Growth Ghost

Growth Ghost: the leading coaching program for aspiring freelancer writers, 9-to-5ers, and digital writers. Teaching writers how to land high paying clients, scale their online ghostwriting business, and build a life they no longer feel the need to escape from.

50+ students served. Multi 7 figures in revenue generated for students. 

https://www.growthghost.com/optin1736208224612

Partner

Ghostlii Inc

The leading ghostwriting agency for founders, coaches, and personal brands.
50+ clients served. 200,000,000+ total impressions. 7 figures of revenue generated through social media content.
https://ghostlii.com/

Co-Founder

Centre for Arts and Technology

College Instructor

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

My first ghostwriting client made me rich. Not with the money they paid me. But with the mindset shift they created in me.

When I first started, I’d see other ghostwriters online landing clients and think:

"Good for them. But could that ever be me?"

I acted on blind faith that if they could do it, so could I.

(Some Tony Robbin's sh*t, you know?)

But for six months, nothing happened.

No clients.
No money.

No proof it would work for me.

It made it hard to keep going when the only evidence I had what that it was possible for someone else.

But then, I landed my first client!

$0.50 per follower, which came out to about $3,000 a month.

That small win radically shifted my mindset.

I was no longer acting on possibility.
I was acting on probability.

A week later, I signed another client.

Within a few months, I was making over $10K a month from ghostwriting.

Looking back, this shift wasn’t just financial.

it was psychological.

Because when you get your first “yes,” everything you once doubted about yourself disappears.

You realize this isn’t just possible for others.

It’s possible for you.

That’s the moment your life changes.

Not because of the money but because you're no longer held back by disbelief.

—Taylin

♻️ Repost. Follow Taylin John Simmonds for more on how to earn as an AI assisted ghostwriter without sacrificing income or your love of hard shell tacos.

College teacher turned AI assisted ghostwriter | Helping writers, creatives, and storytellers earn on the internet | 2 billion impressions | $4,000,000+ revenue generated | All in on Substack

I didn’t start believing in myself because I had results. I started believing in myself because I ran out of reasons not to try.

Back in 2022, all I wanted was to make a living as a creative writer.

Not a novelist or a journalist.

Just someone who could write online and get paid for it (if it was even possible).

But everyone around me was saying the same thing:

"Writers don’t make real money."

Still, I kept seeing people on Twitter doing it, and a small part of me hoped that if they could pull it off, maybe I could too.

So I gave myself permission to write for one year straight.

After work.
On weekends.
After eight-hour days teaching college classes.

And I did all of that without earning a single dollar for 6 months.

No clients.
No validation.
Not even much traction on my posts.

Just a lot of self-doubt, 5-9 exhaustion, and the constant fear that I was wasting my time.

Then another ghostwriter referred me a client (thank god).

On the call, the client agreed to pay me fifty cents per follower.

When the Stripe invoice came through for $3,000, it pretty much broke my mind.
It was more than I made in a month as a teacher.

And that moment was all it took...

I finally had proof this path could work (for me).

Within 30 days, I landed two more clients and hit around $10K per month.

Looking back, the biggest shift wasn’t the money.

It was realizing that when you don’t have evidence something will work for you, you have to borrow evidence from people it already worked for.

That borrowed belief keeps you going long enough to get your own proof.

And once you get your first yes, it gets a lot harder to quit.

—Taylin

♻️ Repost. Follow Taylin John Simmonds for more on how to earn as an AI assisted ghostwriter without sacrificing income or your love of hard shell tacos.

In the last 60 days, I've gained 943 newsletter subs from organic content on Substack. No lead magnets. No trendjacking. Here's how I did it:

Most people on LinkedIn have no idea how f*cking incredible Substack is right now.

It's like LinkedIn 2023, only better because you attract subscribers instead of followers.

Imagine this:

You write a short social post—just like you would on LinkedIn—and it gets you 500 newsletter subscribers.

No lead magnet.
No DMs.
No funnels.

You write a newsletter that goes semi-viral, and it brings you new 80 subscribers, $1,000 in customer sales, and 2 podcast invites.

All from a newsletter that went viral on a social media timeline.

Then you launch a paid newsletter, where people happily pay you for your deepest work, and suddenly you’re earning $100 per day from content you’re already writing.

This isn’t theoretical.

Those are all real wins from my Substack.

I’m growing faster on Substack than I ever did on LinkedIn—just by repurposing my old content and adapting it to Substack’s culture.

My newsletters are going viral.

They’re attracting new clients, podcast invites, and collaborations every week.

My paid newsletter alone is on track to gross $4,000 this month.

This is insane.

If you’re a business owner, get on Substack.
If you’re a creator, get on Substack.
If you’re selling courses or digital products, get on Substack.

This platform is insane and it’s still early.

If you’re thinking about migrating, but aren't sure how Substack works, just comment "Substack" below.

I'll shoot over my free growth guide so you can make the most of Substack while it's easy.

Because once everyone figures it out, the easy growth window closes.

—Taylin

Many of LinkedIn’s biggest creators just joined Substack.

Are you going to join them or get left behind?

Whenever a new social platform is easy to grow on, the big creators quietly migrate there first.

They don’t talk about it.

Because they want to grow fast while the growth is easy.

Right now, Substack is that platform.

But why is it easy to grow on?

It's easy to grow on because there is more attention than quality content.

That means when you post something, it gets shown to more people and it stays visible for far longer.

On LinkedIn, my posts last roughly 3-7 day.
On Substack, my posts go viral for up to 40 days.

But how long will this easy growth last?

6 to 12 months (max).

Recently, Justin Welsh joined Substack.
Dan Koe joined Substack.
Dan Go joined Substack.
Naomi Kins joined Substack.

And if I had to guess, Lara Acosta will join soon too because she just launched a newsletter course. Which makes sense for her to sell on the platform.

It’s no coincidence.

All the big creators are moving quietly to Substack because it’s easier to grow and easier to go viral.

I’ve personally gained 1,000+ newsletter subscribers in the past 60 days from short Notes that take me two minutes to write.
I've landed 3 podcast appearances with top Substack creators.
I've gotten more inbound leads from Substack than LinkedIn.

Can a new creator easily do this on LinkedIn without jacking trends?

Not in 2025.
And it won't happen in 2026.

So you have a choice:

Wait around debating whether to join or make the move while growth is still easy.

I missed the early growth window on LinkedIn because I was too focused on X.

I’m not making that mistake again.

That’s why I’m all in on Substack.

P.S. I’m putting together a free Substack Growth Course that breaks down how I'm growing on the platform (because it is different from LinkedIn).

I'll be publishing it only on Substack, so if you want access when it drops, you can subscribe here: https://lnkd.in/gb6dr2mF

—Taylin

How to grow fast on LinkedIn. Don't. Just write on Substack instead. In 30 days, I gained 729 newsletter subs + $3,000 with a paid newsletter.

It got harder to grow fast on LinkedIn over the past year.

So I ran a five-month experiment to see what would happen if I went all-in on Substack, tried to grow, and launched a paid newsletter.

What happened surprised me.

Once I figured out how the platform worked, I started gaining 500–700 newsletter subscribers per month organically.

Think about that.

When was the last time you pulled 500+ newsletter subscribers on LinkedIn without a viral lead magnet or trendjacking?

This was all organic.
No lead magnets.

Just repurposed content from LinkedIn & X.

My most viral Substack post was literally a LinkedIn post I copied over. 
It brought in around 100 subscribers by itself.

If you’re already writing LinkedIn posts, there’s zero reason not to post them there and let the platform hand you free subscribers.

Then I launched a paid newsletter.

In 30 days, 48 people subscribed.

The dashboard says $6,260 annualized, and the actual cash received was around $2,000 USD.

But here’s the wild part:

People started DMing me asking for other things they could buy.

Now they want me to start a writing community.
I sold $1,000 worth of ghostwriting courses I don’t even have publicly available.
I booked 2 consulting calls worth $3,000–$5,000 each.

So in one month of a paid newsletter, I’ll probably end up with $3,000–$7,000 of additional revenue—completely outside of LinkedIn.

This is why I’m posting about Substack so aggressively.

It’s one of the best attention arbitrage opportunities on the internet right now.

It feels like early Twitter.
It feels like early LinkedIn.
And people on LinkedIn are completely sleeping on it.

They’re not growing on Substack.
They’re not using a paid newsletter as an intro product to sell courses, coaching, or services.

It’s insane.

And the excuse is always:

“I don’t have time. I’m focused on LinkedIn.”

That’s exactly what I used to say—right before LinkedIn got hard.

I’m not making that mistake again.

If you try Substack for 30 days, you’ll be shocked at how much faster you grow your audience and your business.

I put together a free Substack growth guide—you shouldn’t have to pay for the basics. 
I’ll link it at the bottom of this post.

I’m going to keep FOMO’ing you into existence until you finally get on this platform and take advantage of it.

You probably have 6–12 months.

Stop grinding on LinkedIn for 100 followers a month.
At least give Substack a shot.

Free Substack growth guide: https://lnkd.in/gffnDFcD

—Taylin

I’m building my paid Substack newsletter to 500 subs in public. I launched 7(ish) days ago. The update: Paid subs: 24; Revenue: $1,079.25

I looked at the market—most people price their paid tier at $5/month.

Then I asked myself:

“What would I need to offer to price mine 4x higher?”

My answer came in two parts:

1) Value proposition

Help new writers earn $1,000+/month writing online

2) Deliverables

* Weekly custom GPTs & prompt flows (the same ones I’m using now)
* Biweekly manifestos (more in-depth than most people’s courses)
* AI-assisted writing manifestos
* Monetization roadmaps on money models, offer stacks, and marketing ecosystems
* Monthly live Q&A calls (no selling, just having fun and shooting the shit)

With this setup, I can grow revenue 4x faster per subscriber.

That’s what I recommend to new writers with smaller audiences—you don’t need a ton of subs, just high trust per sub. (More on that another time.)

This week’s marketing breakdown (rough numbers):

I built no hype. Did no prelaunch.

Just woke up, decided to launch a paid tier. And launched it by end of day (my attempt at not overthinking it haha).

* One scrappy launch newsletter → 4 subs
* One email to previous buyers → 7 subs
* One email to subscribers with 4–5 star activity scores → 5 subs
* Two paid newsletters with paywalls → ~5 subs
* One Substack Live with Landon Poburan → ? subs

Hard to track where the rest came from.

Next steps:

1. Finish the new AI workflow for writing long form content (relevant to LinkedIn as well)

2. Release the next roadmap: *How to get 100 paid subscribers on Substack in 3–6 months*

3. Host one Substack Live per week to build trust faster (some fun collabs coming up)

That’s it.

If you found this valuable, let me know. It helps me decide whether to keep doing this series weekly.

PS - Substack feels like early Twitter with a newsletter option. It's an arbitrage opportunity for the right creators/founders who get in early. 

We're looking for a few founders or coaches who want us to grow their presence on Substack. Done-for-you content creation and lead generation. Send me a message if that's you.

—Taylin

I just learned this crazy idea from a Harvard Psychiatrist: It’s called Cognitive Drain. And it’s why most people are exhausted 24/7.

Every single:

* Undone task
* Unrealized goal
* Unfinished project

Is causing your brain to leak mental energy.

Basically, your brain is a dusty PC running Windows 99 with 100 tabs open.

No wonder most people are so burnt out.

They're not tired because of working too much.

You’re tired because of *thinking* about too much.

Psychiatrist, Dr. K says there are only two ways to get your energy back:

1) Relieve - finish, delegate, or delete a task

2) Grieve - accept you'll never do it and let it go (goodbye my dream of being a famous DJ)

Grieving might sound dramatic, but it's what unburdens your mind.

If you’re still clinging to a version of yourself who “should” have achieved something by now, that’s energy trapped in a closed loop.

If you're still day dreaming about a goal you haven't worked towards in years, that's wasted focus and mental bandwidth.

Exhaustion doesn’t only come from doing too much.

It comes from carrying too much sh*t in your head.

You might not need to rest more.

Just try thinking less. Committing less. And grieving more (I recommend a weekly journaling practice).

It's the only way to free up bandwidth for what truly matters.

—Taylin

♻️ Repost. Follow Taylin John Simmonds for more on how to earn as an AI assisted ghostwriter without sacrificing income or your love of hard shell tacos.

I have 37,892 LinkedIn followers. I earn more per month from my 5,724 subs on Substack.

What? How?!

Too many people still believe the “big audience = big income” myth.

I did too.

I optimized for LinkedIn virality earlier this year.
I wrote posts I didn’t like.
I told myself the money would show up once the numbers got big enough.

Spoiler:
It never did.

I didn't realize what actually happens when you chase audience size:

You create content for dopamine, not depth.
You grow followers, not trust.

You’re “known,” but not believed.

And without belief, nobody buys.
Nobody invests.

Nobody respects you as an authority.

So I decided to try a different strategy on Substack and this is what I learned:

You don’t need a big audience.
You need high trust per follower.

Because one person who trusts you is worth more than a hundred who barely register your existence.

I have 100,000 followers on X. 
37,892 on LinkedIn.

I have 5,724 subscribers on Substack.

Guess where most of my money comes from?

Substack.

Because that’s where I write what I actually care about:
Creating your life's work.

That’s where I build trust instead of reach:
Publishing hour long podcasts (you might like them).

And trust converts at a level many “big audience” people never experience.

When someone trusts you, they buy the expensive thing.

They tell their friends.
They get excited to work with you.

You don’t need thousands of customers.
You need a few hundred believers.

Stop trying to get famous.
Start trying to get trusted.

That's the real game where you can actually win.

PS. In the past 30 days, I got 700 new newsletter subscribers from organic content on Substack.

If you don't want to miss out, here's a free guide on how to do the same:
https://lnkd.in/gffnDFcD

—Taylin

Acquisition Ace

President

Fit Pro Tracker

Co-founder & Chief Financial Officer

Alliance Defending Freedom

Sr. Director of Transformational Partnerships

• Experienced leader passionate about serving others and creating lasting relationships.
• Inspire others to collaborate and support ADF and its guiding principles.
• Reach and develop deep relationships to broaden support for ADF.
• Serve our ministry friends and be the conduit between support and results.
• Develop and build ADF's presence in the Northeast Region to ensure strong relationships and an increasing support base.
• Be the best team member, collaborator, and servant-leader.

Director of Transformational Partnerships

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Selected for a position with the top two Scottsdale private banker teams performing prospect research, strategy, and client investment portfolio consulting. Oversaw prospect selection and development during the entire life cycle from prospect to client.

Private Banking Associate

Hand Selected as one of the first three members of the JPMorgan Chase & Co. Military Officer Executive Development Program (MOEDP) in Phoenix, AZ. MOEDP selects top performing junior military officers and develops them into future business executives within JPMorgan Chase. I am currently serving in Phoenix Location Services Department.

Associate

US Army

Chosen over peers to lead and manage over 250 personnel in an arduous and results-oriented environment. Integrates multiple cross-functional teams to train, develop, and prepare civilian volunteers into Soldiers in a 10-week cycle. Responsible for over $3 million worth of equipment and the management and mentoring of 18 training personnel.

Company Commander

Project Manager for the daily training operations of 250 personnel. Utilized project management life-cycle principles for efficiency and scalable results. Coached and trained fifteen team leaders in order to share tools, techniques, and best practices. Ranked as #1 team out of 5. Developed local community partnerships through engaged leadership. Planned and led over 4-community school outreaches pairing military leaders with disadvantaged children in a local elementary school. Consistently ranked as #1 of 5 Executive Officers.

Project Manager/Executive Officer

Managed 5 intelligence analysts tasked with proving security analysis and consulting for local threats against the United States Military in Germany. Developed and implemented individual and team training programs. Created intelligence gathering program to gather, analyze and disseminate critical security related information, which led to the apprehension of 3 terrorists planning an attack on a local military base in Germany.

Consultant/Intelligence Officer

Coordinated training for all five units geographically dispersed throughout Germany, Italy, and Belgium. Supervised the training schedules and supply requests for all five Companies within our Battalion unit. Emplaced a maintenance program which increased equipment operational rating to over 90%. Received commendation from Senior officer for effectively coordinating 3 tons and 700,000 dollars of equipment during a 2,000 personnel exercise.

Project Manager/Training Officer

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 corporate dream is dead.

MBA students are turning down 6-figure salaries at McKinsey to buy small businesses.

As someone who did the same…

Here’s my take on the situation:

--

I used to work at JP Morgan.

Got the MBA... Got the 6-figure salary...

But when I realized I could buy a small business and make money on the side?

I pounced on an opportunity.

--

I found a small business (SaaS) on LinkedIn and invested $5k for 10% equity.

After that?

I acquired 2 more businesses:

1. Web Design Company
2. Nail Salon

Then I quit my job.

--

The numbers don't lie here.

75M Boomers will retire by 2030, and 10,000 are currently retiring every day.

Here's why these top graduates are choosing to profit from this opportunity:

--

💰 Earning Potential

All it takes is just one small business to earn more than a corporate salary.

I look for boring, established businesses (5+ years old) with strong cash flow and growing revenue.

If you're patient enough, you can find a business that allows you to take home 6-figures plus.

--

⏰ Time Flexibility

In total, I own 7 small businesses and work ~20 hours per week.

I buy businesses that already have systems and operations built so I can delegate tasks and be removed from the day-to-day.

I just need to hire smart.

--

❤️ Fulfillment

When you have a traditional job, you make more by increasing your hours.

But I buy businesses that don't need me there 9 to 5 to increase my income.

This means I have more time for my family as well as control over my earnings.

--

The best part?

Even if you're not a business major, you can still buy your own small business.

If you want to learn the method I used to scale my business portfolio to $800k/year...

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

Rich families don't leave their kids with money in the bank.

Why?

Because 70% lose it by the 2nd generation.

& 90% lose it by the third...

That's why wealthy families pass down businesses that require management and generate ongoing wealth.

This structure forces competence across generations because the assets demand attention to maintain value.

→ Cash inheritance creates entitlement.
→ Business inheritance creates responsibility.

I realized this strategy wasn’t exclusive to the ultra-wealthy (the mechanics work at any scale).

So I copied their playbook.

I’ve repeated this process 7 times over 5 years.

Now my portfolio generates $850,000 annually across businesses in different industries.

But the real move was creating an irrevocable trust with my children as beneficiaries.

The businesses sit in the trust, so when I die, they inherit income-producing assets, not liquid cash.

They can’t sell everything and blow it on cars and houses.

They inherit the responsibility of managing operations that employ people and serve communities.

This is how generational wealth actually works in practice...

Not through stock portfolios or real estate, but through operating businesses that survive beyond individual lifespans.

If you want to learn how you can do the same to build generational wealth for your family...

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

This is Ryan Reynolds.

He owns 10+ businesses that make 100s of millions.

I'm no Hollywood A-lister…

But I still own 7 boring businesses that make $836k per year.

Here's how I bought them as a normal guy:

--

Ryan Reynolds is quite a skilled value creator when it comes to entrepreneurship.

He owns and invests in:

🥃 Aviation Gin (sold for $610M)
📱 Mint Mobile (sold for $1.35B)
⚽ Wrexham FC (Soccer team)
🏠 Maximum Effort Productions
💰 Wealthsimple (Investment app)
🍿 1st Avenue Machine
🎬 Futurism Studios

And more...

--

I’d even go as far as to say he makes more now than he did acting in blockbusters.

But even if you're just a normal guy (like me) you can do the exact same thing.

I've bought 7 businesses that pay me $836k per year.

Here's my full blueprint (no gatekeeping):

--

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

2) Use SMBmarket(.com) to look for businesses that are up for sale.

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

3) Apply for an SBA Loan

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.

(btw, you can pay them in equity)

7) Look for consistent, increasing revenue

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

Note: I usually buy from retiring Boomers

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

Example:
↳ If the seller took home $400k last year, you should make an offer of $800k-$1.6M.

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.

Congratulations.

You bought a business with $0.

--

Let's say the biz cash flows $33k/month.

I pay the investor 15% ($5k/mo) and I pay a GM to run the daily ops ($5k/mo)

Then I pay $12.6k in debt servicing (which is 11.5% interest rate over 10 years).

I'm left with $10,733 per month.

--

I'm just a regular guy (ex-corporate).

I'm nowhere near Reynolds' level, but business acquisition still changed my life.

I earn way more than my old job at JP Morgan, and I only work 20 hours per week.

SBA can work for you as well.

--

Want to learn more about how you can acquire a boring business for yourself?

You're in the right place.

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

No alternative text description for this image

5 years ago, I told everyone I was quitting my job.

I wanted to go all in on buying boring businesses.

My parents thought I was crazy for throwing away everything I’d worked so hard for…

My colleagues told me I would regret it…

People called me ungrateful...

But it just wasn’t right.

I wasn’t happy, and I wasn’t seeing my wife as we were just starting our family.

So, I quit.

I’d already been buying businesses on the side…

So I had cash-flowing assets to provide for us.

I bought 3x businesses while working a W2.

If you’re in corporate and you want to leave but don’t want to risk your financial situation...

You can still buy a business on the side before you leave your job.

& If you want to learn the exact strategy I used to go from 0 to $850k year...

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

I know within 30 seconds whether or not I’m buying a business.

It’s not because I have an MBA…
It’s because I know what to look for.

Here are the 10 signs I need to see (before I buy):

--

1. The business is 5+ years old.

I never touch startups or new ventures.

By year 5, they've survived the initial growing pains, and proven their model works.

Most failures happen in the first 3 years.

--

2. The owner is retiring (not running).

This is my sweet spot.

I love buying from Boomers who built solid businesses but are ready to step back.

Red flag: Owners "escaping" a sinking ship.
Green flag: Owners who truly want to retire.

--

3. There's an existing general manager.

If I have to run daily operations…

I'm buying myself a job.

So, I always look for businesses that either have management in place, or are in a place where we can easily hire someone.

--

4. It passes the "Fax Machine Test."

This is my favorite filter.

If they still use fax machines, outdated websites, or paper-only systems…

That's pure gold.

It means I can add immediate value through simple tech upgrades.

--

5. The business is recession-resistant.

I stick to essentials people can't live without:

• HVAC (people need heating/cooling)
• Plumbing (pipes will always break)
• Accounting (taxes aren't optional)

Avoid luxury services that disappear when times get tough.

--

6. Revenue is recurring (not project-based).

One-time sales are stressful.

Monthly recurring revenue is beautiful.

I want businesses where customers pay regularly:

• Monthly service agreements
• Maintenance contracts
• Subscription tiers

--

7. The cash flow covers debt service + GM salary + my take.

Simple math:

If the business makes $30k/month, I need to see:

• $5k for my investor (if used)
• $12k for loan payments
• $6k for GM salary
• $7k for me

If the numbers don't work, I walk.

--

8. It's boring and unsexy.

I avoid "exciting" businesses.

The more boring, the better:

• Waste management
• Storage facilities
• Laundromats

Boring = Predictable.

--

9. The financials are clean and consistent.

I want to see 3 years of steady (or growing) profits.

No wild fluctuations.
No creative accounting.

Just boring, predictable cash flow.

--

10. I understand the business model completely.

If I can't explain how they make money in 2 sentences, I pass.

Why?

Because complex businesses have complex problems.

You need to be an absolute expert in this business, but you MUST understand the model.

--

These 10 filters have helped me acquire 7 businesses that now pay me $836k/year.

Most deals fail at least 3 of these criteria.

The ones that pass all 10?

Those are the deals that change your life.

--

If you want to learn how to find and acquire boring businesses using little to no money down…

DM me “Biz” & I’ll show you how.

This book changed my life.

It helped me:

• Escape the 9-5
• Buy boring businesses
• Have more time for my family

Here are my 10 favorite takeaways:

--

1) Leverage the existing assets.

The business you acquire should already have some infrastructure to it.

You can leverage the:

• Existing customer base
• Brand reputation
• Employees

This is vital for growth and longevity.

--

2) Think like an entrepreneur.

By building a portfolio of businesses, you could be considered an "investor."

But you need to think like an entrepreneur.

After you buy the business:

You need to keep it afloat.
You need to see opportunities.
You need to make improvements.

--

3) Focus on the cash flow.

Cash flow is a critical indicator of the financial health of a company.

The more the merrier.

If you can dial in the systems and delegate, you can earn cash flow on autopilot.

I am now a big fan of delegation.

--

4) Always do your due diligence.

The less research you do for an acquisition, the more stressful it will be.

If you don't uncover hidden:

• Bottlenecks
• Liabilities
• Issues

You're sabotaging yourself.

Trust me, the upfront hassle is worth it.

--

5) Take advantage of strategic financing.

There are many ways to buy a business.

• Seller financing
• Traditional loans
• Using an investor

The more creative you can be (within the limits of the law), the better.

Creative financing is a skill (learn it).

--

6) Maintain a long-term perspective.

Although you can build wealth quite quickly, you should still think long-term.

This strategy is very powerful.

And if you're in it for the long haul, you can build legitimate generational wealth.

Take the high ground and go for it.

--

7) Strengthen the staff.

If you don't want to be tied to your acquisition, hire amazing employees.

Delegation is vital.

If the business is "owner-operated," just know what you're about to walk into.

That's part of the due diligence.

--

8) Develop elite negotiation skills.

Closing deals is a skill.

The better deal you get from day 1, the more money you'll make overall.

You want the best deal possible, right?

So study negotiation.

--

9) Startups are too risky.

To go and start your own business, you're looking at a <10% success rate.

But buying a business that's up and running?

With existing cash flow.
With proof of concept.
With an existing staff.

That seems a lot safer (it is).

--

10) Develop an exit strategy.

While you do want to keep a long-term perspective, you also want an exit plan.

You can shut it down totally.
You can sell the businesses.
You can pass them down.

I recommend the latter two options.

But everyone's different.

--

This book truly did change my life.

After working 60 hours/week at JP Morgan, I just couldn't keep living that lifestyle.

And now?

My portfolio does ~$7M/year in annual revenue.

If you want to learn how to do the same...

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

The startup world sold us a dream that doesn't exist.

Meanwhile, there's a simpler path nobody talks about:

Find a Boomer who owns a profitable business, get an SBA loan, hire a good GM, and collect the cash flow.

No pitching VCs...
No burning through runway...
No praying for product-market fit...

Just immediate cash flow from day one.

This boring strategy will beat 95% of startup founders.

(And you'll actually sleep at night)

If you want to learn the process I've used to generate $836k/year in take-home income...

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

Why would you start a business from scratch in 2025?

• My Accounting Firm pays me $5k/month
• I bought 2 trucks making $5k/month
• My SaaS pays me $10k/month

The craziest part?

I’ve acquired 7 businesses in total.

Here's how you can do the same (with little to $0 down):

--

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
• EBIDTA

–

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 hire a GM who runs day-to-day while I focus on increasing cash flow.

Some people enjoy working day-to-day.

--

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) Bring 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 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)
• EBIDTA (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 $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 15% equity & in return, they pay the 10% down payment.

In effect, they’re getting an extra 5% equity for nothing.

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 exactly how you can acquire a boring business for yourself...

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

7 Steps to Get Rich From The World's Largest Wealth Transfer:

1. Understand the Silver Tsunami:

• 75 million Baby Boomers are retiring by 2030
• They own 37% of all small businesses in America
• 10,000 Boomers retire every single day
• Most have no succession plan and just want out

2. Target Boring, Recession-Proof Industries:

• HVAC, plumbing, and accounting stay profitable in downturns
• Laundromats and car washes print money regardless
• People always need these services no matter what

3. Find Deals on SMBmarket:

• Search for $500k-$1M asking price
• Look for $10k+ monthly cash flow
• Must be profitable for 5+ years
• Filter for service-based businesses with existing teams

4. Finance 90% With an SBA Loan:

• The government backs these loans for business acquisition
• Banks love lending on established, cash-flowing businesses
• Bring 3 years of tax returns and explain your plan
• This is safer for banks than startup capital

5. Cover the 10% Down With OPM:

• Find a private investor to put up the down payment
• Give them 15% equity in return (win-win structure)
• They get passive returns without running the business
• You put in $0 of your own money at closing

6. Hire a GM to Run Daily Operations:

• Pay them $60k-$80k/year to handle everything
• Your role is strategy and growth, not day-to-day tasks
• Most retiring Boomers already have a manager in place
• This lets you stack multiple businesses over time

7. Use Cash Flow to Pay Everyone Back:

• Business revenue covers loan payments automatically
• Investor gets their 15% cut every month
• GM gets their salary
• You keep the rest while working <20 hours/week

--

If you want to learn more about how you can buy a boring business with little to $0 down...

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

When I told my parents and colleagues I was quitting...

They thought I was crazy.

Leaving behind a job I’d worked so hard to get.

At a company that millions of people dream of working for because of its name.

But the truth is...

I “fell” for the American Dream.

I thought I wanted a shiny title, work travel, and the ability to climb the corporate ladder for 6 figures a year.

But in reality?

I just wanted enough time to spend with my family and money to fund our lifestyle without sacrificing my happiness.

I’d already started investing in businesses before I quit, so I had already replaced my income (and more) before taking the risk to leave.

This is my biggest piece of advice:

Try to work a job AND buy a business.

Once your business income replaces your salary, then quit.

Today, my business income is well over what my salary at JP Morgan was, and in fact, I’m earning a similar amount to most hedge fund managers.

But, I would never have quit before I had a steady income that would protect me and my family’s financial situation.

That’s why it’s more than possible to buy a business while working your W-2, and it’s why you also SHOULD do that.

--

If you want to learn more about how to buy a boring business that gives more time AND money freedom...

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

The math on corporate life is broken:

• $60k after taxes = $45k
• $2k rent = $24k/year
• $500 car note = $6k/year
• Basic expenses = $10k/year

You're left with $5k for the year...

Unless you do THIS (10-step plan):
–

Step 1: Market Research.

Start with SMBMarket(.com).

It's the internet's most active business-for-sale marketplace.

You'll see terms like:

- Price (how much it is)
- Revenue (incoming cash)
- Cashflow (profit - expenses)

Adjust the filters to your liking.

–

Step 2: Discover Your Type.

There are 1,000s of businesses to choose from.

Ask yourself:

- What businesses do I visit often?
- Which industries do I like?
- What has longevity?

And you aren't limited to one type either.

–

Step 3: Determine Your Goal.

Every investor is different.

If you want a more "hands-on" experience, something like a parking lot might not be for you.

Determine what you're looking for.

Then get after it.

–

Step 4: Set Your Financing.

Let's figure out your acquisition strategy.

These questions will help:

- Are you buying outright?
- Do you need a bank to finance?
- Are you bringing an investor with you?

I like to structure deals with lending, seller financing, and investors to get as little down as possible.

–

Step 5: Start Making Calls.

The more calls, the merrier.

Steal these tips:

- Jot down as many notes as you can
- Know that you have the power
- Forget about the emotions

I promise this will ease the process.

–

Step 6: Make An Offer.

Now, you MUST look at the last 3 years of "owner's total profit" (SDE).

Multiply the average by 2x-4x (deal dependent).

- Round down
- Make your offer
- Negotiate and wait

Practice expectation management.

–

Step 7: Structure The Purchase.

So I just mentioned that I like to do these deals with little to $0 out of my own pocket.

(Yes, it is possible, but not easy).

Find an investor willing to put up the down payment and give them more equity in return.

The extra cash flow will cover you.

Don't worry.

–

Step 8: Do Your Due Diligence.

This is actually the most important part because you haven't closed yet.

Make sure you:

- Hire an accountant
- Talk to the employees
- Find a like-minded owner
- Check out their social media

Do NOT get lazy here, this is vital.

–

Step 9: Create a Post-Close Plan.

The first 3 months of ownership will set the tone for your success (this is huge).

You'll need:

• Insurance
• Email access
• Website control
• Employee contracts
• Social media accounts

Just to name a few things…

–

Step 10: Exhale and Close.

It's time to put the pen to the paper!

Congratulations.

You've done the due diligence.
You've done the research.
You've done the work.

Your generational wealth journey has begun…

–

Want to learn more about how I buy profitable businesses without using tons of capital?

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

5 years ago, I had $5k and zero experience owning a business.

Today?

I'm at 7 businesses, work 20 hours a week, and made $836k last year.

No venture capital.
No viral product.
No "disruption."

Just boring businesses that print cash while I'm with my family.

I own things like:

• ATM routes
• Trucking routes
• Accounting firms

The stuff nobody brags about at dinner parties.

But it changed my entire life.

& if you want to learn how I found and financed these businesses with little to $0 down...

DM me "Biz" and I'll show you my strategy.

If I were making $75k+ & wanted to quit my job...

I wouldn't add more to my 401(k).
I wouldn't start a side hustle.
I wouldn't do real estate.

I'd study creative financing for 1 hr/day.

Here's the ONE thing I'm confident will set you financially free (if you follow these 6 steps):

–

Step 1: Find a business that's already profitable.

I use SMBmarket(.)com to search for businesses with:

• 5+ years of operation
• $500k-$1M asking price
• $10k+ monthly cash flow
• Ideally owned by a retiring Boomer

–

Step 2: Speak with the owner.

Once you find a business you like…

Talk to the owner.

Ask why they're selling and request their financial statements for the last 3 years (tax returns, profit & loss).

–

Step 3: Get pre-approved for an SBA loan.

The Small Business Administration backs these loans, making banks more willing to lend.

Bring your last 3 years of tax returns and explain which type of business you want to buy and why.

–

Step 4: Structure the deal with Creative Financing.

This is the magic formula:

• SBA loan covers 90% of purchase price
• Find a private investor for the 10% down payment
• Give that investor 15% equity in return

(This means $0 out of your pocket)

–

Step 5: Break down the numbers.

Let's say the business costs $1M and makes $300k/year:

• SBA loan: $900k (90%)
• Investor puts in: $100k (10%)
• Investor gets: 15% of profits ($45k/year)
• You keep: 85% ($255k/year minus loan payments)

–

Step 6: Hire a GM to run daily operations.

You can pay the manager well and still profit without working in the business day-to-day.

This is how I’m able to own multiple businesses but only work ~20 hours per week.

(Your job is strategy & growth)

–

I went from a corporate job at JP Morgan to making $836k/year, all because I studied creative financing and business acquisition.

If you want to learn more about the exact strategy I used…

DM me “Biz” and I’ll show you how.

I haven't had a 9 to 5 in 4 years.

Why?

Because I own 7 boring businesses that pay me $800,000+ per year.

You can do the same (if you start now).

Let me show you how:

--

Step 1: Make a target list.

Head to SMBmarket(.com) & build a list of 20-30 businesses that you like.

Use these filters:

• 5+ years in business
• Service-based (no retail)
• Min. $10k/month cash flow
• Recession-resistant industries

--

Step 2: Start making calls.

Call every seller on your list.

Ask these questions:

• Why are you selling?
• How involved are you daily?
• What's your biggest challenge?
• Who runs things when you're away?

Good reasons to buy: Retirement, divorce, health etc.

--

Step 3: Build your A+ team.

You want 2 key people:

1. An M&A accountant to audit financials (offer 2.5% equity instead of paying cash upfront).
2. An industry professional who can assess operations (also 2.5% equity).

This team will pay for itself by catching red flags.

--

Step 4: Verify the numbers.

Request 3 years of:

• Tax returns
• Balance sheets
• P&L statements

Your accountant will check for:

• Reasonable owner compensation
• No suspicious expense spikes
• Consistent/growing revenue

You want to see steady cash flow of $200k-$400k annually over multiple years.

--

Step 5: Start your SBA pre-approval.

Contact these banks that specialize in small business loans:

• Truliant
• Huntington
• Live Oak Bank

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

--

Step 6: Structure your offer.

Take the average yearly cash flow (SDE) and multiply by 2-4x.

Example: Business makes $300k/year → Offer $700k-$900k.

Then finance it like this:

• SBA loan covers 85-90% ($630k-$810k)
• Private investor covers 10% ($70k-$90k)
• You pay 0-5% out of pocket

Give your investor 15% equity for putting up that 10%.

--

Step 7: Execute due diligence.

You typically have 30-45 days before closing.

Your team should verify:

• Lease terms & transferability
• Employee turnover rates
• Equipment condition
• Customer retention
• Any legal issues

--

Step 8: Plan your first 90 days.

Before you close, map out exactly what you'll do:

Days 1-30:

• Transfer bank accounts & insurance
• Meet every employee personally
• Change passwords & access

Days 31-60:

• Identify quick wins
• Document all systems

Days 61-90:

• Hire or promote a GM
• Implement 1-2 improvements

--

The math on a $1M purchase:

• Business cash flow: $300k/year
• SBA loan payment: $100k/year
• Investor's 15% cut: $30k/year
• GM salary: $72k/year

You keep: $98k/year

That's $8,166/month for an asset someone else operates.

--

If you want to learn more about the process I’ve used to build my portfolio of businesses generating $7M/year in revenue…

DM me “Biz” & I’ll show you how.

BREAKING:

Americans with 4-year degrees now make up 25.3% of total unemployment.

• Markets are uncertain
• People can't afford to live
• Layoffs are at all-time highs

Owning assets is the only solution...

Here's exactly how to save yourself:

--

The corporate ladder isn't what it used to be.

You can do everything "right" and still end up on the wrong side of a restructuring email.

A diploma doesn't guarantee anything anymore.

--

Plus, a salary will never give you real security.

It doesn't matter if it's $75k or $175k.

If you're trading time for money, you're one decision away from $0.

The only real security comes from owning cash-flowing assets.

--

Here's what I mean:

Right now, there are thousands of profitable businesses for sale.

Owners who built them for 30+ years are retiring with no one to take over.

These aren't failing businesses (they're just owned by people ready to be done).

--

The opportunity looks like this:

Find a business making $200k-$400k/year that's been around 5+ years.

Something boring like HVAC, accounting, or cleaning services.

The bank will give you 90% of the money to buy it through an SBA loan.

--

For the remaining 10%?

You find a private investor who covers it in exchange for 15% equity.

This means you can buy a cash-flowing business with little to $0 of your own.

The business pays for itself while you keep the profits.

--

Let me break down the math on a real example:

Business price: $1M
Annual cash flow: $300k

• SBA loan covers: $900k (90%)
• Investor covers: $100k (gets 15% equity = $45k/year)
• Loan payments: ~$100k/year
• GM salary: $60k/year

You keep: $95k/year for a business you spent $0 to buy.

--

And here's the part most people miss...

You're not buying yourself a job.

You focus on buying businesses that have an existing team to take care of the day-to-day operations.

Your role is strategy & growth.

--

This is exactly how I went from:

Working 60-hour weeks at JP Morgan → $836k/year working 20 hours/week.

I own 8 boring businesses.

Nothing sexy. Everything profitable.

--

The corporate world wants you dependent on a paycheck.

But the real wealthy own assets that generate income whether they show up or not.

While everyone's worried about layoffs…

There's a massive opportunity happening.

--

If you want to learn exactly how to find, finance, and acquire your first business...

DM me "Biz" and I'll show you the full system I used to build my portfolio.

If you want financial freedom, buy a boring business.

• It beats your salary
• It grows year over year
• You can sell it in the future

Here are 10 business buying tips from 5 years, 7 acquisitions, and 8 figures of lifetime revenue:

--

Tip #1: Personalize your outreach.

You have to know who you’re talking to here.

Start with a personal note:

“Hey (landscaping biz owner), I grew up in (town) and used to always see your trucks.”

Now, there’s a personal connection.

--

Tip #2: Ask about the culture.

This is a great way to show you care about the employees (and customers).

Figure out if they have any

• Annual events
• Holiday gatherings
• Sports teams or leagues

These are the kinds of things that keep employees happy and hard-working.

--

Tip #3: Build a deep relationship.

Most Boomers spent their lives building and working on their businesses.

It’s personal to them.

They want to know they can trust you.

In other words, get to know the father before you ask to marry the daughter.

--

Tip #4: Show some understanding.

This one’s really important.

You need to show that you understand:

The way they make money.
The company mission.
The customers.

99% of Boomers would rather let their business die than let it get ruined by someone else.

--

Tip #5: A $3M deal is easier than a $300k deal

Bigger deals often come with:

• Better financing options
• Experienced teams
• More stability

This game is all about mitigating your risk and leveraging scale for success.

--

Tip #6: Leave your emotions at the door.

The worst thing you can do when acquiring a business is involve your emotions.

A few tips:

• You have way more options than you think
• If you spot a red flag, run the other way
• The right business is worth the wait

--

Tip #7: Apply for pre-approval

If there’s one thing that will help you get funding from your lenders of choice…

It’s being on their “serious buyer pile.”

Get here by showing them your business plan + the quality team you’ve built:

• Accountant
• Operator
• Lawyer
• etc

--

Tip #8: Defeat impostor syndrome

You don’t need to know every nook and cranny of the business you’re buying.

You need to understand the model:

• What it's supposed to look like
• Who your competitors are
• How the service works

Don't let impostor syndrome stop you.

--

Tip #9: Check for a fax machine

This is more metaphorical than anything.

For every business I consider, I run what I like to call “The Fax Machine Test.”

If they still have one?

You can bet your bottom dollar that there are other improvements to be made.

--

Tip #10: Boring is best.

Don’t try to acquire a business because it’s “cool” or gives you lots of status.

Acquire with financial freedom in mind.

Follow my B.L.A.N.D. formula:

B = Boring
L = Low-risk
A = Achievable
N = Non-volatile
D = Differentiated

--

If you want to learn more about the strategy I used to build my $7M/year business portfolio…

DM me “Biz” and I'll show you how.

The cost is $1 million. Which are you choosing?

The author can see how you vote. Learn more

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