Nikonomics - The Economics of Small Business

🚨MY NEWSLETTER https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🚨Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Hector (https://x.com/ts_secrets). Hector reveals how he accidentally stumbled upon a little-known government grant and used it to build a multi-million dollar online trade school.He teaches trades like HVAC, plumbing, and medical billing completely online, sometimes using VR goggles. He shares how the government pays him directly, up to $10,000 per student, for courses that are only 80-100 hours long.We get into the nitty-gritty of how he finds students for free by partnering with nonprofits and sober living homes, achieving SAS-like margins without any traditional marketing. Questions This Episode Answers:How can you get the government to pay you $10,000 per student?How do you start an online school with almost no startup costs?What is the "secret" to getting unlimited students for free?How do you automate a business to the point you only work two hours a day?What is the WIOA grant and how does it work for entrepreneurs?Enjoy the conversation!__________________________Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback.Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts.__________________________MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribeSpotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98yApple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT__________________________This week we covered:00:00 Introduction to the Online Trade School Model03:07 Understanding the Grant System and Its Impact05:56 The Evolution of the Business Model08:51 Customer Acquisition Strategies11:48 Curriculum Development and Accreditation15:02 Operational Insights and Business Growth17:55 Challenges and Future Aspirations

🚨MY NEWSLETTER https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🚨Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Matthew Chang (https://x.com/MatthewAChang). This episode features Matthew Chang, a Georgia Tech engineer and Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year finalist, who founded Chang Robotics and is a general partner of the $50 million Chang Robotics fund.We dive deep into how his company designs and installs robotic systems for manufacturing automation, hospital robots, and autonomous vehicles to make the workforce more efficient, safer, and happier through healthcare automation.Matthew shares the story behind America's first autonomous hospital initiative, where $200K hospital robots deliver supplies in 90 seconds with 18-month ROI. Discover why humanoid robots aren't ready for commercial robotics applications and how specialized robotics using collaborative robots (cobotics) are revolutionizing factory automation and healthcare robotics instead.From driverless paper factories producing toilet paper during COVID to FAA-compliant electric vehicles six times more powerful than Tesla, Chang Robotics tackles the hardest engineering challenges in industrial automation. Learn about their breakthrough PFAS-free food packaging using graphene oxide and how they beat 700+ competitors to win the federal DOT grant for America's first driverless bus system in Jacksonville.We explore Matthew's venture studio approach with the Chang Robotics Fund, requiring "Made in USA" manufacturing and proprietary engineering for robotics startups. Plus, hear about his upcoming book "Risk-Taking is Biblical" on faith-based entrepreneurship and Christian business principles.Questions This Episode Answers:How do you ensure robotic automation is adopted by the existing manufacturing workforce and healthcare workers?What technical challenges prevent humanoid robotics from working in real-world applications?How does engineering consulting deliver end-to-end automation solutions from design to robotic system installation?What investment thesis drives a robotics venture fund offering scaled engineering support with "Made in USA" requirements?What strategies won a competitive federal grant for autonomous transportation against major tech companies?__________________________Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback.Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts.__________________________MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribeSpotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98yApple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT__________________________This week we covered:00:00 Innovating Beyond the Norm02:55 Transforming Healthcare with Robotics05:45 The Journey to Autonomous Solutions08:42 Navigating the Challenges of Robotics12:01 From Engineering to Entrepreneurship14:55 Winning Against the Odds17:51 The Future of Autonomous Vehicles20:42 Building a Sustainable Business Model24:03 Investing in Innovation26:56 The Role of AI in Engineering29:42 Creating a Christian Business Framework

🚨MY NEWSLETTER https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🚨Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Elizabeth Knopf (https://x.com/leveragedupside) for an incredible dive into AI app building and no-code development tools transforming entrepreneurship. We explore Google's Nano Banana AI, their revolutionary Gemini Flash 2.5 image model with game-changing visual memory technology for precise editing and AI image generation.Elizabeth demonstrates Google AI Studio live, showcasing the powerful Stream feature for real-time debugging and AI automation. She reveals how she used Claude Code tutorial methods to build custom RSS feed automation, replacing paid subscriptions, plus her personal AI assistant dashboard with AI agents for project management and task automation.Questions This Episode Answers:What is Nano Banana AI, and why is visual memory revolutionary for AI image editing?How does Google AI Studio Stream enable real-time debugging during custom app development?How can entrepreneurs use Claude Code and AI automation tools to build apps without coding?What are the benefits of AI-powered project management with personal AI assistant agents?Where are the arbitrage opportunities in AI app building for non-technical entrepreneurs?Tools Covered:Google AI Studio complete walkthroughClaude Code tutorial for beginnersNano Banana (Gemini Flash 2.5) AI image generationCustom dashboard creation with AI agentsRSS feed automation and app replacement strategiesEnjoy the conversation!__________________________Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback.Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts.__________________________MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribeSpotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98yApple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT__________________________This week we covered:00:00 Introduction to AI Tools and Excitement for Innovation03:09 Exploring NanoBanana: Google's New Image Model05:50 Visual Memory and Image Generation Improvements09:01 Google AI Studio: A New Interface for Building Apps11:53 Real-Time App Development with Claude Code15:04 Innovative Features: Maps and Video Analysis17:53 Creating Engaging Content with AI Tools21:47 Harnessing AI for Arbitrage Opportunities23:13 Building Custom Tools with Google AI Studio24:36 Creating a Personal RSS Feed Tool26:27 Project Management and Organization Strategies28:39 Developing a Personal Operating System32:14 Automating Tasks with AI Agents35:25 Curating Information and Building Newsletters

🚨MY NEWSLETTER https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🚨Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I speak with Michael Girdley (https://x.com/girdley), a serial entrepreneur and investor, about building a business, avoiding common mistakes, and identifying future opportunities.Michael shares insights from his diverse experiences, from Alamo Fireworks to Gertling Media, emphasizing the importance of experience and strategic business choices.We delve into overrated business opportunities and explore unconventional business models.Questions this Episode Answers:What two-step process would Michael Girdley follow to build a business in 2025, and how would he make his first million dollars?Why does Michael Girdley advise against buying a business as your first venture, especially for a young entrepreneur?What are some overrated business opportunities in today’s market, and what sectors hold promise for the future?What is Michael Girdley's contrarian belief about business, and how does it influence his perspective on career choices and entrepreneurial paths?What unconventional business model does Michael find fascinating?Enjoy the conversation!__________________________Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback.Please fill out this  with your opinion or send me an email at Nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts.__________________________MY NEWSLETTER: Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98yApple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT___________________________This week we covered:00:00 Introduction and Guest Background01:00 Business Ventures and Investments01:44 Current Business Scale and Operations03:09 Starting Over in 2025: Step-by-Step Guide05:13 The Value of Experience and Financial Safety07:11 Starting a Low-Capex Services Business10:01 The Reality of Online Courses14:19 The Hold Co Conference and Learning from Failure19:44 Sympathizing with the Struggles of Entrepreneurs19:15 The Fine Line Between Faking It and Failing21:22 Excitement for the Upcoming Conference22:09 The Concept of an Unconference23:21 Challenges and Risks in Event Planning24:28 Innovative Business Models in Event Management29:22 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs32:24 Contrarian Views on Business Opportunities35:16 The Importance of Personal Fit in Career Choices38:32 Different Paths to Entrepreneurship39:31 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

🚨MY NEWSLETTER https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🚨Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Sam Nebe (https://x.com/1_of_Sl), the founder of Good Wipes! This entrepreneur startup story shows how two college roommates bootstrapped a million dollar business from $42,000 to conquering 14,000 stores.Learn how they achieved their first million through retail distribution strategy, growing their consumer products startup in the flushable wipes industry to reach 2.2 million households and adding 430,000 new customers through Walmart alone.Sam shares how he and co-founder Charlie built this CPG startup using pure intuition and unwavering conviction in an "unsexy" category that's now worth $5 billion. This business growth story reveals their bootstrap business strategy of mastering the Four P's of Marketing, employing irreverent marketing with creative director Maria Gilbo, and strategic retail partnerships that made them a Walmart supplier.We dive deep into customer acquisition strategies including influencer marketing, PR box campaigns, and their viral Golden Porta Palace experiential marketing activation. Sam also discusses his work with the Responsible Flushing Alliance, promoting Flush Smart Month and consumer education initiatives.Enjoy the conversation!Key Topics Covered:Entrepreneur startup journey from fraternity bathroom idea to retail empireBootstrap vs venture capital funding strategiesRetail distribution strategy and partnership buildingConsumer goods startup scaling tacticsMillion dollar business development through focused growthCPG entrepreneur insights and industry knowledgeCustomer acquisition through creative marketing campaignsBuilding a startup podcast-worthy success storyQuestions This Episode Answers:How did Good Wipes transform a college business idea into a multi-million dollar business and category leader?What role did intuition and unwavering passion play in building a startup brand before having significant market data?How can bootstrap entrepreneurs use irreverent marketing and the Four P's to compete against larger companies?What customer acquisition strategies work for consumer products startups, including influencer marketing and experiential activations?How can young entrepreneurs strategically say "no" to growth opportunities for sustainable expansion?__________________________Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback.Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts.__________________________MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribeSpotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98yApple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT__________________________This week we covered:00:00 The Journey of Good Wipes: From Concept to Success10:08 Innovative Marketing Strategies and Influencer Engagement19:55 Navigating Challenges and Growth in the CPG Space29:54 Future Aspirations and Industry Insights

🚨MY NEWSLETTER https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🚨Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Jas from Winnipeg Digest (https://x.com/creatingjas). Jas is back for a third time, and his journey is incredible to watch. He first built a local newsletter, the Winnipeg Digest, into a massive distribution channel with over 100,000 people in his audience. Now, he's leveraging that audience to launch his own businesses, starting with a seasonal holiday lighting company.In this episode, we break down his new venture from the ground up. Jas shares the exact strategy he used to launch the lighting business using his newsletter, including a brilliant giveaway tactic he learned from Alex Hormozi. He explains why he chose a seasonal business, his goal of hitting $100,000 in revenue in his first season, and how this entire project serves as a case study to attract future business partners. We get into the nitty-gritty of his first week—how he sold $5,000 in jobs with no website, just an ad in his newsletter. This is a masterclass in using an existing audience to create new revenue streams and build a portfolio of companies.Questions This Episode Answers:• How can you leverage a newsletter audience to launch a completely new business?• What's a smart, low-cost marketing strategy to get your first customers for a service business?• Why would an entrepreneur choose a seasonal business model like holiday lighting?• What are the key startup costs and revenue goals for a new holiday lighting business?• How can a new business be used as a "case study" to attract future equity partners?Enjoy the conversation!__________________________Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback.Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts.__________________________MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribeSpotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98yApple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT__________________________This week we covered:00:00 Launching a New Venture: Christmas Lights Business02:41 Building on Audience: From Newsletter to Business06:02 Marketing Strategies and Initial Success08:54 Understanding the Business Model and Pricing11:44 Execution Challenges and Future Plans14:39 Exploring New Opportunities and Growth18:02 Final Thoughts and Future Outlook

🚨MY NEWSLETTER https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🚨Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Michael Clark. We dive into the incredible story behind The Flower Letters, a subscription business started with his wife, Hanny Clark, that mails immersive, physical story letters to subscribers.What started as a small idea in April 2020 with World War II love letters has exploded into a multi-million dollar venture, projecting $8-10 million this year! Michael shares how they bootstrapped this unique concept, scaling to over 50,000 subscribers by focusing on daily profitability and smart advertising strategies, leveraging a prepaid option for cash flow.You'll hear why he considers this direct mail business, despite his FinTech background, the most complicated he's ever built, managing over 900 inventory pieces in-house. We also discuss their "long game" vision, transforming The Flower Letters into a mission-driven company with potential for TV shows, audiobooks, and more, while carefully integrating AI only for artistic elements. Questions This Episode Answers:How did The Flower Letters grow from 33 subscribers to over 50,000 with multi-million dollar revenue?What advertising strategy was key to their rapid customer acquisition and how did they manage a $30 CAC?How does a subscription business like The Flower Letters prioritize daily profitability and manage cash flow through prepaid options?Why is a seemingly simple direct mail business considered the "most complicated" venture by a FinTech entrepreneur, and how is its fulfillment handled?How do The Flower Letters leverage a "long game" strategy to build a mission-driven company with a growing catalog of stories and future content expansion?Enjoy the conversation!__________________________Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback.Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts.__________________________MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribeSpotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98yApple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT__________________________This week we covered:00:00 Rapid Growth and Business Model Overview03:02 The Origin Story: From Idea to Execution05:53 Marketing Strategies and Customer Acquisition08:46 Financial Insights and Business Economics12:06 Creating a Unique Customer Experience14:58 Operational Challenges and Fulfillment Process25:07 In-House Fulfillment and Customer Service27:58 The Importance of Storytelling in Business30:21 Creative Storytelling and the Role of AI36:38 Revenue Growth and Business Strategy38:59 Building a Sustainable Business Model42:47 Leveraging the Postal Service for Success44:45 Community Engagement and Pen Pal Ideas46:43 Launching a Podcast and Sharing Stories

🚨MY NEWSLETTER https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🚨Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview serial entrepreneur Kriss Berg (https://x.com/Krissbergtweets) about his $10 million revenue business empire and revolutionary wealth building flywheel strategy! Discover how this commercial real estate investor generates massive cashflow from his e-commerce health supplements business and innovative telemedicine platform featuring GLP-1 medications, semaglutide (Ozempic), testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), and hormone replacement therapy (HRT).Learn Kriss's game-changing approach to tax optimization as he reinvests business profits into commercial real estate investments like car wash businesses and gas stations to maximize bonus depreciation tax benefits and achieve zero income tax liability. This real estate tax strategy has transformed his net worth and created a sustainable passive income stream.From his early days running a construction business to living off the grid after reading The Four Hour Workweek, Kriss shares his entrepreneurship journey and proven methods for identifying undervalued businesses ripe for business acquisition and rapid scaling. We explore practical business ideas for aspiring entrepreneurs, including parking lot striping, stump grinding, and other service-based businesses that build entrepreneurial skills without requiring massive startup capital.Key topics include understanding cap rates, EBITDA multiples, business valuation, the power of active vs passive losses, real estate professional status, 1031 exchanges, depreciation recapture, effective delegation strategies, and achieving work-life balance while building generational wealth.Questions This Episode Answers:How does Kriss Berg's flywheel business model generate high cashflow while achieving zero tax liability through strategic real estate investments?What is bonus depreciation for car washes and gas stations, and why don't these commercial properties require real estate professional status for tax write-offs?What are proven strategies for finding and acquiring neglected businesses with strong value-add opportunities and multiple expansion potential?How can entrepreneurs use commercial real estate cash flow and appreciation to compound wealth building over decades?What low-capital business opportunities like home service businesses, parking lot maintenance, and equipment-based services offer the best ROI for new business owners?How do cap rate investing and NOI optimization create superior returns compared to traditional stock market investing?What delegation frameworks and operational systems enable business owners to transition from working in the business to working on the business?__________________________Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback.Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts.__________________________MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribeSpotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98yApple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT__________________________This week we covered:00:00 The Tax Revelation: A Surprising Discovery02:51 Building a Business Flywheel: Cash Flow and Investments05:47 Understanding Bonus Depreciation: A Tax Strategy Unveiled09:06 The Journey into Commercial Real Estate: From E-commerce to Car Washes11:51 The Power of Passive Income: Lessons from a Real Estate Mogul14:39 Navigating Entrepreneurship: Mistakes and Lessons Learned17:58 The Shift to E-commerce: Finding Opportunity in Health Supplements20:53 Telemedicine and Health Innovations: The Next Frontier23:50 The Importance of Delegation: Building a Sustainable Business27:06 Starting from Scratch: Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs30:04 The Reality of Growth: Compounding Success Over Time

MY NEWSLETTER https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🚨Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview business broker Jackie Hirsch (https://x.com/SMBJackieHirsch) to get the real lay of the land in the current M&A market and small business acquisition landscape. Jackie, whose Florida business brokerage company did over $40 million in transactions last year, shares crucial insights on SBA loan changes 2024 and how new SBA 7a program rules are impacting first-time business buyers and licensed businesses like HVAC companies and survey businesses.We dive deep into why it's always been a seller's market in lower middle market deals and discuss common, costly business acquisition mistakes, like a buyer who lost millions because of due diligence delays and poor SBA lender choices. Jackie pulls back the curtain on the kinds of cashflow-generating businesses attracting private equity and individual buyers today, from materials testing companies to underground construction and the booming private chef services market.This business broker interview explores how AI impact on business is shaping the acquisition landscape and why, even with tariffs 2024 and market uncertainty, there are always small business deals to be made. You won't want to miss her incredible "real deal" stories about business deal interventions and sellers with criminal backgrounds, highlighting why building a strong seller relationship and business deal negotiation skills are paramount to getting any M&A transaction across the finish line.Perfect for entrepreneurs, business buyers, search fund professionals, and anyone interested in entrepreneurship through acquisition or business valuation strategies.Questions This Episode Answers:What recent SBA policy changes are affecting business acquisitions and seller financing?How can first-time buyers avoid "boneheaded mistakes" in an M&A deal and business due diligence?What types of profitable businesses are currently attracting the most buyers in a seller's market?How is AI automation impacting different business sectors and acquisition strategies?Why is building a strong seller relationship so crucial for closing business deals and post-acquisition success?What are the new SBA standby rules for seller notes and personal guarantees?Which recession-proof businesses and AI-resistant businesses are trending in 2024 business market?__________________________Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback.Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts.__________________________MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribeSpotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98yApple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT__________________________This week we covered:00:00 The Ever-Persistent Seller's Market02:52 Current Trends in M&A and Market Dynamics05:44 Navigating Changes in SBA Regulations09:04 Challenges in Selling Licensed Businesses12:01 Real Deal Stories and Lessons Learned14:52 The Importance of Relationships in Business Transactions22:07 Building Trust in Business Transactions24:53 The Role of AI in Business27:48 Emerging Business Trends31:35 The Future of Food Services35:29 Navigating Buyer Red Flags

🚨MY NEWSLETTER https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🚨Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Garth Fasano (https://x.com/garthfasano). Garth shares his incredible entrepreneurship through acquisition (ETA) success story of acquiring a call center business and crushing it, paying off his SBA loan in just two years through strategic small business acquisition!We dive into how he scaled by dramatically improving lead conversion rates for small businesses through clever integrations with platforms like Thumbtack and Angie's List. This business acquisition success story showcases how proper ETA business strategy can transform a traditional call center into a thriving enterprise.This rapid success paved the way for Garth to pivot his company into Rainmaker AI, an innovative AI-powered sales platform that's revolutionizing AI sales automation for SMBs. He discusses the future of AI voice technology in end-to-end sales solutions, the concept of recursive learning with their Rain Brain technology, and what this means for the evolving role of humans in sales.We also explore the exciting, yet challenging, landscape of the post-close search entrepreneur community and how search fund strategies are evolving. This business acquisition case study demonstrates how buying an existing business can create significant wealth through smart operations and AI transformation.Questions This Episode Answers:How can a business pay off an SBA loan in just two years after small business acquisition?What is the most effective way to improve lead conversion rates for small businesses?How is AI sales automation transforming small business customer interactions?What is "recursive learning" in the context of AI-powered sales platforms?How can Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) create significant wealth for entrepreneurs?__________________________Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback.Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts.__________________________MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribeSpotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98yApple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT__________________________This week we covered:00:00 Transforming Sales with AI Integration10:00 The Journey of Acquisition and Growth19:57 Innovating Sales Processes for Small Businesses29:52 The Future of AI in Sales and Customer Interaction

🚨MY NEWSLETTER https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🚨Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Anne McGinty to unveil the top first-time entrepreneur business ideas and small business ideas we would start today as startup entrepreneurs.Anne, who famously earned $150,000 in just 60 days with her Christmas lighting business, shares her proven insights on high-margin business ideas and profitable small business opportunities. I lay out my complete framework for entrepreneur success, focusing on leveraging powerful macro trends, building high-profit margin businesses, and ensuring a quick cash conversion cycle for maximum business cash flow.Home Service Business Ideas: Anne's home service business picks include expanding seasonal business ideas like luxury holiday decor services and Christmas lighting business for ultra-wealthy clients to year-round offerings, creating recurring revenue businesses with low startup costs.Her second home services business idea focuses on exterior cleaning business and detailing for high-end homes, covering pressure washing business, window cleaning business, solar panel cleaning, and gutter cleaning business - emphasizing the power of repeat business with wealthy homeowners and luxury home services.Healthcare Business Ideas: My healthcare business opportunities explore the booming medical business space, particularly elderly care services targeting the aging population trend and ABA clinics for autism services and behavioral health business.The rapidly growing Med Spa business sector offers incredible healthcare entrepreneurship opportunities, including cutting-edge wellness business areas like hormone replacement therapy, longevity business, and the innovative field of functional medicine business.Key business strategies covered:Low competition business ideas with high profit margins Recession-proof business models for economic stabilityPassive income business potential through recurring clientsLocal business opportunities serving high-net-worth individuals Service-based business models with minimal overhead Scalable business ideas that grow with demandQuestions This Episode Answers:• How can first-time entrepreneurs identify business ideas with "dummy insurance"?What are Anne McGinty's top home services business ideas for targeting the ultra-wealthy market?Why are macro trends like the aging population and wellness industry crucial for new business ventures?What makes the healthcare business space and Med Spa opportunities particularly attractive for entrepreneurs right now?How can you ensure a small business startup provides both substantial profit and business purpose?Enjoy the conversation!__________________________Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback.Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts.__________________________MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribeSpotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98yApple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT__________________________This week we covered:00:00 Identifying Lucrative Business Opportunities03:07 Understanding Macro Trends for Entrepreneurs05:58 High Margin and Quick Cash Conversion Businesses08:48 Exploring Seasonal Business Ideas12:07 The Potential of Healthcare Services15:03 Building a Business in the Elderly Care Sector27:52 Architecting a Purposeful Lifestyle28:50 The Value of Client Relationships30:47 High-End Service Business Strategies32:12 Customer Acquisition Techniques35:02 Exploring Home Services Opportunities38:19 The Growth of Med Spas41:41 Innovations in Health and Wellness44:33 The Future of Functional Medicine46:59 Macro Trends in Health Spending49:58 The Role of Entrepreneurs in Healthcare

🚨MY NEWSLETTER https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🚨Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Malcolm Marshall (https://x.com/malcolmpools). Malcolm shares his incredible W2 to entrepreneur journey from a VP of Finance role at C4 Energy during its hyper-growth phase (from $8 million to $300 million!) to successfully scaling his business, Poolology, an $18 million pool construction and home services business in Central Texas.We dive into the surprising challenges of scaling businesses, the reality of bootstrapping, and how he navigated the shift from a W-2 to full-time entrepreneurship. You'll hear about the "aha!" moments, the hard-earned lessons, and what he would focus on if starting a new business today, especially in the promising field of AI infrastructure.Questions This Episode Answers:• How did Malcolm Marshall go from W2 to entrepreneur and scale his business, Poolology, from a small pool route to $18 million in revenue?• What were the biggest financial stressors and operational challenges during C4 Energy's hyper-growth?• Why did Malcolm leave a high-paying W-2 job with equity to start a small business?• How do pool construction and maintenance businesses acquire customers and what are their typical EBITDA margins?• If starting over, what industry would Malcolm focus on, and what’s the most crucial lesson he learned about team building?Enjoy the conversation!__________________________Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback.Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts.__________________________MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribeSpotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98yApple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT__________________________This week we covered:00:00 From Corporate to Entrepreneurship: The Journey Begins02:40 Building Poolology: The Early Days and Growth Strategies05:53 Navigating Rapid Growth: Challenges and Lessons Learned08:47 The Transition to Construction: Expanding Services11:38 Marketing and Customer Acquisition: Strategies for Success15:01 Future Aspirations: Scaling and New Opportunities17:52 Reflections on the Journey: What Would You Change?

🚨MY NEWSLETTER https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🚨Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Elizabeth Knopf (https://x.com/@leveragedupside) about the one AI tool everyone is raving about: Cloud Code! We dive deep into why this new offering from Claude is a game-changer for business and automation, even if it looks a bit old-school in the terminal. We also discuss the latest in the model war, including the releases of ChatGPT-5, Claude Opus 4.1, Grok 4, and Gemini, and share our personal rankings. Elizabeth gives a mind-blowing demonstration of how she uses Cloud Code to tackle massive data analysis automation cleanup and analysis tasks, like processing hundreds of thousands of job scraping entries, all by simply speaking English to the AI.Learn how this tool can remove friction, simplify complex multi-step tasks, and help you build powerful agents for your business.Enjoy the conversation!Questions This Episode Answers:• How has the AI model war evolved recently, and what's the general sentiment?• What are the key differences and improvements in new LLMs like ChatGPT-5 and Claude Opus 4.1?• How do leading AI models like Grok, Claude, ChatGPT, and Gemini rank in terms of utility and performance?• What is Cloud Code, and how can it simplify complex data analysis and automation tasks for business users?• How can you install and begin using Cloud Code to manage and analyze local files without extensive coding knowledge?__________________________Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback.Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts.__________________________MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribeSpotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98yApple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT__________________________This week we covered:00:00 Introduction to AI Models and Cloud Code07:48 Ranking AI Models: A Comparative Analysis12:08 Exploring Cloud Code: Installation and Setup18:19 Building Projects with Cloud Code23:10 The Social Contract of Podcasting24:08 Project Overview and Data Cleanup Tool25:56 Data Analysis and Job Market Insights28:42 Building Automation Tools with Claude31:58 Classifying Text and Job Data36:03 Interactive Data Analysis and Visualization41:06 Automating Data Cleaning and Insights Generation

🚨MY NEWSLETTER https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🚨Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Nick Gray (https://x.com/nickgraynews), a serial entrepreneur known for building and selling multi-million dollar businesses like Museum Hack and author of The Two-Hour Cocktail Party. Nick shares his unique insights on entrepreneur networking and how to host networking events, even for introverts. We dive into business networking tips and the importance of creating a strong personal online presence with a dedicated website, and how AI tools can help you tell your story. Discover how Nick continuously increases his luck surface area, how to meet other entrepreneurs, and why focusing on deep connections is the true key to wealth.Questions This Episode Answers:What are the different types of icebreaker questions and how should they be used to build rapport?Why is hosting meetups or cocktail parties crucial for new entrepreneurs to gain traction and build an "army of support"?How can having a personal website enhance your professional reputation and online presence?How can entrepreneurs leverage AI tools to automatically generate content for their personal websites and maintain relevance?What's the secret to manufacturing viral moments and achieving organic growth for your business?Enjoy the conversation!Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback.Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts.__________________________MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribeSpotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98yApple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT__________________________This week we covered:00:00 The Importance of Networking for Entrepreneurs06:46 Hosting Meetups: A Unique Approach to Building Connections11:57 Creating Value Through Personal Websites17:42 Leveraging Online Presence for Success23:13 Leveraging Podcast Appearances for Content Creation30:13 Innovative AI Tools for Transcription and Content Management31:05 Building an Online Presence with AI and SEO37:41 Creating Value Through Personal Branding and Content41:58 The Art of Manufacturing Viral Moments45:44 Fostering Connections and Community EngagementFIND OUT MORE BELOW:https://nickgray.nethttps://patronview.comhttps://vs3.nethttps://party.prohttps://party.pro/book/

🚨MY NEWSLETTER https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🚨Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Sam (https://x.com/@thesamparr). In this episode, we dive into Sam's distinctive approach to building and running businesses.He shares how his desire for financial security led him to sell The Hustle and why he believes in laser focus on a single venture like Hampton, despite being constantly bombarded with new ideas. We explore his insatiable curiosity for information and his unique methods for manifesting success, from his analog journaling to actively seeking out "weirdos" to identify the next big trend. Discover what sets Sam apart, why he finds stubbornness and disagreeableness to be common traits among the ultra-successful, and how he views the traits that truly define successful people.Questions This Episode Answers:• How does Sam maintain focus on one business despite being exposed to countless opportunities?• What are Sam's personal strategies for integrating new information and generating insights?• How does Sam identify potential future trends by seeking out "odd" or "strange" people?• What surprising commonalities has Sam observed among highly successful individuals he's interviewed?• What seemingly small "indulgence" does Sam recommend for entrepreneurs seeking a better quality of life?Enjoy the conversation!__________________________Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback.Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts.__________________________MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribeSpotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98yApple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT__________________________This week we covered:00:00 From Hot Dogs to Millions: The Journey Begins02:48 Building a Lasting Legacy: The Family Business06:07 The Dilemma of Focus: One Business or Many?08:55 The Fear of Selling: Regrets and Reflections11:46 The Quest for Financial Security: Balancing Risk and Reward15:02 The Blueprint for Success: Learning from the Greats17:56 The Art of Reflection: Integrating Knowledge into Action20:48 Connecting with People: The Power of Relatability24:01 The Value of Diverse Experiences: A Unique Perspective28:25 The Importance of Health and Family Connections29:57 Redefining Wealth Beyond Money31:24 Embracing Life's Richness and Indulgences33:47 The Journey to Financial Comfort34:16 Superpowers: Tenacity and Curiosity36:03 The Airbnb Experience and Lessons Learned39:51 Building Networks and Community43:02 Curiosity as a Connector44:29 Identifying Trends and the Value of Oddities55:54 Closing Thoughts and Call to Action

🚨MY NEWSLETTER ⁠https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠ 🚨Hey everyone, Nik here!I've seen it all in entrepreneurship – the wins and the losses. My friends, Brandon and Nick, are perfect examples. Brandon hit it big, doing $100,000 a month in four months, now with 39 locations. Nick, well, he was bankrupt in eight.Why the huge difference?Nick made the same mistake many first-time entrepreneurs make: evaluating a business like a 20-year veteran when he'd never run anything!In this episode, I'm going to share some brutal truths about starting your first business. For rookies, you are the business, and your willingness to outwork everybody else is your real competitive advantage.We'll dive into the four rookie realities you must confront before getting into the game.I'll even show you my personal evaluation framework and the unique Neanderthal score to help you pick a business that truly amplifies your strengths.The goal for your first year? Just survive.Enjoy the conversation!Questions This Episode Answers:• Why did my friend Nick's restaurant business fail so quickly, while Brandon's thrived?• What are the four rookie realities that first-time entrepreneurs must confront when evaluating a business?• Why is a first-time entrepreneur's personal work ethic their primary competitive advantage?• How do margins and cost to play impact a rookie's ability to survive the learning curve?• Why should first-time entrepreneurs seek businesses with strong macro tailwinds and easy scalability?__________________________Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback.Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts.__________________________MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribeSpotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98yApple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT__________________________This week we covered:00:00 The Rookie Entrepreneur's Journey03:44 Evaluating Business Opportunities08:07 Rookie Realities: Handling Operations12:04 Customer Acquisition Challenges15:55 Surviving the Learning Curve19:48 Growing Without Breaking24:11 Real-Life Business Evaluation29:57 Mindset Shift for Success

🚨MY NEWSLETTER https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🚨Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Olivia Look (https://x.com/0h_look), an automation expert and founder of an automation agency. In this episode, Olivia shows me how Zapier Agents revolutionize business automation by integrating AI directly into workflows. We dive into practical use cases, like transforming email commitments (Gmail) into ClickUp tasks or automating detailed meeting summaries and follow-up assignments from Otter AI transcripts. Discover how plain English instructions can power sophisticated automations and learn about the AI models, including OpenAI's GPT-4.0 mini, driving Zapier Agents. If you're looking to streamline your business operations and leverage AI for efficiency, you won't want to miss this!Enjoy the conversation!__________________________Questions This Episode Answers:• How can AI be directly integrated into workflow automation using Zapier Agents?• What is the difference between traditional Zapier and the new Zapier Agents functionality?• How can I automate the creation of to-do items in ClickUp from emails I send in Gmail?• Is it possible to automatically summarize meeting transcripts from Otter AI and assign follow-up tasks?• What AI model does Zapier Agents use by default for its powerful LLM features?__________________________Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback.Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts.__________________________MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribeSpotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98yApple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT__________________________This week we covered:00:00 Introduction to Automation and AI Integration03:05 Building Automations with Zapier Agents05:56 Creating Triggers and Actions in Automation08:47 Exploring ClickUp Integration for Task Management11:52 Using AI for Meeting Summaries and Follow-ups14:35 Enhancing Meeting Efficiency with Automation17:37 Final Thoughts on Automation and AI in Business

🚨MY NEWSLETTER https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🚨Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Maurizio Cuna (https://x.com/themgmtconsult)! Maurizio brings 20+ years of consulting expertise, having worked with some of the largest companies globally, and his job is literally business problem solving.I was stoked to learn his approach and better understand how to solve business problems. We entrepreneurs can apply those skills to our businesses. We dive into how consultants go beyond mere symptoms to identify the actual problem, using powerful tools like the Problem Tree and the five whys technique to help entrepreneurs problem solvePlus, Maurizio shares his consulting frameworks for prioritizing problems based on Frequency, Severity, and Willingness to Pay.We also tackle the challenge of balancing speed with a thorough analytical approach and explore the evolving role of soft skills.Questions This Episode Answers:• How do consultants work?• How do they pinpoint the real problem, not just a symptom?• What mental models do experts use to break down complex business issues?• When facing multiple problems, how do you decide which to tackle first?• How can entrepreneurs balance quick action with careful analysis?Enjoy the conversation!__________________________Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback.Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts.__________________________MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribeSpotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98yApple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT__________________________This week we covered:00:00 Consulting Philosophy: Moving Beyond Quick Fixes03:01 Understanding the Consultant's Approach to Problem Solving05:59 Identifying the Right Problems: The Importance of Root Cause Analysis08:53 Prioritizing Problems: Frameworks for Effective Solutions12:07 Balancing Speed and Thoroughness in Problem Solving15:03 The Role of Feedback Loops in Consulting17:50 Consulting Dynamics: The Client-Consultant Relationship21:03 The Future of Consulting: Emphasizing Soft Skills23:53 Navigating Data Collection and Analysis in Consulting26:45 The Shift Towards Soft Skills in a Tech-Driven World

🚨MY NEWSLETTER https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🚨Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Anne McGinty of the How I Built My Small Business Podcast.In this episode, I sit down with Anne, a true hustler who transformed early career struggles into entrepreneurial triumphs. We dive into Anne's journey, starting from a demoralizing toothpaste sales job and a side greeting card business that funded her first foray into real estate.Hear how a serendipitous repeated encounter with an idea led Anne and her husband, Mark, to launch a seasonal Christmas lighting business, growing it from a three-week operation generating $100,000 in net profit to a six-month, multi-truck enterprise. We discuss their unique, scrappy marketing tactics, like using a spray-painted box truck as a mobile billboard, and why they ultimately decided to sell their highly profitable business, even with a 50% net profit margin.Enjoy the conversation!Questions This Episode Answers:• How did Anne McGinty pivot from a low-paying job to building significant capital through early side hustles and real estate?• What innovative strategies did Anne and her husband Mark use to "house hack" and secure their first multi-unit property in the high-cost Bay Area?• What unusual "signs" prompted the launch of their extremely successful seasonal Christmas lighting business?• How did Anne and Mark scale their Christmas lighting business from a three-week side gig into a six-month operation with multiple teams and high-profile contracts?• What strategic financial modeling led Anne to sell a thriving business, and how did she achieve passive income equivalent to its former profits within five years?__________________________Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback.Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts.__________________________MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribeSpotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98yApple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT__________________________This week we covered:00:00 From Struggles to Success: The Christmas Lighting Journey11:23 The Birth of an Entrepreneur: Seizing Opportunities18:29 Scaling the Business: Strategies for Growth25:36 Navigating Challenges: The Impact of COVID-1933:13 Reflections on Selling: Lessons Learned and Future Goals

🚨MY NEWSLETTER https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🚨Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Nick Connelly (https://x.com/@niconley), an incredible newsletter entrepreneur who went from Amazon Product Manager to selling $1M in newsletter ad sponsorships in just nine months!We break down how to start a newsletter business from scratch, email marketing for beginners, why powerful newsletter lead magnets are the key to building trust, and how to monetize newsletters.Nic reveals his email marketing strategy for growing his B2B newsletter, The Follow-Up, to over 22,000 subscribers by breaking down his online newsletter business model. Plus, he shares the newsletter tool he built (newsletterads.co), which lets you reverse engineer Facebook ads for newsletter marketing campaigns from top newsletter businesses.We also discuss Nic’s newsletter content strategy, why local newsletters have scaling limitations compared to B2B newsletter opportunities, the power of organic newsletter growth, email list building strategies, and how AI tools like Heygen are revolutionizing content creation.Questions This Episode Answers:• How can newsletter lead magnets boost email marketing ROI and build audience trust?• What's the secret to effectively using Facebook ads to acquire newsletter subscribers?• How to use a newsletter monetization tool to see what email marketing strategies work?• Why might a B2B newsletter be a higher-leverage business than a local newsletter?• How does newsletter growth differ between organic vs paid newsletter marketing?• How can AI avatars help content creators scale their organic reach on platforms like Instagram and TikTok?Enjoy the conversation!__________________________Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback.Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts.__________________________MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribeSpotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98yApple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT__________________________This week we covered:00:00 The Cheat Code of Newsletters02:55 From Amazon to Entrepreneurship05:48 Understanding Newsletters and Their Growth08:42 Monetizing Newsletters: Strategies and Insights12:01 Building Trust Through Lead Magnets14:54 The Importance of Offers in Advertising17:46 Growing Your Newsletter Audience20:40 Local Newsletters vs. B2B Newsletters23:57 Identifying Your Niche and Market Potential26:45 Starting a Newsletter: The Process30:01 Creating a Service-Based Newsletter32:56 Organic Growth vs. Paid Advertising35:49 Leveraging AI for Content Creation38:42 Conclusion and Call to Action