The Flashquotes Podcast

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The Flashquotes Podcast | Insights for Modern Caterers 🎙️ Explore the intersection of technology and event catering. Expert interviews, business tips, and behind-the-scenes stories. Subscribe for new episodes every month.

  1. 4D AGO

    How to Keep Corporate Clients for 17 Years with Nicky McDonald(Recurring Revenue Secrets)

    She Automates 90% of Admin to Focus on Coffee (Here's How) Thinking about starting a mobile coffee cart? Or struggling to keep your catering business afloat after the honeymoon phase wears off? In this episode, we sit down with Nicki McDonald, the powerhouse behind "The Funky Brewster." With 27 years in the coffee industry and 17 years running her own mobile coffee business, Nicki has survived it all—the 2008 crash, the COVID-19 pandemic, and even a coffee cart rolling off a curb! She reveals how she transformed a "side hustle" into a sustainable career by focusing on deep client relationships and automating the admin work she hated. If you want to know how to scale a catering business without losing your mind, build a team that stays for years, and use tools like Flashquotes to reclaim your time, this conversation is for you. In this episode, you’ll learn: How to pivot your business model during economic downturns.The "Deja-Bru" strategy for securing recurring corporate clients.Why "small but mighty" might be more profitable than aggressive scaling.The reality of mobile catering disasters and how to recover gracefully. Timestamps:  0:00 - Intro: Meet Nicki McDonald & The Funky Brewster  1:45 - 27 Years in Coffee: From Starbucks to Solopreneur  5:10 - The "Aha" Moment: Why Mobile Coffee Works for Teacher Appreciation 8:30 - Surviving the 2008 Crash & COVID: Pivoting to Stay Alive  14:20 - Catering Disasters: The Cart That Rolled Away & Power Failures  20:15 - Scaling to Denver & LA: The Challenges of Remote Management 26:40 - Employee Retention Secrets: Why Her Baristas Stay for Years 32:55 - The "Deja-Bru" Package: Locking in Recurring Revenue  38:10 - Tech Stack: How Flashquotes Automates the Boring Stuff 43:00 - The Future: Adding a Bakery & Staying "Small But Mighty" Want to learn more about how Flashquotes can help you book more? Book a free call with us: https://go.flashquotes.com/demofunky 🎤 Level 5 Live Conference Join top mobile event operators, caterers, and founders for live strategy, systems, and real-world growth playbooks at our summer conference: https://go.flashquotes.com/l5lfunky Follow UsInstagram: @FlashquotesHQTikTok: @FlashquotesHQ 🎙️ The Flashquotes Podcast brings you insights for modern caterers, exploring the intersection of technology, business strategy, and event catering. Check out Flashquotes: https://flashquotes.comFollow Nicky: @funkybrewcoffee

    1h 11m

  2. FEB 13

    Make $2,500 in 2 Hours: How to scale a mobile boba business with Bella Cattani

    Bella Cattani reveals how she scaled her mobile food business, "The Boba Popup Shop," into a high-margin empire. Discover how she pivoted from street fairs to landing lucrative corporate catering contracts. Bella also shares secrets on launching a successful pop-up shop, overcoming the fear of competition, and why teaching others became her biggest revenue stream.   Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro: Meet Bella Katani 04:20 - The Pivot: From physical pop-ups to digital products 08:40 - Origins: The "Mochi Cookie" strategy 13:00 - Why corporate catering beats street vending 17:20 - Logistics: How to serve 300 drinks in 2 hours 21:40 - "Gatekeeping" vs. Sharing your business secrets 26:00 - How to stand out in a saturated mobile market 30:20 - Scaling challenges: Catering vs. Coaching 34:40 - Student success stories (Making $1k/hour) 39:00 - Future plans & pricing high-ticket offers     Flashquotes is the premier software for modern caterers, designed to streamline your operations and help you scale. From automated proposals to event management, we help you focus on what matters: growing your business.   Want to learn more about how Flashquotes can help you book more?   Book a free call with us: https://go.flashquotes.com/demo-bella     🎤 Level 5 Live Conference Join top mobile event operators, caterers, and founders for live strategy, systems, and real-world growth playbooks at our summer conference: https://go.flashquotes.com/L5L-Bella     Follow Us Instagram: @FlashquotesHQ TikTok: @FlashquotesHQ     🎙️ The Flashquotes Podcast brings you insights for modern caterers, exploring the intersection of technology, business strategy, and event catering.     Check out Flashquotes: https://flashquotes.com Follow Bella Katani @thebobapopupshop

    44 min

  3. FEB 6

    How to Find the Perfect Business Partner with Ashtin (Her Espresso)

    Scaling a catering business is hard—doing it alone is even harder. In this episode of the Flashquotes Podcast, we sit down with Ashtin Billhardt, owner of Her Espresso in Jacksonville, FL, to talk about the reality of mobile coffee catering and the strategic moves that help businesses grow.   Ashtin shares her journey from farmers markets to high-end private catering, her viral TikTok moment that taught her resilience, and most importantly, her experience merging businesses. If you’ve ever wondered if you should bring on a business partner to help you scale, this episode is a must-watch. We dive deep into what makes a partnership work, how to find your "village," and why sometimes the best way to grow is to join forces.   In this episode, we cover: 00:00:00 Welcome + Meet Ashtin from Her Espresso 00:04:12 The Grinder Breaks at a Huge Event (Viral Moment) 00:06:12 How the TikTok Hit 500K Views 00:08:00 Starting a Coffee Cart With Only 2 Weeks’ Experience 00:10:00 Coffee Flights Go Viral + Line Out the Door 00:17:25 Crazy Creative Drinks (Taylor Swift + Themed Menus) 00:18:26 Finding the Right Business Partner 00:20:00 Building a Team + Stepping Back From Solo Events 00:39:17 Why You Shouldn’t Build Your Own Coffee Cart 00:42:27 Vision for 2026: Two Carts, Two Setups, Real Scale     🔗 Connect with Ashtin & Her Espresso Website: https://www.herespresso.com/ Instagram: @herespresso TikTok: @herespresso_   Ashtin’s viral video: https://www.tiktok.com/@herespresso_/video/7586339186563730702       🚀 READY TO GROW? Subscribe for more tips on scaling your mobile service business!   Want to learn more about how Flashquotes can help you book more?   Book a free call with us: https://go.flashquotes.com/demoashtin         🎤 Level 5 Live Conference Join top mobile event operators, caterers, and founders for live strategy, systems, and real-world growth playbooks at our summer conference: https://go.flashquotes.com/L5Lashtin     Follow Us Instagram: @FlashquotesHQ TikTok: @FlashquotesHQ     🎙️ The Flashquotes Podcast brings you insights for modern caterers, exploring the intersection of technology, business strategy, and event catering.

    55 min

  4. JAN 30

    46. The Magic Number That Gets You to $100k

    How to hit $100K in 2026 with your mobile bar, photo booth, ice cream cart, or event rental business. Free revenue calculator inside 👉 https://go.flashquotes.com/100k Stop guessing and start planning. If you run a mobile service business and you're just "winging it" with your calendar, you're leaving money on the table. I’m breaking down the exact math you need to hit your first (or next) $100,000 year. We call this "Calendar Magic" - a simple framework to reverse-engineer your revenue goals so you know exactly how many events you need to book.   In this episode, you’ll learn: Why "booking as many events as possible" is a trap How to calculate your "Magic Number" for daily revenue The 3-step formula to predict your 2026 income How to use my free spreadsheet to plan your year in minutes ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - The "Calendar Magic" Concept 01:45 - Why Mobile Biz Owners Fail at Planning 04:12 - Step 1: Defining Your Available Days 07:30 - Step 2: Determining Your Average Ticket Price 10:15 - Step 3: The "Magic Math" for $100k 14:20 - Live Demo: Using the 100k Calculator 18:45 - How to Adjust if You're Off Track 21:30 - Final Thoughts & Download Info   🚀 READY TO GROW? Subscribe for more tips on scaling your mobile service business!   Want to learn more about how Flashquotes can help you book more?   Book a free call with us: https://go.flashquotes.com/demo100kyear   🎤 Level 5 Live Conference Join top mobile event operators, caterers, and founders for live strategy, systems, and real-world growth playbooks at our summer conference: https://go.flashquotes.com/l5l-100kyear Follow Us Instagram: @FlashquotesHQ TikTok: @FlashquotesHQ   #MobileBusiness #SmallBusinessTips #RevenuePlanning #EventBusiness #Flashquotes

    24 min

  5. JAN 23

    45. The Secret to Serving Big Events, the Truth About Weddings, and Tips for Long Term Growth (Q+A)

    In this audience Q+A episode, the Flashquotes team answers real questions from mobile coffee and catering operators about quoting larger events, avoiding service bottlenecks, and adjusting menus to increase speed without sacrificing quality. We break down how to think in drinks per hour, when one cart can handle 200 guests, why adding staff doesn’t always increase output, and how service duration and event type completely change pricing decisions. The conversation also covers how to present multiple quote options, turn one successful event into recurring business, and where outbound efforts actually pay off if you want more consistent, predictable bookings. If you’re booking bigger events or feeling unsure how to price them clearly, this episode gives you practical frameworks you can apply immediately.     🔑 Topics Covered • Event capacity planning for large guest counts • Drinks-per-hour frameworks for quoting • Speed bottlenecks and equipment limits • Menu strategies for high-volume events • Pricing tradeoffs and client expectations • Recurring clients and outbound growth     ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome to the Flashquotes Podcast 01:10 – Audience Q+A format and community questions 02:00 – Capacity planning for a 200-person event 04:15 – Drinks-per-hour as the core planning metric 06:05 – Why adding baristas doesn’t double output 07:45 – Speed bottlenecks and espresso machine limits 09:30 – Menu adjustments to increase throughput 12:30 – When one cart is enough vs when it’s not 14:20 – Why shorter events can cost more 16:30 – Coaching clients on speed vs value 19:30 – Conferences, rush windows, and long lines 21:45 – Presenting multiple quotes to help clients decide 23:45 – How do you turn big events into recurring clients? 26:00 – First-event experience and follow-ups 28:30 – The “three bookings” idea 32:30 – If you’re doing outbound, where should you focus? 35:00 – Corporate clients vs weddings 38:00 – Offices, planners, and who actually controls the budget 41:15 – Why corporate bookings scale better long-term 44:30 – Seasonality, weekdays, and revenue stability 49:30 – Lessons learned from large events 52:00 – Building robustness into equipment and systems 56:30 – Final takeaways and wrap-up   Want to learn more about how Flashquotes can help you book more? Book a free call with us: https://go.flashquotes.com/janqa     🎤 Level 5 Live Conference Join top mobile event operators, caterers, and founders for live strategy, systems, and real-world growth playbooks at our summer conference: https://go.flashquotes.com/level5-christian       🎓 Claim our Free Masterclass for Mobile Cart Businesses https://go.flashquotes.com/masterclass-janqa       Follow Us Instagram: @FlashquotesHQ TikTok: @FlashquotesHQ     👍 Like and comment if you’re building or scaling a catering business 📩 Subscribe for weekly episodes on systems, sales, and growth for mobile event businesses

    58 min

  6. JAN 16

    44. How to Tell If You’re Overpriced or Underpriced in 30 Seconds with Christian Lynch

    Most coffee cart owners are guessing when it comes to pricing. But Christian Lynch from Phase Two Coffee explains how your booking percentage alone can instantly tell you whether you’re charging too much or leaving money on the table. In this episode, we break down real booking rate benchmarks, why “selling out of your own wallet” keeps businesses small, and how knowing your numbers gives you confidence when quoting, selling, and scaling. If you’ve ever wondered: “Am I underpriced or overpriced?” “Why am I booking a lot but still stressed?” “When should I actually raise prices?” This episode gives you a clear, numbers-based framework you can apply today.   ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Why pricing confusion keeps businesses stuck 02:26 Meet Christian Lynch (Phase Two Coffee) 03:07 The meaning behind “Phase Two” and positioning your brand 05:17 From mowing lawns to building a coffee business 06:14 Why working for free saved him hundreds of thousands 12:10 Transitioning from side hustle to full-time 18:45 Setting revenue targets and knowing your numbers 26:40 Common mistakes Christian sees in coffee cart owners 31:10 Selling out of your own wallet 39:21 Why cheap pricing attracts the wrong clients 41:03 The simple 3-part pricing framework 43:35 How to actually use slow season correctly 48:10 Why fast quotes increase trust and conversions 53:11 Using metrics instead of gut feelings 54:03 Booking rate benchmarks (underpriced vs overpriced) 58:40 Why high booking rates can be a warning sign 1:04:47 Going all-in and leaving side hustles behind 1:12:45 Trust, branding, and standing out long-term 1:17:46 Final thoughts and takeaways   Want to learn more about how Flashquotes can help you book more? Book a free call with us: https://go.flashquotes.com/demo-christian     🎤 Level 5 Live Conference Join top mobile event operators, caterers, and founders for live strategy, systems, and real-world growth playbooks at our summer conference: https://go.flashquotes.com/level5-christian       🎓 Claim our Free Masterclass for Mobile Cart Businesses https://go.flashquotes.com/masterclass-christian Follow Us Instagram: @FlashquotesHQ TikTok: @FlashquotesHQ   👍 Like and comment if you’re building or scaling a catering business 📩 Subscribe for weekly episodes on systems, sales, and growth for mobile event businesses

    1h 18m

  7. JAN 12

    43. Why Valor Coffee Almost Quit Catering…Then This Changed Everything!

    They almost shut down their catering program. Events were stressful. Growth felt capped. Every booking added more chaos instead of momentum. Then one shift changed everything. In this episode, the Valor Coffee team breaks down how they rebuilt their catering operation from the ground up and scaled from just a few events a month to 30+ using systems, people, and recurring corporate clients.   In this episode, you’ll learn: Why catering felt unscalable before it finally clicked The systems that turned chaos into consistency How to design a coffee cart operation that actually scales The people decisions that unlocked growth Why catering can outperform cafes when done right   ⏱️ Timestamps 0:00 FlashQuotes podcast intro + guest introductions 1:40 Why Valor revisited catering in 2025 3:17 Is coffee catering viable as a standalone business? 4:14 Why early catering felt chaotic and unscalable 6:45 Joey’s transition from barista to catering operator 12:53 Learning systems, CRMs, and managing growth 15:40 Where Valor is headed in the future 26:17 Growing from ~3 events/month to 30+ 36:52 Recurring corporate clients and predictable revenue 50:52 How systems like FlashQuotes support scale   Want to learn more about how Flashquotes can help you book more? Book a free call with us: https://go.flashquotes.com/demo-valor     🎤 Level 5 Live Conference Join top mobile event operators, caterers, and founders for live strategy, systems, and real-world growth playbooks at our summer conference: https://go.flashquotes.com/L5L-Valor     🎓 Claim our Free Masterclass for Mobile Cart Businesses https://go.flashquotes.com/masterclass-valor     Follow Us Instagram: @FlashquotesHQ TikTok: @FlashquotesHQ     Follow Valor https://www.youtube.com/@valor.coffee   👍 Like and comment if you’re building or scaling a catering business 📩 Subscribe for weekly episodes on systems, sales, and growth for mobile event businesses

    1h 3m

  8. JAN 2

    42. The Top Tips from Our 2025 Guests in One Episode

    This episode pulls together the moments our guests kept circling back to in 2025. The pain points. The breakthroughs. The systems that finally made things feel lighter. If you run a mobile event business, this is the condensed version of a full year of real conversations. ⸻ ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Jenna on Systems 3:25 Kent on Seo 7:52 Steven on Growth 11:55 Melisa on Scaling 16:23 Cynthia on Pitching 21:16 Dan on Letting Go of Control 26:31 Brandon on Transportation 31:03 Nikki on Training 34:43 Colin on Going Full Time 36:48 Michael on Hospitality 40:30 Noah on Mentorship 44:27 Kalli on Resilience     ⸻   ➡️ Start booking events faster with instant quotes: https://go.flashquotes.com/2025demo   ➡️ Claim our free Masterclass to learn from a multi 7 figure coffee cart owner: https://go.flashquotes.com/2025     ➡️ Join our conference for mobile cart businesses in 2026: https://go.flashquotes.com/2025L5L     ➡️ Join the Mobile Catering Accelerator: https://www.skool.com/mobile-catering-accelerator/about   📸 Instagram: @FlashquotesHQ 🐦 Twitter: @FlashquotesHQ 🎧 New episodes every Friday

    46 min
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5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

The Flashquotes Podcast | Insights for Modern Caterers 🎙️ Explore the intersection of technology and event catering. Expert interviews, business tips, and behind-the-scenes stories. Subscribe for new episodes every month.

Information

  • Creator
    flashquotes
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    49
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 flashquotes
  • Show Website
    The Flashquotes Podcast

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