Low Bar Podcast

BK Has Started 20 Businesses. Here's What He'd Do Again — Ep. 37

Starting a business, making money online, and building real income streams looks a lot different when you’ve actually done it over and over again. This episode breaks down every business BK has started over the last 10 years and which ones he would still start today. Ben walks through everything from mowing lawns and flipping class rings to high ticket dropshipping, Amazon FBA, content businesses, partnerships, ecommerce brands, and multiple exits. Some businesses failed immediately. Some made life changing money. Some turned into businesses worth hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars. Ben and Jon break down the lessons behind each one, what actually worked, the biggest mistakes, and why most people wait too long to start anything at all. They also talk about partnerships, selling businesses too early, the power of content, using AI to move faster, and why cash flow matters more than most entrepreneurs realize. These are real businesses, real wins, real losses, and real lessons from actually doing the work. Topics covered: • the first businesses BK started as a kid • flipping class rings and fake jerseys for profit • why his first clothing brand failed • building and selling high ticket dropshipping stores • starting an Amazon FBA brand for $300 • how content led to new business opportunities • partnerships that worked and ones that didn’t • selling businesses too early • why cash flow changes everything • what businesses BK would still start in 2026 Business is simple. People are lazy. https://lowbarpod.com/ [https://lowbarpod.com/] Join the private Low Bar Pod community and hang out with BK and Jon plus all of our other awesome members! — https://low-bar-pod.circle.so/checkout/membership [https://low-bar-pod.circle.so/checkout/membership] Sponsor: Sleep like you’re dead (in a good way). Grab yours at https://SwitchSupplements.com/lowbar [https://switchsupplements.com/lowbar] Use code LOWBAR for $10 off Killswitch — the sleep aid for people who can’t stop thinking about business. Timestamps: 00:22 — The beginnings of BK's businesses 02:44 — Flipping class rings 05:29 — The failed UFC clothing brand 09:18 — Discovering high ticket dropshipping 13:34 — Selling the first ecommerce business 15:13 — Thailand, Amazon FBA, and adult coloring books 26:05 — Content creation and podcasting 29:01 — Starting a pet brand for $300 36:25 — Selling businesses too early 42:13 — Cash flow matters 48:04 — The businesses BK would still start today Follow us on Social Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/lowbarpod/ [https://www.instagram.com/lowbarpod/] Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/LowBarPod [https://www.facebook.com/LowBarPod] X — https://x.com/LowBarPodcast [https://x.com/LowBarPodcast] TikTok — https://www.tiktok.com/@lowbarpodcast [https://www.tiktok.com/@lowbarpodcast] Topics: entrepreneurship, business ideas, ecommerce business, online business, make money online, side hustle ideas, high ticket dropshipping, Amazon FBA, startup lessons, business mistakes #lowbarpodcast #Entrepreneurship #BusinessTalk #Founders #Podcast #Ecommerce #AmazonFBA #Dropshipping #OnlineBusiness #sidehustleschool **Some links may be affiliate links, meaning we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.**

Holy #@&! Dropshipping Still Works? — Ep. 36

Everyone says dropshipping is dead. Meanwhile, Wayfair is running one of the biggest ecommerce businesses in the world on a dropship network. This episode breaks down what dropshipping actually is and why almost everyone gets it wrong. Ben and Jon explain the simplest definition of dropshipping. It is not a business model. It is a method of fulfillment used by companies like Wayfair, Amazon, Walmart, and Target every day. They walk through the full Wayfair origin story. Two founders built over 240 niche ecommerce sites using dropshipping, scaled to $500 million in revenue, and still rely on it today as a drop ship network. Then they bring it back to real operators. Ben just launched a new store. Jon sold one for $300,000. They explain why dropshipping data is the best foundation for launching your own brand and how this turns into a real, sellable asset. They also break down what has changed. AI has made starting faster and cheaper than ever, removing technical barriers that used to slow people down. This is not AliExpress hype. This is a real ecommerce playbook that has been working for decades. Topics covered: • what dropshipping actually is • why dropshipping is not a business model • the Wayfair origin story and playbook • how ecommerce stores scale with dropshipping • using data to launch your own brand • why most people fail with dropshipping • how AI speeds up execution • starting a store with under $500 • building a sellable ecommerce asset • the future of dropshipping and TikTok Shop Business is simple. People are lazy. https://lowbarpod.com/ [https://lowbarpod.com/] Join the private Low Bar Pod community and hang out with BK and Jon plus all of our other awesome members! — https://low-bar-pod.circle.so/checkout/membership [https://low-bar-pod.circle.so/checkout/membership] Sponsor: KetoneAid Ke4 — Tastes terrible. Isn't cheap. Will make you uncomfortably productive. Grab yours at https://ketoneaid.com/lowbar [https://ketoneaid.com/lowbar] for free shipping — the flow state in a bottle that lets me get more done in 2 hours than most people do all day. Timestamps: 00:13 — What dropshipping actually is and misunderstandings of it 01:56 — Wayfair story 05:04 — Why people talk bad about dropshipping 07:07 — Ecommerce business model 13:51 — BK launches new dropship store 17:53 — Starting for Under $500 18:40 — Jon and BK talk exits 24:23 — The Future: Brand Power, TikTok, and Whatnot?? *Follow us on Social* *Instagram* — https://www.instagram.com/lowbarpod/ *Facebook* — https://www.facebook.com/LowBarPod *X* — https://x.com/LowBarPodcast *TikTok* — https://www.tiktok.com/@lowbarpodcast Topics: dropshipping, ecommerce business, make money online, online business, side hustle, start an ecommerce business, beginner ecommerce, shopify store, dropshipping business, ecommerce strategy #LowBarPodcast #Entrepreneurship #BusinessTalk #Founders #Podcast #Dropshipping #Ecommerce #MakeMoneyOnline #OnlineBusiness #sidehustlepodcast **Some links may be affiliate links, meaning we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.**

She Started A Business Before She Even Moved There — Ep. 35

Local business ideas, side hustles, and simple ways to make money offline are everywhere. This episode breaks down what happens when people actually take action on those ideas instead of overthinking them. After hearing an idea on the podcast, Rachel launched a local newsletter for a city she does not even live in yet. Within a day she had engagement, comments, and local businesses asking to be featured. Then there is Myke. Same concept, different execution. He moved fast, built a local advertising offer, and actually put it in front of businesses instead of waiting to feel ready. Ben and Jon break down both examples and what they reveal. Why most people sit on ideas. Why a few move immediately. And what actually happens when you take action before you feel ready. Then they zoom out. They look at a Quiet Light listing of a CPA who built 9 YouTube channels and turned it into a multi million dollar business, showing how simple ideas can compound into real assets over time. This is not about complicated strategies. It is about speed, momentum, and building something real while everyone else is still thinking. Topics covered: • starting before you feel ready • launching in a city you do not live in • local newsletters and early engagement • building a local advertising offer quickly • why most people never take action • validating an idea in days, not months • turning small wins into real businesses • the CPA with 9 YouTube channels case study • how simple ideas turn into real assets • why execution beats competition Business is simple. People are lazy. https://lowbarpod.com/ [https://lowbarpod.com/] Join the private Low Bar Pod community and hang out with BK and Jon plus all of our other awesome members! — https://low-bar-pod.circle.so/checkout/membership [https://low-bar-pod.circle.so/checkout/membership] Sponsor: Sleep like you’re dead (in a good way). Grab yours at https://SwitchSupplements.com/lowbar [https://switchsupplements.com/lowbar] Use code LOWBAR for $10 off Killswitch — the sleep aid for people who can’t stop thinking about business. Timestamps: 00:17 — Rachel's rapid implementation of a local newsletter 06:02 — Mike's launch of a local advertising website in London 12:27 — Scaled-up version of community advertising 14:25 — Strategy for starting small to gain initial "wins" 16:51 — Addressing objections that arise 21:10 — Potential for combining physical mailers with digital 23:10 — Exploring a business as a starter model 30:28 — Analysis of a $2.5 million YouTube channel portfolio for sale Follow us on Social Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/lowbarpod/ [https://www.instagram.com/lowbarpod/] Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/LowBarPod [https://www.facebook.com/LowBarPod] X — https://x.com/LowBarPodcast [https://x.com/LowBarPodcast] TikTok — https://www.tiktok.com/@lowbarpodcast [https://www.tiktok.com/@lowbarpodcast] #LowBarPodcast #Entrepreneurship #BusinessTalk #Founders #Podcast #StartABusiness #SideHustle #TakeAction #BusinessIdeas #MakeMoneyOffline Topics: start a business, side hustle ideas, local business, business ideas, make money offline, validate business idea, beginner business, take action, entrepreneurship

His Last Idea Failed. Then AI Built His Next One in 2 Weeks — Ep. 34

Building a business, using AI, and making money online sounds simple until your first idea fails. This episode breaks down what happens next and how one operator rebuilt fast. John Murphy (https://www.friqlabs.com/ [https://www.friqlabs.com/]) sold his high ticket dropshipping business, tried launching a cold plunge brand in Italy, and watched it fail. Instead of overthinking the next move, he pivoted and built a new business in under two weeks using AI by solving a real problem he kept seeing. The idea came from helping investigate a $4000 fraud order. That turned into a service business focused on fraud detection for ecommerce stores. Ben and Jon break down the full process. Why the cold plunge business failed. What he learned after selling his first company. And how he used AI to build systems, workflows, and a working service without being technical. Topics covered: • why the cold plunge business failed in Italy • the mistake of building without demand • how taxes and bureaucracy slowed everything down • the moment he spotted a real opportunity • the $4000 fraud problem and how it turned into a business • building a tool using AI without being technical • the exact tech stack using Shopify, Make, and Airtable • how AI helped build the system step by step • launching a service business in under two weeks • early traction and customer results • pricing mistakes and scaling challenges He did not start with a perfect idea. He started with a problem and moved fast. This is what actually using AI to build a business looks like. Business is simple. People are lazy. https://lowbarpod.com/ [https://lowbarpod.com/] Join the private Low Bar Pod community and hang out with BK and Jon plus all of our other awesome members! — https://low-bar-pod.circle.so/checkout/membership [https://low-bar-pod.circle.so/checkout/membership] Sponsor: KetoneAid Ke4 — Tastes terrible. Isn't cheap. Will make you uncomfortably productive. Grab yours at https://ketoneaid.com/lowbar [https://ketoneaid.com/lowbar] for free shipping — the flow state in a bottle that lets me get more done in 2 hours than most people do all day. Timestamps: 00:18 — Details of John's business exit 03:16 — Launching a cold plunge brand 06:03 — Navigating bureaucracy in Italy 13:14 — Transitioning into fraud detection 15:52 — Explaining how Ekata software works 21:38 — Building a custom fraud risk agency 25:02 — Technical breakdown of the AI-built workflow 32:55 — Using AI to develop "superpowers" 38:04 — Calculating pricing for high-ticket services 48:43 — Introduction to FRIQ Labs *Follow us on Social* *Instagram* — https://www.instagram.com/lowbarpod/ *Facebook* — https://www.facebook.com/LowBarPod *X* — https://x.com/LowBarPodcast *TikTok* — https://www.tiktok.com/@lowbarpodcast Topics: ai business, build a business with ai, ecommerce, service business, startup ideas, online business #LowBarPodcast #Entrepreneurship #BusinessTalk #Founders #Podcast #AIBusiness #StartupIdeas #Ecommerce #OnlineBusiness #BuildInPublic

7 Weird Ways People Are Making Money With AI Right Now — Ep. 33

AI business ideas, side hustles, and ways to make money online are everywhere right now. This episode breaks down the real ways people are actually using AI to make money today. Ben went down a rabbit hole and came back with a mix of practical, weird, and surprisingly effective AI business ideas. Not theory. Not hype. Stuff people are already doing. From AI generated feet pics and fake grandma influencers to one star review content, faceless YouTube channels, AI music, and digital products, this is what it actually looks like in the wild. Jon challenges most of them, pushing back on what actually works, what is already saturated, and what sounds good but falls apart in execution. Some of these ideas are smart. Some are borderline ridiculous. All of them prove the same point. The bar is still incredibly low. This is not about building an AI startup. It is about using tools that already exist to test ideas fast and find what sticks. Topics covered: • AI generated content and fake personas • AI feet pics and niche monetization • faceless AI influencers and viral content • turning one star reviews into content channels • AI music and selling custom songs • faceless YouTube and background content • AI voiceovers and simple Fiverr services • AI books, coloring books, and digital products • how to test and batch content quickly • where these ideas actually work and where they don’t Business is simple. People are lazy. https://lowbarpod.com/ [https://lowbarpod.com/] Join the private Low Bar Pod community and hang out with BK and Jon plus all of our other awesome members! — https://low-bar-pod.circle.so/checkout/membership [https://low-bar-pod.circle.so/checkout/membership] Sponsor: Sleep like you’re dead (in a good way). Grab yours at https://SwitchSupplements.com/lowbar [https://switchsupplements.com/lowbar] Use code LOWBAR for $10 off Killswitch — the sleep aid for people who can’t stop thinking about business. Timestamps: 00:43 — AI feet pics and niche content monetization 03:36 — Fake AI grandma influencers 07:23 — Turning one-star reviews into content 11:01 — Building simple AI content channels 13:21 — AI music and custom song ideas 19:57 — Faceless YouTube channels 21:23 — AI books and digital products 25:17 — Selling AI services on Fiverr 29:46 — What actually works vs. what doesn’t Follow us on Social Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/lowbarpod/ [https://www.instagram.com/lowbarpod/] Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/LowBarPod [https://www.facebook.com/LowBarPod] X — https://x.com/LowBarPodcast [https://x.com/LowBarPodcast] TikTok — https://www.tiktok.com/@lowbarpodcast [https://www.tiktok.com/@lowbarpodcast] #LowBarPodcast #Entrepreneurship #BusinessTalk #Founders #Podcast #AIBusiness #SideHustles #MakeMoneyOnline #DigitalProducts #AI Topics: ai business ideas, make money with ai, ai side hustles, online business, faceless content, digital products