Empire Flippers Podcast

Justin Cooke and Joe Magnotti
  • 4.9 (236)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

Fast. Safe. Simple. Investing in online business has never been easier. The Empire Flippers Podcast discusses buying and selling websites, investing in online assets and businesses, and discusses the successes and failures that come with online entrepreneurship.

  1. 5d ago

    From Side Hustle to $100M: Lessons in Building a Scalable Business With Steve Rolle [Ep.218]

    Building a successful eCommerce business is one thing. Building one that can grow without you is something else entirely. That's easier said than done. Many founders eventually become the biggest bottleneck in their own business, making it harder to scale, step away, or create a valuable long-term asset.  In this episode of The Opportunity Podcast, Greg sits down with entrepreneur and investor Steve Rolle, whose businesses have generated more than $100 million in combined sales. Steve shares the lessons he learned growing a side hustle into a thriving eCommerce business by solving real customer problems, building systems that scale, and creating repeatable processes instead of chasing the latest trends.  Steve explains why your day job can be the best training ground for entrepreneurship, how to know when you've become the bottleneck, and what it takes to build a team that can operate without the founder being involved in every decision. He also shares the hard-earned lessons from acquiring an Amazon business through Empire Flippers, including why buyers need to look beyond the numbers and understand the knowledge and experience that often leave with the founder.  Whether you're thinking about starting an online business, growing the one you already have, or buying an existing company, this episode is packed with practical advice to help you build a business that's designed to last. Topics Discussed in this episode: 02:49 - Steve's journey from the military to over $100M in ecom sales 05:30 - How Steve grew his business to $100M 09:00 - Why your job can be the best apprenticeship for entrepreneurship  16:40 - Building systems instead of building founder dependency  21:57 - Why Steve chose not to sell his business and instead professionalized it  27:36 - Hiring leaders: growing talent vs. hiring experienced executives  38:08 - Lessons Steve learned through a failed business acquisition Mentions:  Empire Flippers Podcasts Empire Flippers Marketplace Create an Empire Flippers account Subscribe to our newsletter Steve's website The Future You Choose by Steve Rolle Sit back, grab a coffee, and learn how to build a scalable business that runs without the founder.

  2. Jul 7

    How TikTok Shop Is Changing eCommerce With Jordan West [Ep.217]

    For years, growing an eCommerce business followed the same growth playbook: run ads, optimize your website, and send as much traffic to your store as possible.  But that's starting to change. More and more shoppers are discovering products through creators rather than traditional ads, and platforms like TikTok Shop are changing the way people buy online. Instead of relying solely on paid advertising, brands now have the opportunity to get hundreds or even thousands of creators talking about and selling their products. In this episode of the Opportunity Podcast, Greg sits down with Jordan West, founder of Social Commerce Club and host of the Unofficial TikTok Shop Podcast, to talk about why he believes social commerce is the next big thing in eCommerce. Jordan breaks down how TikTok Shop works, why it's so different from Amazon and traditional Shopify stores, and how coordinated creator campaigns can create a powerful halo effect across Shopify stores, Amazon, and even retail. Greg and Jordan also dive into what it takes to build a successful eCommerce business, from understanding your numbers and improving your margins to choosing the right growth channels and building a team that can scale with the business. Whether you sell on TikTok Shop, Amazon, Shopify, or you're simply looking for your next growth opportunity, you'll walk away from this episode with practical ideas you can apply to your own business. Topics Discussed in this episode: 02:00 - From losing everything to finding success through social commerce 11:36 - The mechanics of how TikTok Shop actually works  16:18 - The "halo effect" and how TikTok Shop drives sales across Amazon and Shopify  20:12 - How brands find and work with creators  22:00 - Jordan's "Blitz Methodology" for launching products on TikTok Shop  37:41 - Social SEO is about to take off 41:28 - Affiliate commissions, incentives, and getting started on TikTok Shop  43:37 - The types of products that work on TikTok Shop 45:08 - Jordan's advice for doubling or tripling an eCommerce business  52:40 - Scaling an agency, hiring A-players, and building the right culture Mentions:  Empire Flippers Podcasts Empire Flippers Marketplace Create an Empire Flippers account Subscribe to our newsletter Social Commerce Club Jordan's LinkedIn Sit back, grab a coffee, and learn how to scale your ecommerce business using social commerce on TikTok Shop!

    How TikTok Shop Is Changing eCommerce With Jordan West [Ep.217]

  3. Jun 23

    The Future of Online Business Investing With Mike Swigunski [Ep.216]

    Entrepreneurship isn't a linear path. Some entrepreneurs spend decades building a single business. Others buy, grow, and sell businesses repeatedly. Some focus on building a portfolio of businesses. And then there are entrepreneurs who take it a step further. After years of acquiring and operating online businesses, Mike Swigunski is now building Dividends, an investment platform designed to give everyday investors exposure to cash-flowing online businesses. In this episode of the Opportunity Podcast, Mike joins Greg to discuss his journey from employee #4 at Empire Flippers to acquisition entrepreneur, investor, and now fund manager. They explore how the online business acquisition market has evolved, what makes a business worth buying in today's environment, and why recurring revenue businesses continue to attract investor attention. They also dive into AI's impact on acquisitions, the realities of operating a portfolio of businesses, and the opportunities Mike sees in making online business investing more accessible to a wider audience. Whether you're thinking about buying a business, investing in digital assets, or simply curious about where the acquisition market is headed, this episode is packed with practical insights and lessons from someone who has spent years operating in the space.  Topics Discussed in this episode: 02:14 - Mike's journey from Empire Flippers to starting his own fund 07:46 - How the online business acquisition market has changed over the last 10 years 12:25 - An overview of what Mike's AI investing platform does 20:12 - Why Mike created his own fund instead of privately acquiring businesses  33:07 - SaaS, AI, and building defensible business moats  37:11 - How Mike plans to manage the businesses in his fund  41:58 - How Mike is funding his acquisitions and deal structures  46:19 - Sourcing deals and building an acquisition pipeline  48:31 - Mike's exit strategy and what investors get when the businesses sell Mentions:  Empire Flippers Podcasts Empire Flippers Marketplace Create an Empire Flippers account Subscribe to our newsletter Dividends WeFunder page Dividends Capital site Sit back, grab a coffee, and learn how to invest in cash-flowing online businesses without having to buy one yourself.

    The Future of Online Business Investing With Mike Swigunski [Ep.216]

  4. Jun 16

    Rebuilding From Bankruptcy to $50K Months as a Solopreneur With Moe Choice [Ep.215]

    Most entrepreneurs don't get it right the first time. In fact, the average founder fails around four times before they land something that really works. What matters isn't avoiding failure, it's what you do to bounce back. In this episode of The Opportunity Podcast, Greg sits down with entrepreneur and solopreneur mentor Moe Choice for an honest conversation about what it actually takes to rebuild after things fall apart. Moe has built 12 different businesses, lost everything more than once, gone through bankruptcy in Dubai, and had his plans completely disrupted during COVID. But instead of giving up, he doubled down on building a successful business designed around freedom. A big part of the conversation is about why skill alone isn't enough. Moe explains that many talented people stay stuck because they focus too much on improving their craft and not enough on learning how to position, market, and sell it. He also highlights how important focus is. Many solopreneurs jump between tactics, but Moe's breakthrough came when he committed to one channel, LinkedIn outreach, and stuck with it long enough to get genuinely good at it. That consistency became the foundation for rebuilding and eventually scaling his coaching business.  If you're building a business, this episode is a reminder that resilience matters just as much as strategy, and that sustainable success usually comes from simplifying, not complicating. Topics Discussed in this episode: 02:38 - Moe's entrepreneurial journey and how he built a $250K business on LinkedIn 07:00 - Why Moe's business in Dubai went from $400K profit to bankruptcy 12:49 - The benefits of creating an American LLC  17:13 - Moe's only regret from his failed Dubai business 21:17 - How Moe built his LinkedIn business coaching company  32:51 - Good enough is better than perfection 37:52 - How Moe helps solopreneurs reach 15K  53:29 - The difference between successful entrepreneurs and those who fail Mentions:  Empire Flippers Podcasts Empire Flippers Marketplace Create an Empire Flippers account Subscribe to our newsletter Moe's LinkedIn  Moe's Website Sit back, grab a coffee, and learn how to succeed as a solopreneur!

    Rebuilding From Bankruptcy to $50K Months as a Solopreneur With Moe Choice [Ep.215]

  5. May 26

    How to Raise $12M to Buy Small Businesses With Grant Hensel [Ep.214]

    What separates great entrepreneurs from everyone else is not avoiding failure. It's their ability to get back up and keep trying new things. Grant Hensel started 10 businesses, watched seven fail, scaled one into a 60-person company, shifted from building businesses to buying them, and recently raised nearly $12 million to back entrepreneurs acquiring small businesses.  In this episode of The Opportunity podcast, Grant joins us to share what separated his successful ventures from the failures and the benefits of buying businesses instead of building them from scratch. One of the keys to success for Grant was finding the right people. He explains that many of his own successes came from partnering with operators who were better suited to run the day-to-day business, while he focused on vision, support, and capital allocation. That philosophy now shapes how his fund evaluates acquisition entrepreneurs. We also dig into how he raised the fund itself, why he believes "boring" businesses can be incredible investments, and the warning signs that immediately kill a deal for him. We also discussed AI's impact on SEO agencies and why Grant believes AI is actually creating new opportunities for digital marketing businesses rather than destroying them. If you're interested in buying businesses, raising capital, or building long-term wealth through acquisitions, this episode is packed with practical insights and hard-earned lessons. Topics Discussed in this episode: 04:12 - What separated Grant's successful businesses from the failures  11:26 - Why Grant switched from building businesses to buying them  13:41 - How Grant found his first acquisition  14:30 - How AI is affecting marketing agencies  17:34 - How the first acquisition was structured   20:03 - The benefits of buying vs building a business 23:23 - Ins and outs of raising a fund 30:28 - Why Grant is sceptical of acquisition synergies  39:52 - How Grant evaluates searchers  46:26 - How Grant raised $12 million for acquisitions Mentions:  Empire Flippers Podcasts Empire Flippers Marketplace Create an Empire Flippers account Subscribe to our newsletter Main Street Capital Network Grant's LinkedIn Sit back, grab a coffee, and look behind the scenes of a $12million fund!

    How to Raise $12M to Buy Small Businesses With Grant Hensel [Ep.214]

  6. May 19

    Building for Acquisition: Lessons From a $40 Million Exit With Beth Mazza [Ep.213]

    Most founders think selling a business is the finish line. For Beth Mazza, it was the start of a completely different challenge. After selling her first consulting firm for a modest valuation, Beth rebuilt her next company with an exit in mind from day one. The result? A roughly $40 million exit and a crash course in what buyers actually value. In this episode of the Opportunity Podcast, Beth shares the lessons she learned from both exits, including building systems that reduce founder dependency and creating relationships with potential buyers years before selling. We discuss what really drives high-value exits: positioning, operational readiness, recurring relationships, and strong financials. Beth also explains why most founders wait too long to prepare their business for acquisition. She also opens up about the emotional side of entrepreneurship, the identity shift that comes after an exit, and balancing motherhood while building companies at scale. If you've ever wondered what separates a sellable business from one that traps the founder inside it, this episode delivers an honest look behind the curtain.  Topics Discussed in this episode: 02:00 - The mistakes Beth made when exiting her first company  05:30 - Why Beth's second business earned a much higher valuation  08:00 - Building buyer relationships years before selling  13:00 - Lessons from bad LOIs and failed positioning 16:30 - Beth's thoughts on AI, SaaS, and agency businesses 25:00 - Turning founder expertise into systems and processes  28:00 - How Beth's $40M exit came about 36:00 - Why PE-backed strategic buyers pay higher multiples 40:00 - The emotional reality after selling a company Mentions:  Empire Flippers Podcasts Empire Flippers Marketplace Create an Empire Flippers account Subscribe to our newsletter Female Mavericks Sit back, grab a coffee, and learn how to prepare for a profitable acquisition from the start!

    Building for Acquisition: Lessons From a $40 Million Exit With Beth Mazza [Ep.213]

  7. May 12

    Subscription Strategies for Ecommerce Growth With Matt Holman [Ep.212]

    For many eCommerce brands, getting the first sale is not the hardest part. Keeping customers coming back is. In this episode of the Opportunity Podcast, Greg speaks with Matthew Holman, founder of D2C subscription agency Subscription Prescription, about how eCommerce brands can improve retention and increase recurring revenue by adding a subscription component to their business. Matt explains why subscriptions are often misunderstood by founders. Many brands treat them purely as a way to increase lifetime value, but according to Matt, the real opportunity is creating a better customer experience that naturally drives recurring revenue. Good onboarding is key. Matt explains that the first 7–10 days after a purchase are critical because that is when customers decide whether they feel like they are "winning" with the product. Brands that educate customers early, guide them through the experience, and reinforce value tend to see far stronger retention. Greg and Matt also dive into why some ecommerce businesses force subscriptions where they do not belong, the psychology behind multi-month subscription offers, and why value stacking often works better than endless discounting. For founders looking to improve customer retention and grow recurring revenue, this episode is filled with practical insights and real-world examples. Topics Discussed in this episode: What makes a business a good fit for subscriptions  (06:16) When subscriptions do not work for ecommerce brands  (09:30) The weirdest subscription product Matt has ever seen (12:38) What separates high retention offers from those that just churn (14:38) Mistakes founders make when trying to grow subscription revenue (18:56) Building offers that increase retention and LTV  (22:03) How new businesses should test subscription offers (27:29) Matt's recommended testing framework for new subscription offers (32:42) How to attract high-value consumers instead of discount shoppers (36:17) Mentions:  Empire Flippers Podcasts Empire Flippers Marketplace Create an Empire Flippers account Subscribe to our newsletter Matt's LinkedIn TheSubscriptionDoc.com Sit back, grab a coffee, and learn how to reduce churn and increase recurring revenue through subscriptions!

    Subscription Strategies for Ecommerce Growth With Matt Holman [Ep.212]

  8. Apr 28

    Rewriting the Paid Ads Playbook With Hernan Vazquez [Ep.211]

    Paid ads used to be simple: find the right audience, dial in your targeting, and scale. Now? It's where a lot of businesses quietly burn cash.  In this episode, we are joined by Hernan Vazquez, a paid ads expert with over a decade of experience. Hernan explains why so many business owners are spending more on ads and getting less back. The biggest problem is the math. What used to work at $3 leads or cheap clicks doesn't work when acquisition costs have doubled or tripled. But many businesses haven't adjusted. They're still running the same funnels, expecting the same outcomes, and wondering why margins are disappearing.  According to Hernan, platforms like Meta and Google now rely heavily on AI, which means your creative is doing the real work. If your message doesn't land instantly, your budget gets eaten alive. That's why more operators are shifting to low ticket offers. Instead of risking everything on a cold high-ticket sale, Hernan suggests using low-ticket products to test demand, recover ad spend faster, and avoid wasting months on funnels that don't convert. If you've ever looked at your ad spend and thought, "this should be working by now," this episode will show you what's actually going wrong, before it costs you even more. Topics Discussed in this episode: Hernan's background in paid ads  (02:31) Paid vs organic and where to invest today  (04:23) Hernan's advice for hiring your first media buyer (15:28) How paid media has changed and the current struggles with Meta (21:59) The shift from targeting to creative (25:30) Why low ticket offers are making a comeback (28:05) Funnels vs ecosystems and how to structure your strategy (35:31) Retargeting and what still works today (45:43) Mentions:  Empire Flippers Podcasts Empire Flippers Marketplace Create an Empire Flippers account Subscribe to our newsletter Hernan's LinkedIn Low Ticket Profits - Hernan's book Sit back, grab a coffee, and learn how to get more conversions from your paid ads!

    Rewriting the Paid Ads Playbook With Hernan Vazquez [Ep.211]
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4.9
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About

Fast. Safe. Simple. Investing in online business has never been easier. The Empire Flippers Podcast discusses buying and selling websites, investing in online assets and businesses, and discusses the successes and failures that come with online entrepreneurship.

Information

  • Creator
    Justin Cooke and Joe Magnotti
  • Years Active
    2011 - 2026
  • Episodes
    300
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © https://empireflippers.com/empire-flippers-terms-use-agreement/
  • Show Website
    Empire Flippers Podcast

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