College teacher turned ghostwriter | Scaling founders, coaches, and consultants to $100K+ /mo | Writing to build wealth and better self | 98,000 on Twitter (X)

Taylin John Simmonds

3 years ago, a friend lent me $40K to pay off my debt. So I could focus on business.

2 years ago, I offered to pay it back. He said no. Reinvest. Pay me later. 1 year ago, first payment. 

Yesterday, I paid him back!

Find the people who bet on you before it makes sense. Then spend your life proving them right.

College teacher turned Substack ghostwriter | Thoughts about craft, ideas, and AI as a creative partner (not a replacement) | 2B impressions | $4M+ revenue generated | All in on Substack

One pattern I’ve noticed in all the people that inspire me: They live a diverse life.

They layer unrelated skills. 
Read widely. 
And have friends you'd rarely see together. 

A rich life isn't only about money. It's about the range of experiences that made you who you are.

Stop calling yourself a content creator. Content creators chase algorithms. You're cultivating a body of work.

You're not in the content game. You're in the depth game.

And depth doesn't scale. It compounds.

I'm noticing a quiet rebellion against balance. 

People who disappear into their craft. 12, 15 hours a day for weeks. Then step back completely. No guilt. No routine. No splitting the difference. Full immersion, then full recovery. 

Seasons, not schedules.

You don't actually want to stop working. You just haven't found work worth your devotion.

The goal isn't to do less. It's to care so deeply about one thing that everything else becomes noise.

Find that thing. Then you'll never need convincing to start.

Everyone's trying to escape work. Fewer hours. Passive income. Early retirement. That's not freedom. That's avoidance.

You don't want to do less. You want something worth pouring everything into. Work that's worthy of your full attention, your full energy, your full devotion.

Find that first.

If AI is speeding up your writing process, you're using it wrong.

AI should slow you down. Stress-test your ideas. Pressure-test your arguments. Find the angle that actually matters before you write a word.

The bottleneck was never your writing speed. It was your thinking clarity.

You don't need 100 clients. You need a handful of the right ones and the devotion to serve them so well they never want to leave.

No empire. No team of 30. No "scaling to seven figures."

Just craft you're proud of and a livelihood that lets you live well.

A book you highlighted but never practiced is a book you never read.

Understanding doesn't live in the notes you took.

It lives in the choices you made differently afterward.

A life-changing habit I picked up recently: Fifteen minutes of breath work before work.

The breath brings me out of my head and into stillness. A stillness that makes creative work feel effortless.

Your best work is hiding behind the ritual you're skipping.

The real value in the AI age isn't what you know. It's who you can inspire.

Give them an aim, a compelling reason, and the next small step when everything feels overwhelming.

If you want to matter in the AI age, don't just share knowledge. 
Lend direction.

You're behind because you've never given 100% of yourself to the thing you care about.

Subtract everything that isn't it. Give it everything you have. Not 40%. Not most days. Everything.

You've never seen what happens when you actually commit. Find out.

Acquired & scaled 7 businesses with little or $0 down. | Off-market deal sourcing fanatic. | Helping others do the same.

Hey! Ben here...

I help everyday people buy profitable businesses with little to no money down.

My journey started 6 years ago when I was working 60 hours/week at JP Morgan, dreaming of more time with my family.

Today, I own a portfolio of 6 businesses that generated $7M+ in revenue last year, and I only work 18 hours per week.

The secret?

I discovered how to acquire existing, profitable businesses using creative financing strategies and government-backed loans.

I've used this method to build a portfolio that includes:

• A SaaS company making $150k/year (bought for $5k down)
• An ATM route generating $40k/year (zero money down)
• A financial services company producing $450k/year
• 3 other businesses bringing in steady cash flow

The best part?

I never work more than 20 hours a week.

This gives me the freedom to spend quality time with my wife and three kids while still growing my wealth.

Here's what most people don't realize:

Right now, 10,000 Baby Boomers are retiring every day, many looking to sell their profitable businesses. 

This creates an unprecedented opportunity for those who know how to take advantage of it.

You don't need to start from scratch.
You don't need huge savings.

You just need to know how to structure the right deals.

Want to learn how to buy profitable businesses using other people's money?

📲 DM me "Biz" and I'll show you how.
🤝 Follow me to stick around for more!

Thanks for being here!

Ben Kelly

The only thing better than buying a business...

Is buying one with $0 of your own money.

Most people think wealth comes from working harder.

(It doesn’t)

Wealth comes from owning the right assets.

I discovered this after years of climbing the corporate ladder.

My first business acquisition changed everything.

I invested $5,000 into a software company, and in my first year, I returned $150,000.

That’s when I realized the game-changing truth:

The wealthy don’t trade time for money.
→ They acquire cash-flowing assets using leverage.

Warren Buffett didn’t become a billionaire from a salary.
→ He did it by acquiring ownership in businesses.

Your local millionaire probably isn’t a celebrity or tech founder.
→ They likely own 3-5 “boring” businesses in your community.

My portfolio now includes 8 boring businesses.

Combined annual income: $900,000.
Hours worked weekly: Under 20.

The most valuable lesson I’ve learned:

Stop chasing paychecks.
Start acquiring businesses.

If you want to learn the exact process I used to scale my portfolio to $900k/year...

DM me "Biz" and I'll show you how.

I spent 2 years & $60,000 getting my MBA.

My #1 takeaway?

They’re teaching outdated methods.

& now that my business portfolio is generating $7,000,000+ per year…

Here’s your 2-minute MBA for 2025:

--

1. Stop chasing unicorns, buy cash cows.

Business schools teach:

• Innovation
• Disruption
• Valuation

But in reality? 90% of startups fail.

Meanwhile, boring businesses like HVAC, plumbing, and accounting firms print money year after year.

--

2. Debt isn't the enemy, it's your best friend.

They teach you to avoid debt at all costs.

But smart entrepreneurs use SBA loans to control $1M+ businesses with just 10% down.

The government literally wants you to buy small businesses.

Use their money, not yours.

--

3. The best business plan is buying someone else's.

MBA programs obsess over writing 50-page (hypothetical) business plans.

Skip it.

Get out there and find a 60-year-old with a profitable business who wants to retire.

Their 20+ years of operations are your business plan.

--

4. Time is the only currency that matters.

Business school teaches you to optimize for profit margins and market share.

I optimize for time.

My 8 businesses run without me because I hire great managers that I can trust.

In my book, $850k/year working 20 hours/week beats $200k/year working 60.

--

5. The best customers already exist.

They might teach:

• Market research
• Customer acquisition costs
• Building audiences from scratch

But here's what works:

Buying businesses with existing customers & improving what's already working.

--

6. Your network is your net worth (but not how they teach it).

Business school “networking” is basically just cocktail parties with other students.

But real networking?

It’s finding:

• Investors with capital
• Retiring business owners
• Accountants who audit deals

--

7. The fastest path to wealth is buying it.

They teach you to climb corporate ladders for 20 years to maybe make $300k.

Or you can buy a business making $400k/year profit right now.

The math is simple…

Why build when you can buy?

--

Business school gave me credentials.

Business acquisition gave me freedom.

You don't need the degree to build wealth…

You just need to know where to look.

--

If you want to learn how to build your own portfolio of cash-flowing businesses without the MBA debt…

📲 DM me “Biz” and I'll show you how
🤝 Follow me for more content like this

Thanks for being here!

I hate to break it to you...

But buying a business from a retiring Boomer and hiring a GM will beat 95% of people climbing the corporate ladder.

The best part?

I've done multiple deals like this.

Now I'm exposing my $850k/year blueprint:

–

Step 1: Target retiring boomers.

10,000 Baby Boomers retire every day, & most have no one to hand their business to.

Find owners who:

• Are 55-70 years old
• Have profitable businesses
• Want to retire in 12-24 months

–

Step 2: Focus on boring industries.

Skip the sexy stuff.

I look for:

• Accounting firms
• Laundromats
• Storage
• HVAC
• ATMs
• SaaS

These businesses print cash & aren’t going anywhere.

–

Step 3: Get SBA pre-approved.

The US government WANTS you to buy small businesses.

They'll back up to 90% of the loan.

You'll need:

• 2 years of W-2s or tax returns
• Personal financial statement
• Basic business plan

Have this before making offers.

–

Step 4: Run the numbers.

I only look at businesses with:

• $10k+/month cash flow
• 5+ years operating history
• $500k-$2M purchase price
• Consistent revenue (not declining)

The math has to work from day 1 (if it doesn't cashflow immediately, walk away).

–

Step 5: Structure creative financing.

Here's how I buy with little to $0 down:

• SBA loan covers 90%
• Private investor covers 10%
• Give investor 15% equity in return

They get immediate cash flow, I keep the rest & build equity, it’s a win-win.

–

Step 6: Hire a general manager.

I don't want to buy myself a job.

Before closing, I budget:

• $5-7k/month for a GM (if there isn’t one already)
• Systems documentation
• Training period with seller

The business should run without me full-time there every day (that's the whole point).

–

Step 7: Close & optimize.

The first 90 days are critical.

I focus on:

• Meeting with all employees
• Understanding every system
• Finding quick wins (10-20% improvements)
• Building trust with the team

–

6 years ago…

I was working 60-hour weeks at JP Morgan.

Today?

I work 20 hours/week across 8 businesses that generate $7M+ in revenue.

–

If you want to learn how to buy your first business using this exact strategy...

DM me "Biz" and I'll walk you through it.

If I had $50k sitting in a savings account right now...

Here's exactly how I'd invest it for monthly cash flow:

--

Most people think you need hundreds of thousands in cash to buy a business.

But the truth?

You can buy a cash-flowing business with way less capital than you think.

--

The reality is:

• Banks will loan you 90% (SBA loan)
• Private investors can put up 10%
• You can offer equity in return

That's how you can secure a solid income stream for little to $0 out of pocket.

--

I focus on "boring" businesses:

• HVAC
• ATM Routes
• Accounting Firms
• Waste Management

(They're always cash flow positive with systems that I can improve).

I'll give you my go-to process:

--

1) Pick a recession-proof industry (HVAC, Accounting, Laundromat, etc.)

2) Use a broker (or SMBMarket) to look for businesses that are up for sale.

• 5 years old
• $500k-$1M price
• $10k+/month cash flow

3) Apply for an SBA Loan pre-qualification

4) Bring your tax returns & W2 pay stubs

5) Explain which business you want to acquire and why you are buying it.

6) Hire an accountant to analyze the financials of the business you're looking at.

7) Look for consistent, increasing revenue

8) Talk to sellers (see why they're selling)

9) Make an offer between 2-4x SDE (cash flow)

Example:
↳ If the seller took home $400k last year, you should make an offer of $800k-$1.2M.

10) Use your SBA loan to finance 90%

11) Find an investor who'll give you the last 10% (give them 15% equity in return)

& there you have it.

You bought a business with $0.

--

If you're looking for a real path to ownership that doesn't require you to quit your job or drain your savings, this is it.

Simple. Repeatable. Proven.

DM me “Biz” and I’ll show you how to get started.

If you want to quit your job & replace it with a boring income stream...

Here’s a full blueprint to make $10k/month by the end of 2026:

--

First, let's get real about quitting your job.

You can't just walk away without a plan.

But here's what you CAN do:

Buy one boring business that generates $10k/month while working 15-20 hours per week.

It all comes down to simple execution:

--

Step 1: Find businesses to buy.

Go to SMBmarket and filter for:

• $500k-$1M asking price
• $100k+ annual cash flow
• Service-based businesses

Make a list of 20-30 businesses that fit this criteria.

--

Step 2: Contact sellers & evaluate deals.

The goal is to set up meetings to find out:

• Their reason for selling
• Current team and operations
• Real financials (3 years tax returns)

Hire a CPA to analyze the numbers.

Look for businesses with employees already in place.

--

Step 3: Structure the financing.

Here's how you buy a business with minimal cash down:

• SBA loan covers 80-90% of the price
• Seller financing covers 5-10%
• You cover 5% even potentially bringing $0 to closing

The SBA loan is the key that unlocks everything.

--

Step 4: Complete due diligence.

Spend 30-45 days reviewing:

• 3 years of tax returns
• Customer concentration
• Employee contracts & systems
• Equipment condition & lease agreements

This protects you from buying someone else's problem.

--

Step 5: Close the deal & transition.

The first 90 days are critical.

Focus on:

• Finding quick wins
• Building trust with staff
• Meeting with all employees
• Understanding all the systems

Don't try to change everything at once.

--

Step 6: Hire a general manager.

I don't want to buy myself a job.

Before closing, I budget:

• $5-7k/month for a GM (if there isn't one already)
• Systems documentation
• Training period with seller

The business should run without you there every day.

--

Step 7: Optimize & scale.

After 6 months, you can:

• Adjust pricing structure
• Streamline payment systems
• Look for your second acquisition
• Improve marketing & online presence

The cash flow from business #1 funds business #2.

--

This isn't a 90-day get-rich scheme.

It's a 12-month system that replaces your salary.

If you want the complete framework I used to go from JP Morgan to 8 businesses generating $850k/year...

DM me "Blueprint" and I'll send you the details.

Everyone should learn how to buy a business with little to $0 down.

Why?

Because it's one of the fastest routes to financial freedom.

I discovered this after years of climbing the corporate ladder.

My first acquisition changed everything.

I invested $5,000 into a software company, and in my first year, it returned $100,000+

That’s when I realized:

The wealthy don’t trade time for money.
→ They acquire cash-flowing assets using leverage.

Warren Buffett didn’t become a billionaire from a salary.
→ He did it by acquiring ownership in businesses.

Your local millionaire probably isn’t a celebrity or tech founder.
→ They likely own a “boring” businesses in your community.

My portfolio now includes 8 boring businesses.

Combined annual income: $850,000
Hours worked weekly: ~20

The most valuable lesson I’ve learned?

Stop chasing paychecks...

Start acquiring businesses.

--

If you want to learn the exact strategy I've used to build a $850k/year income stream...

📲 DM me "Biz" and I'll show you how.

Buying businesses changed my life:

• I quit my 9-5 forever
• I get paid $850k every year
• I can travel the world with my kids

If you want to buy your first business in 2026...

Here's my full beginner blueprint:

--

Before I give you the steps…

It’s essential that you understand WHY this opportunity exists right now.

10,000 Baby Boomers retire every single day.

They've spent 20, 30, sometimes 40 years building profitable small businesses.

& most of their kids don't want them.

So what happens when a Boomer wants to retire but has no one to take over?

They sell.

Often at a fair price, with flexible terms, to someone willing to keep their legacy alive.

--

Step 1: Pick a boring, recession-proof industry.

I'm talking about businesses people need no matter what the economy is doing:

• HVAC
• Plumbing
• Accounting
• Laundromats

--

Step 2: Find businesses for sale.

Go to SMBmarket(.)com and start browsing daily.

What you're looking for:

• 5+ years in operation
• $500k–$1M asking price
• $10k+/month in cash flow
• Ideally owned by a Boomer

--

Step 3: Talk to the seller.

Once you find something promising, get on the phone.

1. Ask them why they're selling.
2. Ask for 3 years of financial statements (tax returns, profit & loss).

You're looking for consistent revenue and clean books.

If they can't produce that, walk away.

--

Step 4: Get pre-approved for an SBA loan.

The Small Business Administration (SBA) backs loans that let you finance up to 90% of a business purchase.

It's a government-backed loan designed to help people buy small businesses.

Go to a lender like Live Oak Bank, Byline Bank, or Truliant.

Bring your last 3 years of tax returns, W-2s, and a personal financial statement.

--

Step 5: Run the numbers.

Hire a CPA to look at the financials.

You want to see:

• Healthy profit margins
• No major inconsistencies
• Stable and growing revenue

If the business doesn't cash flow after debt payments, it’s time to move on.

--

Step 6: Make your offer.

Look at the seller's yearly earnings.

Take the average of the last 3 years and multiply it by 2x–4x (deal dependent).

Example: Business earns $200k/year → you offer $400k–$800k.

Then you negotiate from there.

--

Step 7: Structure the deal with creative financing.

Here's how I would buy businesses with little to $0 out of my own pocket:

• SBA loan covers 90%
• Private investor covers the 10%
• Give that investor 15% equity in return

They get immediate cash flow.

I keep the rest and build equity.

--

Step 8: Close & hire a general manager.

Once the deal closes, you don't have to run the day-to-day yourself.

The business already has employees and systems.

Keep the existing team in place, hire a GM to oversee operations, and step into an ownership role.

This is how I manage 7 businesses and only work about 20 hours a week.

--

If you want to learn exactly how to buy your first business for little to $0 down...

DM me "Biz" and I'll show you how.

I found the most boring way to make $100k/year.

(I'm 35, making $79k a month)

How?

Boring businesses.

Here's exactly how to copy me:

--

Step 1: Find a business that's already making money.

Go to SMBmarket(.)com and search for businesses with $10k+/month in cash flow.

Look for boring industries:

• Laundromats
• Accounting firms
• Pool cleaning services

--

Step 2: Let the Boomers come to you.

Millions of business owners are retiring right now and need someone to take over.

• High motivation to sell
• Most have zero succession plan
• Existing customers, employees, & systems

You're not building from scratch.

You're buying something that works.

--

Step 3: Get the government to back your deal.

Apply for an SBA loan through a lender like Live Oak, Byline, or Truliant.

The SBA will back up to 90% of the purchase price.

You'll need your last 2-3 years of tax returns and a personal financial statement.

The bank wants to see you're a safe bet.

--

Step 4: Structure it so you pay little to $0 out of pocket.

Here's the formula:

• SBA loan covers 90%
• Seller financing or a private investor covers the remaining 10%

If you use an investor, give them 10-15% equity.

--

Step 5: Hire a GM and step back.

You don't need to run day-to-day operations.

A solid general manager costs $50-70k/year and handles everything while you oversee the big picture.

This is how I manage 8 businesses in about 20 hours a week.

--

Step 6: Scale like crazy.

One boring business can pay you $100k+/year.

But the real play?

Use the cash flow from business #1 to fund business #2. Then #3, #4, #5…

That's when this goes from "side income" to replacing your corporate salary entirely.

--

The beauty of this model:

No venture capital. No tech skills. No starting from zero.

You're buying businesses that have been profitable for years, backed by government loans, and run by managers.

Set it up right, and you collect cash flow monthly.

--

I own 8 boring businesses that pay me $850k/year.

I bought my first few while I was still working at JP Morgan.

If you want to learn exactly how to buy your first business for little to $0 down…

DM me "Biz" & I'll show you how.

I'm 35.

I own 7 businesses (last year, they made $7,000,000+)

To spread the wealth...

Here’s the most in-depth training I've ever created on small business acquisition:

--

SMBmarket(.)com will be your best friend.

It has tons of listings for owners who are looking to sell their small businesses.

The listings will mention:

• SDE
• FF&E
• EBITDA

–

Search for a business making $10K+/mo in cash flow & has been profitable for >5 years.

🔍 SMBmarket(.)com → Search: *Your Area* / Service Businesses → Price filter = $500k to $1M → More Filters → Cashflow = Min. $10k.

--

Some businesses to look at:

• Financial Services
• Pool Cleaning
• Laundromat
• Plumbing
• HVAC

Before starting the buying process…

–

Determine your goal.

For me, I have a GM who runs day-to-day while I focus on increasing cash flow.

Some people enjoy working day-to-day.

This is your chance to customize your role.

--

You shouldn't make any offers until you've secured your financing options.

There are 4 financing options:

• Buying with your own cash
• SBA loan
• Private investor
• Seller financing

You can use multiple methods or just one.

–

When speaking to lenders (banks/investors)...

1) Position yourself as a "safe" bet.
2) Tell them the type of business you want to acquire & why.
3) Come prepared with your last 3 years of tax returns & W2 pay stubs.
4) Prepare a statement that lists your assets & liabilities.

If you can do these things...

You'll be ahead of 99% of borrowers.

--

You'll want to get the tax returns & P&Ls from the last 3 years.

Profit should be increasing steadily and P&Ls should be relatively consistent with no crazy fluctuations.

Pro Tip:

Hire an accountant to audit the numbers.

–

They can review these KPIs too:

• SDE (Seller discretionary earnings)
• EBITDA (Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization)
• FF&E (Furniture, fixtures & equipment)

Essentially, this means...

→ Total profit
→ Cash flow
→ Movable assets

--

For making an offer...

Take the average SDE from the last 3 years (ex: $450k)

Multiply it by 2.5x = $1,125,000 and round down to $1,000,000 (that's your starting offer).

–

We can purchase this for close to $0 down by talking to our SBA lender & asking for the business to be qualified on the 7a program.

This allows us to get a private investor to cover the down payment, so we're $0 out of pocket.

Let me explain...

--

You give a private investor 10-15% equity & in return, they pay the 10% down payment.

In effect, they’re getting an extra 5% equity for taking a risk on you.

On a $450k/yr business...

Your investor makes $5,250/mo passively, which is a 57% CoC return annually.

–

But you still cash flow $29k/mo...

→ Hire a General Manager ($5k/mo)
→ Your salary ($10k/mo)
→ $14k/mo for the business to grow

Congratulations!

You now own a small business.

–

If you want to learn more about how you can acquire a boring business for yourself...

📲 DM me "Biz" and I'll show you how.

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