Nikonomics - The Economics of Small Business

Nikolas Hulewsky
  • 4.9(90개의 평가)
  • 기업 운영
  • 매주 업데이트

Welcome to Nikonomics—the show for entrepreneurs and Wantrapreneurs, looking to make their first million. I bring firsthand experience, having bought and sold over a dozen businesses, achieved multiple 7-figure exits, and generated over $100 million in revenue. Each week, I blend humor with real insights from successful entrepreneurs, sharing growth strategies, deal insights, and unique business ideas you won’t find elsewhere. Ready to turn your entrepreneurial dreams into reality? Hit play and let’s get to work. Follow me on Twitter @CoFoundersNik or YouTube @NikonomicsPodcast.

  1. 2일 전

    248 - How to Close 3x More Sales and Build Your Own Drywall Empire with Jared Kotter

    MY NEWSLETTER - https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Jared Kotter (https://x.com/Jaredkotter), the former middle school teacher who accomplished the seemingly impossible: launching a drywall business and scaling it to $1.7 million in revenue in just 10 months! Jared shares the unorthodox approach he took, leveraging his background as a college athlete and LDS missionary to develop unique sales skills. Instead of buying equipment or hiring crews, Jared established a powerful model: acting as an account manager and commissioned salesman for his brother's company, Canvas drywall, earning a 50% split of the net profit. He breaks down how he uses Construction Monitor to source high-end custom homes and reveals his secret method for closing deals at three times the average rate. This strategy involves doing things that don't scale, namely, showing up in person to measure jobs, which allows him to build immediate trust with the home builder. We also discuss why he views this successful venture as a stepping stone and how leveraging your unfair advantage is crucial for entrepreneurial success. Questions This Episode Answers: How can you achieve $1.7 million in revenue with no experience in a trade industry? What is the simple sales secret sauce that leads to a 3x closing rate in construction? How do you find and approach high-quality, high-margin construction leads for new builds? What is a fair net profit split when selling and managing fulfillment for a service business partner? How does focusing on good fulfillment immediately create recurring revenue in the contracting world? __________________________ Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback. Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts. __________________________ MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98y Apple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284 YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT __________________________ This week we covered: 00:00 – Intro: From teacher to $1.7M drywall business 00:42 – What is a drywall business & how Jared earns 50% profit 02:30 – Leaving teaching to build financial freedom 05:40 – Early side hustles before launching drywall 07:05 – How the drywall model works with almost no labor 08:10 – Finding high-end clients through construction permits 10:30 – Cold-calling builders & landing first deals 12:55 – Managing projects and understanding the 50/50 split 15:15 – Using drywall as a stepping stone to bigger goals 22:30 – Prepping for launch & funding startup with Christmas lights 27:15 – Tracking leads manually and learning sales discipline 29:20 – Secret to closing 3x more deals: meeting clients on-site 39:10 – Final lesson: Find your unfair advantage and start

    43분

  2. 3일 전

    181 - The Reality of Year One: Sales, Cash Flow, and Life as a Franchisee with Clayton Edrington

    MY NEWSLETTER - https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Clayton Edrington. Clayton was making over $300,000 a year at Amazon but had an entrepreneurial itch. He explored everything from SaaS startups to buying existing businesses before landing on franchising. We dive into why he left a high-paying tech job, how he evaluated different home services and sweaty businesses, and ultimately chose to buy multiple territories in a relatively new roofing franchise, Bumble Roofing. Clayton shares the startup costs, his approach to financing, navigating the early months, and the crucial role of community and support. Questions This Episode Answers: Why choose a franchise over other paths? What is the business model of a roofing franchise? How do you pick the right franchise for you? What are the real startup costs for a franchise? What personal sacrifices come with starting a business? Enjoy the conversation! __________________________ Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback. Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts. __________________________ MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98y Apple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284 YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT __________________________ This week we covered: 00:00 The Journey Begins: From Tech to Roofing 03:10 Understanding the Roofing Business Model 05:56 Navigating the Franchise Landscape 09:13 Preparing for the Leap: Financial and Personal Considerations 12:04 The Launch: Early Days and Initial Challenges 14:53 Sales Success and Market Dynamics 18:10 Cash Flow Management and Financial Insights 20:52 Advice for Aspiring Franchisees

    37분

  3. 4일 전

    247 - How I Built an AI Second Brain That Runs My Business (Step-by-Step) with Elizabeth Knopf

    MY NEWSLETTER - https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Elizabeth Knopf (https://x.com/leveragedupside) to master Claude AI automation and solve the two biggest AI productivity challenges: refamiliarizing every chat with context and accessing scattered data across Google Drive, Dropbox, and cloud storage without creating duplicates. What You'll Learn:  Claude AI Skills vs Projects – Simplify AI agents into universal templates you can invoke across any chat AI Second Brain Setup – Build your personal operating system with persistent memory Google Drive Integration – Connect Claude to thousands of documents without vector databases Data Infrastructure Architecture – Organize files for AI automation and workflow optimization Skill Creator Tutorial – Meta AI hack: Use Claude to generate custom skills automatically Business AI Automation – Set up deal analyzers, email formatters, meeting note templates & more AI Memory Management – Future-proof your LLM workflow with proper data structure Claude Code Tutorial – Access MCP (Model Context Protocol) for advanced integrations Perfect for: Entrepreneurs, small business owners, content creators, digital marketers, real estate investors, productivity hackers, AI enthusiasts, and anyone building their first million-dollar business with AI automation tools in 2025. __________________________ Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback. Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts. __________________________ MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98y Apple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284 YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT __________________________ This week we covered: 00:00 Introduction to AI Pain Points 02:42 Understanding Skills vs. Agents 05:56 Creating and Utilizing Skills 08:46 Navigating GitHub and Skills Cookbook 12:08 Building a Personal Operating System 14:55 Integrating Google Drive with AI 17:44 Creating a Second Brain with AI 20:57 Practical Applications of AI Skills 23:47 Setting Up Your Data Infrastructure 27:04 Using AI for Meeting Summaries 29:52 Conclusion and Call to Action

    31분

  4. 10월 22일

    246 - Costco's Big Secret: How to Buy Everything 90% Off with Shannon Jean

    MY NEWSLETTER - https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Shannon Jean (https://x.com/@ShannonJean), serial entrepreneur and auction reselling expert who has helped over 1,700 people in his $5/month mastermind start profitable reselling businesses from scratch. Shannon reveals how to make money with auction reselling, liquidation pallets, and government surplus deals—what I believe is the most accessible entry point into entrepreneurship in 2024. Whether you're looking for side hustle ideas, want to quit your 9-5, or need a proven system to flip products for profit, this episode is your complete roadmap. What You'll Learn: The TWO commandments for profitable reselling: "Never buy anything unless you already know what you can sell it for" and "Buy with math, sell with emotion" How to research auction deals on B-Stock, Costco liquidation, Gov Deals, and liquidation.com Why retail price is a lie (and how to calculate TRUE market value) Real examples: $206,240 MSRP sold for $4,200 | $1 investment turned into $5,000 profit | $3,200 products bought for $326 The credibility funnel system you MUST build before buying your first pallet Why 95% of resellers fail (hint: it's not lack of capital or product knowledge) Seasonal arbitrage strategies for maximum profit margins How to avoid the $34,000 mistake that kills new flippers What NOT to buy: consumer electronics, vacuums, exercise equipment pitfalls Live selling strategies for Whatnot, Poshmark, eBay, and Facebook Marketplace How a high school junior made $10K/month reselling furniture Why an accountant sold 700+ pressure washers in one year__________________________ Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback. Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts. __________________________ MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98y Apple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284 YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT __________________________ This week we covered:00:00 Introduction to Reselling and Entrepreneurship 06:05 The Importance of Systems in Reselling 11:52 Building Credibility and Understanding Your Why 17:57 Finding Deals and Understanding Market Prices 25:12 Getting Started with Seasonal Arbitrage 27:35 Navigating Consumer Electronics and Exercise Equipment 29:53 Understanding Retail Acquisitions and Auctions 33:02 The Importance of Community and Support in Reselling 39:38 Realistic Expectations and Learning from Mistakes 45:17 Best Strategies for Q4 Reselling

    50분

  5. 10월 20일

    245 - He Built a 9-Figure Business & Helped Over 1 Million People Start Theirs with Stu Draper

    MY NEWSLETTER - https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Stuart Draper about how to get your first customer and scale from $0 to $2M in 4 years. I had a freaking treat talking to Stu Draper today. He's an incredible startup founder who just had an eight figure exit from his EdTech company, Stukent, which helped over a million people learn digital marketing. His companies have been on the Inc 5000 list ten times, and he knows exactly how to get your first customer when you're starting from zero. We chat about his journey starting his first digital marketing agency, getfoundfirst.com, during the 2008 recession and why he prioritized being a family man by building a professional baseball field and indoor-outdoor pool over buying a Lamborghini. Stu shares actionable insights on how entrepreneurs can secure their crucial first customer (hint: it might involve working for free) and explains why starting a service-based business is often the best low-risk way for first-time founders to learn entrepreneurship and get in the game. We dive deep into why catching the early wave of AI automation agencies today is just like catching the digital marketing wave 15 years ago—and why AI agency opportunities mirror what made so many digital marketing agency founders millionaires by age 32. Finally, he tells us why focusing on sales and marketing—not mastering your P&L or balance sheet—is the most important part of building a successful business, and how he scaled to eight figures without being a financial expert by hiring a great CFO. Enjoy the conversation! __________________________ QUESTIONS THIS EPISODE ANSWERS: What is the most important first step in getting from zero to your first customer? Why is starting an AI automation agency today similar to starting a digital marketing agency in 2008? What is the lowest-risk path for a new entrepreneur to get in the game? How did Stuart Draper use a free customer strategy to land his first paying client? When scaling a business from bootstrap to exit, why should startup founders focus on sales and marketing instead of the P&L? How do you create mission vision values that turn customers into believers? What's the best way to get your first customer when you have no LLC, no website, and no business email? How did Stu scale to an eight figure business without being a financial expert? Why are service-based businesses the best first business for entrepreneurs? What are the biggest business opportunities in 2025 for first-time founders? __________________________ Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback. Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts. __________________________ MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98y Apple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284 YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT __________________________ This week we covered: 00:00 The Journey of Growth and Learning 02:59 Navigating the Digital Marketing Landscape 05:47 Getting Your First Customer 09:06 The Power of Vision and Shared Language 11:58 Innovating in Education Technology 14:52 The Importance of Sales and Revenue 18:11 Lessons from Entrepreneurship 21:01 Opportunities in AI and Service-Based Businesses 23:55 Final Thoughts and Future Opportunities

    31분

  6. 10월 15일

    244 - The Math Behind a $100M Concierge Medicine Business with Sandeep Palakodeti

    MY NEWSLETTER - https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Dr. Sandeep Palakodeti (https://x.com/DrDeepMD). I was excited to welcome Dr. Sandeep Palakodeti, also known as Dr. Deep, to talk about his revolutionary company, Velocity Health. This concierge precision medicine clinic is addressing huge macro trends, particularly the demand for better healthspan and longevity. We unpack why someone would leave a top institution like the Mayo Clinic to start a business aimed at solving the "sick care" problem of American healthcare. Dr. Deep contrasts the standard transactional 7-minute primary care visit with Velocity Health’s functional medicine approach, which focuses on root cause medicine and objective diagnostics like VO2 max, DEXA scan, and the coronary artery calcium scan. We also dive deep into the business model, exploring how Velocity Health scales as a 50 state virtual practice, utilizes the MSO PC model for regulation, and maintains an attractive CAC to LTV ratio through its recurring revenue plans. If you’re an entrepreneur who believes preserving health is as crucial as preserving wealth, this episode is a must-watch. Questions This Episode Answers: 1. Why did an institutional physician leave major hospitals like the Mayo Clinic to start a cash pay medical practice? 2. How does a concierge precision medicine approach fundamentally differ from a traditional 7-minute primary care visit? 3. What advanced diagnostics, like the VO2 max test, are the most critical KPIs for assessing longevity and health risk? 4. From a regulatory and business perspective, how does the MSO PC model work for healthcare startups raising outside capital? 5. How can a subscription-based healthcare service maintain an appealing CAC to LTV ratio using a longitudinal relationship model? Enjoy the conversation! __________________________ Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback. Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts. __________________________ MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98y Apple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284 YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT __________________________ This week we covered: 00:00 The State of Healthcare Today 05:00 Emerging Trends in Concierge Medicine 10:09 The Shift to Preventive Care 14:46 Understanding Functional Medicine 20:05 The Role of Technology in Healthcare 24:55 The Business Model of Velocity Health 30:04 Patient Experience and Engagement 34:48 Future of Healthcare and Personalization

    1시간 1분

  7. 10월 13일

    243 - Agent Builder is Here! What Does it Do? with Elizabeth Knopf

    Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I sit down with Elizabeth Knopf (https://x.com/leveragedupside) to demystify OpenAI's newest creation, the Agent Builder. We set the context by explaining the crucial difference between simple, static if-then automation and a true agent, which requires autonomy, memory, and decision-making capabilities in a workflow. This tool is designed to finally make building complex agentic workflows accessible to business owners who aren't technical experts. Liz walks us through the platform.openai.com/playground interface and demos a real-world research agent in action. We dive deep into the cost structure, explaining why OpenAI charges based on a high-call usage-based model using API calls, which can "add up really quickly", instead of a flat monthly subscription like ChatTPT.We compare it head-to-head with competitors like N8n, Lindy, and Zapier. While the Agent Builder UI is "way less intimidating" and features like Guardrails are valuable for mitigating hallucinations and protecting sensitive data, Liz reveals that the execution is "not quite there yet". Questions This Episode Answers: • What is the core difference between an Agent and a standard business Automation? • Why does OpenAI use a usage-based model for Agent Builder instead of a flat monthly fee? • How does OpenAI’s new Agent Builder compare directly to tools like Zapier, N8n, or Lindy? • What are Guardrails, and how do they protect internal business documents and mitigate hallucinations? • What are the most likely and best use cases for building business agents right now? Enjoy the conversation! __________________________ Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback. Please fill out this ⁠brief survey⁠ with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts. __________________________ MY NEWSLETTER: ⁠https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠ Spotify: ⁠https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98y⁠ Apple: ⁠https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284⁠ YouTube:⁠ https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT⁠ __________________________ This week we covered:00:00 Introduction to OpenAI's Agent Builder 03:05 Understanding Agents vs. Automation 05:48 Navigating the OpenAI Interface 09:09 Exploring Use Cases and Templates 11:57 Building a Research Bot with Agent Builder 14:49 Guardrails and Safety in Agent Workflows 18:04 Live Demo: Data Enrichment Use Case 20:55 Sentiment Analysis on Social Media 23:48 Challenges and Limitations of Agent Builder 27:05 Comparing Agent Builder with Other Tools 29:52 Future Potential and User Experience 33:03 Conclusion and Call to Action

    42분

  8. 10월 10일

    242 - I Replaced My Research Team with This AI (Here's How) with Elizabeth Knopf

    Join me, Nik ( https://x.com/CoFoundersNik ), as I sit down with AI expert Elizabeth Knopf (⁠https://x.com/⁠leveragedupside) for a deep dive into Anthropic's Claude 4.5 Sonnet, the latest AI breakthrough for entrepreneurs and business automation in 2025.Watch as Elizabeth demonstrates game-changing features that transform Claude AI from static outputs into dynamic web applications through API integration and parallel tool execution. We explore extended AI thinking capabilities (up to 30 hours of processing), which delivers higher quality outputs for complex business tasks without constant iteration errors or AI hallucinations.The highlight? Claude generates a 22-page competitive analysis and content strategy for my YouTube channel versus Chris Koerner's "Corner Office"—complete with viral frameworks, audience insights, and growth recommendations. This deep AI research previously required specialized tools like Perplexity AI.We break down practical AI productivity strategies including building your AI second brain, prompt engineering libraries, context document management, and AI agent development for business operations. Elizabeth shares her framework for mastering AI tools like a fighter pilot—developing true AI literacy beyond basic prompting.QUESTIONS THIS EPISODE ANSWERS:What are Anthropic's key new updates for Claude 4.5 Sonnet and Claude Sonnet 4.5?How do dynamic AI artifacts and parallel tool execution speed up business workflows?How can extended AI thinking improve output quality for complex entrepreneurship tasks? What are the necessary components for building a functional AI second brain? How should entrepreneurs approach maximizing value from AI productivity tools? What's the difference between Claude AI and ChatGPT for business automation? How can first-time entrepreneurs use AI to build their first million-dollar business?What are the best AI tools for startup founders and small business owners? How do you create an AI operating system for personal productivity? What are practical AI use cases for entrepreneurs in 2025?__________________________Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback.Please fill out this ⁠brief survey⁠ with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts.__________________________MY NEWSLETTER: ⁠https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠Spotify: ⁠https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98y⁠Apple: ⁠https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284⁠YouTube:⁠ https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT⁠__________________________This week we covered:00:00 Building Your AI Second Brain02:43 Anthropic's Claude Updates and Dynamic Artifacts06:07 Advanced Reasoning and Parallel Task Execution09:00 Enhanced Decision-Making and Contextual Awareness11:43 Creating Comprehensive Outputs and Research Strategies15:02 Navigating AI Technology and Personal Frameworks17:52 Managing AI Across Life's Pillars21:03 Building a Personal Operating System for AI23:54 The Future of AI in Organizations

    29분
모두 보기(249개)

4.9
최고 5점
90개의 평가

소개

Welcome to Nikonomics—the show for entrepreneurs and Wantrapreneurs, looking to make their first million. I bring firsthand experience, having bought and sold over a dozen businesses, achieved multiple 7-figure exits, and generated over $100 million in revenue. Each week, I blend humor with real insights from successful entrepreneurs, sharing growth strategies, deal insights, and unique business ideas you won’t find elsewhere. Ready to turn your entrepreneurial dreams into reality? Hit play and let’s get to work. Follow me on Twitter @CoFoundersNik or YouTube @NikonomicsPodcast.

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