The Koerner Office - Live Call-In Business Advice (Dave Ramsey for entrepreneurs, but with hair). podcast episodes download Apr, 2024 (2024)

From Side Hustle to $134k/Year - Sean's Photography Business

In today's special episode where we delve into the intriguing success story of Sean Audet, a 30-year-old food photographer hailing from the heart of Canada. Sean's journey is a fascinating exploration of the principles that catapulted his freelancing career to unprecedented heights. In today's episode, we'll unravel the three key business principles that not only fueled Sean's success but are applicable to any entrepreneur looking to carve their path in the business world.
From skill leveraging to adaptability in niche and strategic investments, Sean's story is a goldmine of insights.
Introduction:
Brief overview of Sean Audet, a 30-year-old freelance food photographer from Winnipeg, Canada.Teaser for the three key business principles that fueled Sean's success.Principle #1: Skill Leveraging
Exploration of how Sean leveraged his culinary skills from years as a cook and sous-chef.Application for business owners: Identifying and maximizing existing skills within your team for business diversification.Principle #2: Adaptability in Niche
Discussion on Sean's journey from food photography to expanding into beverages and cosmetics.Application for business owners: The importance of staying adaptable to industry trends and exploring related fields for sustained relevance.Principle #3: Investing Strategically
Insight into Sean's strategic investments, starting with a modest budget and growing as his business flourished.Application for business owners: Guidance on allocating resources wisely for long-term growth, whether you're a startup or an established enterprise.Preface for Takeaways:
Emphasis on the universality of these principles, applicable to businesses of all sizes and industries.Encouragement for entrepreneurs to stay tuned for actionable takeaways that could shape the future of their ventures.Conclusion:
Recap of the key principles discussed.Teaser for upcoming episodes and a reminder to entrepreneurs to stay innovative.

085: Building a $2 Billion SaaS Company for Law Firms

Join us as we unravel the compelling story of DISCO, a legal tech company that soared to great heights, faced tough challenges, and recently found itself at a crossroads. From strategic acquisitions to navigating a competitive market and maintaining an unwavering focus on customer retention, DISCO's journey is a masterclass in business principles that every entrepreneur can learn from. So, buckle up as we explore the rise, fall, and recent twists in the DISCO saga, shedding light on key principles that spell success in the fast-paced landscape of the business world.

Introduction:
Welcome back to Startup Gems, where we dissect real-world business stories.Teaser about DISCO's rise, challenges, and recent developments.Segment 1: Strategic Acquisitions
DISCO's smart moves with acquisitions: Levity, Nextpoint, Esquify.How these acquisitions expanded DISCO's product offering and market reach.Concrete tip for business owners: Consider strategic acquisitions to complement your offerings and fill product gaps.Segment 2: Adaptability in a Competitive Market
The fierce competition in the legal tech industry.DISCO's ability to navigate challenges and showcase adaptability.Concrete tip for business owners: Stay vigilant, adapt strategies, and conduct regular competitor analysis.Segment 3: Strong Focus on Retention
DISCO's impressive retention rates: gross logo retention of 95%, net revenue retention rate of 121%.The significance of building and maintaining a strong customer base.Concrete tip for business owners: Prioritize customer retention through loyalty programs and consistent value delivery.Conclusion:
Recap of the three key principles: Strategic Acquisitions, Adaptability, and Strong Focus on Retention.Invitation for listeners to stay tuned for more business insights.Subscribe to Startup Gems to catch every episode!

086: The Billion Dollar Company You've Never Heard of

Today, we have a particularly fascinating tale to share—the rise of OpenGov and the strategic principles that propelled them to the summit of the tech world. From shrewd acquisitions to powerful backing and a commitment to purpose-driven innovation, OpenGov's journey is a masterclass in effective business strategies.
In the next few minutes, we'll dissect the elements that transformed OpenGov from a hidden gem into a powerhouse. First up, we'll delve into their strategic acquisitions, exploring how each move was a calculated step towards building a comprehensive SaaS platform. Then, we'll unravel the web of powerful backing and alliances that played a pivotal role in OpenGov's ascent. Finally, we'll explore the driving force behind it all—purpose-driven innovation—and how it can revolutionize your own business.
Introduction:
Brief overview of the episode's focus on OpenGov's rise to prominence.Teaser about the three key principles that contributed to OpenGov's success.Section 1: Strategic Acquisitions
Insight into OpenGov's strategic acquisitions, including ProcureNow and Cartegraph.Exploration of how these acquisitions contributed to the development of an end-to-end SaaS platform.Concrete application for listeners: Guidance on how strategic partnerships and acquisitions can enhance their business offerings.Section 2: Powerful Backing and Alliances
Examination of OpenGov's powerful backing from industry giants such as Cox Enterprises, Insight Partners, and Marc Andreessen.Discussion on the significance of strategic partnerships beyond financial support.Practical advice for listeners: Strategies for forging influential alliances in their respective industries.Section 3: Purpose-Driven Innovation
Deep dive into OpenGov's mission of powering effective and accountable government.Analysis of how purpose-driven innovation, exemplified by taking government operations to the cloud, played a pivotal role in OpenGov's success.Application for listeners: Encouragement to align their businesses with a purpose beyond profits, with examples and insights on fostering innovation.Conclusion:
Recap of the key principles discussed: strategic acquisitions, powerful backing and alliances, and purpose-driven innovation.Encouragement for listeners to apply these principles to their own business strategies.Teaser for upcoming episodes and a call to subscribe for more business insights.

Startup Gems Name Change, Pivot + Season 2

Please listen. Startup Gems is pivoting.

03 - Towing biz for drunks, startup for job seekers, trophy recycling, roof repair lead gen + more!

HVAC Saas: How to find commercial property owners on LinkedIn

How to price your offer for a cold email leadgen agency

A towing biz for drunk people

How to sell 40,000 solar eclipse glasses

Using drones to sell roofing leads

How to approach waste management company owners to sell software

How to position and sell a service to job seekers

Should he start an Indian virtual assistant agency

How to grow a trophy and engraving business. Trophy recycling?

How to raise money for a new company when I already have a Salesforce integration agency?

Carfax for homeowners idea

04 - B2B custom souvenirs, trash collection, acai bowl franchise, home services lead gen software!

We made some changes!

1. We edited out the caller segments that weren't highly rated.
2. We reordered the caller segments from highest to lowest rated.

We also added an intro of all the caller segments at the beginning. Enjoy! Timestamps below:

0:00 - Intro to all the segments

03:47 - Growing a virtual receptionist for home service biz

08:34 - Google street views biz

18:38 - Roofs with tarps idea

20:15 - Custom souvenirs biz. Build or buy?

28:10 - Trash collection biz in Missouri.

35:30 - Acai franchise? Yay or nay? If nay, which franchise is better?

We'll do it again live on Twitter this Wednesday, March 13 at 2pm CST!

05 - Wedding venues, vending machine locator, LLM for law firms, which side hustle to choose, paid ads, Twitter spaces and VA agency.

04:24 - Wedding venue idea (How saturated is the wedding venue market and what ancillary services can be offered?)

14:00 - Vending machine business (Caller interested in purchasing vending machine location business on acquire.com, which I've previously corresponded with the seller about a month ago)

22:03 - Chat GPT for law firms idea (Caller interested in pitching AI-based training manuals for law firms)

32:30 - Which side hustle to choose? (Caller has multiple side hustles including a community, newsletter, and a full-time job. Wants advice on which one to prioritize)

35:29 - Paid ads agency (Guy runs a paid ads agency with one dentist client, seeking advice on acquiring more customers)

37:42 - Are twitter spaces worth it? (Caller inquired about Twitter Spaces, asking if it's effective for audience growth, with the conversation ironically occurring on Spaces.)

45:13 - VA agency (Caller considered opening a VA agency, seeking advice on which niche and revenue model to pursue)

01 - Street sweeping probs, realtor websites, quitting a job for a moving biz and 3 more call-ins.

- How to grow a SoCal street sweeping biz

- What biz a sales guy should start in Houston

- How to uniquely grow a biz making websites for realtors

- How to fix occupancy issues in 2 Alabama RV parks

- To quit and grow a moving biz even more, or keep the job and try something else?

- What business in Norfolk, VA a guy should start with his 3 kids

Welcome to Episode 2 of Koerner's Corner! Today we had questions from 9 callers that covered:

Payment Processor Discussion - Best way to handle payments and invoicing for B2B services.

Cold Email Agency Strategy - How to refine the business model for a cold email agency that targets staffing and recruiting companies.

Espresso Catering Venture -Viability and strategy for starting a mobile espresso catering service targeting office and school events.

Income Tax Services Growth - How to expand a personal income tax service, especially for self-employed and small business owners.

Acquiring a SaaS Business - Considerations and strategies for buying an existing SaaS business.

Starting a Roofing Company - Key factors to consider when starting a roofing company.

B2B Law Enforcement Software - How to create and market software solutions for law enforcement and private security sectors.

Seasonal Decorating Service - The potential for a business providing decorating services for holidays like Ramadan, Diwali, and Lunar New Year.

Tesla Vehicle Care Services - Opportunities in offering specialized services for Tesla owners, such as wheel repair and mobile washing at supercharging stations.

Deep dive into my backstory, running a holdco, business stories, etc. Interview with Millennial Investing Podcast.

I was recently interviewed by the one of the most popular investing podcasts, Millennial Investing. Patrick dove deep on my backstory and asked me both business and personal questions that I rarely get asked. It was a great time.

I thought it was one of the best podcast interviews I'd ever done, so I thought you might enjoy it as well.

0:00:22 - What my experience was like being a missionary in Hungary
0:06:27 - What some of my early hustles as a teenager were
0:08:22 - How I got started writing and honing my craft
0:09:59 - How Twitter has affected my career
0:12:30 - How I has structured his holding company, Cofounders
0:14:01 - How I incubates new entrepreneurial ideas
0:15:00 - What are the qualities I looks for in people I partner with
0:16:34 - How I created a company selling Buc-ee’s products
0:24:46 - What I think about there being an entrepreneurial gene
0:25:33 - How I have entrepreneurial competitions with my kids
0:28:32 - How I got connected with John McAfee
0:35:10 - When I got involved with bitcoin mining
0:38:29 - How I developed conviction in bitcoin and what my price predictions are
0:41:11 - How I handle the volatility of bitcoin
0:42:12 - When and how I first got involved with real estate
0:43:54 - Why I loves mobile home park investing
0:45:45 - What an average day for me is like
0:47:20 - What is Parkinson’s Law
0:50:17 - How I comes up with creative business ideas
0:54:04 - Why I got into ultramarathons
1:03:27 - How me and my wife became living organ donors

06 - Home service vertical integration, quit job to start a biz, bandit signs, bookkeeping biz and 50/50 partnership advice.

01:38 - Home service vertical integration (Question pertained to a landscaping business worth around $3 million, inquiring about potential vertical integration and additional services to incorporate)
09:37 - What should he quit his job to start? (The second individual was contemplating quitting their job and seeking advice on what to pursue next, a common query. They appeared to appreciate the guidance provided.)

21:59 - Bandit signs (The inquiry came from someone in the Dallas-Fort Worth area seeking advice on using bandit signs to promote their wife's cleaning business. Drawing from personal experience, I provided guidance on the matter.)

32:19 - Bookkeeping biz (This came from a financial professional interested in hiring virtual assistants to provide specialized bookkeeping services to a distinct niche.)

39:20 - 50/50 partnership (Ryan sought advice on starting a partnership with a friend, aiming for a 50-50 split despite my newsletter's caution against it. After delving into the partnership details, I offered tailored recommendations)

I'm changing the name but the content stays the same. Here is why!

From $0 - $30m with John McAfee. What happened when I showed up on his doorstep.

You're going to love this story. That's all I'll say.