Bite Size Business Podcast

Scott Porter, the owner of San Diablo Artisan Churros, shares his entrepreneurial journey of creating a unique and memorable churro experience. He was inspired by his love for Mexican food and the desire to bring high-quality churros to the United States. Scott started his business by participating in a harvest festival as a food vendor and quickly gained popularity. Over the years, San Diablo Churros has expanded into three different business units: events, e-commerce, and frozen churros. Scott emphasizes the importance of getting his churros in people's mouths and creating an extraordinary and distinctive experience for customers. Takeaways: Passion for a product and a desire to create a unique experience can drive entrepreneurial success. Adaptability is crucial in business, especially during challenging times like the COVID-19 pandemic. Word-of-mouth marketing and creating a memorable experience for customers can be powerful tools for attracting new customers. Incorporating elements of surprise, delight, and personalization can enhance the overall customer experience. Faith and trust in God can provide guidance and peace during the ups and downs of entrepreneurship.

In this episode, Brent Parker interviews Merrill Charette, an expert marine marketer. Merrill shares his journey in the marine industry and his experience as a fractional CMO. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the business models in the marine industry and thinking outside the box when it comes to marketing strategies. Merrill also highlights the value of providing free value to build credibility and attract clients. He advises aspiring entrepreneurs to have domain knowledge, be willing to do the dirty work, and focus on sales. Takeaways: Understanding the business models in the marine industry is crucial for effective marketing. Thinking outside the box and finding unique marketing strategies can make a big impact on the marine industry. Providing free value and building credibility can attract clients and lead to business opportunities. Aspiring entrepreneurs should have domain knowledge, be willing to do the dirty work, and focus on sales.

Benjamin Gottfredson is the owner of Big Ben's Moving and Storage and Big Storage Ventures. He started doing moving as a side hustle and eventually grew his business to serve Salt Lake and Utah County. He also ventured into the storage business and now owns seven facilities. Benjamin emphasizes the importance of scaling and being willing to invest in the business to reach the next level. He also highlights the role of delegation and hiring a general manager to help with the growth. Benjamin's why is to create freedom for himself and build a legacy for others. He believes in including God in his business decisions and prioritizing integrity and respect. The biggest challenge he faces is scaling and making tough decisions about investing in positions and giving raises. Benjamin advises entrepreneurs to be patient and choose excellence over perfection. He also encourages developing a stress tolerance and being able to triage tasks effectively. Takeaways: Start small and grow your business gradually, being willing to invest in its growth. Hiring a general manager can help with scaling and delegation of tasks. Include God in your business decisions and prioritize integrity and respect. Scaling can be challenging, but it is necessary for long-term success. Choose excellence over perfection and focus on serving others at a high level. Develop a stress tolerance and learn to prioritize tasks effectively.

Jeff Wilson is the owner of the Taffy Shop, a business that sells saltwater taffy. The Taffy Shop started as a small concession shop in northern Utah and has grown significantly over the past 10 years. Jeff has focused on online sales and direct-to-consumer shipping, as well as selling to gift and souvenir shops. The business has experienced over 300 times growth and now has 23 employees. Jeff also discusses the role of faith and God in his business and offers advice for aspiring entrepreneurs. Takeaways: The Taffy Shop has experienced over 300 times growth in the past 10 years, primarily through online sales and direct-to-consumer shipping. The business has expanded from a small concession shop to a larger operation with 23 employees. Jeff Wilson emphasizes the importance of taking initiative and not waiting for the perfect business model before starting. He also discusses the role of faith and God in his business, highlighting the principles of treating others well and trusting in God's guidance.

Jared Hansen, owner of Auto Wholesalers of America and Helms USA, discusses the world of wholesaling cars and boats. He explains that wholesaling involves working with other dealers and quickly moving high volumes of vehicles or boats. Jared highlights the flexibility and diversification opportunities in the wholesale market, allowing businesses to reach different markets and make money in various ways. He also emphasizes the importance of hard work, building relationships, and learning from successful people. Jared's ultimate goal is to create generational wealth and leave a legacy for his children and grandchildren. Takeaways: Wholesaling involves working with other dealers and quickly moving high volumes of vehicles or boats. The wholesale market offers flexibility and diversification opportunities, allowing businesses to reach different markets and make money in various ways. Hard work, building relationships, and learning from successful people are key to entrepreneurial success. Creating generational wealth and leaving a legacy are important goals for many entrepreneurs.

Chet Durkin, a franchisee for Bubble Bins, shares his entrepreneurial journey in the door-to-door industry and how he convinced his friend to let him franchise the concept. He discusses the customer experience and the growth of his business. Chet also talks about the challenges and rewards of being an entrepreneur. Takeaways: Chet Durkin started his entrepreneurial journey in the door-to-door industry and experimented with different sales opportunities before finding success in the solar industry. Chet and his brother convinced their friend to let them franchise the Bubble Bins concept, a residential subscription service that steam cleans and deodorizes trash and recycle cans. The customer experience involves the truck coming to the neighborhood after the bins have been emptied, cleaning the bins on the spot, and sending a completion text to the customer. Chet emphasizes the importance of volume and acquiring customers through door-to-door sales, with a focus on monthly subscriptions. Being an entrepreneur comes with challenges and a lot of responsibility, but Chet is happy with his decision and enjoys the adventure. Starting a business requires learning on the go and dealing with unexpected challenges, but the rewards make it worth it in the end.

Amy Kendall is a real estate entrepreneur who owns a property management company and a brokerage. She started in healthcare but made a pivot to real estate when she realized the potential for growth and passive income. Amy's businesses have grown rapidly, but she faced challenges in managing the growth and learning to delegate. Her advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is to continue learning, not to be afraid of failure, and to take action instead of getting stuck in analysis paralysis. Takeaways: Amy Kendall started in healthcare but transitioned to real estate, where she now owns a property management company and a brokerage. Growth was the biggest challenge for Amy, but she learned the importance of knowing her numbers and when to hire employees. Amy advises aspiring entrepreneurs to continue learning, take action, and not be afraid of failure. Delegating tasks and trusting others is crucial for business growth and success.

Matt O'Hara, owner of a marina and a Freedom Boat Club franchise, shares his journey of starting and growing his businesses. He emphasizes the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people and building a strong team. Matt also highlights the impact his businesses have on creating memorable experiences for customers and giving back to the community. He offers advice to aspiring entrepreneurs to take the leap and not let fear hold them back. Takeaways: Surround yourself with the right people and build a strong team. Create memorable experiences for customers and give back to the community. Don't let fear hold you back from starting your own business. Take the leap and embrace the uncertainty of entrepreneurship.

Taylor Brown, the owner of Elite Turf Supply and Turf Impressions, shares his journey of stumbling upon entrepreneurship and starting a turf installation business. He recognized the opportunity in the market and used LinkedIn as a marketing channel to attract customers and promote the idea of starting a turf installation business. Taylor emphasizes the importance of finding the right business partners and the value of shared equity. He also highlights the abundance mentality and the power of collaboration in the entrepreneurial journey. Takeaways: Recognize market opportunities and fill the gaps in the industry. Utilize different marketing channels, such as LinkedIn, to attract customers and promote your business. Find the right business partners who bring different skill sets and share the same vision. Embrace the abundance mentality and collaborate with others instead of competing. Helping others start their own businesses can be rewarding and contribute to overall growth.

Micah Lorenc shares his journey from the corporate world to entrepreneurship, where he now runs two businesses: Tailored Consulting and Culture Lab. He discusses the transition from coaching to focusing on business operations and the structure of his executive coaching business. Micah also shares his marketing strategy, emphasizing the importance of LinkedIn for lead generation. He concludes with advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, encouraging them to start small and gain experience serving customers before scaling their business.

In this episode, Jay Tobey shares his journey as an entrepreneur and his experience in the addiction recovery business. He focuses on helping individuals from the lower socioeconomic class who struggle to access rehab facilities. The drug rehab facility has 38 beds and offers residential and outpatient services. Jay Tobey initially invested as a passive investor but became more involved in the day-to-day management and eventually acquired a majority stake in the business. The biggest challenge he faced was dealing with Medicaid reimbursements and managing clients with substance abuse and mental health issues. Jay Tobey advises aspiring entrepreneurs to gain industry experience and understand supply and demand before starting a business.

Hailame Kinnikini, owner of Elk Ridge Management and Astead, shares his journey in real estate investment and the transition from managing properties to owning them. He discusses the importance of creative finance and finding alternative ways to acquire properties without large down payments or credit. Hailame emphasizes the need to think outside the box and solve problems in order to succeed as an entrepreneur. He also shares his why, which is to be a present father and have the freedom to coach his son's high school football team. Hailame advises aspiring entrepreneurs to give themselves permission to feel the fear and take the leap. Takeaways: Think outside the box and explore alternative ways to acquire properties without large down payments or credit. Solving problems is key to success as an entrepreneur. Find joy in the journey and appreciate where you are in the present. Give yourself permission to feel the fear and take the leap into entrepreneurship.

Travis Millward shares his journey from real estate investing to insurance, including the challenges he faced and the lessons he learned along the way. He discusses his experience working in a toxic family business and the decision to leave and start his own venture. Travis also shares his marketing strategies for attracting new customers and offers advice for aspiring entrepreneurs. Takeaways: Starting a business can be challenging, but having a strong support system and a clear why can help overcome obstacles. Working in a toxic environment can be detrimental to personal and professional growth, and sometimes leaving is the best option. Building relationships and providing value to clients is key in the insurance industry. Finding a niche and developing a unique marketing strategy can help attract high-quality clients.

Alex Hill discusses his business, Assetworx, which specializes in IT asset disposition. He explains the challenges faced by companies in disposing of their IT assets and how Assetworx helps solve these issues. Alex shares his journey of starting the business and the success he achieved during an entrepreneurship class. He emphasizes the importance of taking the leap into entrepreneurship and finding a business model that requires minimal upfront capital. Alex also highlights the significance of having a support network and an advisory board to provide guidance and expertise. Takeaways: IT asset disposition is a crucial service for companies looking to dispose of their IT assets securely, recover value, and comply with environmental regulations. Starting a business with a business model that requires minimal upfront capital can reduce risk and allow for testing the concept before committing fully. Having a support network and mentors who can provide guidance and advice is essential for entrepreneurial success. Forming an advisory board with individuals who have industry expertise and connections can provide valuable insights and help make informed decisions.

In this episode of the Bite Size Business podcast, host Brent Parker interviews Justin Simonsen, a franchisee for Back Nine, a golf simulator franchise, and an Amazon store owner. Justin shares his journey into entrepreneurship, starting with his Amazon business that was born out of a personal need. He discusses the challenges of setting up an Amazon store and managing inventory flow. Justin also talks about his experience as a franchisee and the process of opening his first location. He highlights the financing options available for franchises, including the support of the Small Business Administration (SBA). The episode concludes with Justin's advice for aspiring entrepreneurs. Takeaways: Starting small businesses can lead to financial independence without needing a million-dollar idea. Franchising can be a less risky option for entrepreneurs, and the SBA can provide financing for franchise startups. Opening an Amazon store requires navigating a complex process, including interviews, documentation, and inventory management. Franchise disclosure documents outline the capital requirements and other details of becoming a franchisee. Committing to entrepreneurship often requires taking risks, such as investing in inventory and securing loans.

In this episode, Brent Parker interviews Nick Hooge, owner of Freedom Boat Club of Seattle. They discuss Nick's journey in starting and growing his business, the importance of having a strong why, and the role of God in his business. Nick shares his sales expertise and highlights the key elements of successful sales: pitch, pace, and attitude. 00:00 Introduction and Background 00:53 Starting Freedom Boat Club of Seattle 05:19 The Glory of God 08:46 The Importance of Attitude 15:19 Sales Incentive Strategies

Aaron Cook, the principal broker at Core Utah Real Estate, shares his journey in entrepreneurship and the challenges he has faced. He emphasizes the importance of recognizing and overcoming problems gracefully and having the confidence to figure things out. Aaron also advises aspiring entrepreneurs to not get caught in analysis paralysis and to be willing to move forward without having all the answers. He highlights the value of failure as a stepping stone to success and the need to focus on solutions rather than problems.

Ty and Tim share their journey of starting a trampoline park business and their partnership. They discuss the importance of trust and non-business relationships in partnerships. They also talk about their transition from being employees to entrepreneurs and the catalyst for starting their own business. They highlight the significance of finding the right marketing partner and how they connected with the Ninja Kids. They emphasize the role of experimentation and resourcefulness in entrepreneurship and the importance of managing rapid growth with the right people.

Josh Stika shares his journey in the mortgage industry, from starting as an employee to becoming a business owner. He emphasizes the importance of attracting and retaining top talent in a competitive market. Josh also provides advice for aspiring entrepreneurs. Takeaways: - Starting a business requires courage and taking the first step. - Attracting top talent involves being forward-looking, paying well, and offering paths for growth and equity. - Retaining top talent requires creating an environment that supports growth and showing care for employees and their families. - Entrepreneurship is a learning process, and mistakes are not fatal.

In this episode, host Brent Parker interviews Taylor Madsen, the founder of Kindred Book, a company that specializes in children's books. Taylor shares how he started the business and the journey from a side hustle to a full-time venture. He also discusses the number of books sold and the impact of mentorship on his entrepreneurial journey. The episode concludes with advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Shideler Bennett shares his journey as an entrepreneur and how he built a successful cookie empire with Crumble. He started by buying businesses instead of pursuing a traditional career path. Through his experiences, he learned valuable lessons and made mistakes along the way. Shidler emphasizes the importance of partnerships and structuring deals with equity and debt. He also discusses the motivation behind his work and the challenges of hiring and managing general managers. Overall, his story highlights the attainability of entrepreneurship and the importance of clear communication and understanding in partnerships.