Low Bar Podcast

The Auction Sites Resellers Don’t Want You to Know About — Ep. 38

Government auctions, liquidation auctions, and industrial surplus sales are hiding opportunities most people never see. This episode breaks down the auction sites resellers use to find inventory, source products, and build profitable businesses. Shannon Jean is back to walk Ben and Jon through the auction sites, liquidation marketplaces, and government surplus programs where resellers find inventory most people never see. From Costco returns and Target truckloads to industrial equipment and military surplus, they break down where the opportunities actually are. Shannon explains how experienced buyers evaluate manifests, use AI to research products, avoid emotional bidding, and often find buyers before they ever purchase inventory. The conversation also covers Facebook Marketplace, reseller networks, live selling, and how Shannon accidentally grew a $5 mastermind into a community of more than 3,300 members. Find Shannon Jean's Mastermind at https://shannonjean.com/mastermind Find Shannon Jean's Auction Starter Guide at https://shannonjean.com/auctions Business is simple. People are lazy. https://lowbarpod.com/ Join the private Low Bar Pod community and hang out with BK and Jon plus all of our other awesome members! — https://low-bar-pod.circle.so/checkout/membership Sponsor: KetoneAid Ke4 — Tastes terrible. Isn't cheap. Will make you uncomfortably productive. Grab yours at https://ketoneaid.com/lowbar for free shipping — the flow state in a bottle that lets me get more done in 2 hours than most people do all day. Timestamps: 00:11 — Shannon goes shopping (helicopters?!?!?) 05:27 — Strategies for flipping items 09:20 — Looking at BidSpotter 14:24 — Brand-names at B-Stock 16:51 — Importance of finding buyers before purchasing inventory 24:32 — Navigating high-volume liquidation 27:35 — High-profit opportunities with items like heavy appliances 30:29 — Analyzing a massive liquidation deal of auto parts 33:10 — Success stories from the reseller community 38:49 — The evolution of Shannon's mastermind and business vision 47:15 — Final advice on embracing discomfort to achieve business growth *Follow us on Social* *Instagram* — https://www.instagram.com/lowbarpod/ *Facebook* — https://www.facebook.com/LowBarPod *X* — https://x.com/LowBarPodcast *TikTok* — https://www.tiktok.com/@lowbarpodcast Topics: government auctions, liquidation auctions, surplus inventory, reseller business, liquidation pallets, Facebook Marketplace flipping, Costco returns, industrial surplus, side hustle ideas, online business #LowBarPodcast #Entrepreneurship #BusinessTalk #Founders #Podcast #Reselling #LiquidationAuctions #GovernmentAuctions #SideHustle #Flipping **Some links may be affiliate links, meaning we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.**

BK Has Started 20 Businesses. Here's What He'd Do Again — Ep. 37

Starting a business, making money online, and building real income streams looks a lot different when you’ve actually done it over and over again. This episode breaks down every business BK has started over the last 10 years and which ones he would still start today. Ben walks through everything from mowing lawns and flipping class rings to high ticket dropshipping, Amazon FBA, content businesses, partnerships, ecommerce brands, and multiple exits. Some businesses failed immediately. Some made life changing money. Some turned into businesses worth hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars. Ben and Jon break down the lessons behind each one, what actually worked, the biggest mistakes, and why most people wait too long to start anything at all. They also talk about partnerships, selling businesses too early, the power of content, using AI to move faster, and why cash flow matters more than most entrepreneurs realize. These are real businesses, real wins, real losses, and real lessons from actually doing the work. Topics covered: • the first businesses BK started as a kid • flipping class rings and fake jerseys for profit • why his first clothing brand failed • building and selling high ticket dropshipping stores • starting an Amazon FBA brand for $300 • how content led to new business opportunities • partnerships that worked and ones that didn’t • selling businesses too early • why cash flow changes everything • what businesses BK would still start in 2026 Business is simple. People are lazy. https://lowbarpod.com/ Join the private Low Bar Pod community and hang out with BK and Jon plus all of our other awesome members! — https://low-bar-pod.circle.so/checkout/membership Sponsor: Sleep like you’re dead (in a good way). Grab yours at https://SwitchSupplements.com/lowbar Use code LOWBAR for $10 off Killswitch — the sleep aid for people who can’t stop thinking about business. Timestamps: 00:22 — The beginnings of BK's businesses 02:44 — Flipping class rings 05:29 — The failed UFC clothing brand 09:18 — Discovering high ticket dropshipping 13:34 — Selling the first ecommerce business 15:13 — Thailand, Amazon FBA, and adult coloring books 26:05 — Content creation and podcasting 29:01 — Starting a pet brand for $300 36:25 — Selling businesses too early 42:13 — Cash flow matters 48:04 — The businesses BK would still start today Follow us on Social Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/lowbarpod/ Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/LowBarPod X — https://x.com/LowBarPodcast TikTok — https://www.tiktok.com/@lowbarpodcast Topics: entrepreneurship, business ideas, ecommerce business, online business, make money online, side hustle ideas, high ticket dropshipping, Amazon FBA, startup lessons, business mistakes #lowbarpodcast #Entrepreneurship #BusinessTalk #Founders #Podcast #Ecommerce #AmazonFBA #Dropshipping #OnlineBusiness #sidehustleschool **Some links may be affiliate links, meaning we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.**

• Transcript

Holy #@&! Dropshipping Still Works? — Ep. 36

Everyone says dropshipping is dead. Meanwhile, Wayfair is running one of the biggest ecommerce businesses in the world on a dropship network. This episode breaks down what dropshipping actually is and why almost everyone gets it wrong. Ben and Jon explain the simplest definition of dropshipping. It is not a business model. It is a method of fulfillment used by companies like Wayfair, Amazon, Walmart, and Target every day. They walk through the full Wayfair origin story. Two founders built over 240 niche ecommerce sites using dropshipping, scaled to $500 million in revenue, and still rely on it today as a drop ship network. Then they bring it back to real operators. Ben just launched a new store. Jon sold one for $300,000. They explain why dropshipping data is the best foundation for launching your own brand and how this turns into a real, sellable asset. They also break down what has changed. AI has made starting faster and cheaper than ever, removing technical barriers that used to slow people down. This is not AliExpress hype. This is a real ecommerce playbook that has been working for decades. Topics covered: • what dropshipping actually is • why dropshipping is not a business model • the Wayfair origin story and playbook • how ecommerce stores scale with dropshipping • using data to launch your own brand • why most people fail with dropshipping • how AI speeds up execution • starting a store with under $500 • building a sellable ecommerce asset • the future of dropshipping and TikTok Shop Business is simple. People are lazy. https://lowbarpod.com/ Join the private Low Bar Pod community and hang out with BK and Jon plus all of our other awesome members! — https://low-bar-pod.circle.so/checkout/membership Sponsor: KetoneAid Ke4 — Tastes terrible. Isn't cheap. Will make you uncomfortably productive. Grab yours at https://ketoneaid.com/lowbar for free shipping — the flow state in a bottle that lets me get more done in 2 hours than most people do all day. Timestamps: 00:13 — What dropshipping actually is and misunderstandings of it 01:56 — Wayfair story 05:04 — Why people talk bad about dropshipping 07:07 — Ecommerce business model 13:51 — BK launches new dropship store 17:53 — Starting for Under $500 18:40 — Jon and BK talk exits 24:23 — The Future: Brand Power, TikTok, and Whatnot?? *Follow us on Social* *Instagram* — https://www.instagram.com/lowbarpod/ *Facebook* — https://www.facebook.com/LowBarPod *X* — https://x.com/LowBarPodcast *TikTok* — https://www.tiktok.com/@lowbarpodcast Topics: dropshipping, ecommerce business, make money online, online business, side hustle, start an ecommerce business, beginner ecommerce, shopify store, dropshipping business, ecommerce strategy #LowBarPodcast #Entrepreneurship #BusinessTalk #Founders #Podcast #Dropshipping #Ecommerce #MakeMoneyOnline #OnlineBusiness #sidehustlepodcast **Some links may be affiliate links, meaning we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.**

She Started A Business Before She Even Moved There — Ep. 35

Local business ideas, side hustles, and simple ways to make money offline are everywhere. This episode breaks down what happens when people actually take action on those ideas instead of overthinking them. After hearing an idea on the podcast, Rachel launched a local newsletter for a city she does not even live in yet. Within a day she had engagement, comments, and local businesses asking to be featured. Then there is Myke. Same concept, different execution. He moved fast, built a local advertising offer, and actually put it in front of businesses instead of waiting to feel ready. Ben and Jon break down both examples and what they reveal. Why most people sit on ideas. Why a few move immediately. And what actually happens when you take action before you feel ready. Then they zoom out. They look at a Quiet Light listing of a CPA who built 9 YouTube channels and turned it into a multi million dollar business, showing how simple ideas can compound into real assets over time. This is not about complicated strategies. It is about speed, momentum, and building something real while everyone else is still thinking. Topics covered: • starting before you feel ready • launching in a city you do not live in • local newsletters and early engagement • building a local advertising offer quickly • why most people never take action • validating an idea in days, not months • turning small wins into real businesses • the CPA with 9 YouTube channels case study • how simple ideas turn into real assets • why execution beats competition Business is simple. People are lazy. https://lowbarpod.com/ Join the private Low Bar Pod community and hang out with BK and Jon plus all of our other awesome members! — https://low-bar-pod.circle.so/checkout/membership Sponsor: Sleep like you’re dead (in a good way). Grab yours at https://SwitchSupplements.com/lowbar Use code LOWBAR for $10 off Killswitch — the sleep aid for people who can’t stop thinking about business. Timestamps: 00:17 — Rachel's rapid implementation of a local newsletter 06:02 — Mike's launch of a local advertising website in London 12:27 — Scaled-up version of community advertising 14:25 — Strategy for starting small to gain initial "wins" 16:51 — Addressing objections that arise 21:10 — Potential for combining physical mailers with digital 23:10 — Exploring a business as a starter model 30:28 — Analysis of a $2.5 million YouTube channel portfolio for sale Follow us on Social Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/lowbarpod/ Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/LowBarPod X — https://x.com/LowBarPodcast TikTok — https://www.tiktok.com/@lowbarpodcast #LowBarPodcast #Entrepreneurship #BusinessTalk #Founders #Podcast #StartABusiness #SideHustle #TakeAction #BusinessIdeas #MakeMoneyOffline Topics: start a business, side hustle ideas, local business, business ideas, make money offline, validate business idea, beginner business, take action, entrepreneurship

• Transcript

His Last Idea Failed. Then AI Built His Next One in 2 Weeks — Ep. 34

Building a business, using AI, and making money online sounds simple until your first idea fails. This episode breaks down what happens next and how one operator rebuilt fast. John Murphy (https://www.friqlabs.com/) sold his high ticket dropshipping business, tried launching a cold plunge brand in Italy, and watched it fail. Instead of overthinking the next move, he pivoted and built a new business in under two weeks using AI by solving a real problem he kept seeing. The idea came from helping investigate a $4000 fraud order. That turned into a service business focused on fraud detection for ecommerce stores. Ben and Jon break down the full process. Why the cold plunge business failed. What he learned after selling his first company. And how he used AI to build systems, workflows, and a working service without being technical. Topics covered: • why the cold plunge business failed in Italy • the mistake of building without demand • how taxes and bureaucracy slowed everything down • the moment he spotted a real opportunity • the $4000 fraud problem and how it turned into a business • building a tool using AI without being technical • the exact tech stack using Shopify, Make, and Airtable • how AI helped build the system step by step • launching a service business in under two weeks • early traction and customer results • pricing mistakes and scaling challenges He did not start with a perfect idea. He started with a problem and moved fast. This is what actually using AI to build a business looks like. Business is simple. People are lazy. https://lowbarpod.com/ Join the private Low Bar Pod community and hang out with BK and Jon plus all of our other awesome members! — https://low-bar-pod.circle.so/checkout/membership Sponsor: KetoneAid Ke4 — Tastes terrible. Isn't cheap. Will make you uncomfortably productive. Grab yours at https://ketoneaid.com/lowbar for free shipping — the flow state in a bottle that lets me get more done in 2 hours than most people do all day. Timestamps: 00:18 — Details of John's business exit 03:16 — Launching a cold plunge brand 06:03 — Navigating bureaucracy in Italy 13:14 — Transitioning into fraud detection 15:52 — Explaining how Ekata software works 21:38 — Building a custom fraud risk agency 25:02 — Technical breakdown of the AI-built workflow 32:55 — Using AI to develop "superpowers" 38:04 — Calculating pricing for high-ticket services 48:43 — Introduction to FRIQ Labs *Follow us on Social* *Instagram* — https://www.instagram.com/lowbarpod/ *Facebook* — https://www.facebook.com/LowBarPod *X* — https://x.com/LowBarPodcast *TikTok* — https://www.tiktok.com/@lowbarpodcast Topics: ai business, build a business with ai, ecommerce, service business, startup ideas, online business #LowBarPodcast #Entrepreneurship #BusinessTalk #Founders #Podcast #AIBusiness #StartupIdeas #Ecommerce #OnlineBusiness #BuildInPublic

7 Weird Ways People Are Making Money With AI Right Now — Ep. 33

AI business ideas, side hustles, and ways to make money online are everywhere right now. This episode breaks down the real ways people are actually using AI to make money today. Ben went down a rabbit hole and came back with a mix of practical, weird, and surprisingly effective AI business ideas. Not theory. Not hype. Stuff people are already doing. From AI generated feet pics and fake grandma influencers to one star review content, faceless YouTube channels, AI music, and digital products, this is what it actually looks like in the wild. Jon challenges most of them, pushing back on what actually works, what is already saturated, and what sounds good but falls apart in execution. Some of these ideas are smart. Some are borderline ridiculous. All of them prove the same point. The bar is still incredibly low. This is not about building an AI startup. It is about using tools that already exist to test ideas fast and find what sticks. Topics covered: • AI generated content and fake personas • AI feet pics and niche monetization • faceless AI influencers and viral content • turning one star reviews into content channels • AI music and selling custom songs • faceless YouTube and background content • AI voiceovers and simple Fiverr services • AI books, coloring books, and digital products • how to test and batch content quickly • where these ideas actually work and where they don’t Business is simple. People are lazy. https://lowbarpod.com/ Join the private Low Bar Pod community and hang out with BK and Jon plus all of our other awesome members! — https://low-bar-pod.circle.so/checkout/membership Sponsor: Sleep like you’re dead (in a good way). Grab yours at https://SwitchSupplements.com/lowbar Use code LOWBAR for $10 off Killswitch — the sleep aid for people who can’t stop thinking about business. Timestamps: 00:43 — AI feet pics and niche content monetization 03:36 — Fake AI grandma influencers 07:23 — Turning one-star reviews into content 11:01 — Building simple AI content channels 13:21 — AI music and custom song ideas 19:57 — Faceless YouTube channels 21:23 — AI books and digital products 25:17 — Selling AI services on Fiverr 29:46 — What actually works vs. what doesn’t Follow us on Social Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/lowbarpod/ Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/LowBarPod X — https://x.com/LowBarPodcast TikTok — https://www.tiktok.com/@lowbarpodcast #LowBarPodcast #Entrepreneurship #BusinessTalk #Founders #Podcast #AIBusiness #SideHustles #MakeMoneyOnline #DigitalProducts #AI Topics: ai business ideas, make money with ai, ai side hustles, online business, faceless content, digital products

You Can Sell Anything in 30 Seconds (Live Selling) — Ep. 32

Live selling, ecommerce, and reselling on Whatnot and TikTok are creating a new way to make money online. This episode breaks down a live auction business where products sell every 30 seconds through urgency, entertainment, and impulse buying. Kip Roland (X - @kip_roland) spent years selling on eBay, Amazon, and Etsy until Amazon suspended his account. Instead of rebuilding on a platform he did not control, he pivoted to live auctions and built a business that moves inventory in real time. Ben and Jon talk with Kip about how this actually works and why it is completely different from traditional ecommerce. You are not listing products and waiting for buyers. You are running a show where people show up to watch and end up buying things they did not plan to purchase. Kip explains why variety beats depth, why the show matters more than the product, and how resellers move inventory every 30 seconds without listing anything in advance. Get 2 months of Kip's Live Selling Academy for the price of 1 with our affiliate link, https://liveselling.academy/lowbar Topics covered: • how live selling auctions actually work • why products sell every 30 seconds • why variety beats depth in live selling • why the show matters more than the product • selling without being pushy or salesy • how resellers move inventory without listing anything • sourcing, pricing, and shipping for live auctions • what separates successful sellers from average Business is simple. People are lazy. https://lowbarpod.com/ Join the private Low Bar Pod community and hang out with BK and Jon plus all of our other awesome members! — https://low-bar-pod.circle.so/checkout/membership Sponsor: KetoneAid Ke4 — Tastes terrible. Isn't cheap. Will make you uncomfortably productive. Grab yours at https://ketoneaid.com/lowbar for free shipping — the flow state in a bottle that lets me get more done in 2 hours than most people do all day. Timestamps: 00:11 — Kip's Background 03:06 — Biggest Untapped Ecommerce Opportunity? 05:28 — Live Auctions vs Live Selling 07:22 — Why People Buy Live 09:23 — You Do Not Need to Be Entertaining 16:07 — What to Sell and How to Source 21:52 — The Only Tech You Need to Start 24:00 — Backend Logistics 35:18 — The Future of Live Auctions 45:00 — How to Scale 51:00 — WhatNot vs TikTok *Follow us on Social* *Instagram* — https://www.instagram.com/lowbarpod/ *Facebook* — https://www.facebook.com/LowBarPod *X* — https://x.com/LowBarPodcast *TikTok* — https://www.tiktok.com/@lowbarpodcast Topics: live selling, whatnot, ecommerce, reselling, live auctions, make money online #LowBarPodcast #Entrepreneurship #BusinessTalk #Founders #Podcast #LiveSelling #Whatnot #Ecommerce #MakeMoneyOnline #Reselling

Start This Postcard Ad Business With No Money — Ep. 31

Local business ideas, side hustles, and simple ways to make money offline are everywhere. This episode breaks down a postcard advertising business that can be started with no money by selling ad space to local businesses. Rachel from Big Sky Automation explains how “community cards” work, one postcard sent to thousands of homes with multiple local businesses sharing the cost. The postcards are sent using Every Door Direct Mail EDDM through the USPS, so you can reach thousands of homes without ever buying a list. Then Ben and Jon get into what actually matters with Rachel, how you sell spots before you build anything, who to pitch, and how this turns into a simple local business without upfront cost. Find more on Big Sky Automation and check out their their community with our referral link at Community Card Playbook. Get started today! Topics covered: • how the postcard ad business works • Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) postcards • selling ad spots before building anything • pricing at $150-$250 per business and scaling up • how to find and pitch local businesses • using Facebook and email outreach to close deals • why “junk mail” still works as advertising • indirect vs direct response marketing • choosing the right businesses for each card • turning one postcard into recurring revenue This is a simple local business hiding in plain sight. No inventory. No ads. Just selling access to attention. Business is simple. People are lazy. https://lowbarpod.com/ Join the private Low Bar Pod community and hang out with BK and Jon plus all of our other awesome members! — https://low-bar-pod.circle.so/checkout/membership Sponsor: Sleep like you’re dead (in a good way). Grab yours at https://SwitchSupplements.com/lowbar Use code LOWBAR for $10 off Killswitch — the sleep aid for people who can’t stop thinking about business. Timestamps: 00:10 — What are community cards? 02:32 — Make $1,000 this weekend!? 06:07 — Indirect vs. direct advertising 11:46 — Branding and offer-based advertising 14:15 — How to find clients 17:35 — Pricing and finding the sweet spot 21:32 — Business success and positive feedback 27:15 — Designing the cards and templates 31:35 — Printing and shipping the cards 35:05 — Setting expectations 43:36 — Scaling beyond postcards Follow us on Social Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/lowbarpod/ Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/LowBarPod X — https://x.com/LowBarPodcast TikTok — https://www.tiktok.com/@lowbarpodcast #LowBarPodcast #Entrepreneurship #BusinessTalk #Founders #Podcast #LocalBusiness #SideHustle #Advertising #OfflineBusiness #MakeMoney Topics: local business ideas, postcard advertising, offline business, make money locally, side hustle, advertising business

We Said We’d Try PDF Dropshipping. Did We Actually Do It? — Ep. 30

Digital products, PDF businesses, and growing a podcast all sound simple until you actually try to execute. A few months ago, Ben and Jon said they would build PDF products, sell them, and grow the podcast. This is the follow up on what actually happened. Both PDFs got built. Neither got launched. And the reasons were different. One came down to time and prioritization. The other came down to uncertainty around Facebook ads, funnels, landing pages, and how to actually sell a low ticket product. Then they shift into the second part of the experiment: podcast growth. What they looked at, what metrics actually matter, what they pay attention to, and what most people completely misunderstand about growing a show. Ben and Jon walk through what got done, what didn’t, and what actually moves the needle when you’re trying to build something new. Topics covered: • building and selling PDF products • low ticket digital product strategy • Facebook ads, funnels, and landing pages • messaging and ad hooks that convert • why most funnels fail early • podcast growth strategy and metrics • what to track vs what to ignore • why execution stalls even for experienced operators Most people don’t fail because the idea is bad. They fail because they never actually ship. Business is simple. People are lazy. https://lowbarpod.com/ Join the private Low Bar Pod community and hang out with BK and Jon plus all of our other awesome members! — https://low-bar-pod.circle.so/checkout/membership Sponsor: KetoneAid Ke4 — Tastes terrible. Isn't cheap. Will make you uncomfortably productive. Grab yours at https://ketoneaid.com/lowbar for free shipping — the flow state in a bottle that lets me get more done in 2 hours than most people do all day. Timestamps: 00:50 — Both PDFs are finished… 01:48 — Why Ben stalled vs why Jon stalled 05:58 — The real bottleneck 12:45 — The simplest way to actually sell a PDF 16:35 — Messaging that actually makes people buy 21:45 — Why most Facebook ads and funnels fail early 24:30 — How to take action? 25:46 — Podcast growth: what we actually tracked 32:30 — YouTube collaboration 35:40 — How our growth compares to others 38:43 — What matters vs what doesn’t when growing a show 40:25 — Ninja Creami idea *Follow us on Social* *Instagram* — https://www.instagram.com/lowbarpod/ *Facebook* — https://www.facebook.com/LowBarPod *X* — https://x.com/LowBarPodcast *TikTok* — https://www.tiktok.com/@lowbarpodcast Topics: digital products, pdf business, information products, podcast growth, make money online, facebook ads, funnels #lowbarpodcast #Entrepreneurship #BusinessTalk #Founders #Podcast #DigitalProducts #PodcastGrowth #FacebookAds #MakeMoneyOnline #InfoProducts

3 Ways To Make Money In Your Town Nobody Talks About — Ep. 29

Local business ideas and side hustles are everywhere, but most people overlook the easiest opportunities right in their own town or city. Ben and Jon walk through three local business ideas that can generate real revenue without experience, a big budget, or anything complicated. They dive into how a local TV ad network works, where you place screens in bars, waiting rooms, and small businesses, then sell ad space to local companies. They also cover building a local email newsletter that aggregates everything happening in your town and monetizes through ads. Finally, they get into a simple service business helping restaurants fix bad photos that are costing them customers, and how that can turn into a higher value marketing offer. Topics covered: • local TV ad network business model • how to sell ads to local businesses • building and monetizing a local newsletter • simple service businesses you can start quickly • fixing restaurant photos for profit • how to spot overlooked local opportunities These are not complicated online businesses. They are simple ideas hiding in plain sight that most people ignore because they are not flashy or new. Business is simple. People are lazy. https://lowbarpod.com/ Join the private Low Bar Pod community and hang out with BK and Jon plus all of our other awesome members! — https://low-bar-pod.circle.so/checkout/membership Sponsor: Sleep like you’re dead (in a good way). Grab yours at https://SwitchSupplements.com/lowbar Use code LOWBAR for $10 off Killswitch — the sleep aid for people who can’t stop thinking about business. Timestamps: 00:00 — 3 local business opportunities hiding in your city or town 00:52 — The bar TV ad business explained 04:45 — Startup costs and profit breakdown 09:21 — Sales Strategies for Securing Locations 16:45 — Alternative High-Traffic Locations 24:32 — The Local Email Newsletter Model 32:34 — Bundling Local Advertising Services 37:53 — Fixing restaurant photos as a service business 41:26 — Pitching Food Photography and Google Optimization Follow us on Social Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/lowbarpod/ Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/LowBarPod X — https://x.com/LowBarPodcast TikTok — https://www.tiktok.com/@lowbarpodcast Topics: local business ideas, side hustles, offline business, make money locally, service business, local advertising, newsletter business

She Quit $80K Coaching to Sell $17 Digital Products — Ep. 28

She stepped away from selling $80,000 coaching packages and rebuilt her business around $17 digital courses. Today that simple funnel generates around $80,000 per month. Cat Howell built an eight figure agency, but after hitting a breaking point she walked away and went through multiple pivots before landing on a simpler model that worked. She shares how that experience changed how she thinks about business, and how emotional state and belief systems directly impact performance. In this episode, Ben and Jon talk with Cat about both the personal and operational side of that transition. Cat explains how low ticket digital products can scale using Facebook ads, simple funnels, upsells, and strong messaging, and why most people fail when trying to make low ticket offers work. They also get into the less talked about side of business. How burnout shows up, how internal beliefs affect decisions, and why more revenue does not always lead to better outcomes. This episode is both a breakdown of a $17 funnel generating $80,000 per month and a real conversation about what it takes to build a business that is actually sustainable. Topics covered: • low ticket digital product funnels • Facebook ads for digital products • upsells and order bumps • why most low ticket offers fail • messaging that drives conversions • high ticket vs low ticket business models About Cat Howell: Cat Howell is known for her work in online advertising and business growth, where she built an eight figure agency in just a few years. She is the founder of The Flow Protocols and the author of Magic Source Codes and Money Magic. Her work focuses on the intersection of emotional state and business performance. Cat’s Links: Website: https://cathowell.com The Flow Protocols: https://shop.theflowprotocols.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CatHowell1 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cathowell/ Business is simple. People are lazy. https://lowbarpod.com/ Join the private Low Bar Pod community and hang out with BK and Jon plus all of our other awesome members! — https://low-bar-pod.circle.so/checkout/membership Sponsor: KetoneAid Ke4 — Tastes terrible. Isn't cheap. Will make you uncomfortably productive. Grab yours at https://ketoneaid.com/lowbar for free shipping — the flow state in a bottle that lets me get more done in 2 hours than most people do all day. Timestamps: 01:02 — Moving to Australia and Career Transition 05:05 — Mental Breakdown and Transition to Energetics 14:38 — Emotional "Reds and Greens" Theory 17:18 — Reaching "Rock Bottom" and Releasing Materialism 24:38 — Re-emerging with a New Public Identity 29:38 — Transitioning to a Lean, Low-Ticket Business Model 34:33 — Releasing Shame and Finding Community 40:22 — Validating Messaging with Minimum Viable Funnels 41:50 — Strategies for Scaling Low-Ticket Offers 46:15 — The "Golden Era" of Modern Facebook Ads *Follow us on Social* *Instagram* — https://www.instagram.com/lowbarpod/ *Facebook* — https://www.facebook.com/LowBarPod *X* — https://x.com/LowBarPodcast *TikTok* — https://www.tiktok.com/@lowbarpodcast Topics: digital products, low ticket funnels, Facebook ads, online courses, sales funnels, passive income #LowBarPodcast #Entrepreneurship #BusinessTalk #Founders #Podcast #DigitalProducts #FacebookAds #OnlineBusiness #LowTicket #Mindset

How She Turned $1 Pallets of Books Into $5K on eBay — Ep. 27

Reselling books, liquidation pallets, eBay flipping, and live selling on Whatnot. These online business models turn cheap inventory into real profit when you understand the arbitrage. Mindi Reinke (https://x.com/hey_mindi) is an eBay book reseller and Whatnot fashion live seller who teaches new entrepreneurs how to start a reselling business. Her reselling journey started with two $1 pallets of school curriculum books from GovDeals. She scanned one book on eBay, saw it listed for $400, and four days later sold it for $375. Those first two pallets turned into $5,000 in about 60 days. Today she runs a book reselling operation on eBay while building a live selling business on Whatnot. She explains how she evaluates liquidation pallets using ChatGPT, how the Whatnot algorithm rewards chat engagement over sales, and why live selling is still early. They also get into Goodwill bins (the Hunger Games of reselling), a Costco cold plunge that arrived missing its $3,000 pump, and a personal story about her husband's first responder PTSD and the unexpected path that helped him recover. Find more about that here, https://www.yourguideinside.org/. Business is simple. People are lazy. https://lowbarpod.com/ Join the private Low Bar Pod community and hang out with BK and Jon plus all of our other awesome members! — https://low-bar-pod.circle.so/checkout/membership Sponsor: Sleep like you’re dead (in a good way). Grab yours at https://SwitchSupplements.com/lowbar Use code LOWBAR for $10 off Killswitch — the sleep aid for people who can’t stop thinking about business. Timestamps: 00:33 — Buying a pallet of books for $1 03:39 — Finding and navigating auction sites 10:33 — Strategies for profitable curriculum books 20:52 — "Live selling" on the Whatnot platform 28:17 — Generating discovery and engagement on Whatnot 32:40 — Top tips getting started and making sales 43:20 — Building a business as a stay-at-home parent 52:55 — Exploring the "Hunger Games" environment of Goodwill bins 56:05 — Seasonal arbitrage failures and lessons learned 59:30 — Using plant medicine to help treat first responder PTSD Follow us on Social Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/lowbarpod/ Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/LowBarPod X — https://x.com/LowBarPodcast TikTok — https://www.tiktok.com/@lowbarpodcast #LowBarPodcast #Entrepreneurship #BusinessTalk #Founders #Podcast #Reselling #Whatnot #eBayReseller #LiquidationPallets #SideHustle #GovDeals Topics: reselling business, flipping books on eBay, Whatnot live selling, liquidation pallets, GovDeals auctions, online arbitrage, resale business models

How Does This Website Have 95% Profit Margins? — Ep. 26

Most ecommerce businesses fight for 10–20% profit margins. This website runs at 95% margins, generates over $112,000 per year, and is listed for $336,000. Ben and Jon break down the economics behind buying a high-margin content website and why owning a site like this can dramatically increase ecommerce profitability, cash flow, and business valuation. They analyze the listing like operators: traffic sources, monetization, website multiples, and how buying online businesses can become a strategic advantage for ecommerce founders. When paired with an ecommerce store, a high-margin content website can create leverage that traditional ecommerce businesses rarely achieve. The discussion covers website investing, online business acquisitions, passive income websites, and website valuation, along with the real risks that come with buying digital assets. The episode contrasts the opportunity with a $25,000 Bitcoin ATM passive income pitch that promised $3,000–$5,000 per month but delivered almost nothing. It also dives into a surprising Florida privacy lawsuit targeting an ecommerce brand over a chat widget and the story of a struggling artist on TaskRabbit that reveals one of the episode’s most important business lessons. This is a real operator breakdown of: • buying online businesses • website investing strategies • passive income websites • ecommerce profit margins • website valuation and multiples • digital asset acquisitions If you’re interested in buying websites, building ecommerce businesses, or increasing margins through digital assets, this episode explains the math behind the strategy. Business is simple. People are lazy. https://lowbarpod.com/ Join the private Low Bar Pod community and hang out with BK and Jon plus all of our other awesome members! — https://low-bar-pod.circle.so/checkout/membership Sponsor: KetoneAid Ke4 — Tastes terrible. Isn't cheap. Will make you uncomfortably productive. Grab yours at https://ketoneaid.com/lowbar for free shipping — the flow state in a bottle that lets me get more done in 2 hours than most people do all day. Timestamps: 00:10 — Discussing an RV content site for sale 03:20 — Comparing content site's 95% profit margins to e-commerce 06:45 — The benefit of pairing a content site with an e-commerce business 10:30 — Organic traffic, AI risk, and the YouTube channel's growth potential 13:30 — The Bitcoin ATM passive income story 26:00 — Lawsuits over a live chat widget in Florida 36:09 — TaskRabbit as a side job to earn income? *Follow us on Social* *Instagram* — https://www.instagram.com/lowbarpod/ *Facebook* — https://www.facebook.com/LowBarPod *X* — https://x.com/LowBarPodcast *TikTok* — https://www.tiktok.com/@lowbarpodcast #lowbarpodcast #Entrepreneurship #BusinessTalk #Founders #Podcast #OnlineBusiness #ContentSites #Ecommerce #BuyingOnlineBusinesses #PassiveIncome

The Business of Cracking Pokemon & Sports Card Slabs — Ep. 25

Sports cards and Pokemon cards have become a real side hustle and small business opportunity. From flipping graded cards to cracking slabs and resubmitting for profit, there is serious money in the trading card market. In this episode, Ben and Jon break down whether cracking a graded Pokemon or sports card is a legitimate business model or just calculated gambling. The framework is simple. Buy a graded card at the right price. Improve the condition. Resubmit for a higher grade. Capture the spread. When the gap between grades is wide enough, the math starts to work. Watching a creator restoring a Pokemon card using professional tools, then zoom out to the real operator question: is there a repeatable system here? They discuss sports cards, Pokemon cards, grading spreads, the growing restoration kit industry, and whether slab cracking can actually scale beyond a hobby. Then it gets bigger than cards. Ben tells the story of two Michael Jordan rookie cards almost thrown in a dumpster, a Pokemon drop at Costco, and what happened when he tried to teach his 11-year-old the difference between ripping packs and building a business. They close on a bigger theme: how to train your brain to spot opportunity early and whether more entrepreneurs should be teaching kids how to think like operators before the world teaches them to think like consumers. Business is simple. People are lazy. https://lowbarpod.com/ Join the private Low Bar Pod community and hang out with BK and Jon plus all of our other awesome members! — https://low-bar-pod.circle.so/checkout/membership Sponsor: Sleep like you’re dead (in a good way). Grab yours at https://SwitchSupplements.com/lowbar Use code LOWBAR for $10 off Killswitch — the sleep aid for people who can’t stop thinking about business. Timestamps: 00:16 — Cracking slabs: what it is and why collectors do it 02:25 — Pokemon crack and clean process 06:10 — Business model of cleaning, fixing and restoring cards 11:53 — Price differences between card grades 16:50 — Two Michael Jordan rookies found 22:10 — Other collectibles to 'crack and clean' 27:17 — Pokemon flip at Costco 28:50 — Teaching an 11-year-old the business of flipping collectibles 33:41 — The driveway carnival idea and kids learning to spot opportunity 48:04 — Should entrepreneurs talk to students at schools? Follow us on Social Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/lowbarpod/ Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/LowBarPod X — https://x.com/LowBarPodcast TikTok — https://www.tiktok.com/@lowbarpodcast #LowBarPodcast #Entrepreneurship #BusinessTalk #Founders #Podcast #SportsCards #PokemonCards #CrackingSlabs #CardFlipping #SideHustle

• Transcript

This Mindset Coach Explains Your Fear Of Success — Ep. 24

Mindset coaching, hypnotherapy, and the psychology of entrepreneurship. Why fear, self sabotage, and the shift from employee to founder hold most people back from starting or scaling a business. Valentina DeFerrari is a certified hypnotherapist, former registered nurse, and licensed massage therapist who works with entrepreneurs on the mental blocks stopping them from taking action. She joined Ben and Jon to break down what is actually happening in your brain when you know what you need to do but still cannot make yourself do it. They get into fear of failure vs fear of success, why procrastination is a nervous system response, how the employee to entrepreneur identity shift trips people up, the difference between dirty fuel and clean fuel motivation, and how to manage your emotional capacity before you burn out. Find more on Valentina and how you can connect with her: https://therewiredmind.cohere.live/about https://www.instagram.com/therewiredmind_hypnosis Business is simple. People are lazy. https://lowbarpod.com/ Join the private Low Bar Pod community and hang out with BK and Jon plus all of our other awesome members! — https://low-bar-pod.circle.so/checkout/membership Sponsor: KetoneAid Ke4 — Tastes terrible. Isn't cheap. Will make you uncomfortably productive. Grab yours at https://ketoneaid.com/lowbar for free shipping — the flow state in a bottle that lets me get more done in 2 hours than most people do all day. Timestamps: 00:15 — What is a Mindset Coach? 03:15 — Valentina's background and purpose 07:22 — How she got to be a certified hypnotherapist 09:14 — Normalizing emotions 10:16 — Fear of failure and success 13:35 — What 'doing the work' means 19:35 — Shifting from employee to entrepreneur or leader 27:45 — Self-esteem and what to do with it 31:30 — What is your why? 38:46 — Finding a mindset coach 48:50 — Setting limits on emotional capacity *Follow us on Social* *Instagram* — https://www.instagram.com/lowbarpod/ *Facebook* — https://www.facebook.com/LowBarPod *X* — https://x.com/LowBarPodcast *TikTok* — https://www.tiktok.com/@lowbarpodcast #lowbarpodcast #Entrepreneurship #BusinessTalk #Founders #Podcast #Mindset #SelfSabotage #BusinessGrowth #Leadership

The Service Business Mistake Everyone Makes — Ep. 23

Service business owners and small business entrepreneurs leave money on the table every single day. Ben's barber cuts hair for Minnesota Vikings players but doesn't use it as marketing. No social proof, no price increases, just missed revenue opportunities. Some business owners tested the fear. A massage therapist raised prices after Ben coached her and showed the demand would still be there. She did it and saw no decline. A pet supplement business added $10 to every product with zero drop in sales. A Thai restaurant using gift certificates to drive repeat visits. Some operators hesitate when demand proves they can charge more. Others lean into it and grow. Inside: pricing psychology, surge pricing, mobile premium services, and retention tactics that can help create immediate return visits. Business is simple. People are lazy. https://lowbarpod.com/ Join the private Low Bar Pod community and hang out with BK and Jon plus all of our other awesome members! — https://low-bar-pod.circle.so/checkout/membership Sponsor: Sleep like you’re dead (in a good way). Grab yours at https://SwitchSupplements.com/lowbar Use code LOWBAR for $10 off Killswitch — the sleep aid for people who can’t stop thinking about business. Timestamps: 00:20 — Renting Rooms in Building for Businesses 06:08 — Raising Prices and Overcoming Fears 12:15 — Brainstorming Revenue Levers To Pull 17:05 — Building a Story 26:50 — Missed Opportunities for Small Businesses 28:18 — Gift Certificate Idea for Repeat Customers 35:43 — Charging Fees Turn People Away? 42:55 — Shiny Object Syndrome 46:20 — Power of Saying 'No' Follow us on Social Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/lowbarpod/ Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/LowBarPod X — https://x.com/LowBarPodcast TikTok — https://www.tiktok.com/@lowbarpodcast #LowBarPodcast #Entrepreneurship #BusinessTalk #Founders #Podcast #Liquidation #Reselling #Ecommerce #SideHustle #OnlineBusiness #FlippingBusinesses

4 Side Hustle Ideas from The Side Hustle Expert Nick Loper — Ep. 22

Nick Loper has interviewed more side hustlers than anyone alive. 700 episodes, 24 million downloads, and today he shares the business ideas that blew his mind the most. Nick, Jon, and Ben look at side hustles you've never heard of: turning free items into premium products, memberships that help people do chores they already hate, everyday commodities repositioned as luxury goods, and real estate plays that require almost zero money down. Nick also reveals how his podcast generates $10-20k per month in sponsorships, where he finds the most interesting entrepreneurs to interview, and why he thinks public domain content is massively underrated. If you think all the good business ideas are taken, you need to hear these stories. Find Nick Loper at https://www.sidehustlenation.com/ and get your curated playlist at hustle.show Business is simple. People are lazy. https://lowbarpod.com/ Join the private Low Bar Pod community and hang out with BK and Jon plus all of our other awesome members! — https://low-bar-pod.circle.so/checkout/membership Sponsor: KetoneAid Ke4 — Tastes terrible. Isn't cheap. Will make you uncomfortably productive. Grab yours at https://ketoneaid.com/lowbar for free shipping — the flow state in a bottle that lets me get more done in 2 hours than most people do all day. Timestamps: 00:15 — The Side Hustle Guy 01:48 — Favorite side hustle story 04:20 — Side hustle using public domain radio shows 13:57 — Postcard advertising model 22:41 — Luxury firewood business 28:00 — Waiter to Glamping Millionaire 32:50 — The Side Hustle Show 34:57 — Sponsorship revenue from The Side Hustle Show 47:16 — Finding guests for episodes *Follow us on Social* *Instagram* — https://www.instagram.com/lowbarpod/ *Facebook* — https://www.facebook.com/LowBarPod *X* — https://x.com/LowBarPodcast *TikTok* — https://www.tiktok.com/@lowbarpodcast #LowBarPodcast #Entrepreneurship #BusinessTalk #Founders #Podcast #SideHustle #NickLoper #BusinessIdeas #OnlineBusiness #PassiveIncome

How He Makes Money Flipping Costco and Amazon Returns — Ep. 21

Shannon Jean is back, and this time he is screen sharing liquidation auctions and walking through exactly what he buys, what he skips, and why. Ben and Jon watch in real time as deals close, from pallets of appliances selling for a fraction of retail to seasonal inventory being liquidated for pennies on the dollar. Shannon breaks down his sourcing strategy in detail. How to evaluate manifests, calculate landed costs including freight, and spot boring high margin products most people ignore like toilets, hinges, and lighting fixtures. He explains how buyers move bulk inventory fast by working with contractors and local buyers, and why relationships matter more than platforms. He also shares real outcomes from his mastermind, including operators who scaled from small flips into physical resale businesses and others who pulled five figure profits from single pallets by buying the right inventory at the right price. Find Shannon Jean's Mastermind at https://shannonjean.com/mastermind Find Shannon Jean's Auction Starter Guide at https://shannonjean.com/auctions Business is simple. People are lazy. https://lowbarpod.com/ Join the private Low Bar Pod community and hang out with BK and Jon plus all of our other awesome members! — https://low-bar-pod.circle.so/checkout/membership Sponsor: Sleep like you’re dead (in a good way). Grab yours at https://SwitchSupplements.com/lowbar Use code LOWBAR for $10 off Killswitch — the sleep aid for people who can’t stop thinking about business. Timestamps: 00:30 — Shopping with Shannon at Costco 11:30 — Figuring out Shipping 13:48 — Ace Hardware and Target Shopping 15:20 — How Niche Should I Go? 19:50 — How Shannon Would Resell Kohler Products 22:45 — Government Auctions: Helicopters, Planes, and Vehicles 26:40 — Seasonal vs Quick Flips 29:50 — How Jim Made $15K on Door Hinges 33:55 — When Deals Go Wrong: Problem Solving for Profit 38:55 — Creating an Uncommon Life Through Reselling 41:34 — What's Your Noble Cause? 50:05 — Small Systems vs Big Goals: The Experiment Mindset Follow us on Social Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/lowbarpod/ Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/LowBarPod X — https://x.com/LowBarPodcast TikTok — https://www.tiktok.com/@lowbarpodcast #LowBarPodcast #Entrepreneurship #BusinessTalk #Founders #Podcast #Liquidation #Reselling #Ecommerce #SideHustle #OnlineBusiness #FlippingBusinesses

Service Business Ideas No One Is Doing (But Should Be) — Ep. 20

Ben was cleaning his grill and had a simple thought: I would pay someone $200 right now to do this for me. That sparked a conversation about service businesses built around convenience, not complexity. This episode explores low barrier service business ideas hiding in everyday frustration. Businesses that require little startup capital, no inventory, and no special skills. Some are seasonal. Some are recurring. All are based on solving problems people already want handled. The discussion covers pricing, logistics, and why boring services often outperform clever ideas. If you want a side hustle or a way to make extra income without complicated operations, this episode will change how you think about opportunity. Business is simple. People are lazy. https://lowbarpod.com/ Join the private Low Bar Pod community and hang out with BK and Jon plus all of our other awesome members! — https://low-bar-pod.circle.so/checkout/membership Sponsor: KetoneAid Ke4 — Tastes terrible. Isn't cheap. Will make you uncomfortably productive. Grab yours at https://ketoneaid.com/lowbar for free shipping — the flow state in a bottle that lets me get more done in 2 hours than most people do all day. Timestamps: 01:31 — Flossing Drive Thru 05:07 — Home Garden Manager 12:55 — Garage Sale Service 17:35 — Appointment Sitter 23:56 — Rent a Hank Hill 26:22 — Renting Chickens 33:25 — Goats for Rent 39:46 — RV Try Before You Buy *Follow us on Social* *Instagram* — https://www.instagram.com/lowbarpod/ *Facebook* — https://www.facebook.com/LowBarPod *X* — https://x.com/LowBarPodcast *TikTok* — https://www.tiktok.com/@lowbarpodcast #LowBarPodcast #Entrepreneurship #BusinessTalk #Founders #Podcast #ServiceBusiness #SideHustle #LocalBusiness #SmallBusinessIdeas

She Runs an Amazon Business Without Physical Products — Ep. 19

Building a business on Amazon does not require inventory, shipping, or physical products. Fiction publishing through Amazon ebooks has quietly become one of the most scalable digital business models, even for people with no prior experience. Karla explains how her company, Fiction Profits Academy (https://www.fictionprofitsacademy.com/), has helped over 15,000 students by focusing on genre demand, repeat buyers, and execution instead of guesswork. The discussion covers how modern fiction publishing works, why romance and genre fiction outperform nonfiction, and why covers, titles, keywords, and positioning matter more than most people realize. It also looks at how AI, ghostwriters, and teams are used responsibly to scale output. If you care about business, entrepreneurship, ecommerce, or alternative Amazon models that do not rely on physical products, this will change how you think about opportunity. Business is simple. People are lazy. https://lowbarpod.com/ Join the private Low Bar Pod community and hang out with BK and Jon plus all of our other awesome members! — https://low-bar-pod.circle.so/checkout/membership Sponsor: Sleep like you’re dead (in a good way). Grab yours at https://SwitchSupplements.com/lowbar Use code LOWBAR for $10 off Killswitch — the sleep aid for people who can’t stop thinking about business. Timestamps: 00:18 — What is Fiction Profits Academy (FPA)? 02:05 — Fiction outsell non-fiction? 06:41 — Focusing on readers in fiction genres 13:48 — Using ghostwriters and AI to write books 25:49 — Importance of book title, cover, and description 36:38 — Income sources: Kindle Unlimited page reads 39:18 — Difference between high-earning and average students 44:53 — Exiting the business 52:16 — Scaling the business as it grew Follow us on Social Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/lowbarpod/ Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/LowBarPod X — https://x.com/LowBarPodcast TikTok — https://www.tiktok.com/@lowbarpodcast