The 7 Profitable Parts of a Business with James Brown

If you think scaling a business means sacrificing your life, family, and freedom—this episode will shatter that belief.

In this week’s episode of The Profit Answer Man, we talk to James Brown, the founder of Perseverance Squared and the Business Accelerator Institute, who shares how he built an $8M law firm across four cities—without grinding 80-hour weeks. Instead, he built a business that bought back his time, gave him freedom, and funded his life purpose.

Whether you're a solo operator, multi-location service provider, or scaling a firm—this episode gives you the roadmap to do it profitably and sustainably, all while putting Profit First.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

How James went from GM assembly lines to law school to running an $8M firm.

The myth of the hustle and why "buying back your time" must be part of your strategy.
The game-changing moment Profit First reshaped how he viewed business finance.
How he systematized his firm so well, he could travel for weeks—and revenue didn’t drop.
The difference between a business owner and an operator (and how to become the former).
What you can implement today to take your hands off the wheel without crashing your business.

Key Takeaways:

Build to Exit Before You Need To. James sold his law firm at 49—not because he had to, but because he planned for it. “I never wanted to be 60 and still reviewing client files,” he said.
Profit is a Habit, Not an Event. Switching to Profit First forced him to be intentional. He stopped hoping for leftovers and started allocating profit first—literally.
If You’re the Bottleneck, You’re the Problem. The business didn't need him. That was the goal. "I designed my firm so I could leave at a moment's notice," James shared. The systems ran the business.
Business Should Fund Your Life—Not Consume It. When his son got a last-minute hockey invite in Europe, he packed up and went for three weeks. No stress. That’s the power of designing the right systems from day one.
Coaching Is a Force Multiplier. James has now helped over 450 business owners scale smarter—not harder—through his coaching and accelerator programs.

Guest Bio:

James Brown is the CEO and Founder of Business Accelerator Institute and Perseverance Squared. He launched his first business in 1994 and scaled it to $8M in revenue, eventually selling it to pursue his passion for coaching entrepreneurs. As a former fractional CEO and SLFU Program Manager, he launched Small Law Firm University and developed a marketing program generating $2M annually. James is the co-author of the best-selling book Shift Happens and holds a JD from St. Louis University and a business degree from Lindenwood University.

Conclusion: Are You Running a Business or Just Working a Job?

James’ story proves what we teach: a business should be built to give you time, money, and freedom—not steal them from you.

If you’re stuck in the weeds, constantly solving problems, and unsure where your profit is going—it’s time for a change. You don't have to build alone. We're here to help you implement Profit First, take control of your cash flow, and scale strategically.