The Koerner Office - Business Ideas and Deep Dives with Chris Koerner

Latest Episodes:

Forget Dropshipping. This Side Hustle Is 10x Easier (and Smarter) ⏐ Ep. #210 Aug 18, 2025

Show notes

Check out my newsletter at ⁠https://TKOPOD.com⁠ and join my new community at ⁠https://TKOwners.com⁠

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I sat down with Cody Schneider and we broke down what might be the easiest business you can start online right now. Cody walked me through how to launch a fully automated print on demand business using AI-generated graphics, Etsy, and tools like Everbee, Printify, and N8N. We talked about how to find winning products with data, spin up thousands of listings without touching a design tool, and scale the whole thing using automations and zero inventory.

Then we riffed on a killer idea: building a merch automation agency for creators. Cody showed me exactly how he’d pitch creators, find their catchphrases, design the merch, cold email them, and even handle all fulfillment using platforms like Fourthwall. If you want a smart, low-cost way to make money with AI and automation, this is it.

You can follow Cody on YouTube and X to see more of what he’s building.

Enjoy!

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Ask me a question on or off the show here: https://tkopod.co/p-ask

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There’s a Great Business Hiding in Your State⏐Holdco Bros. Ep. #209 Aug 15, 2025

Show notes

Check out my newsletter at ⁠⁠⁠⁠TKOPOD.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ and join my new community at ⁠⁠⁠⁠TKOwners.com⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Beehiiv is the newsletter platform I’ve used for over a year and a half because their data shows you exactly what’s working. Get 30% off three months at beehiiv.com/chris

HoldCo Bros are back. In this one Nik and I map out a crazy challenge for next summer where I start a new business in every state in 50 days. We get into state‑specific ideas like Breaking Bad tourism in New Mexico with themed experiences and rentable props, shed hunting in Wyoming and Montana, and even a tour guide concept for Zion National Park. We also break down goats for land clearing and wildfire prevention as a real business with simple lead gen using Meta ads to target rural landowners. Then we riff on the Unclaimed Baggage monopoly in Alabama, what other lost and found style markets might exist in hotels, Airbnbs, and car rentals, and how to play the middleman to turn overlooked inventory into profit.

Learn more about Nik here: ⁠⁠⁠http://linktr.ee/cofoundersnik⁠⁠⁠

Share your ideas with us:

Nik@cofounders.com
Chris@cofounders.com

Enjoy!

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Watch this on YouTube instead here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠tkopod.co/p-yt⁠⁠⁠⁠

Ask me a question on or off the show here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://tkopod.co/p-ask⁠⁠⁠⁠

Learn more about me: ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://tkopod.co/p-cjk⁠⁠⁠⁠

Learn about my company: ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://tkopod.co/p-cof⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow me on Twitter here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://tkopod.co/p-x⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free weekly business ideas newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://tkopod.co/p-nl⁠⁠⁠⁠

Share this podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://tkopod.co/p-all⁠⁠⁠⁠

Scrape small business data: ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://tkopod.co/p-os⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠---

00:00 The Cost of Clearing Land and Business Ideas

02:56 Starting a Business in 50 States

05:46 The Power of Influencer Marketing

09:08 Unique Business Concepts for Each State

11:56 Monetizing Local Attractions and Experiences

15:01 The Unclaimed Baggage Business Model

17:53 Innovative Ideas for Movie Props and Tours

20:47 The Goat Business Model for Land Clearing

This $15K/Person Grant Feels Like a Cheat Code⏐ Ep. #208 Aug 13, 2025

Show notes

If you want Hector’s help starting or growing your own trade school, fill out this quick form: ⁠https://form.typeform.com/to/Fz6CExfS

Check out my newsletter at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TKOPOD.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and join my new community at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TKOwners.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

I sat down with my friend and neighbor Hector to talk about how he built and scaled trade schools using little-known government grants. We covered how states pay $5,000 to $15,000 per student, why white labeling courses leads to huge margins, and how he’s helped schools in industries like nursing, CDL truck driving, pest control, IT tech sales, and more. We also discussed how existing business owners can bolt a school onto their operation, solve staffing shortages, and get paid to train their own employees.

Enjoy!

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Watch this on YouTube instead here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tkopod.co/p-yt⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Ask me a question on or off the show here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://tkopod.co/p-ask⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Learn more about me: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://tkopod.co/p-cjk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Learn about my company: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://tkopod.co/p-cof⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow me on Twitter here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://tkopod.co/p-x⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free weekly business ideas newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://tkopod.co/p-nl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Share this podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://tkopod.co/p-all⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Scrape small business data: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://tkopod.co/p-os⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠---

Which AI Should You Use to Make Money? GPT 5 vs Others⏐ Ep. #207 Aug 11, 2025

Show notes

Check out my newsletter at ⁠⁠⁠⁠TKOPOD.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ and join my new community at ⁠⁠⁠⁠TKOwners.com⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Disclaimer: This content is for educational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always do your own research and consult with a licensed financial professional before making any investment decisions.

In this episode I put ChatGPT 5, Claude Opus 4.1, Grok 4 and Gemini 2.5 Pro head to head to see which AI can create the fastest, most practical money making plan from scratch. I gave each model the exact same challenge to become a $100 per hour consultant in 72 hours starting with no audience, no connections, and just $500, and then I compared their strategies step by step.

After ranking their ideas for quality, simplicity, and likelihood to work, I pushed the competition further by testing each AI in a real money options trading experiment. I followed their instructions live, invested my own cash, and revealed the exact results the next day including profit, losses, and all. This was a full stress test of speed, accuracy, and real world outcomes, and the results may surprise you.

Enjoy!

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Watch this on YouTube instead here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠tkopod.co/p-yt⁠⁠⁠⁠

Ask me a question on or off the show here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://tkopod.co/p-ask⁠⁠⁠⁠

Learn more about me: ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://tkopod.co/p-cjk⁠⁠⁠⁠

Learn about my company: ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://tkopod.co/p-cof⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow me on Twitter here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://tkopod.co/p-x⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free weekly business ideas newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://tkopod.co/p-nl⁠⁠⁠⁠

Share this podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://tkopod.co/p-all⁠⁠⁠⁠

Scrape small business data: ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://tkopod.co/p-os⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠---

These Businesses Can Completely Change Your Life in 6 Months ⏐Holdco Bros. Ep. #206 Aug 08, 2025

Show notes

Check out my newsletter at ⁠⁠⁠TKOPOD.com⁠⁠⁠ and join my new community at ⁠⁠⁠TKOwners.com⁠⁠⁠.

HoldCo Bros are back with part two of our million dollar in six months challenge. If you missed part one, go check it out here: [ https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/5y6hOtgrtVb ]. In this episode, Nik and I keep stacking high return business ideas you could actually start today. We dig into liquidation flipping for fast cash, breaking down how to buy inventory for pennies on the dollar and move it for solid margins. We explore the strategy of buying a business and adding instant value through AI automation to unlock massive equity gains from day one. I share my glamping site idea for under served markets, plus a unique equity for value add deal inspired by our friend Hector. We also kick around niche service plays like coil cleaning for grocery stores and even unconventional experiences like a “fantasy camp” for mowing enthusiasts. This one is packed with creative ways to hit big revenue fast and some might surprise you.

Learn more about Nik here: ⁠⁠http://linktr.ee/cofoundersnik⁠⁠

Share your ideas with us:

Nik@cofounders.com
Chris@cofounders.com

Enjoy!

---

Watch this on YouTube instead here: ⁠⁠⁠tkopod.co/p-yt⁠⁠⁠

Ask me a question on or off the show here: ⁠⁠⁠http://tkopod.co/p-ask⁠⁠⁠

Learn more about me: ⁠⁠⁠http://tkopod.co/p-cjk⁠⁠⁠

Learn about my company: ⁠⁠⁠http://tkopod.co/p-cof⁠⁠⁠

Follow me on Twitter here: ⁠⁠⁠http://tkopod.co/p-x⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free weekly business ideas newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠http://tkopod.co/p-nl⁠⁠⁠

Share this podcast: ⁠⁠⁠http://tkopod.co/p-all⁠⁠⁠

Scrape small business data: ⁠⁠⁠http://tkopod.co/p-os⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠---

00:00 Starting Small: The Power of Flipping Equipment

02:56 Leveraging AI for Business Growth

05:50 Innovative Business Models: Equity Without Purchase

08:59 Exploring Glamping: A Unique Investment Opportunity

11:59 Niche Markets: Finding Pain Points to Profit

14:54 Creative Business Ideas: Bingo and Beyond

17:47 The Future of AI in Small Business

20:38 Building a Business: The Importance of Experience

23:34 Final Thoughts: Choosing the Right Business Model

The Most Overlooked $10K/M Business Anyone Can Start ⏐ Ep. #205 Aug 06, 2025

Show notes

If you want Kyler’s full training, repair tips, sourcing strategies, and templates, check out his community at http://Applianceskool.com

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Check out my newsletter at https://TKOPOD.com and join my new community at https://TKOwners.com

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I sat down with Kyler, a 23-year-old who makes $10,000/month renting out $50 washers and dryers on Facebook Marketplace. We actually did an interview last year (Dec 9, 2024) [ https://youtu.be/UXgGQT-IJEY ], and people loved it, so we decided to do this special out-and-about episode to show you exactly how it works. Kyler broke down his entire three-step system, which he calls Post, Rent, Buy, and explained how he started with literally zero dollars by picking up free or broken sets. We dive into how he sources cheap appliances, automates monthly payments, keeps churn incredibly low, and even makes money offering delivery services. If you’re looking for a beginner-friendly business that works in almost any town, this is it.

Enjoy!

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Ask me a question on or off the show here: https://tkopod.co/p-ask

Learn more about me: https://tkopod.co/p-cjk

Learn about my company: https://tkopod.co/p-cof

Follow me on Twitter here: https://tkopod.co/p-x

Free weekly business ideas newsletter: https://tkopod.co/p-nl

Share this podcast: https://tkopod.co/p-all

Scrape small business data: https://tkopod.co/p-os

---

I Started an Online Business in 56 Minutes (Beginner Friendly) ⏐ Ep. #204 Aug 04, 2025

Show notes

Check out my newsletter at ⁠⁠TKOPOD.com⁠⁠ and join my new community at ⁠⁠TKOwners.com⁠⁠.

Get 30 days free on HighLevel only with my link: https://tkopod.co/30daysOfFreeHL

How to scrape leads: https://tkopod.co/Os

How to mass text: straighttext.com - promo code KOERNER for 50% off!

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I launched a brand new AI automation agency from scratch in just 56 minutes. No audience tricks, no prep, no fluff. I recorded the clock, sent 50 texts, built a real AI voice agent using HighLevel, and got an actual home service business owner to say yes all in under an hour.This is one of the biggest business opportunities I’ve seen. Most local businesses don’t answer the phone after hours and miss out on thousands in lost revenue. You can fix that with an AI answering agent, built in minutes, using tools that are basically free to start with.I walk you through the whole thing scraping leads with Outscraper, cleaning up the data, setting up the AI in HighLevel, and sending personalized texts using StraightText. Everything you need to start is right here. No logo. No LLC. Just real execution.

Timestamps below. Enjoy!

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00:00 Launching a Business in Under an Hour

02:44 The Power of AI Voice Agents

05:59 Building an AI Voice Agent

08:53 Scraping Data for Leads

11:35 Cleaning and Organizing Data

14:28 Texting Potential Customers

17:51 Pitching the Service

20:52 Analyzing Response Rates

23:27 Scaling the Business

25:52 Final Thoughts and Call to Action

$1M in 6 Months? These Are the Business Ideas We’d Bet On ⏐Holdco Bros. Ep. #203 Aug 01, 2025

Show notes

Check out my newsletter at ⁠⁠TKOPOD.com⁠⁠ and join my new community at ⁠⁠TKOwners.com⁠⁠.

HoldCo Bros are back! In this episode, Nik and I take on a simple but powerful challenge: how would you build a business worth $1 million in just six months? We each pitch our favorite ideas, from RV rentals and AI wrapper agencies to offshore staffing, buying up newsletters, and starting an AI automation agency with real clients and real money. Nik lays out his hero workflow strategy, and I break down how I spun up an AI-powered voice agent for a garage door company and closed a deal in under an hour.

Learn more about Nik here: ⁠http://linktr.ee/cofoundersnik⁠

Share your ideas with us:

Nik@cofounders.com
Chris@cofounders.com

Enjoy!

---

Watch this on YouTube instead here: ⁠⁠tkopod.co/p-yt⁠⁠

Ask me a question on or off the show here: ⁠⁠http://tkopod.co/p-ask⁠⁠

Learn more about me: ⁠⁠http://tkopod.co/p-cjk⁠⁠

Learn about my company: ⁠⁠http://tkopod.co/p-cof⁠⁠

Follow me on Twitter here: ⁠⁠http://tkopod.co/p-x⁠

⁠⁠⁠Free weekly business ideas newsletter: ⁠⁠http://tkopod.co/p-nl⁠⁠

Share this podcast: ⁠⁠http://tkopod.co/p-all⁠⁠

Scrape small business data: ⁠⁠http://tkopod.co/p-os⁠

⁠⁠⁠---

You Don’t Need a Big Idea. AI Can Clone These Giants for You w/ Sam ⏐ Ep. #202 Jul 30, 2025

Show notes

Check out my newsletter at ⁠TKOPOD.com⁠ and join my new community at ⁠TKOwners.com⁠.

I sat down with Sam Thompson again and we talked about why it’s never been easier to clone massive SaaS companies and sell the same functionality for 90% less. We broke down how AI is turning platforms like Salesforce, AppFolio, and RentManager into overpriced dinosaurs, and how you can use tools like BuiltWith, G2, and Manus to reverse-engineer their features and customers. Sam even shared how he ran paid traffic to a $1 trial landing page before building the product—and people bought it. We also talked about his new strategy for selling backlinks like products in a Shopify-style marketplace, why form factor changes (like caffeinated gum or chewable toothpaste) are underrated business models, and how his hummingbird nectar side hustle is still going strong.

You can find Sam on Twitter (⁠https://x.com/ImSamThompson⁠) and check out what he's up to at ⁠https://www.unlimitedcontent.com/⁠

Timestamps below. Enjoy!

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Watch this on YouTube instead here: ⁠tkopod.co/p-yt⁠

Ask me a question on or off the show here: ⁠http://tkopod.co/p-ask⁠

Learn more about me: ⁠http://tkopod.co/p-cjk⁠

Learn about my company: ⁠http://tkopod.co/p-cof⁠

Follow me on Twitter here: ⁠http://tkopod.co/p-x

⁠Free weekly business ideas newsletter: ⁠http://tkopod.co/p-nl⁠

Share this podcast: ⁠http://tkopod.co/p-all⁠

Scrape small business data: ⁠http://tkopod.co/p-os

⁠---

00:00 Disruption in Software Pricing

02:58 The Commoditization of Services

05:52 AI and the Future of Business

09:08 Innovative Business Ideas and Form Factors

12:04 The Rise of Transparency in Business

14:57 Exploring New Market Opportunities

17:53 Backlink Strategies and SEO Insights

20:45 Testing New Business Models

24:04 The Value of High-Quality Backlinks

Finding Great Reselling Deals Is Easy (If You Know Where to Look) w/ Shannon Jean⏐ Ep. #201 Jul 28, 2025

Show notes

Check out my newsletter at ⁠TKOPOD.com⁠ and join my new community at ⁠TKOwners.com⁠.

I sat down with Shannon Jean again and we walked through a whole new batch of insane liquidation deals you could flip for serious money. We talked about truckloads of auto parts from the Advanced Auto Parts and Pep Boys merger, flipping Costco returns like Blackstone griddles, and why now is the perfect time to buy Christmas trees for resale. Shannon also broke down strategies for flipping Lego sets, Google Glass, and even modular buildings and flooring from college auctions. We talked about how to use AI tools like ChatGPT or Manus to analyze manifests, how to talk to potential buyers before you even bid, and how these flips could turn into a full-time business.