A real-world MBA for entrepreneurs

What does it take to start, scale, and sell your own business? Every Tuesday, J and Carol Scott ask this question to entrepreneurs of all stripes and delve into stories that go beyond the launch. From hiring and firing to marketing and raising capital, this podcast takes an honest look at the triumphs and stumbles of entrepreneurship. Whether you’re looking to sustain a startup or bring an idea to life, you’ll come away inspired. Tune in—and learn how to treat your business like a business.

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Previous Episodes

October 15, 2019

BiggerPockets Business Podcast 25: What You Can Learn from a Company that Manages 12,000 Contractors with Ken Davis of TaskEasy

Today we get a peek inside a company that handles lawn care for 800,000 properties across the U.S. And although few of us will ever build such a behemoth, trust us—you will learn a ton from this ep isode with TaskEasy CEO Ken Davis. In it, you'll hear how Ken started the company to solve his own biggest headache, why TaskEasy zeroed in on mowing lawns, and the biggest operations challenges the company faces as it services thousands of clients. Also, Ken speaks to the importance of doing right by your very first customers before scaling, why ideas are a dime a dozen (execution—not so much), and how the right mentors can save you a fortune. Ken also reveals his No. 1 tip on how to automate processes in your own business. So if you are looking to get more organized and think strategically about how your business is set up, download this episode and subscribe to the BiggerPockets Business Podcast so you won't miss the next one! ... show more

October 8, 2019

BiggerPockets Business Podcast 24: Achieving 'Time Freedom' and Franchising a Personal Training Business with Paige Wilcox

What if you documented every process that makes your business run? Imagine how much easier it would be to scale and how much less stressful it would be to take a day (or week or month) off to spend with your family? Today’s show is about creating standard operating procedures to make your life easier down the road. Paige Wilcox of Wilcox Wellness & Fitness breaks down how she and her husband built a personal training business that can run on autopilot—which eventually allowed them to open their first franchise. You’ll learn how Paige thinks about systems, how she automated her email marketing, and how businesses can expand. Paige brings a ton of energy in this episode, and it’s clear how much she loves being in business for herself and putting her stamp on her community. Download this episode and subscribe to hear more stories like hers! ... show more

October 1, 2019

BiggerPockets Business Podcast 23: Scientifically Proven Sales Techniques with David Hoffeld

Grandpa may have been a great salesman in his day. But if you’re using the same strategies he used (and most of us are), you’re ignoring powerful brain science that flips conventional wisdom on its head. And you’re leaving a lot of money on the table. In today’s episode, we’ll dive into new research with David Hoffeld, a sales trainer who wrote the best-selling book The Science of Selling. After listening to this show, you’ll have a far better understanding of how your prospects think through concepts like fear and risk. You’ll learn how to overcome their objections by “priming,” how to use stories to reassure them, and how to address the 6 “why’s” that explain every buying decision. Plus, when you do lose a sale, you’ll be able to apply David’s framework for analyzing exactly what went wrong… so you know how to close the very next deal. Turns out, potential buyers are often turned off not by the product itself… but by the way it’s presented by the salesperson. So listen to this episode to learn the “buyer-centric, science-based” sales methods David teaches his clients. If you like this show, let us know in the comments below… and be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you won’t miss an episode! ... show more

September 24, 2019

BiggerPockets Business Podcast 22: The Free Strategy to Reach WAY More Customers with PR Expert Josh Elledge

Like a lot of entrepreneurs, Josh Elledge got started trying to solve his own problem. After launching the personal finance tool SavingsAngel.com, he came to realize that by far the best way to genera te brand awareness was to provide massive value to news organizations—who would in turn give him a free platform to promote himself! If you’ve been struggling to get press or establish yourself as an expert, this episode might just change the whole way you approach publicity. Josh lays out a realistic path for starting off small (sorry, Oprah’s not going to pluck you out of obscurity), describes the two things you must do to raise your authority, and explains how to convert your newfound visibility into sales (without coming across as too “salesy”). Josh gets into the nitty gritty of how to quickly and easily create a press kit, how to build long-term relationships with journalists, and when appropriate, how to lean into polarizing viewpoints to create true fans. Whether you’re a business owner or a subject matter expert hoping to raise your profile, this episode is a perfect guide for how to “let the media do your selling for you!” Tell us what you think of this episode in the comment section below, and don’t forget to subscribe to the BiggerPockets Business Podcast on your favorite smartphone app so you won’t miss the next episode. ... show more

September 17, 2019

BiggerPockets Business Podcast 21 - Reframing the Rat Race: How to Use Your Day Job to Prepare for Entrepreneurship with James Anderson of Forged Axe Throwing

What went into building an (almost) seven-figure axe throwing business that earns hundreds of five-star reviews? For James Anderson, it all started well before he left his 9 to 5. As a marketer and tour guide, he learned how to create buzz, split-test, design systems, and craft world-class experiences… skills James later put to use bootstrapping the Whistler, B.C.-based business he co-founded. In this episode, you’ll learn why James believes market research is “the most important work that you never get paid for.” He gives us his tips for measuring the effectiveness of both online AND offline marketing campaigns, reveals his company’s current profit margins, and shares a hilarious story about an exhausting grand opening that forced him to temporarily shutter the business on its very first day. You’ll also learn how James diversified his business by developing scorekeeping software, how he handles insurance, what lessons he learned from a previous Christmas light venture, and the BIG opportunity most entrepreneurs aren’t taking advantage of today. James’ story is a real blueprint for how to transition from a traditional day job into entrepreneurship, so if you’re interested in doing the same, make sure you listen to this episode today. If you get value from the show, please rate and review us on iTunes, and subscribe to the BiggerPockets Business Podcast so you won’t miss the next one. ... show more

September 10, 2019

BiggerPockets Business Podcast 20: The Questions You MUST Ask Every Potential Hire with David Greene

“Finding the right people.” Ask any entrepreneur about their biggest challenge, and you’re likely to get some version of that answer. So, when you’re building a team, how do you REALLY judge the character, motivation, and “fit” of a potential hire? There’s a way. And on today’s episode of the BiggerPockets Business Podcast, David Greene reveals the EXACT questions he’s used to build out his team of real estate agents in the San Francisco Bay Area. You might know David as the author of two books (Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat and Long-Distance Real Estate Investing) and as co-host of the BiggerPockets Real Estate Podcast. But he also runs a thriving business buying and selling houses—and that’s the focus of today’s show. You’ll learn how David learned to delegate tasks that drained his energy or didn’t fit his personality, how hiring his first assistant proved to be a HUGE turning point for his business, and the two things that set him apart from all the other agents out there. Also, David shows us how “frame control” can allow you to help close more deals, how he looks for employees everywhere he goes (even towing garages), how he differentiates “checklist tasks” and “skill tasks,” and how to train for both. Plus, he touches on what toothpaste brands and Chick-fil-A can teach us about our own businesses. If you ever feel overwhelmed by taking on another time commitment, listen for David’s tip about creating synergy between his various ventures and the secret to creating a lead “funnel.” David’s story and work ethic are truly inspirational, and you’ll learn a TON from the way he uses systems and leverage to run his agent business like a well-oiled machine. Listen to this episode—count up the analogies—and subscribe to the BiggerPockets Business Podcast so you won’t miss the next one! ... show more

September 3, 2019

BiggerPockets Business Podcast 19: From “Naive” Start-Up to 8-Figure Revenue in 4 Years with Barnana Co-Founder Nik Ingersoll

Prepare yourself for an incredible tale of entrepreneurship. It features a hardscrabble upbringing, relentless optimism, negotiations with Amazonian tribesmen, and some bold guerrilla (“gorilla”?) mar keting stunts. Barnana has been making organic banana snacks since 2012. The founders call bananas “Mother Nature’s energy bar”—hence, the name. When they started, they didn’t have much money of their own. So, they had to build a business that appealed to investors. Today, co-founder Nik Ingersoll reveals exactly how they did that. You don’t get into 20,000 stores (including heavyweights like Whole Foods and Costco) without money. But as Nik explains, it doesn’t have to be YOUR money. In fact, one of the most valuable parts of this episode is Nik’s story of how he used “lean startup” principles to raise Barnana’s first round of funding. Also, ever wondered how much it actually costs to make that healthy snack you’re munching on? Well, Nik breaks down Barnana’s supply chain and profit margins in detail—from working with distributors/middlemen, to using brokers to get Barnana’s products into stores, to getting certified as “organic.” And he shares some great ways he’s generated free publicity over the years, including the launch of this farcical new product. This is one of our best episodes yet. Tell us what you think, and subscribe to the show so you won’t miss an episode. ... show more

August 27, 2019

BiggerPockets Business Podcast 18: How to “Have it All” by Living with INTENTION with Brandon Turner

Be honest. Have you ever set an ambitious goal, mapped out a plan—and then watched that goal get buried under an avalanche of more urgent (but less important) responsibilities? We bet you’re noddin g. Maybe even wincing. Doesn’t feel great, does it? Today’s show is about breaking that cycle. And to help us, we brought in a familiar voice. Brandon Turner, co-host of the BiggerPockets Real Estate Podcast, thinks a LOT about this. Today, he shares the tools he’s used to achieve financial freedom through real estate investing, move to Hawaii, improve his personal health, AND spend more quality time with his growing family—tools you can use to get clear on your vision and really stick to your next big goal. You’ll hear about Brandon’s failed first business venture, how he got into real estate investing for cash flow, and how he discovered a way to bring BIG value to BiggerPockets as Employee #2, despite not owning a computer the year before! Brandon also reveals the surprising reason he chose to go all-in on mobile home park investing (hint: NOT necessarily because it’s the “best” investment) and the workflow that allowed he and his partners to get hundreds of pads under contract in just a few months—the exact method he outlined in the new-look BiggerPockets Intention Journal. Oh, and you’ll learn the meaning of “M.I.N.S.” and the role they plan in moving your business forward (ESPECIALLY when the going gets tough). Brandon shares why writing out a “vivid vision” of your future might be the best thing you can do to move you closer to your ideal life, why he asks, “What would be awesome?” and then works backwards, and why he and his wife organize a goal-setting retreat together on the same day every year. This is an awesome episode that lays out a battle plan for getting WAY more done while setting aside quality time for friends, family, and fun. Download this one, and subscribe using your favorite podcast app so you won’t miss any future shows. ... show more

August 20, 2019

BiggerPockets Business Podcast 17: Using Fear as Fuel with Alejandro Velez and Nikhil Arora, Co-Founders of Back to the Roots

Today’s episode is proof that fear isn’t always a bad thing. In fact, it can be a powerful motivator. And more importantly, fear serves as a signal that you’re pushing yourself far beyond your comfort zone and blossoming as an entrepreneur. Overcoming doubt is one of several topics we discuss with Alejandro Velez and Nikhil Arora, co-founders of a startup that produces a growing line of home gardening and food products. You’ll love the story of how they met and hatched their idea in a college classroom, why they strive to practice “conscious capitalism,” and how they got PAID to collect the raw material they used to grow their first products (mushrooms grown out of used coffee grounds!). Alejandro and Nikhil also share their tips for raising capital and the story of how Back to the Roots struck deals with giant organizations like Whole Foods and the New York City Public School System. This is a motivational show featuring two entrepreneurs who are wise beyond their years, and it’s packed with practical tips for scaling any kind of business. Download this one today, and share it with two people you know would get something out of it! Oh, and don’t forget to subscribe to the BiggerPockets Business Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Google Podcasts so you won’t miss a beat. ... show more

August 13, 2019

BiggerPockets Business Podcast 16: Mastering Cash Flow and Finding Riches in “Headache” Jobs with 3Point Cleaning CEO Jesse McCue

Jesse McCue’s property management company had a problem: Try as they might, they just couldn’t find a thorough, reliable cleaning crew. So, what did Jesse do? He threw up his hands and went back to “Dancing with the Stars.” Duh. Kidding! Jesse took matters into his own hands, and what started as a singles-and-doubles operation has grown to a thriving, 100-employee enterprise based in Bangor, Maine. In this episode, Jesse maps out a battle plan YOU can use to start a service business. From starting a website to getting insured, he guides us through exactly how to get started making profit by solving someone else’s #1 problem. Jesse breaks down how he multiplied his client base while barely spending anything on marketing, how he uses high-tech systems to monitor the performance of his night-shift employees, and how he uses checklists to systemize his hiring process so he’s not just relying on his gut. Plus, he shares how he navigated a tough transition around the 30-employee mark. AND he warns us about a danger facing every small business owner -- a cash flow-management trap that’s always lurking... even if business is booming! Listen to this episode today… Be sure to check out our back catalogue, and subscribe using your favorite podcast app so you won’t miss any future shows! ... show more

August 6, 2019

BiggerPockets Business Podcast 15: How to Build a $100K/Month Real Estate Wholesaling Business with Max Maxwell

What are you doing that you're not good at and/or don't like doing? Fire yourself—seriously! This episode is about delegating and systemizing, and who better to learn from than a serial entrepreneu r who’s been tearing it up in real estate in recent years? Max Maxwell is a wholesaler, meaning he finds deeply discounted deals, ties them up under contract, then assigns them to an end buyer for a fee. Today Max tells us about his journey, from discovering he was dyslexic to joining the Air Force (“getting shot at for $20K/year”) to going broke (twice!). After all that, Max shares how he ultimately enrolled in “YouTube University” to learn the art of wholesaling. You’ll love the story of how Max’s business really took off when he delegated a weakness (data collection) and instead doubled down on his strengths (marketing and sales). Max also walks us through how to hire an overseas virtual assistant and how his first “V.A.” came to hire other team members once he began to scale up. He goes on to break down the structure of his business and reveal which marketing techniques brought in his juiciest deals. Max runs through his dos and don’ts for building a personal brand, as well as describes how he’s been able to build four businesses based on his wholesaling! Plus, if you know anything about Max, you know he’s a smooth negotiator. So, we asked him which skills are most crucial when developing rapport or closing a deal. Whether you’re in the real estate business or not, this episode is full of actionable advice for getting out of your own way and designing a well-oiled machine that works for you. So, don’t miss this one, AND don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast on your favorite app! ... show more

July 30, 2019

BiggerPockets Business Podcast 14: Entering a Crowded Service Market and Crushing the Competition with Nick Huber

Want a blueprint for breaking into a competitive industry and taking down your bigger, more established competitors? Well, that’s the focus of today’s episode with Nick Huber! As a college stud ent, Nick founded a storage business aimed at helping his classmates. But the story doesn’t stop there. Nick and his partner passed up corporate job offers and have since expanded Storage Squad into 11 states and runs a team of 350 part-time workers. So how did Nick go from transporting items in his Cadillac DeVille and cramming them into his apartment... to signing on as the preferred storage provider for huge state universities? The answer involves “lean startup” principles, oldschool marketing tactics like sidewalk chalk, and a relentless focus on developing a competitive edge over bigger companies with less of a personal touch. You’ll be blown away by Nick’s resourcefulness, his tip about letting customers “see the whites of your eyes,” and how he was able to get executive help without giving away a huge chunk of the business. This show is for anyone who’s ever wanted to start a service business, but been hesitant to take on the big boys. Nick gives a ton of actionable advice to entrepreneurs of all stripes, so tune into this episode and subscribe on your favorite app so you won’t miss the next! ... show more

July 23, 2019

BiggerPockets Business Podcast 13: 3 Rules for Crushing It in Business with ‘Shark Tank’ Star Barbara Corcoran

What does “The Queen of New York Real Estate” look for in an entrepreneur? As a “shark” on ABC’s “Shark Tank,” Barbara Corcoran hears a lot of pitches. She’s invested in entrepreneurs who have gone on to thrive... AND those who’ve failed or faded away. So what separates them? In this episode, Barbara shares what she’s learned both from the show AND her own remarkable, roller-coaster career. You’ll hear how she began her business career as an 11-year-old (even making the local paper), how she was inspired by her father’s unhappiness working for someone else, and how a failed relationship sparked her ambition to become New York City’s biggest real estate broker (which she accomplished!). You won’t want to miss the story of how she almost lost the Shark Tank job before it started, and how she fought tooth-and-nail to get the gig. You’ll hear her thoughts on investing in “the person,” rather than “the business,” when it makes sense to bootstrap vs. raising capital, why she distrusts entrepreneurs who use fancy jargon, and the surprising quality she values above all else. If you are interested in what makes some people succeed and others fail, you will love Barbara’s insights. Check out this show, and subscribe using your favorite podcast app so you won’t miss the next one! ... show more

July 16, 2019

BiggerPockets Business Podcast 12: Step-by-Step Case Study: Manufacturing, Marketing and Selling a Physical Product with Cody Berman of Arsenal Discs

How do you go about creating a product line out of thin air? In this episode, Cody Berman breaks down the process from start to finish—and opens up about his exact costs and profit margins. Cody grew up playing disc golf. (Think of it as golf with frisbees.) By the time he was 19 years old, the game was growing FAST. He spotted a big opportunity in the equipment market and decided to do something about it. You’ll learn how Cody and his partner went about their market research (cost per unit, engineering, official regulations, margins, markup, MSRP), how they launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise seed money, and how they called 200(!) prototyping and molding companies to get the best deal possible. He also talks about the moments that almost made them quit—from being told they would need $100,000 to start (they wouldn’t) to surviving a disastrous early production run that led to an all-nighter and a lot of wasted capital. Cody goes on to reveal the way he markets Arsenal Discs in online groups, how he handles packaging and shipping, and his tips for entrepreneurs thinking about selling via Amazon. Don’t miss this action-packed episode, and subscribe so you won’t miss the next one! ... show more

July 9, 2019

BiggerPockets Business Podcast 11: How to Build a World-Class Craft Brewing Company with Dave Thibodeau

Ever dreamt about getting paid to sit back and drink delicious beer all day? Well, keep dreaming. Yes, the beer industry is a lot of fun. But as you may have guessed, it’s hyper-competitive and dem ands a LOT of hard work! In today’s episode, Dave Thibodeau traces Ska Brewing’s evolution from scrappy underdog to top-100 brewery, competing against international conglomerates (all while keeping its edgy sense of humor). You’ll learn how Dave stumbled upon his passion in a book, how he and his partners bootstrapped the business by buying used equipment and sleeping in a Volkswagen bus, and how they marketed their brand’s “David vs. Goliath” attitude in a comic book. You’ll also hear how Dave and his partners expanded internationally, built a distribution arm to help other brewers (“coopetition,” he calls it), eventually scaled to 70 employees, and embraced the pain of a bad hops contract by releasing a limited-run, very hoppy brew called Bad Hop Contract. Don’t miss Dave’s advice for how to split up responsibilities among partners, and be sure to listen through to the end to hear him explain the big advantage smaller, more locally-minded businesses have when competing with international giants. Dave is a laid-back guy, who has managed to build a massive business while still remaining true to himself—so check him out in this episode, and subscribe so you won’t miss the next one! ... show more

July 2, 2019

BiggerPockets Business Podcast 10: Building a 7-Figure Meat Snacks Company and Forming a Perfect Partnership with Peter Awad

How do you launch a profitable business without taking on a ton of employees or dealing with brick-and-mortar retailers? Peter Awad, co-founder of Mission Meats, breaks it all down in this episode. You’ll love hearing about Peter’s upbringing in a family of first-generation immigrant entrepreneurs. He also discusses how he got his start hustling in the early days of e-commerce (remember Mail Boxes Etc.?). You’ll also learn how Peter wound up miserable when he realized his job didn’t match his natural strengths and how interviewing other entrepreneurs shifted his perspective and inspired him to change careers. Peter offers useful insight into what makes a great (and terrible) partnership, how he and his partner came up with the same company name and logo independently(!), how he overcame his inability to focus, and why the person is more important than the idea. He goes on to explain the concept of a “slow hustle”—and how it may just help you navigate the ups and downs of entrepreneurship. Plus, Peter describes how Mission Meats is able to test products without a big upfront investment, how he gets instant customer feedback, why ego is the enemy of a profitable business, and how philanthropy motivates him to succeed. And be sure to listen until the end to hear a conversation about passing down business knowledge to the next generation. Download this episode today, and subscribe so you won’t miss the next! ... show more

A real-world MBA for entrepreneurs

Previous Episodes

BiggerPockets Business Podcast

Create Lasting Wealth Through Real Estate