The UpFlip Podcast

• 208. The Boring 8-figure Business Hiding in Plain Sight

  Andrew went from a $13/hour manual labor job to a six-figure sales role at his corporate job. But decided to quit after a feud with a manager who called him “replaceable”. He then took a massive risk, liquidating his 401(k) to buy into his friend's tree-cutting side hustle. That gamble paid off, scaling the home services business into a powerhouse now earning over $180,000 a month with a near-zero marketing budget.In this episode, Andrew joins Ryan Atkinson to share the playbook for his business growth. Learn his unconventional marketing strategies, like using Reddit for free lead generation, plus actionable sales tactics for customer acquisition and crafting an irresistible offer to scale your small business.Takeaways:- A negative corporate experience can be a powerful catalyst for entrepreneurship; being told he was "replaceable" pushed Andrew to leave his stable, six-figure job.- Investing in a friend's existing business can be a viable entry into entrepreneurship; Andrew liquidated his 401(k) to buy a partnership stake, viewing it as a more active investment in his future.- For new home service businesses, the first sales should come from your immediate network of friends and family before expanding outward.- Use every job as a marketing opportunity by approaching neighbors (a "Four Corners" strategy) to let them know you're in the area and ask existing clients for referrals.- Leverage online communities like Reddit by providing genuine expert advice, not just advertising. This builds authority and can lead to organic referrals and top search engine rankings for free.- A strong, simple offer like a "satisfaction guarantee" can be more powerful than complex discounts. It builds trust and ensures customer happiness, which fuels word-of-mouth growth.- Focus marketing efforts on platforms where potential customers are actively searching for a solution (e.g., Google Pay-Per-Click) rather than passively scrolling (e.g., Facebook ads).- Don't underestimate "outdated" sales tactics. When business is slow, personally calling a list of past clients is a highly effective way to generate immediate leads.- In a commoditized industry, differentiate your business with superior quality and expertise. Having a certified expert perform the work was a key selling point for Tree Amigos.- Maintain a lean marketing budget by focusing on high-ROI, organic strategies. Andrew's company spends almost nothing on ads, relying on word-of-mouth, referrals, and his Reddit strategy.Tags: Side Hustle, Service & Consulting, Home Services, Tree Cutting Business, Small BusinessResources:Grow your business today: https://links.upflip.com/the-business-startup-and-growth-blueprint-podcast Connect with Andrew: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-anstrom-50441294/

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• 207. The "Boring" Business Idea that Prints Casfhlow

  Dan Blaker was trapped in a sales job he despised while struggling to manage his mother's vacation rental with unreliable cleaners. Searching for an escape, he stumbled upon MaidThis, a cleaning franchise specializing in short-term rentals. With no entrepreneurial background, Dan took a huge risk, securing a personal loan with his mother's help to buy in and start his side hustle.The beginning was a grind of late-night training calls and weekend work. The real test came when he was unexpectedly fired from his sales job, losing his only safety net. This pivotal moment forced him to go all-in on his business, hitting the streets with scrappy marketing tactics to survive. That pressure paid off—today, Dan’s generates over $250,000 a year, and he now trains other entrepreneurs entering the system.In this interview, Dan joins Ryan Atkinson to share his incredible journey from frustrated employee to successful business owner. Tune in to learn about how to start side hustle apart from your day jobl, how he secured funding, and the resilient mindset required to build a profitable business from the ground up.Takeaways:- "Messy, imperfect action" will always beat cautious, slow, and manageable growth. Don't wait for the perfect plan; just get started.- Losing your financial safety net can be a powerful catalyst, forcing you to commit fully and get resourceful with your business.- When starting with limited funds, invest your time instead of your money. Scrappy, in-person marketing like networking and visiting potential clients can be highly effective.- The emotional ups and downs of entrepreneurship are real. Learn to separate your feelings from the data-driven needs of the business to make logical decisions.- Focus on the lifetime value (LTV) of a customer. Offering flexibility or a discount upfront can secure a client worth thousands of dollars over the long term.- You don't need to reinvent the wheel. A franchise can provide the systems, playbook, and support network necessary to accelerate growth.- Starting a business often requires creative financing. Don't be afraid to take calculated risks, like securing a personal loan, if you believe in your model.- Resilience is a muscle built during the lowest points. Pushing through tough times equips you with the experience to know you can handle future challenges.- A franchise is not a passive investment. It requires just as much hard work, accountability, and late nights as starting a business from scratch.- Nobody knows exactly what they're doing when they start. The difference between a wannabe and an entrepreneur is the one who takes action despite the uncertainty.Tags: Side Hustle, Entrepreneurship, Business Growth, Cleaning Business, Small Business, Financial FreedomResources:Grow your business today: https://links.upflip.com/the-business-startup-and-growth-blueprint-podcast Connect with Dan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dlblaker

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• 206. "Just Ship It” The Philosophy to Start Your First Business

  Ty McBride comes from a long line of builders, but his grandfather urged him to forge his own path. Ty initially chased success by landing massive historic preservation contracts, only to find himself running a high-stress, low-profit “train wreck.” A sudden pivot during the pandemic pushed him back to his local community, where listening to his neighbors revealed a massive, unsolved problem: wood rot. This discovery led him to build a new business around a specialized epoxy repair service, turning a simple idea into a highly profitable and scalable national franchise.In this interview with Ryan Atkinson, Ty shares the business strategy that turned his company around. He explains how to dominate a niche business with a "mile deep, inch wide" approach, why true success lies in profitability, not just revenue, and how the "just ship it" mindset is crucial for starting a business. Don't miss these hard-won lessons on building a resilient home services company from the ground up.Takeaways:- Focus on Profit, Not Just Revenue: Build a sustainable business by prioritizing profitability from day one. As Ty states, "Revenue is for vanity, profit's for sanity."- Go a "Mile Deep and an Inch Wide": Dominate your market by becoming a specialist in a specific niche. This focus allows you to build better systems, charge premium prices, and become the go-to expert.- Adopt the "Just Ship It" Mentality: Overcome the fear of starting by taking action before you feel 100% ready. Securing the work first and then figuring out the perfect solution is a powerful way to launch your business.- Listen for Your Biggest Opportunities: Your customers' small, recurring problems can reveal massive gaps in the market. By listening carefully, you can identify a high-demand service that competitors have overlooked.- Big Contracts Can Be a Trap: Chasing the largest jobs isn't always the best business strategy. A model built on smaller, more profitable, and repeatable services can lead to greater financial stability and less stress.- Systematize One Thing Before You Diversify: Master and create efficient systems for your core service before you even consider adding another. Ensure your business can run smoothly without you before expanding your offerings.- Solve the Root Problem, Not the Symptom: A true expert digs deeper than a customer's initial request. By identifying the real underlying issue, you provide more value and build stronger trust.- Use Low-Cost Marketing to Start Lean: You can launch a successful home service business with a small budget. Targeted, "boots-on-the-ground" tactics like designing door hangers and canvassing ideal neighborhoods are highly effective for customer acquisition.- Embrace the Pivot: Be prepared to change your business model. Ty’s most successful venture came after a forced pivot, proving that adaptability is essential for long-term success.- Build Your Own Legacy: Even if an opportunity in a family business exists, the greatest growth and fulfillment often come from accepting the challenge to build something entirely your own.Tags: Home Services, Entrepreneurship, Niche Business, Epoxy Floor, Profitability, RemodellingResources:Grow your business today: https://links.upflip.com/the-business-startup-and-growth-blueprint-podcast Connect with Ty: https://www.instagram.com/tymcbrideok/?hl=en

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• 205. From Facebook Marketplace to $480K a Year in Car Sharing

  Aubrey Janik was stuck with a Jeep she didn’t like. When a friend mentioned renting his car on Turo, she listed it that same night. That impulse decision grew into a massive car-sharing business with a 34-vehicle, self-funded fleet that now generates up to $40,000 a month in revenue.What started as a side hustle became a lesson in smart asset acquisition. Aubrey mastered sourcing cars from Facebook Marketplace with a simple but brilliant strategy: buying reliable, depreciated vehicles below market value. This approach minimized risk and maximized profit on each rental, allowing her to rapidly expand her portfolio from one car to dozens.In this interview, Aubrey joins Ryan Atkinson to break down her entire business model. She reveals her checklist for buying profitable used cars, the specific models that generate the highest returns, and her system for managing a large fleet. This episode provides a clear roadmap to generating serious passive income through car sharing.Takeaways:- Act quickly to avoid "analysis paralysis." The guest listed her first car the same night she heard the idea, emphasizing that taking immediate action is crucial.- The most important strategy is to buy cars below market value that have already hit their depreciation floor. This minimizes financial risk and can even lead to a profit if the car is totaled.- You can source an entire fleet of vehicles from Facebook Marketplace. This allows you to find deals and scale without relying on traditional dealerships.- Don't rent out a personal vehicle you're emotionally attached to. Treat the cars purely as business assets and be prepared for wear, tear, and damage.- Reliable, low-maintenance brands like Toyota and specific Hyundai models offer the best value. Certain Hyundais, like the Elantra GT, have a lifetime engine warranty, making them a particularly smart buy.- A single car can generate significant revenue, with good cash cars earning $900-$1300 a month and higher-end models earning up to $2,100 a month.- The business is highly scalable. The guest grew her fleet from one car to 34, turning a side hustle into a full-time business generating up to $40,000 a month.- The barrier to entry is low. The guest's second car was purchased for under $3,000 in cash, funded by profits from the first car and personal savings.- Strictly follow the platform's Terms of Service. This is your primary protection against liability and financial loss in case of an accident.- Total losses are a predictable part of the business. By purchasing cars correctly (below market value), you can be financially covered or even profit from an insurance payoutTags:  Side Hustle, Entrepreneurship, Passive Income, Flipping Cars, Car Sharing, Turo, Facebook MarketplaceResources:Grow your business today: https://links.upflip.com/the-business-startup-and-growth-blueprint-podcastConnect with Aubrey:  https://www.youtube.com/c/AubreyJanik

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• 204. The Boring Businesses that Print Cash

  Imagine going from working warehouse shifts to keep your family afloat to owning a portfolio of over 140 rental units and multiple laundromats. That’s Brandon Schlichter's real-life story, and it’s one you have to hear. He found a secret most online gurus miss: while everyone’s chasing the same digital dreams, real wealth is hiding in 'boring businesses' with way less competition.In this chat with our host Ryan Atkinson, Brandon gets super specific on how he built his empire. He walks us through his playbook for buying a business, using creative finance, and setting up brilliant business scaling systems so he only works a few hours a week. If you're looking for a realistic path to passive income, finding business ideas, and achieving genuine financial freedom, this episode is a total game-changer. It’s your sign to stop scrolling and start building something real.Takeaways:- True wealth is often built in "boring businesses" like laundromats and car washes, which are overlooked because they seem like hard work. - The primary advantage of boring businesses is low competition; it's better to compete with five local owners than one billion people online. - A single, well-placed laundromat can generate significant income, potentially over $175,000 in net profit per year.- These businesses are not passive initially. They require significant front-loaded work to establish robust systems and processes before they can run with minimal effort.- To vet a laundromat location, look for a geographic area with around 7,500 people and a renter population of at least 35%, as customers rarely travel more than a mile.- Calculate the long-term value of your time. A task that seems menial is worth it if the business's 10-year opportunity averages out to $1,500+ per hour.- Many aging small business owners haven't updated their processes in decades, creating a massive opportunity for new buyers to modernize and drastically increase profits.- To learn an industry with no experience, offer to work for free at a local business. Most owners will gladly accept free, competent help in exchange for teaching you the ropes.- The single most important skill for scaling any business is learning how to effectively manage other people.- For a business, you can start this weekend for under $500, considering small engine repair. There is a huge demand, and many repairs are simple carburetor cleanings that you can charge $100+ for.Tags: Passive Income, Entrepreneurship, Business Buying, Investmentjoy, Car Wash, Vending Machine, Business Scaling, Boring BusinessesResources:Grow your business today: https://links.upflip.com/the-business-startup-and-growth-blueprint-podcast Connect with Brandon: https://www.instagram.com/investmentjoy/

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