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

September 15, 2020

BiggerPockets Business Podcast 73: Building an 8-Figure Game Company in 3 Years With Chris Meade

Think you can’t come up with a million dollar (or TEN MILLION DOLLAR) idea sitting around with your buddies? Think you can’t build an 8-figure business and have a ton of fun doing it? Think you can’ t build a business like this in less than three years? Then this episode is for you! Chris Meade -- twenty-something co-founder of the 8-figure game company Crossnet -- was a kid with a dream when he, his brother and a friend conceived of a new take on beach volleyball. With nothing more than a fun idea and some determination, they got prototypes designed, started selling individual games through viral marketing and are now on track to do over $15 MILLION in revenue in 2020. In this advice-filled episode, Chris breaks down many of his companies processes in detail. He starts by giving a step-by-step plan for finding overseas manufacturers to prototype, build and package your product -- incredibly inexpensively! He tells us how to do it, how much it costs, how long it takes, and then provides some pro-tips to keep you from making some big mistakes -- and not getting taken advantage of -- in the process. Chris then talks about how he and his partners were able to start selling the game using viral marketing techniques, social media, and their own sales funnels. From there, he goes on to provide some great advice for how to keep your product and marketing expenses low (including some tips on things that can be negotiated that you probably don’t realize). Make sure you listen for the single most important skill an entrepreneur needs to be successful. Chris discusses how he used that skill to get sales, to get his product on the shelves of the national retail chain, Dick’s Sporting Goods, to get a partnership with one of the largest sporting manufacturers in the world, and ultimately to get a partnership with a professional volleyball league that will allow his company to grow and expand beyond imagination. Check her out, and subscribe to the BiggerPockets Business Podcast so you won’t miss our next show! ... show more

September 8, 2020

BiggerPockets Business Podcast 72: Finding the Opportunity Through Business - Crushing COVID With Michelle Oppelt and Samantha Mooney

Ready for some solid motivation on moving forward and pushing through? Need a reminder of the passion that led you to start your business in the first place? Could you use a dose of inspiration from t wo business partners who clearly share the same goals and are committed to succeed together, no matter what obstacles they face? This episode delivers all that and more! Michelle Oppelt and Samantha Mooney -- co-owners of Smartycat Kids and SmartyCatTV, have had a great run. Pouring tremendous amounts of faith into each other with a symbiotic relationship based on trust and tenacity, this dynamic duo spent over a decade developing, nurturing, and growing an engaging child education enrichment company serving hundreds of families. Operating like a well-oiled machine and with a plan in place for extreme expansion, timing wasn’t exactly on their side. Simply stated, Covid brought business to a screeching halt. Faced with a seriously tough situation, Michelle and Samantha took a big step back, assessed the situation, then faced the harsh reality. Their brainchild couldn’t just pivot--it was time to completely reinvent. In this episode, Michelle and Samantha give us great tips on using resources wisely, reaching out far and wide to find like-minded thinkers who can help us view things through a different lens. They give heartfelt advice on keeping your mission front and center to guide you through difficult choices. And they encourage us to not only accept change, but to fully embrace it, finding new opportunities to propel your entity to an entirely new place. Check them out, and subscribe to the BiggerPockets Business Podcast so you won’t miss our next show! ... show more

September 1, 2020

BiggerPockets Business Podcast 71: Mastering Business Without Business School With Josh Kaufman

Have you ever wanted to get a business school education, but didn’t want to spend the tens of thousands of dollars -- and many years of your life -- going to business school? Josh Kaufman -- author of the best-selling and foundational business book, “The Personal MBA” -- is here to talk about getting a business school education without having to ever set foot in college. Josh has just released his 10th Anniversary edition of his book, and provides a wealth of knowledge for entrepreneurs at any stage of their journey. On today’s episode, we talk about everything from how to learn business to measuring the success of your business to creating the systems and processes necessary to keep your business humming along. In addition, Josh provides actionable tips on how to overcome some of the biggest struggles facing entrepreneurs and biggest owners. Make sure you listen for Josh’s discussion of “akrasia” -- the idea that you know what you should be doing, and what is theoretically best for you, but often, you just can’t get yourself to do it. And then listen to Josh tell us exactly how we can overcome that roadblock and keep pushing forward. And make sure you listen to the end, where Josh recommends the top 99 business books you should have on your reading list to really propel you and business to success. Check him out, and subscribe to the BiggerPockets Business Podcast so you won’t miss our next show! ... show more

August 25, 2020

BiggerPockets Business Podcast 70: Turning a Hobby Side Hustle Into a Full Fledged Family Business With Sabrina Rosenberg

Is family front and center in your life? Do you dream of the day you can truly put family first while generating income and creating a lasting legacy? Would working alongside your loved ones, building together, be the icing on the cake? With all the uncertainty we are all currently facing, there’s no better time than now! Sabrina Rosenberg -- new owner/operator of A Childhood Store, a kid-focused company in its early stages of growth -- spent 15 years building other people’s businesses. Although a hefty salary, impressive awards for her accomplishments, and strong influence among staff members kept her going, the 16 hours a day, 7 days a week schedule left her missing out on what really mattered. In early 2020, enough was enough. She didn’t have a solid plan for what to do next, but was confident that her depth of experience in building systems and processes, utilizing her resources wisely, and digging deep to research, push forward, and problem solve would serve her well. In this episode, Sabrina tells us about the steps she took to join forces with her incredibly creative sister, who started a kid-focused product company several years prior. Its eco-friendly, sustainable offerings drew the attention of Whole Foods -- and Sabrina’s knack for building businesses was exactly what was needed to take the company to the next level. Sabrina provides us insight to a roadmap of steps she has taken, and that you can take as well, to start operating a side hustle like a real business. She shares incredibly valuable tips on entering into key distribution and wholesale channels. And best of all, she gives us some heartwarming inspiration about involving the entire family every step of the way. Make sure you listen all the way through to the end for Sabrina’s simple yet powerful 3 words of advice for anyone in the early stages of building a business. Follow this advice and it’s impossible to NOT make progress. Check her out, and subscribe to the BiggerPockets Business Podcast so you won’t miss our next show! ... show more

August 18, 2020

BiggerPockets Business Podcast 69: Accomplishing It All With Editor-In-Chief of Entrepreneur Magazine Jason Feifer

Were you simply born with a never-ending desire to do more and more? In spite of this, do you sometimes get in your own way, questioning your ability to make a real impact and get things done? Ever th ink, “Everyone else has this all figured out, why don’t I?,” overanalyzing and second-guessing yourself when presented with a new challenge? NEWSFLASH: You’re Not Alone! For years, Jason Feifer — Editor-in-Chief of Entrepreneur Magazine, has been an influencer with leading entrepreneurs crushing it in their respective industries. And Jason is clearly crushing it himself as well. Programmed with nonstop motivation and ambition to move forward, make progress, and teach others, Jason also hosts THREE leading podcasts, writes for prominent media outlets, and inspires individuals, business owners and companies as a highly sought-after international keynote speaker. In this episode, Jason talks about the power of solving unexpected problems, the importance of focus, dealing with “Imposter Syndrome,” and tells us the single best podcast (besides this one, of course!) that we should all be listening to in order to motivate us and jump-start our entrepreneurial dreams. Make sure you listen to the end, where Jason reveals his unique take on when and how to create a personal brand. Check him out, and subscribe to the BiggerPockets Business Podcast so you won’t miss our next show! ... show more

August 11, 2020

BiggerPockets Business Podcast 68: "Buy Then Build" Your Business With Best-Selling Author Walker Deibel

Have you ever thought about buying a business? If so, today’s episode is for YOU! Walker Deibel -- author of the best-selling “Buy Then Build” -- is here to talk about buying businesses. Not only was Walker’s book recognized as one of the top 7 books all entrepreneurs must read, but it’s currently being used in university MBA programs around the country. In this episode, Walker walks us through why buying a business is better than building one from scratch (did you know that only 4% of companies ever exceed $1M in revenue?), why now is the perfect time to be looking for the right business to purchase and what type of businesses we should be considering buying. We then jump into the process of buying a business, how to ensure that you’re adequately represented on your side of the deal, and what you should be doing TODAY to make progress towards buying your first -- or next -- business. Make sure you listen to the end where Walker tells us the biggest mistake he sees entrepreneurs making, and the most important thing you should be doing the day you close on the purchase of your new business. Check him out, and subscribe to the BiggerPockets Business Podcast so you won’t miss our next show! ... show more

August 4, 2020

BiggerPockets Business Podcast 67: Thinking BIG and Raising $70 Million with Jay Reno

Have you ever thought about starting a BIG business? Ever wondered what the first steps were to raising tens of millions of dollars? Do you unintentionally impose limitations on what you think you c an accomplish? Have you ever thought, “If I just had more money, I could take my idea to the next level!”? If so, this episode is for you! Jay Reno, founder of Feather, has thought BIG from the start. His entrepreneurial journey began with an idea a bit ahead of its time. When that venture didn’t work out so well, he took the lessons he learned to bootstrap a whole new concept. Living in New York City and identifying with the trend of a new generation of people defining success through life experiences rather than being tied down to meaningless material possessions, Jay recognized an opportunity to put his degree in Climate & Environmental Sciences to work. With just a few thousand dollars and a ton of hard work and diligence, Jay quickly achieved proof of concept for Feather, a furniture rental company providing a flexible and sustainable alternative to ownership. In this episode, Jay tells us about his amazing experience at Y Combinator, an incubator program where other leading companies like DoorDash, AirBNB, and Dropbox also got their start. He offers insight on the pros and cons of raising money vs. bootstrapping your way to success. (Yes, there actually IS heartache involved, even when investors have pumped 70 MILLION DOLLARS into your company.) And he provides awesome examples of taking risks, making bets, and positioning yourself to be lucky when the time is right. Make sure you pay attention to Jay’s reminders about the common excuses potential entrepreneurs make that hold them back, to make sure you overcome and avoid standing in your own way of greatness. Check him out, and subscribe to the BiggerPockets Business Podcast so you won’t miss our next show! ... show more

July 28, 2020

BiggerPockets Business Podcast 66: Leveraging COVID and Other Timely Trends to Build Wealth With John Berlingieri

Are you looking for some motivation on how to make money during this pandemic? If so, this episode is for you! John Berlingieri -- serial entrepreneur and creator of The Sanitizing Station -- te lls us about how he was able to go from idea to getting sales in two months on a $20,000 product aimed at helping to protect people from Covid infection. And how he was able to overcome all the complexities of doing so during the pandemic, while supply chains were shut down and in-person workers were scarce. In this episode, John provides tons of great tips on everything from naming your business and products to getting publicity for your business to “faking it until you make it” when working on BIG ideas. John also discusses how to design, prototype and build FAST when getting to market quickly is the one of the most important aspects of success. Make sure you listen for John’s amazing tip on what you should be reading to find lucrative business ideas, to keep up on business trends and to ensure that you beat your competition to market. Check him out, and subscribe to the BiggerPockets Business Podcast so you won’t miss our next show! ... show more

July 21, 2020

BiggerPockets Business Podcast 65: From 14-Year-Old Entrepreneur to National Brand With Sean Pour

Do you think you’re too inexperienced to start a business? Do you think you don’t have the required education to be an entrepreneur? Do you think you don’t have the marketing chops to create a success ful venture? Do you think you don’t have enough money to launch a million-dollar idea? If so, this is the episode for you… Sean Pour—founder of SellMax.com, a national used-car buying service—tells us about how he started his business at 14 years old, in attempt to help his parents keep their business afloat. What started out as an effort to help his family has, over the past 10 years, turned into a big business. Sean buys and sells thousands of cars per month all across the United States. In this episode, Sean talks about getting started even before he had a high school education, how he taught himself the coding and marketing skills necessary to get the business off the ground, and how he was able to bootstrap the company without any capital. He also discusses how to build your network and find a great mentor without spending any money... and even potentially MAKING money in the process! Listen for Sean’s amazing explanation about why too much education can actually hamper your likelihood for massive success and why those without a formal education often achieve much more. Check him out, and subscribe to the BiggerPockets Business Podcast so you won’t miss our next show! ... show more

July 14, 2020

BP Business Podcast 64: Building Your Brand and Getting to the Front of the Room with Erik Cabral

Do you long for the day you can leave your full-time job working for someone else? Ever think to yourself, “What if I take all this time and energy to build something for myself?!” Or are you exhauste d just thinking about building a brand from scratch, starting at the bottom of the ladder and working your way up all over again? If so, this is the episode for you… Erik Cabral -- founder of creative agency On Air Brands and the entrepreneur experience PodMAX -- tells us all about his “a-ha moment” that led him to leave a stable, high-paying corporate career to begin his entrepreneurial adventure. He walks us through the early days reaching out to literally everyone he knew to get invited to networking events; and his journey to “the front of the room” as an influencer and revered expert in brand building. By adding value helping like-minded people build their own unique brands, he now has global reach working with clients to enhance their marketing, online presence, podcasts, and live streaming strategies. In this episode, Erik talks about the importance of putting your ego aside, remaining consistent, and simply showing up to gain traction. He reminds us that the relationships we nurture through networking are front and center in any business. And he teaches his key principles in building a powerful brand, which he calls “The 4C’s” : Clarity, Community, Connection, and Collaboration. Make sure you listen to the end, where Erik shares a great personal story that went viral around the globe. Check him out, and subscribe to the BiggerPockets Business Podcast so you won’t miss our next show! ... show more

July 7, 2020

BiggerPockets Business Podcast 63: Full-Time Firefighting While Building a Million-Dollar Business With Lance Korhorn

Do you feel like you don’t have the knowledge and experience to start your own business? Perhaps you're looking for a way to leverage your full-time job to find the right business opportunity? Or mayb e you’re looking for ideas on how to create a grassroots marketing and branding effort without a lot of out-of-pocket costs? If so, this is the episode for you… Lance Korhorn—full-time firefighter and entrepreneur—walks us through how he was able to start Ladder 34, a business focused on recycling old fire hoses that were destined for the dump. Not only was he able to save tons of waste from the landfill, but he has recycled that “trash” into financial and philanthropic treasure. In this episode, Lance talks about how every fire hose is a story and how he has been able to build a business around preserving those stories—turning old hoses into belts, wallets, mats, and other items that delight customers and carry on the legacy of the lifesaving equipment. And not only is this a business supporting Lance and his family, but it's also supporting firehouses and firefighters around the country who are putting their lives on the line every day. Lance tells us how he came up with the idea for the business, how he struggled to create his first prototypes, and how he’s had to learn how to start, build, and grow a business every step of the way through trial and error. Make sure you listen to the end, where Lance reveals the power of storytelling, and how it’s helped grow Ladder $34 million-dollar business. Check him out, and subscribe to the BiggerPockets Business Podcast so you won’t miss our next show! ... show more

June 30, 2020

BiggerPockets Business Podcast 62: Building a Massively Profitable Business Around Your Passions With Alex French

Are you looking to build a business around something you love and are passionate about? Do you want to ensure that the business you’re working on has massive profit potential? Are you concerned that y ou don’t know how to do both of these things simultaneously? Today’s guest tells us how he was able to blend his passion with massive profits... and how we can, as well! Alex French—co-founder of Bizzy Coffee, the most popular cold-brew coffee brand sold through Amazon and retailers—knows firsthand how important it is to do something you love while also ensuring that there is market demand for your business. On this episode, he teaches us how we can identify which of our passions can be scaled into a profitable enterprise and how to validate our ideas quickly and inexpensively using Google. Alex also tells us how we can use influencers to get feedback on our business ideas and how they can spread the word to potential customers, too. Finally, he walks us through the basics of selling on Amazon, including how to use the platform to dominate in your product category. Make sure you listen for Alex’s powerful tip—one that cost his investors over $1M to learn—on what to do when you find your business veering off-course. Check him out, and subscribe to the BiggerPockets Business Podcast so you won’t miss our next show! ... show more

June 23, 2020

BiggerPockets Business Podcast 61: Launching a Hands-Off 'Cash Cow' Business With Less Than $100K, Step by Step With Ashley Kehr

Have you ever thought about creating a brick-and-mortar retail operation from scratch? Ever wonder what hoops you have to jump through to get a liquor license and launch a business selling alcohol? Ev er wonder how to do consumer research before opening a local store? Ashley Kehr—real estate investor, entrepreneur, and co-host of BiggerPockets' Real Estate Rookie Podcast—is in the process of building and launching a local liquor store, and she shares with us her step-by-step plan. In this episode, Ashley tells us how she found and hired an expert consultant, how she applied for and got a state liquor license, and how she was able to purchase the real estate and design it for her business. And she did it with a whole lot less cash than you might expect! Ashley provides a ton of great tips for any budding entrepreneurs looking to take that next step toward creating their own business. She talks about the value of networking, asking the right people the right questions, and the biggest roadblock that many of us need to overcome to get started. And make sure you listen for Ashley’s amazing tips on how to advertise your local business, as well. Check her out, and subscribe to the BiggerPockets Business Podcast so you won’t miss our next show! ... show more

June 16, 2020

BiggerPockets Business Podcast 60: Turning Your Passion Into a Scalable Business With Tammeca Rochester

On today's show, learn how to identify a personal passion and/or need, combine it with your professional skillset, and launch a business that energizes you and your community. Tammeca Rochester sit s down with J and Carol to reveal the story behind Harlem's first and only indoor cycling studio, Harlem Cycle. From the genesis of her idea, to hiring contractors and renting space, to her pricing strategy focused on "packages and commitments," Tammeca shares a ton of great tips for anyone looking to bootstrap any type of business today. Download this one, and be sure to subscribe to the BiggerPockets Business Podcast so you won't miss us next week! ... show more

June 9, 2020

BiggerPockets Business Podcast 59: A Sweet Deal: Buying a Chocolate Company With No Money Out of Pocket With Ryan Novak

Have you ever thought about taking over an existing business? Would you like to purchase a business with no money out of your pocket? Have you ever considered what it would take to expand a local busi ness nationally? All these questions—and more—are answered on this week’s podcast. Ryan Novak, owner of ChocolatePizza.com, graduated college and then went back to buy the small, local chocolate shop that he had worked in since he was 14 years old. He negotiated a no-money-down deal that left him as the sole owner of the shop—and an opportunity to grow the brand nationally. Using the power of the internet, Ryan has grown ChocolatePizza.com to a seven-figure company, shipping chocolate treats and gifts all around the United States. And at the same time, he has grown that local shop into a successful business in and of itself. On this episode, Ryan talks about how he acquired Chocolate Pizza, how he used what he learned in business school to grow and expand with over a dozen employees, and how he is now using the circumstances of the coronavirus pandemic to extend his brand even further. He tells us how he’s evolved his product offering to surprise and delight his customers and get people talking about the company to expand his reach. In addition, Ryan tells us how he’s giving back to his community. And specifically how he is using a local mentorship program he’s created to build a win/win for his business—hiring local high-school students to train them in business, while at the same time getting the benefit of low-cost employees, who are excited to learn and work. Check him out, and subscribe to the BiggerPockets Business Podcast so you won’t miss our next show! ... show more

June 2, 2020

BiggerPockets Business Podcast 58: Elevating Your Business & Investments in 3 Words With Josh McCallen

What differentiates good businesses from great businesses? What is that thing that keeps your customers coming back time after time? How do you ensure that your product or service really stands out fr om your competitors? More times than not, it’s providing an amazing customer experience. In fact, today’s guest has built his eight-figure business on this principle alone. And he tells us how we can do the same in our business. Josh McCallen—entrepreneur, investor, and business owner—has built his reputation as a luxury resort developer. Over the past decade, he and his investment team have bought, renovated, and turned around several high-end resorts. His key to success is always the same: implementing a customer experience that is second to none. On this episode, Josh tells us how he got started in both business and real estate, as well as when he first recognized the value—and necessity—of defining a world-class experience brand for his resorts. He also shares the three core values that rule over the experience he creates, how he implements those values in his business, and how you can do the same in yours. And make sure you listen through the "Four More" segment at the end to learn about the biggest mistake Josh made (and many people make) when buying a business and how it led him to failure in his first business purchase. Check him out, and subscribe to the BiggerPockets Business Podcast so you won’t miss our next show! ... show more

A real-world MBA for entrepreneurs

Previous Episodes

BiggerPockets Business Podcast

Create Lasting Wealth Through Real Estate