The Koerner Office - Business Ideas, Advice & Deep Dives - TKOPOD.COM
Hey! I'm Chris Koerner. Do you have a clinical addiction to all things small business? Hey, me too! Let's be addicts together.
On this show I do deep dives on cool business ideas, growth hacks and opportunities. Sometimes that means going broad, and breaking down 4-6 ideas with a business parter or friend, and sometimes that means going super deep on one idea or topic.
I've built dozens of companies & own 7 right now, with revenues in the 10s of millions. I also buy 1-2 RV parks per month alongside partners and investors.
Episodes are released every Monday Wednesday and Friday. Email me at heychris@cofounders.com with any feedback. Enjoy!
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Latest Episodes
The 7 Best Food Businesses to Start in 2026 (No Experience)⏐Ep. #275
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 ━ Check out my newsletter at https://TKOPOD.com and join my community at https://TKOwners.com ━ In this episode I’m sharing my 7 favorite food business ideas for 2026, all designed to be simple, approachable, and high margin. Some are true side hustles you could start this weekend. Others could turn into full-blown, scalable businesses. I break down the real numbers, startup costs, margins, and how I’d actually test each one in the real world. If you’ve been looking for a practical way to get started, this is a playbook you can actually run with. 7. Grill cleaning https://www.chrisjkoerner.com/newslettersss/newsletter-0051 6. Mini pancakes https://x.com/mhp_guy/status/2009705202274934846?s=20 5. Dehydrated fruit https://x.com/mhp_guy/status/2000296786557354459?s=20 4. Picnics https://x.com/mhp_guy/status/2010428589360271799 3. Frozen grapes https://x.com/mhp_guy/status/2011495240079696010?s=20 2. Bakery stand x3 https://www.youtube.com/shorts/aUV1WjbGiQM https://x.com/mhp_guy/status/1988611735033729269 1. Watermelon x3 https://www.linkedin.com/posts/cjkoerner_my-poor-wife-i-cant-even-go-to-a-parade-activity-7346972455653056512-2B7b/https://x.com/mhp_guy/status/2011909126876790956?s=20 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 ---
$1K/Day Profit by Sending Letters⏐Ep. #274
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━ Check out my newsletter at https://TKOPOD.com and join my community at https://TKOwners.com ━ Follow Hannah: https://linktr.ee/hannahmakes In this episode, I’m sitting down with Hannah Gustafson, the founder of The Tiny Project, to discuss a business model that is as brilliant as it is approachable. Hannah left the corporate grind to start a "silly" front-yard stand that has since exploded into a snail mail subscription club with 4,100 members. We break down how she reached nearly $50,000 in monthly revenue in just six months with almost no upfront investment and zero paid advertising. Hannah proves that business doesn't need to be a high-tech headache because it is often just about a one-ounce envelope and the courage to start tiny. This story is the ultimate proof that an authentic, human-centered side hustle is absolutely doable for anyone. 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 ---
How to Buy Big Things With Little Money⏐Ep. #273
Try Quo free + get 20% off your first 3 months: http://quo.com/tko20 Missed calls are one of the easiest ways to lose customers without realizing it. Quo (formerly OpenPhone) is the AI-powered business phone system that helps make sure that doesn’t happen.With one shared inbox for calls, texts, and voicemails, your whole team has context and Quo’s Sona AI can answer calls, take messages, and qualify leads 24/7 when you can’t.━ Check out my newsletter at https://TKOPOD.com and join my community at https://TKOwners.com ━ In this episode, I break down how to buy big things with very little money and why constraints are actually your biggest advantage. I share real stories from my own life, from buying my first house as a broke college student to structuring deals for real estate, businesses, and assets without large down payments. We talk about creative deal structures like seller financing, balloon payments, graduated payments, lease to own setups, and why building trust with sellers matters more than having perfect credit or a pile of cash. The goal of this episode is simple. Stop thinking you need money to get started and start learning how to structure smarter deals instead. 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 ---
11 Business Ideas I’d Start If I Were a Beginner⏐Ep. #272
Check out my newsletter at https://TKOPOD.com and join my new community at https://TKOwners.com ━ In this episode, I break down 11 of my favorite beginner-friendly business ideas that are affordable to start, realistic, and actually scalable. These are real businesses I’ve seen work in the wild, from simple service plays to overlooked opportunities most people ignore. If you’re looking for practical ideas you can actually start without experience or a huge budget, this episode will give you plenty to think about. 11 Wall printing - https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTtB1D2khE2/ 10 Lawnmower flipping - https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTJE7vHEpom/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YebLPyVcTr8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYj_Ns5LGEo&list=WL&index=6 9 Sticks with LED lights - https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTRWxBRkn7D/ 8 Realtor heygen - https://x.com/mhp_guy/status/2018777353187434723 7 Cleaning car seats - https://www.instagram.com/reel/DUHE5_UEhMb/ 6 Trash can cleaning - https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSqwj90ElnO/ Podcast Interview - https://youtu.be/7Ow9qRVCWM8 5 Hot cocoa and chips - https://x.com/mhp_guy/status/2016982470688985256 https://x.com/mhp_guy/status/2018422856875708442 4 Kids artwork - https://x.com/mhp_guy/status/2015518913610805295 3 Gas station vending - https://x.com/mhp_guy/status/2018127509087465970 2 Timelapse giveaways - https://x.com/mhp_guy/status/2019474222314394036 1 Cheap jetskis - https://x.com/mhp_guy/status/2019541145844687119 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 ---
Openclaw is BOOMING! Here’s How to Profit⏐Ep. #271
⚠️IMPORTANT UPDATE⚠️: This episode was recorded on Saturday during the initial viral surge of Moltbook. Since recording, several major security vulnerabilities have been reported, including potential API key leaks and prompt injection risks. I wasn't aware of these specific exploits at the time of filming, but they definitely reinforce my warning in the video to be careful with permissions. ━ Ride the AI tidal wave together. Join the community of AI consultants learning to charge $500–$35k/mo (per client): https://playmakersai.com/ ━ Check out my newsletter at https://TKOPOD.com and join my new community at https://TKOwners.com ━ Moltbook News https://moltbooknews.com A brand new platform called Moltbook is going viral fast. It’s basically Reddit, but instead of humans posting, it’s AI agents talking to each other. In this episode, I break down what Moltbook actually is, why it’s exploding, and how I quickly built and launched a site around it using AI. We then zoom out into the bigger opportunity around AI agents, OpenClaw, and what it looks like to monetize this wave through services, tools, and consulting before it becomes mainstream. 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 ---
This Business Makes Vending Machines Look Dumb⏐Ep. #270
Check out my newsletter at https://TKOPOD.com and join my community at https://TKOwners.com ━ I sat down with Forest Coughtry to break down one of the most underrated businesses I’ve seen in a long time. Forest moved to Montana knowing nobody, started a small wholesale snack distribution business, and quickly scaled it to $50K+ months with no employees and no vending machines. We walked through how he went from selling pastries in Colorado to building a high-margin jerky and candy route serving nearly 100 stores, why this model beats vending machines, and how simple relationship-based selling can outperform “passive” side hustles. Forest shares real numbers, startup costs, margins, and exactly how he lands accounts without contracts or cold email. This is one of those businesses that’s hiding in plain sight. You can find Forest Coughtry on YouTube at Coughtry Wholesale, where he documents building and scaling his distribution business step by step. https://www.skool.com/@forest-coughtry-1344 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 ---
The 7 Best Food Businesses to Start in 2026 (No Experience)⏐Ep. #275
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 ━ Check out my newsletter at https://TKOPOD.com and join my community at https://TKOwners.com ━ In this episode I’m sharing my 7 favorite food business ideas for 2026, all designed to be simple, approachable, and high margin. Some are true side hustles you could start this weekend. Others could turn into full-blown, scalable businesses. I break down the real numbers, startup costs, margins, and how I’d actually test each one in the real world. If you’ve been looking for a practical way to get started, this is a playbook you can actually run with. 7. Grill cleaning https://www.chrisjkoerner.com/newslettersss/newsletter-0051 6. Mini pancakes https://x.com/mhp_guy/status/2009705202274934846?s=20 5. Dehydrated fruit https://x.com/mhp_guy/status/2000296786557354459?s=20 4. Picnics https://x.com/mhp_guy/status/2010428589360271799 3. Frozen grapes https://x.com/mhp_guy/status/2011495240079696010?s=20 2. Bakery stand x3 https://www.youtube.com/shorts/aUV1WjbGiQM https://x.com/mhp_guy/status/1988611735033729269 1. Watermelon x3 https://www.linkedin.com/posts/cjkoerner_my-poor-wife-i-cant-even-go-to-a-parade-activity-7346972455653056512-2B7b/https://x.com/mhp_guy/status/2011909126876790956?s=20 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 ---
$1K/Day Profit by Sending Letters⏐Ep. #274
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━ Check out my newsletter at https://TKOPOD.com and join my community at https://TKOwners.com ━ Follow Hannah: https://linktr.ee/hannahmakes In this episode, I’m sitting down with Hannah Gustafson, the founder of The Tiny Project, to discuss a business model that is as brilliant as it is approachable. Hannah left the corporate grind to start a "silly" front-yard stand that has since exploded into a snail mail subscription club with 4,100 members. We break down how she reached nearly $50,000 in monthly revenue in just six months with almost no upfront investment and zero paid advertising. Hannah proves that business doesn't need to be a high-tech headache because it is often just about a one-ounce envelope and the courage to start tiny. This story is the ultimate proof that an authentic, human-centered side hustle is absolutely doable for anyone. 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 ---
How to Buy Big Things With Little Money⏐Ep. #273
Try Quo free + get 20% off your first 3 months: http://quo.com/tko20 Missed calls are one of the easiest ways to lose customers without realizing it. Quo (formerly OpenPhone) is the AI-powered business phone system that helps make sure that doesn’t happen.With one shared inbox for calls, texts, and voicemails, your whole team has context and Quo’s Sona AI can answer calls, take messages, and qualify leads 24/7 when you can’t.━ Check out my newsletter at https://TKOPOD.com and join my community at https://TKOwners.com ━ In this episode, I break down how to buy big things with very little money and why constraints are actually your biggest advantage. I share real stories from my own life, from buying my first house as a broke college student to structuring deals for real estate, businesses, and assets without large down payments. We talk about creative deal structures like seller financing, balloon payments, graduated payments, lease to own setups, and why building trust with sellers matters more than having perfect credit or a pile of cash. The goal of this episode is simple. Stop thinking you need money to get started and start learning how to structure smarter deals instead. 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 ---
11 Business Ideas I’d Start If I Were a Beginner⏐Ep. #272
Check out my newsletter at https://TKOPOD.com and join my new community at https://TKOwners.com ━ In this episode, I break down 11 of my favorite beginner-friendly business ideas that are affordable to start, realistic, and actually scalable. These are real businesses I’ve seen work in the wild, from simple service plays to overlooked opportunities most people ignore. If you’re looking for practical ideas you can actually start without experience or a huge budget, this episode will give you plenty to think about. 11 Wall printing - https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTtB1D2khE2/ 10 Lawnmower flipping - https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTJE7vHEpom/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YebLPyVcTr8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYj_Ns5LGEo&list=WL&index=6 9 Sticks with LED lights - https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTRWxBRkn7D/ 8 Realtor heygen - https://x.com/mhp_guy/status/2018777353187434723 7 Cleaning car seats - https://www.instagram.com/reel/DUHE5_UEhMb/ 6 Trash can cleaning - https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSqwj90ElnO/ Podcast Interview - https://youtu.be/7Ow9qRVCWM8 5 Hot cocoa and chips - https://x.com/mhp_guy/status/2016982470688985256 https://x.com/mhp_guy/status/2018422856875708442 4 Kids artwork - https://x.com/mhp_guy/status/2015518913610805295 3 Gas station vending - https://x.com/mhp_guy/status/2018127509087465970 2 Timelapse giveaways - https://x.com/mhp_guy/status/2019474222314394036 1 Cheap jetskis - https://x.com/mhp_guy/status/2019541145844687119 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 ---
Openclaw is BOOMING! Here’s How to Profit⏐Ep. #271
⚠️IMPORTANT UPDATE⚠️: This episode was recorded on Saturday during the initial viral surge of Moltbook. Since recording, several major security vulnerabilities have been reported, including potential API key leaks and prompt injection risks. I wasn't aware of these specific exploits at the time of filming, but they definitely reinforce my warning in the video to be careful with permissions. ━ Ride the AI tidal wave together. Join the community of AI consultants learning to charge $500–$35k/mo (per client): https://playmakersai.com/ ━ Check out my newsletter at https://TKOPOD.com and join my new community at https://TKOwners.com ━ Moltbook News https://moltbooknews.com A brand new platform called Moltbook is going viral fast. It’s basically Reddit, but instead of humans posting, it’s AI agents talking to each other. In this episode, I break down what Moltbook actually is, why it’s exploding, and how I quickly built and launched a site around it using AI. We then zoom out into the bigger opportunity around AI agents, OpenClaw, and what it looks like to monetize this wave through services, tools, and consulting before it becomes mainstream. 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 ---
This Business Makes Vending Machines Look Dumb⏐Ep. #270
Check out my newsletter at https://TKOPOD.com and join my community at https://TKOwners.com ━ I sat down with Forest Coughtry to break down one of the most underrated businesses I’ve seen in a long time. Forest moved to Montana knowing nobody, started a small wholesale snack distribution business, and quickly scaled it to $50K+ months with no employees and no vending machines. We walked through how he went from selling pastries in Colorado to building a high-margin jerky and candy route serving nearly 100 stores, why this model beats vending machines, and how simple relationship-based selling can outperform “passive” side hustles. Forest shares real numbers, startup costs, margins, and exactly how he lands accounts without contracts or cold email. This is one of those businesses that’s hiding in plain sight. You can find Forest Coughtry on YouTube at Coughtry Wholesale, where he documents building and scaling his distribution business step by step. https://www.skool.com/@forest-coughtry-1344 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 ---
HoldCo Bros
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