follow Us Instagram: @FlashquotesHQ TikTok: @FlashquotesHQ

In this episode, Cynthia from Always Kind Co returns to break down exactly how she used social media to grow her mobile cart business, land high value contracts, and build a brand people trust. We cover her 10K TikTok sprint, the posting mindset that actually works, how clients find her through AI and reverse image searches, and why social proof is now part of the sales funnel for every cart business. We also talk through her move into a new warehouse, her pricing strategy, and what it looks like to shift from high ticket events to volume once your operations scale. Whether you run a coffee cart, mobile bar, photo booth, or dessert cart, this episode is packed with practical insights you can apply immediately. ⸻ Timestamps 00:00 Intro 00:42 Why Always Kind Co is growing fast 01:16 Moving into a new warehouse and what changes next 02:23 When you know it is time to level up your space 03:13 How Cynthia grew from a tap cart to multiple setups 03:57 The pricing rule she used to raise rates confidently 05:06 Why chaos is a sign of growth 07:08 Planning the perfect warehouse layout 08:25 What to look for when signing a warehouse lease 10:18 Terms, red flags, and negotiation tips 13:00 How Cynthia discovered annual contracts 14:44 The value of retention and recurring bookings 15:21 Why social media is her number one trust builder 16:07 Clients finding her through TikTok and even ChatGPT 17:16 How she hits 10K followers every time 18:45 Posting without overthinking 19:51 Why trolls are actually good for your business 20:10 Instagram vs TikTok strategy 21:09 Why stories are her secret content engine 21:26 How she built a loyal audience who shares her content ⸻ Links 🎥 Free Full Coffee Cart Masterclass: https://www.skool.com/mobile-catering-accelerator/about 💚 Try flashquotes free today and turn your website into an instant booking machine: https://www.flashquotes.com 📸 Instagram: @FlashquotesHQ 🐦 Twitter: @FlashquotesHQ  

In this episode, the guys break down the real strategy behind landing recurring and annual contracts, the type of deals that can add hundreds of thousands of dollars in predictable revenue to a mobile catering business. Justin walks through the story of Goodhart Coffee’s first recurring contract, how informal repeat bookings turn into long-term deals, and the surprising truth about why some companies hire carts weekly for years. They also cover how to price these contracts, how to handle messy payment terms, and why pre-event communication workflows are the secret weapon for keeping clients coming back. If you’ve ever wondered how to go from one-off gigs to steady, reliable contracts that pay year-round, this is the playbook. ➡️ Join our Mobile Catering Accelerator (free): https://www.skool.com/mobile-catering-accelerator/about ➡️ Claim our guide to the software stack you need as a mobile caterer: https://www.flashquotes.com ⸻ ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Welcome back + FlashQuotes community updates 00:30 Why recurring contracts matter for mobile caterers 01:45 How Justin landed his first long-term contract in 2020 02:40 The $400K contract Goodhart lost — and what it teaches about risk 04:07 How repeat, informal bookings turn into annual contracts 04:23 Pricing, payment terms, and surviving net-60 corporate cycles 06:05 When to suggest a contract vs. when clients bring it up 07:00 Which companies are most likely to offer annual deals (tech, national brands, corporate offices) 07:49 How to identify your best recurring contract opportunities in your CRM 08:20 Why tastings matter — and when to comp them for big deals 09:38 What percentage of Goodhart’s revenue comes from repeat clients (and how to estimate yours) 11:46 Using client data to drive rebookings and retention 12:24 Email blasts, slow-season strategy, and rebooking campaigns 13:32 How to track your top clients and repeat patterns in FlashQuotes reports 14:45 Building predictable follow-up workflows (3-, 6-, and 12-month pings) 16:05 New FlashQuotes automated pre-event and post-event workflows (and why they reduce client anxiety) 17:00 Why client reassurance is a retention superpower (7-day and 24-hour confirmations) 19:23 Pre-built workflows coming soon — and why they’ll be a game changer 20:05 When (and when not) to offer tastings for weddings and corporate deals 22:57 Booking comped services for high-value corporate prospects 23:32 Handling eight-hour events and long shifts with a single barista — refills, breaks, and managing fatigue the smart way 24:00 Final takeaways on recurring revenue and long-term client relationships ⸻ 🔑 Key Points • Recurring contracts usually start as informal repeat bookings • Big companies will pay a premium for consistency, reliability, and professionalism • Payment terms get worse as contracts get bigger — plan accordingly • Tastings are worth it when lifetime value is high • Email blasts + smart follow-up = predictable rebooking • FlashQuotes workflows are becoming the retention “cheat code” for mobile caterers • The easiest recurring revenue starts with the clients you already served

Watch the full masterclass free: https://flashquotes.com/masterclass Step inside the Goodhart Coffee Denver warehouse! This is the home base that powers 60+ carts across 6 cities. Justin walks you through the exact workflow, gear storage, and behind the scenes systems that keep one of the fastest growing mobile coffee companies running smoothly. But this is just the surface level tour. If you want the full deep dive, we built a FREE masterclass that shows everything Justin wishes he had when he was scaling from 1 cart to a full fleet: • A complete, step by step cart setup breakdown • Every key element they include inside their setups — and why • The most common mistakes Justin made in the early years and how he fixed them • A full tour of the 3D printing warehouse where their custom parts are made • Justin’s exact tricks of the trade that helped him expand to 60+ carts across 6 cities • Real systems, real gear, real numbers If you’re building a coffee cart, mobile bar, food cart, or photo booth business, this is the kind of masterclass that shortcuts YEARS of trial and error. Watch the full masterclass free: https://flashquotes.com/masterclass Instagram: @FlashquotesHQ TikTok: @FlashquotesHQ Skool Community: https://www.skool.com/mobile-catering-accelerator/about

In this episode, the FlashQuotes founders break down the five levels of catering businesses, from side hustle to multi-city operation, and reveal the real bottlenecks that stop most event businesses from scaling. You’ll learn how to overcome the pain points at each stage, from getting your first few bookings, to hiring a team, to finally taking yourself out of day-to-day operations without losing quality. Whether you’re just getting started or you’re running a six-figure cart operation, this episode will help you see exactly where you are on the path, and what to fix next to move up a level. ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – Intro + FlashQuotes founders reunite in person 02:05 – Level 1: Side Hustle – Getting your first bookings, using local networks, and climbing off page 2 of Google 11:45 – Level 2: Solopreneur – The pain of doing it all yourself and the $10K events you lose while serving $600 ones 25:50 – Level 3: Small Team – How to hire, delegate, and stop being the bottleneck in your own business 39:10 – Level 4: Top Dog in Your City – Scaling local dominance and protecting your margins as demand spikes 48:30 – Level 5: Multi-City Business – The final level and why growth often brings new stress instead of freedom 52:10 – Closing thoughts + what’s coming next for FlashQuotes 🔑 Key Takeaways • How to get found and booked as a new cart • Why quoting speed determines growth • The “medieval torture device” every solopreneur faces • Hiring your first event staff without chaos • How to build systems that let you scale beyond yourself 💡 Free Resources 📘 Download the 5 Levels of Catering Growth Guide: https://www.skool.com/mobile-catering-accelerator/about 📲 Follow FlashQuotes Instagram: https://www.flashquotes.com

In this episode, the FlashQuotes founders break down how to design incentives that actually motivate your team instead of backfiring. You’ll learn why some reward systems cause the exact opposite behavior you want (aka “The Cobra Effect”), how to build real accountability without creating tattletale culture, and how transparency drives trust across your entire business. Whether you’re running coffee carts, photo booths, or mobile bars, this one’s packed with practical lessons on leadership, culture, and incentives that scale. ➡️ Join our Mobile Catering Accelerator: https://www.skool.com/mobile-catering-accelerator/about ➡️ Download the Free Growth Guide for Mobile Caterers: @FlashQuotesHQ ➡️ Follow us on Twitter: @FlashQuotesHQ ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Welcome back to the FlashQuotes Roundtable 01:10 Why incentives can make or break your business 02:00 The Cobra Effect: when rewards backfire 04:20 How Justin designed Good Hart Coffee’s barista bonus system 06:30 Tracking performance and event reports that keep everyone accountable 09:00 Avoiding “tattletale culture” in your team 11:45 Building a culture of trust and camaraderie 15:00 Red flag mechanisms for catching problems early 17:30 Why transparency builds loyalty and motivation 20:00 How to stay connected as you scale your business 🔑 Key Points: • “Show me the incentive, and I’ll show you the outcome” – why it’s true • Real-world examples of good and bad incentives in small businesses • How to reward consistency without breeding competition or resentment • Why transparency keeps your team engaged and aligned • Simple systems to track performance and bonuses

Change This Mindset, and Your Cart Business Will Take Off In this FlashQuotes Q&A, Zach, Justin, and Daniel break down the real mindset shifts that separate cart owners who stay stuck from those who scale to multiple cities. From knowing when to expand to pricing confidently and building a team that runs without you — this episode is full of the hard-won lessons that will change the way you think about growth. Grab a notebook, because this one’s packed with wisdom for every stage of your cart business.   Got a question for next time? Leave it in the comments! ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome to the Q&A Episode 01:04 – How to Know When You’re Ready to Scale to Another City 03:15 – The 3 Roles That Let You Step Out of the Day-to-Day 06:14 – The Vacation Test: Can Your Business Run Without You? 09:50 – When to Expand vs. When to Maximize Your Current Market 11:29 – Why Chasing “Shiny” Opportunities Slows Your Growth 12:08 – The Hardest City Justin Ever Opened (and What Went Wrong) 14:15 – Culture, Hiring, and How to Build Teams That Care 15:00 – How to Compete When Other Carts Undercut Your Prices 17:09 – Why Cheap Competitors Are Never Your Real Problem 19:00 – Pricing Psychology: Why People Pay More for Quality 21:14 – Stop Pricing from Your Own Wallet 23:22 – “You Get in Life What You Have the Courage to Ask For” 25:00 – Final Takeaways and What’s Next for FlashQuotes 💡 Free Resources Mentioned 📘 Free Growth Guide: Learn the systems that help mobile event businesses grow fast without chaos → @FlashQuotesHQ ☕ Learn more: flashquotes.com

In this episode, we dive deep into how mobile event businesses can stay personal while they scale. Zach, Daniel, and Justin break down exactly how to use a CRM (Customer Relationship Management system) to give every client an A+ experience—without spending every waking hour on follow-ups and admin. You’ll learn how the best coffee carts, photo booths, and mobile bars track every lead, automate their communication, and never miss a booking again. Whether you’re still using spreadsheets or already testing tools like HoneyBook or FlashQuotes, this conversation will show you what actually works for high-volume event businesses that want to grow without losing the human touch. ➡️ Grab the free growth guide for mobile event businesses → @FlashquotesHQ 📬 Join the community → Mobile Catering Accelerator on Skool ⸻ ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Welcome & why CRMs matter for event businesses 02:30 Justin’s first “CRM” and the spreadsheet days 04:20 Zach explains the difference between marketing, sales, and fulfillment 06:00 The promise of a CRM: every lead gets an A+ sales experience 08:00 What makes a good CRM (and what doesn’t) 10:15 Follow-up automation that keeps clients from slipping through the cracks 12:40 Staying personal while scaling your client base 14:45 How FlashQuotes acts as a beginner-friendly CRM 16:10 The top mistakes owners make when managing leads manually 18:30 Advanced systems for high-volume event businesses 20:45 How to know when it’s time to upgrade your CRM setup 23:10 Final thoughts: personal touch at scale ⸻ 🔑 Key Points • Why spreadsheets stop working once you’re booking real volume • The simple automation that doubles your bookings • How to track every quote without losing the personal touch • Signs you’ve outgrown your current system • What a “CRM” actually means for event businesses like yours

In this episode, we sit down with Melissa Sandoval, founder of Intuición Cafe (https://www.skool.com/mobile-catering-accelerator/about 📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/FlashquotesHQ 🐦 Twitter: https://twitter.com/FlashquotesHQ ⸻ ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to FlashQuotes Podcast 01:09 Melissa’s origin story from Colombia to Miami newsrooms 04:22 Discovering the farmers behind coffee & launching Intuición Cafe 06:29 Why Melissa launched on 11/11 & the power of constraints 08:54 Building a cart with no experience (and no Plan B) 13:21 The pivot from selling beans to running a coffee cart 15:36 Faith over fear: lessons from leaving a corporate career 18:37 The three pillars of success: passion, discipline, perseverance 21:35 Why sales—not coffee—is the real business of catering 22:57 The role of FlashQuotes in looking professional and closing deals 26:40 Early challenges, mistakes, and lessons that shaped Intuición Cafe 31:00 How to grow your cart business without burning out ⸻ 🔑 Key Points: • Why Melissa walked away from her dream career to build something new • The leap of faith that turned into a thriving coffee cart business • How storytelling and intuition became her competitive edge • The hard truth: making coffee is easy, closing deals is the real challenge • The mindset shifts that can help any cart owner grow faster

Competition in mobile catering is heating up—new carts are popping up everywhere, and they’re coming for the same clients you want. In this roundtable, Zach, Justin, and Daniel break down what separates carts that survive from the ones that fade out. You’ll learn the simple shifts that make you stand out, how to close faster than competitors, and the playbook for winning in an oversaturated market. Whether you’re running a coffee cart, mobile bar, photo booth, or dessert stand, this episode will show you how to thrive when everyone’s fighting for attention. ➡️ Grab our Free Growth Guide: @FlashquotesHQ 🐦 Twitter: @FlashquotesHQ 🎓 Join the Mobile Catering Accelerator: https://www.skool.com/mobile-catering-accelerator/about ⸻ ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – Why competition is exploding in mobile catering 02:12 – The real reason new carts are stealing bookings 06:47 – How speed wins when clients get 3+ quotes at once 11:25 – The secrets to standing out in a crowded market 15:54 – Why closing fast beats lowering your price 20:31 – Mistakes that make you lose weddings and corporate gigs 26:42 – The closing framework 6-figure cart owners use 32:18 – How to win against bigger operators with better systems 38:05 – Final advice for cart owners facing increased competition ⸻ 🔑 Key Points • Why more competition can actually help you stand out if you know how • The hidden bottleneck that costs you bookings (and how to fix it) • The 90-second close that works even in oversaturated markets • Why craft alone won’t save your business without speed and systems

In this episode, we sit down with Steven Swank, co-founder of Canyon’s Coffee, to unpack how he and his wife launched their cart with just $15K — and scaled it into 200+ annual events and a thriving cafe. You’ll hear how they used GoFundMe to kickstart their business, the mistakes they made in year one (like forgetting their espresso machine), and the exact growth levers that helped them land corporate clients like Adobe, LinkedIn, and American Express. Whether you’re just starting your first cart or thinking about opening a cafe, Steven’s story is packed with practical lessons you can apply right now. ➡️ Grab our free guide to building your event biz tech stack: https://flashquotes.com/software-tools ➡️ Join our Mobile Catering Accelerator: https://www.skool.com/mobile-catering-accelerator/about 📸 Instagram: @FlashquotesHQ 🐦 Twitter: @FlashquotesHQ ⸻ ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Welcome + why Steven’s story matters 01:00 The early days — from marriage to first business ideas 02:30 Moving to Salt Lake City and chasing the coffee shop dream 04:00 Why they pivoted to starting a cart instead of a cafe 05:30 Launching with $15K: GoFundMe, savings, and credit cards 07:00 Their first event: Rock Climbing World Cup chaos 10:00 Growing to 150–200 events a year 11:30 Utah’s unique coffee market (and competing with soda bars) 13:30 Scaling up: carts, staff, and hiring a catering manager 15:00 Funding mechanics: GoFundMe as a launch hack 17:30 The pressure of community buy-in (and how it motivated them) 19:00 Lessons from Utah’s OG coffee carts (Three Pines, etc.) 23:00 Trench stories: forgetting the espresso machine, broken carts 25:00 Sundance Film Festival and handling big-event failures 30:00 Pivoting to luxury corporate clients like Adobe and AmEx 38:00 The real math: adding carts vs. opening a cafe 45:00 Key lessons for coffee cart owners ⸻ 🔑 Key Points • The $15K funding mix that made launching possible • Why GoFundMe can be a powerful tool for cart owners • The difference between vending and catering (and why it matters) • How Canyon’s turned mistakes into systems for scaling • The real math behind carts vs. cafes • How to position your brand to win luxury and corporate clients

In this episode, we sit down again with Kent from LocalEyes, the SEO wizard helping mobile event businesses climb Google rankings and stay fully booked. You’ll hear the exact strategies Kent uses to get carts ranking #1 in major cities like LA, Chicago, and New York — often within months. We break down backlinks, citations, and why Google cares more about clear, helpful content than flashy design. Whether you’re running a coffee cart, photo booth, or mobile bar, this episode shows you how to get found online, build local authority, and turn Google into your best sales rep — without spending a dime on ads. ➡️ Claim your free guide: flashquotes.com/software-tools ➡️ Learn more about Kent & LocalEyes: localeyesgrowth.com ➡️ Join our Mobile Catering Accelerator Skool community: flashquotes.com/skool ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – Why SEO is the #1 growth lever for carts 02:10 – Client wins: ranking in LA, Chicago, and NYC 05:57 – How Google’s AI overviews are changing local search 09:14 – Backlinks explained (and why bad ones can tank you) 13:13 – Simple backlink strategies any cart can use 16:26 – Turning relationships into high-value backlinks 18:28 – Citations and the “NAP” rule every business must follow 21:41 – Quality vs. quantity: what Google actually values 22:39 – SEO trends and what’s working for event pros now 24:20 – Why “cool” website design can kill conversions 28:18 – The 3 SEO levers that drive long-term lead flow 🔑 Key Points Backlinks are referrals — quality beats quantity every time. Local SEO wins faster than global: one strong backlink from a venue or supplier can outrank 500 spammy ones. Google rewards clarity — simple sites with clear calls-to-action rank higher (and convert more). AI overviews are here to stay; building trust signals (reviews, backlinks, citations) gets you into them. Your website is your best employee — it should be simple, fast, and focused on conversions, not aesthetics.

In this episode, we sit down with Jenna Jackley, founder of Bloom Coffee in Nashville, to unpack how she grew from a garage-built cart to running 300+ events a year. You’ll learn how she made the leap from side hustle to full-time, the mistakes she made in her first year, and the sticky note exercise that transformed her business. Jenna shares exactly when she knew it was time to hire, how she transitioned away from vending to prepaid events, and the systems that helped her finally delegate and scale. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to get out of the “hands dirty” phase, this episode will show you how to build a cart business that can run without you. 👉 Want our FREE step-by-step playbook for streamlining your bookings? Grab our free guide here: flashquotes.com/software-tools ➡️ Join our Mobile Catering Accelerator: https://www.skool.com/mobile-catering-accelerator/about 📸 Instagram: @FlashquotesHQ 🐦 Twitter: @FlashquotesHQ ⸻ ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome + Jenna’s early days with FlashQuotes 02:18 – Starting Bloom Coffee in a garage during the pandemic 03:52 – Breaking even fast and realizing this could be full-time 04:36 – The leap from side hustle to full-time business 06:07 – Surviving the “early slog” of long hours and low pay 08:55 – Why she quit vending events and focused on prepaid bookings 10:38 – Why Bloom Coffee never wanted a brick-and-mortar 11:26 – Who shouldn’t start a mobile cart business 13:42 – Building systems before the busy season snowball hits 16:12 – Thinking like a founder: how Jenna started stepping back 17:02 – Promoting from within and finding her right-hand person 19:17 – The hardest part of letting go (and how she managed it) 21:18 – The sticky note exercise that changed everything 22:41 – Testing her team by running events while she was in Paris 23:36 – How delegation unlocked new growth and freedom ⸻ 🔑 Key Points Why vending by the cup keeps you stuck The exact moment Jenna knew she could go full time How to systemize before you scale A practical delegation exercise you can try today Why stepping back might be the key to growth