The Flashquotes Podcast

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

➡️ Grab our free guide to building your event biz tech stack: flashquotes.com/software-tools 📲 Ever feel like you’re glued to your inbox, chasing quotes and losing bookings while you sleep? In this episode, we break down the exact 7 software tools we used to turn Goodhart Coffee into a 24/7 booking machine—scaling from a single cart to 57 across 6 cities. You’ll learn: • The tools that are non-negotiable for beginners • Which platforms are a complete waste of money • How to connect everything so your biz runs while you’re off the clock Whether you’re just starting out or running a growing fleet, this episode shows you how to make tech work for you—so you can spend more time booking events and less time buried in admin. ➡️ Join our Mobile Catering Accelerator: https://www.skool.com/mobile-catering-accelerator/about 📸 Follow us on Instagram: @FlashquotesHQ ⸻ ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 The software caterers don’t need (hot take) 01:43 Justin’s journey with tools and tinkering 03:35 Why Zapier integration is non-negotiable 06:11 Best website builders for event businesses 07:56 The #1 factor that wins you bookings: speed 08:24 Data from 50,000+ quotes on response times 10:34 Beginner follow-up tools and CRM basics 14:00 Why a pro email matters more than you think 15:29 FlashQuotes Plus and when to upgrade CRMs 16:54 Payment processing: Stripe vs Square 19:53 How Stripe Link boosts conversion & trust 21:29 Instant invoicing inside FlashQuotes 22:00 Scaling challenges: when staffing software kicks in ⸻ 🔑 Key Points • Speed to quote = speed to revenue • Squarespace > Wix > Shopify (for carts) • Stripe saves you money vs Square invoicing • Zapier makes all your tools talk together • FlashQuotes pre-builds your workflows so you don’t drown in setup

In this episode, all three Flashquotes founders sit down to tackle the real questions event pros are asking—from pricing and booking flow to scaling your operation without losing your sanity. You’ll hear straight answers to the toughest event biz challenges, whether you’re running a coffee cart, photo booth, mobile bar, or dessert stand. We cover the biggest mistakes owners make when quoting, how to set prices that actually protect your margins, and what it takes to scale from side hustle to a multi-cart team. You’ll also learn the one system shift that saves 10+ hours a week and why speed matters more than anything else when it comes to winning bookings. If you’ve ever felt stuck on how to price, when to hire, or how to stop drowning in admin, this Q&A episode has the answers you’ve been waiting for. ➡️ Join our Mobile Catering Accelerator: https://www.skool.com/mobile-catering-accelerator/about 📸 Instagram: @FlashquotesHQ 🐦 Twitter: @FlashquotesHQ ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – Intro: Why we’re doing an event biz Q&A 03:05 – Pricing your services without guesswork 09:12 – How to quote faster and win more events 15:48 – Scaling from solo operator to a real team 22:40 – Avoiding the most common event biz mistakes 28:55 – The system that saves 10+ hours a week 35:30 – When to hire (and when not to) 42:15 – Our top advice for new event pros 47:00 – Closing thoughts + next steps 🔑 Key Points: • How to price with profit, not panic • Why quoting speed is the #1 booking factor • Scaling lessons from side hustle to full-time • The biggest mistakes event pros make (and how to avoid them) • A 15-minute setup that changes everything

In this episode, we sit down with Kalli Lebaron from Joy Pops to unpack how she went from skipping college at 17 to running one of Utah’s most in-demand dessert catering brands. You’ll hear how a single trip to the Dominican Republic sparked a full-blown frozen treat movement—now complete with custom carts, corporate clients, and a booming storefront. We break down how Kalli scaled from vending at splash pads to booking 700+ popsicle events using push carts, Instagram, and eventually Flashquotes. You’ll learn how she streamlined her entire event workflow, cut her admin time by 70%, and is now building systems to expand Joy Pops to new cities. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by emails, bookings, or scaling your catering biz—this episode is your permission slip to grow smarter. ➡️ Join our Mobile Catering Accelerator: https://www.skool.com/mobile-catering-accelerator/about 📸 Instagram: @FlashquotesHQ 🐦 Twitter: @FlashquotesHQ ⸻ ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Intro to Joy Pops & Kalli’s Story 01:45 Skipping College for Popsicles 07:20 First Commissary Kitchen & Craigslist Truck 12:30 Her Game-Changer: Push Carts for Private Events 18:45 The Instagram Flywheel + Word of Mouth 23:10 Navigating Seasonality in a Summer-Only Biz 29:00 Flashquotes: Saving 4+ Hours a Day on Admin 36:20 How She’s Scaling with Systems, Not Stress 41:05 Dreaming Bigger: Hawaii, Mexico, and Beyond ⸻ 🔑 Key Points: • How to turn a family vacation into a business idea • Why private event catering beats vending for growth • The underrated power of carts over trucks • How Flashquotes streamlined her booking + operations • Why your business won’t grow until you let go of control   Want help streamlining your own mobile biz like Kalli did? Join the Mobile Catering Accelerator: https://www.skool.com/mobile-catering-accelerator/abou

In this episode, we’ve pulled together the most powerful AI tips, tools, and frameworks from every Flashquotes episode — all in one place. Whether you’re just starting to explore AI or you’re already experimenting with automation, this is your ultimate crash course in using AI to save time, grow faster, and work smarter. You’ll learn the exact prompts, tools, and workflows that have helped real catering and coffee cart businesses slash admin hours, boost leads, and deliver better customer experiences. From building custom AI chatbots to mastering prompt crafting, this episode distills months of conversation into a single, easy-to-use AI toolkit. We cover how to integrate AI into your daily operations, the “goal → return format → context” framework for getting better outputs, and why humans using AI will outpace those who don’t. If you’ve ever wondered how to make AI work for your business instead of just reading about it, this is the place to start. ➡️ Join our Mobile Catering Accelerator: https://www.skool.com/mobile-catering-accelerator/about 📸 Instagram: @FlashquotesHQ 🐦 Twitter: @FlashquotesHQ ⸻ ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to the AI Toolkit Compilation 01:24 Why AI is the Most Underrated Business Lever 04:12 The Flashquotes Prompting Framework 09:57 Custom AI Chatbots for Customers & Staff 16:33 Using AI for SEO and Local Search Domination 21:45 Turning Book Notes into an AI-Powered Knowledge Base 28:17 Mid-Journey & Video Tools for Marketing Assets 34:50 AI-Powered Workflow Automation with n8n & Zapier 40:26 Building a Pro-AI Culture in Your Business 46:02 Final Takeaways & How to Start Today ⸻ 🔑 Key Points: • How to craft prompts that deliver expert-level results every time • Building AI chatbots that know your business better than you do • The fastest ways to use AI for marketing, SEO, and lead gen • Turning AI into your personal research assistant & strategist • Why your team should want AI in their workflow, not fear it ⸻ Want help implementing these AI strategies? Join our Skool community: https://www.skool.com/mobile-catering-accelerator/about

From personal credit cards to $500K in coffee carts, the crew breaks down how real businesses fund serious growth. Whether you're just starting or staring down expansion, this episode gives the full spectrum: what works, what to avoid, and the mindsets that separate stuck from scaling. 👇 Get the real talk on when debt makes sense, how Stripe Capital changed the game, and what to ask before taking any money. 🎯 Timestamps 00:00 Intro: Why Financing Is So Personal (And So Important) 02:45 Zach's Take: Bootstrapping vs. Debt vs. Equity 05:07 Justin on Dangerous Partnerships and Better Options 09:48 Stripe Stats That Might Shock You 11:30 Credit Cards: A Risky Starting Point 16:58 The Game-Changer: Stripe Capital Explained 23:55 Instant Payouts and Stripe Inside Flash Quotes 27:25 Should You Take a Loan? 33:03 Capacity Planning and Missed Revenue 36:46 What Financing Should Never Be Used For 38:11 Wrap-Up: Real Talk and Real Tools 🚀 Flash Quotes is building new tools to make financing smarter and faster—right inside your dashboard. Stay tuned. 🔗 Join the community & follow along 🧠 Skool: https://www.skool.com/mobile-catering-accelerator/about 📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/FlashquotesHQ 🐦 Twitter: https://twitter.com/FlashquotesHQ

In this special Roundtable episode, we sit down with Zach, Justin, and Daniel for an unfiltered conversation on how AI is transforming SEO, email, and the very definition of success. You’ll learn why social media posts are now showing up on Google search results—and how to take advantage of this major algorithm shift before your competitors do. We also explore the newest wave of AI-powered email tools that are saving founders hours every week—and how using the right tools can help you escape the hustle trap. Finally, the crew gets real about what “enough” looks like as entrepreneurs and dads building businesses that last. Whether you’re running a mobile coffee cart, scaling a bar setup, or just trying to keep your inbox under control, this episode gives you tactical insight and philosophical firepower. ➡️ Join our Mobile Catering Accelerator: https://www.skool.com/mobile-catering-accelerator/about 📸 Instagram: @FlashquotesHQ 🐦 Twitter: @FlashquotesHQ ⸻ ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to the Flash Quotes Roundtable 01:34 Why Google Now Shows Instagram in Search 06:44 The Future of SEO in an AI World 10:57 How ChatGPT Picked a Fence Company 13:12 AI-Powered Email: From Overwhelmed to Inbox Zero 19:40 Tools That Are Changing the Email Game 25:50 Synthesizing Books with AI for Business Strategy 32:05 “Never Enough” and the Founder’s Dilemma 36:41 Building a Life Beyond the Grind ⸻ 🔑 Key Points: • Why video and social signals are now critical to SEO • How AI email assistants like Shortwave and Cora streamline communication • The mental shift that helps founders delegate without guilt • What it actually takes to feel “successful” as a business owner • How to build systems that work for you—not the other way around

In this episode, we sit down with Austin from Viator Coffee to unpack how he scaled a multi-cart coffee business—all without a single dollar of investor funding. You’ll hear how Austin went from building a DIY cart in his garage to operating five carts, a café, and a roastery, all while balancing family life and rapid growth. Austin breaks down the systems, automations, and sales rhythms that helped Viator double revenue year over year—and the real story behind building a business that actually works without burning out. Whether you’re bootstrapping your first cart or trying to grow a team, this episode is your playbook for building a sustainable mobile coffee brand. We cover what it takes to scale without capital, why systems matter more than style, and how the right tools (like Flashquotes) help you move from solopreneur to scaled operator. If you’re serious about growing your coffee or bar cart business, this one’s a must-listen. ➡️ Join our Mobile Catering Accelerator: https://www.skool.com/mobile-catering-accelerator/about 📸 Instagram: @FlashquotesHQ 🐦 Twitter: @FlashquotesHQ ⸻ ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Welcome 01:52 Austin’s journey from Starbucks to startup 04:03 The original business plan—and what changed 06:17 Why starting small actually worked better 10:26 Building a coffee cart in a garage (literally) 13:31 First bookings and early growth strategies 18:22 Using bridal expos to drive leads 23:10 Opening a café mid-pandemic 29:21 Acquiring a roastery and adding new carts 32:15 Multi-cart operations and logistics 36:02 Systems, tools, and scaling with Flashquotes 45:50 Creating a business that works without you 50:33 Austin’s advice for scaling to market dominance ⸻ 🔑 Key Points: • How Austin scaled from one cart to five—without investors • The strategy behind 100% year-over-year growth • Why systems and team training unlock real scale • The sales rhythm that keeps Viator’s calendar full • How Flashquotes helped them run 40+ events in one week

We both had “good jobs.” Zach was a director in tech. Daniel had climbed from mailroom to senior product leader. But we knew something was missing. In this episode, we share why we walked away from comfort, how many projects we failed at first, what finally clicked, and why it’s never too late to build something that actually matters. We hope this gives courage to anyone feeling stuck—and clarity for those on the edge of taking their own leap. 🎧 Listen in, and if it resonates, share with someone on their own entrepreneurial path. — 👥 Want to join the Flash Quotes community? https://www.instagram.com/flashquotesapp TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@flashquotesapp — ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Intro – why this episode matters 2:10 Zach’s first decade: science, startups, and self-employment 7:45 The power of not optimizing too early 14:00 Breaking away from sunk cost thinking 18:30 Zach’s “startup moment” in Denver 22:00 Daniel’s journey: from mailroom to product leadership 29:40 Taking the leap into entrepreneurship 34:00 Why chasing more money often leads to less happiness 42:00 Lessons from failed projects before Flash Quotes 49:00 Building Flash Quotes: falling in love with the problem 51:00 Why this work is so deeply fulfilling