The Opportunity Podcast

When it comes to navigating the twists and turns of acquiring a business, particularly one in the 7-figure range, even the most seasoned entrepreneurs often find themselves in unfamiliar territory.  In this episode, Nate Ginsburg, a 10 + year online entrepreneur and investor gives us a behind-the-scenes look into his 7-figure acquisition of Centurica, a due diligence service that guides buyers through the complexities of assessing and purchasing web-based businesses. Nate walks us through the biggest pressure points of the acquisition, including how he approached the previous owner with an offer to purchase Centurica, how he financed the deal, and the support structure made available to him as a buyer.  He shares the biggest lessons he learned from the purchase and reveals the advice he would give himself if he had to do it all over again. According to Nate,  “My advice to buyers is, during your due diligence, spend some time looking into the nitty gritty parts of the operation to understand the deliverables you’ll have to build out when you take over the business. You should also try to engage the seller in as long of a transition and support period as possible.” We also dive into the different categories and components of buyer due diligence, how to overcome key-person risk, and we break down the hidden risks and opportunities that buyers can uncover with the right research.  If you’re considering buying an online business you can’t afford to miss out on Nate’s first-hand knowledge of the ins and outs of the acquisition process. Topics Discussed in This Episode: Nate walks us through his entrepreneurial background (02:14) A brief overview of Centurica and why Nate was inspired to acquire the business (06:30) Nate walks us through how he went about acquiring Centurica (09:22) The SBA loan process and how Nate determined the value of Centurica (12:41) Key-person risk and importance of hiring the right team (15:33) The different categories and components of due diligence (29:54) Hidden risks and opportunities that can be uncovered during buyer due diligence (34:40) Why online businesses are a great investment (36:31) The biggest changes Nate has seen in the online business industry over the past few years (37:33) The advice Nate would give himself if he started his online journey all over again (40:13) Mentions: Empire Flippers Podcast Empire Flippers Marketplace Schedule a call with our expert sales advisors  Centurica SellerPlex Sit back, grab a coffee, and learn the importance of buyer due diligence when acquiring an online business. 

This week we revisit one of our most eye-opening episodes where we learn first-hand what it's like to buy and sell a 7-figure online business. Many entrepreneurs dream of making a seven-figure exit from their online businesses, but few people understand the logistics, high emotion, and intense negotiations that go into a successful sale.  In this episode, we'll have a round table with the buyer and seller from a recent seven-figure deal to give you some unique insights into what it's really like to buy and sell an online business with Empire Flippers.  The seller, Wilson Dos Santos, owned a rapidly growing FBA business and was ready to quit the rat race to enjoy the spoils of his hard work. The buyer, well-known FBA aggregator Thrasio, represented by Acquisitions Manager Kevin Flaherty, saw the business as a prime opportunity for investment.  Wilson walks us through his journey as a seller, explaining what prompted him to sell his business at the height of its success, the ins and outs of the listing and negotiation process, and ultimately, how his life has changed for the better since selling the business.  Kevin gives us an insider’s perspective on what kind of FBA business catches the eyes of aggregators, how Thrasio vets potential acquisitions, and how they structure their offers to stand out from the competition. If you’re considering buying or selling an online business, you don’t want to miss a second of this special behind-the-scenes episode! Topics Discussed in this episode: Wilson shares a picture of the business he sold (4:12) The shadow of success - the stress that comes with building a profitable business (6:12) The moment Wilson realized his business had outgrown him (7:43) Wilson walks us through the valuation process (12:56) Why Thrasio enjoys working with Empire Flippers (15:02) What qualities will make your business attractive to an aggregator? (16:29) The high emotions when a seller's business goes live on our marketplace (21:23) The metrics Thrasio looks at when vetting a potential business acquisition (24:20)  Vetting potential buyers and the negotiation process (27:58) What made Thrasio’s offer stand out from the rest (31:51) Why Wilson’s business caught Thrasio’s attention (33:54) How Wilson’s life has changed since he sold his business (36:53) The benefits of using a broker when selling your business (44:32) Mentions: Empire Flippers Podcast Empire Flippers Marketplace Free valuation tool Schedule a call with one of our expert sales advisers Sit back, grab a coffee, and get ready to take a sneak peek at the Empire Flipper’s buy and sell process!

While Greg gets his bearings after weeks of travel, we revisit another of our most popular episodes. Successfully scaling one online business is hard enough, but building out an entire portfolio of businesses is a challenge few entrepreneurs are able to overcome.  Not only did Simon Treulle knock this challenge out of the park, but he achieved this entrepreneurial milestone before the age of 24!  Simon is the founder of Pangolia, a business with multiple high-value brands and content sites under its umbrella. In this episode, Simon explains how building a strong network of mentors and fellow entrepreneurs helped him accelerate his success, and why maintaining good relationships with suppliers is key. According to Simon, “If you want to grow your content site, build good relationships with your affiliate managers. They are humans and they are in the business of relationships. Talk, help each other, and you’ll see your business grow.” Simon gives us insights into his entrepreneurial journey, including what inspired him to move from Denmark to Chaing Mai, the epicenter of SEO, when he was just 19. He walks us through the hard work and sacrifice that helped him achieve success, and why he chose to hone in on the pet niche when building out his portfolio. Speaking of his portfolio, Simon also discusses how he transitioned from building sites into buying them, what he looks for in new business acquisitions, and the benefits of consolidating multiple small websites into one big site. He also explains why he made the jump into eCommerce through his latest acquisition, Hepper, and reveals how he grew Hepper from 100 visitors per day to 40.000 readers per day.  If you want to know how to make the leap from owning one business to owning several, this episode is the perfect place to start! Topics Discussed in this episode: Simon walks us through his experience entering the world of online business (02:14) Why Simon decided to build a portfolio of businesses in the pet niche (12:14) How Simon transitioned from owning one business to running several (14:17) The benefits of running eCommerce and content site businesses in synergy (16:36) What qualities Simon looks for in a new business acquisition (18:46) How Simon adapted to running an eCommerce business alongside his content sites (23:53) How Simon grew the traffic on his eCommerce site from 100 daily visitors to 40,0000 (27:11) The key to successfully running multiple businesses simultaneously (31:22) Simon’s advice to entrepreneurs looking to replicate his success (32:04) Simon reveals what’s next, and his plans for growing his businesses further (37:23) Mentions: Empire Flippers Podcast Empire Flippers Marketplace Pangolia Hepper Ahrefs Sit back, grab a coffee, and learn how to grow one content site into a powerful portfolio of online businesses. 

Greg has spent the last few weeks traveling around the US attending several conferences, so he was unable to record a new episode this week. Instead, we'll be revising one of our favorite episodes where Sarah chatted to Codie Sanchez about how to build wealth the unconventional way.  On their journey towards financial freedom, many investors hone in on assets like real estate and stocks, often overlooking the power of purchasing online businesses. Buying unconventional businesses is contrarian investor Codie Sanchez’s bread and butter. Codie has acquired a personal empire of cash-flowing assets across multiple business models. She teaches investors how to do the same as the founder of Contrarian Thinking, an educational resource where investors and entrepreneurs can learn about how to create an ocean of wealth through different income streams. In this episode, Codie explains why buying businesses is a great way to fast-track your way to financial freedom. She walks us through the first steps to diversifying your income through online business acquisitions and the common mistakes many entrepreneurs make when trying to achieve financial independence. According to Codie, “The number one reason people don't achieve financial freedom is they do not spend the time thinking about it, they do not spend the time learning about it, and then they do not spend the time taking action on it.” Codie also discusses the philosophy behind being a contrarian investor, and how to effectively manage a portfolio of businesses.  If you’re looking for ways to kickstart your journey to financial independence, you don’t want to miss a minute of this episode! Topics Discussed in this episode: What it means to be a contrarian investor (02:07) Why business ownership is a great way to achieve financial freedom (05:20) The first steps to achieving financial freedom through business ownership (09:53) The benefits of diversifying asset classes (14:48) Managing time and leadership across multiple income streams (19:53) Common mistakes investors make on their journey to financial freedom (22:08) Out of date investment advice that investors should be wary of (26:09) Current trends that are driving the investment industry (29:34) The lessons Codie has learned throughout her career (35:36) Mentions: Empire Flippers Podcast Empire Flippers Marketplace Contrarian Thinking newsletter Contrarian Cashflow Unconventional Acquisitions business buying course Mint Sit back, grab a coffee, and learn how to diversify your income streams through purchasing unconventional businesses!

Building and acquiring websites is a great way to make money online. But growing these sites can be a slow process if you don’t know which levers to pull to improve your traffic and conversions.  Luckily for Zach Zorn, he quickly figured out which key areas to focus on - a discovery that lead to a 60% ROI on his website in under six months! After making a successful exit from that site, he decided to share his online business knowledge with the world.  Zach is the owner of Money Nomad, a website that provides digital entrepreneurs with tips and strategies on how to grow their businesses. Money Nomad also collaborated with Empire Flippers to open up an online business marketplace selling businesses that fall below our minimum valuation threshold.  In this episode, Zach joins us to discuss the origins of Money Nomad and how it evolved from a simple content site into a fully-fledged marketplace.  We dive into the techniques and frameworks Zach uses to grow his website portfolio, including making the best use of different monetization methods, and optimizing the website’s CRO to maximize profits. According to Zach, “When it comes to content sites, making sure you have the correct affiliate offerings and creating call-to-action buttons are quick wins that buyers can take advantage of. Literally adding blue, red, or green buttons that tell people what you want them to do really helps with conversions. If possible, you should also update your theme to a faster, cleaner theme.” Zach also walks us through his acquisition strategy, his experiences using the Empire Flippers marketplace, and the pros and cons of buying businesses privately vs through a broker. Whether you’re shopping around for your first website acquisition, or you’re an experienced content site owner, this episode is jam-packed full of valuable information that can help you accelerate your website’s growth. Topics Discussed in This Episode: Zach explains how he became involved with the online business industry (02:37) What attracted Zach to the first content site he bought from Empire Flippers (07:52) How Zach got a 60% ROI from his website in less than 6 months (09:56) The techniques and frameworks Zach uses to grow his portfolio of websites (16:22) The pros and cons of buying businesses privately vs through a broker (23:00) The evolution of the Money Nomad website and marketplace (26:40) The Money Nomad marketplace commission structure (32:07) The online business trends Zach foresees in the near future (35:05) Zach’s goals and vision for the future of Money Nomad (39:38) Mentions: Empire Flippers Podcast Empire Flippers Marketplace Schedule a call with our expert sales advisors  Money Nomad Ahrefs Surfer SEO Short Pixel Rank Math Link Whisper Sit back, grab a coffee, and discover a few simple tips and tricks to increase your website’s traffic and conversions.

Sometimes, it’s an entrepreneur's ability to neutralize their weaknesses that paves the way to their success. By prioritizing important tasks and removing themselves from activities they aren’t skilled at or simply don’t like, entrepreneurs can focus their talents on areas of their business where they can make a measured difference.  Implementing systems like these helped Lauren Tickner turn her side hustle as a fitness coach into a 7-figure online business by the age of 21.  But Lauren didn’t stop there. She realized that the systems she used to grow her fitness coaching business could be applied to all industries.  This revelation inspired her to create Impact School, a 7-figure coaching company that helps digital entrepreneurs implement systems that allow them to free up valuable time and scale their businesses to new heights.  In this episode, Lauren joins us to discuss the advantages of systematization, the steps business owners should take to systematize their business, and how implementing systems has helped her own business thrive. According to Lauren, “As a business owner, you have to fill your weaknesses. I became so systems oriented through my own lack of organization. A big lesson for me was hiring someone who was my opposite, who could ensure that those systems were set up. But only by being honest about my weaknesses was I able to find the right person.” Lauren also sheds some light on the bad industry advice that entrepreneurs should avoid, how she diversifies her income streams without succumbing to shiny object syndrome, and some of the biggest challenges she faced when building and scaling Impact School. Topics Discussed in This Episode: How Lauren helps people detach their personal brand from their business (05:06) Lauren walks us through her origin story as an entrepreneur (07:55) Hiring people who compliment your weaknesses (13:48) How systemization can benefit entrepreneurs (15:10) The right time to implement systemization in your business’s lifecycle (18:03) The V.I.L.E. system Lauren uses to prioritize tasks (24:33) The bad advice Lauren has heard floating around the industry (29:41) How Lauren plans to diversify her income streams moving forward (39:35) How Lauren avoids shiny object syndrome when acquiring businesses (44:05) Why Lauren decided to exclude investors from her own business (50:35) Mentions: Empire Flippers Podcast Empire Flippers Marketplace Schedule a call with our expert sales advisors  Impact School Notion Sit back, grab a coffee, and learn how systems can help you scale your business without losing your freedom.

Some entrepreneurs are gifted with a talent for taking run-of-the-mill businesses to new heights and turning them into stable, cash-flowing assets.  Empire Flippers Capital offers a unique opportunity to these talented entrepreneurs - the chance to operate and grow businesses to generate profit for themselves and investors while EFC takes care of the behind-the-scenes logistics.   Mohit Tater was one of the first entrepreneurs to qualify for this opportunity. Mohit is the Founder & CEO of BlackBook Investments, a successful private equity firm that specializes in website investing. He has also been an operator for EF Capital for two investment rounds.  In this episode, we take a peek behind the curtain as Mohit sheds some light on his experiences as an EFC operator.  We discuss what drew Mohit to this opportunity, his acquisition strategy when building his EFC portfolio, and how his portfolio has performed over the last two investment rounds. Mohit walks us through the various tools and resources that EFC operators have at their disposal and shares the productivity hacks he uses to stay on top of his game as he juggles being a business owner and an operator for EF Capital. Lastly, Mohits reveals some of the sure-fire tactics he uses to boost content site revenue. According to Mohit, “When it comes to scaling content sites, the best-hidden growth opportunities often lie in plain sight. Focus on conversion rate optimization. It’s helped us get up to 80% more revenue from the same amount of traffic.” Join us for a behind-the-scenes look at how EF Capital generates profits for its investors. If you’re inspired by Mohit’s story and would like to become an operator yourself, check out the operator interest form in the links below. Topics Discussed in This Episode: Mohit shares how he became involved with online businesses (04:04) What led Mohit to become an EF Capital operator (14:53) How EF Capital operators are compensated (18:15) How raising funds differs for a Mohit’s personal business vs EF Capital (20:20) The productivity hacks Mohit uses to effectively manage his portfolio of businesses (23:50) Mohit shares insights on the type of business he operates for EF Capital (26:23) The qualities Mohit looks for in a website acquisition (29:07) How Mohit’s EF Capital portfolio has performed under his management (37:50) The milestones Mohit wants to reach as an EFC operator (42:34) Mohit’s advice to entrepreneurs looking to become operators (44:56) Mentions: Empire Flippers Podcast Empire Flippers Marketplace Schedule a call with our expert sales advisors  Empire Flippers Capital EF Capital Operator Interest form Blackbook Investments Rich Dad Poor Dad The 4-Hour Work Week Ahrefs Surfer Copyscape Grammarly Sit back, grab a coffee, and take a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like to be an Empire Flippers Capital operator.

The 100th episode of The Opportunity podcast is finally here! To celebrate this milestone, we’re mixing things up. This extra special episode revisits a few of our most memorable interviews to review the top 7 lessons learned from the last 100 shows.  You’ll hear many familiar voices as some of our favorite entrepreneurs and industry experts share their top tips for building, running, and scaling successful online businesses. Greg acts as our guide, walking us through each lesson and sharing his own unique insights and pearls of wisdom. One of Greg's top takeaways includes, “If you want to build wealth, don’t focus on making money today. Focus on making an experience that will create fans of yours for years to come. Because if you make enough of those fans you’re going to create a snowball effect that’ll carry you far into the future.” Join in the celebration by letting us know which episode or guest has been your favorite so far! Be sure to share this episode with your friends and family so that they can join us for the next 100 episodes where we’ll continue to uncover all of the hidden growth opportunities in the online business industry. Topics Discussed in This Episode: Lesson 1: Creating a Machine of Leverage by Knowing the Value of Your Time (02:07) Lesson 2: Learning to Love Risk to Create Wealth (10:30) Lesson 3: Spending 9 Hours Sharpening the Axe, and One Hour Cutting Down the Tree (17:07) Lesson 4: Creating Value While Respecting Your Audience’s Time (26:33) Lesson 5: Communication and Thinking in Four Degrees of Impact (31:43) Lesson 6: Why the Best Marketing Isn’t a Tactic, It’s an Experience (39:45) Lesson 7: Persistence Through Adversarial Wins (44:23) Mentions: Empire Flippers Podcast Empire Flippers Marketplace Schedule a call with our expert sales advisors  Jobs to be Done Framework Featured Guests: Kevin Espiritu (Ep #87) Matt Diggity (Ep #23) Sushee Nzeutem (Ep #59) John Hefter (Ep #19) Emma Shermer Tamir (Ep #49) Doron Wolffberg (Ep #41) Perrin Carrell (Ep #79) Alexis Grant (Ep #84) Chelsea Cohen (Ep #42) Fabricio Miranda (Ep #91) Chelsea Jones and Rachel Saul (Ep #74) Nicole Baqcai (Ep #55) Ben Donovan (Ep #71) Bill Szabrak (Ep #6) Sit back, grab a coffee, and take a trip down memory lane as we discuss the valuable lessons learned from the past 100 episodes.

As you grow your Amazon FBA business, so too should you scale your fulfillment.  Employing a 3PL service opens up a wealth of opportunities and helps shield your business from Amazon inventory limits, stockout penalties, and supply chain delays.  But not all 3PLs are created equal, so how do you find the right 3PL to suit your business’s unique needs? Few people are better qualified to answer this question than Taylor Smits. Taylor is an Amazon seller and the Co-founder of My FBA Prep, a SaaS-based 3PL service that helps eCommerce brands scale their operations by streamlining logistics and fulfillment. In this episode, we dissect the eCommerce supply chain. Taylor explains the different fulfillment options available to FBA sellers and the common pain points sellers encounter when prepping, packing, and shipping their inventory to Amazon warehouses.   We discuss the many benefits of outsourcing fulfillment and outline the important questions sellers should ask when choosing a 3PL. According to Taylor,  “As an Amazon seller, the biggest question to ask a 3PL service is “What’s the turnaround time for getting inventory prepped and into Amazon warehouses.” That time period is going to directly affect your cash flow cycle. It’s also important to ask if they have experience working with businesses similar to yours so that you know they can meet your expectations.” This interview will provide you with the information you need to break free of your fulfillment restrictions and watch your FBA business thrive! Topics Discussed in This Episode: Taylor’s entrepreneurial journey and how he founded My FBA Prep (03:33) The difference between first, second, and third-party logistics (12:37) How Taylor got a foot in the door with large eCommerce clients (20:26)  The questions sellers should be asking 3PL service providers before hiring them (25:05) The trends Taylor is seeing in the current eCommerce fulfillment ecosystem (41:38) The biggest obstacle Taylor faced when building and growing My FBA Prep (48:13) Mentions: Empire Flippers Podcast Empire Flippers Marketplace Schedule a call with our expert sales advisors  My FBA Prep Netsuite Sit back, grab a coffee, and learn how to get the most out of your 3PL fulfillment!

It’s no secret that Amazon’s marketplace is growing incredibly quickly. With so many new brands entering the fray, how can sellers make their listings stand out in such a saturated market? For Mina Elias, a 7-figure Amazon seller, the answer lay in making efficient use of Amazon’s advertising platforms. As his expertise in this area grew, so did requests from fellow sellers asking Mina to optimize their advertising campaigns.  This inspired Mina to create Trivium Group, an Amazon advertising agency that specializes in PPC and DSP advertising campaigns, helping sellers get their products in front of shoppers, earn more money, and grow their businesses. In this episode, Mina joins us to discuss Amazon DSP campaigns, an often overlooked advertising option. He guides us through the differences between DSP and PPC campaigns, the best time for businesses to start making use of DSP, and the risks and rewards of using this promotional tool. We also dive into the secrets behind Mina’s entrepreneurial success, including how he grew his business from 3 employees to 30 in one year and the systems he uses to help him manage his team. According to Mina,  “The number one hack I’ve figured out as a business owner is that using consultants is a great time-saving shortcut that can help you grow your business incredibly fast. For example, I can learn how to do Google Ads in three months, but with just six one-hour consultations with a Google Ads consultant, I can be just as good.” If you want the inside scoop on how to create a winning Amazon DSP strategy, then this is an episode you don’t want to miss out on!  Want a free PPC audit from Trivium? Follow the link below to learn more. Topics Discussed in This Episode: Mina discusses his background and how he became involved with Amazon (02:55) The benefits of attending business conferences (11:14) An explanation of Amazon DSP and how it differs from PPC (19:05) The criteria sellers need to meet in order to use Amazon DSP (24:35) How long do you need to run DSP ad campaigns before they become profitable? (30:26) How to segment your DSP marketing funnel (33:40) The success stories Mina has witnessed DSP have on Amazon brands (38:40) Why Mina grew his team from 3 people to 30 in one year (41:44) The key to hiring the right person for the job (46:04) The lessons Mina wishes he know when first starting out on Amazon (55:14) Mentions: Empire Flippers Podcast Empire Flippers Marketplace Schedule a call with our expert sales advisors  Trivium Group Free PPC audit from Trivium CXL Digital Marketing Courses Zoom Slack Notion Salesforce Helium 10 Data Dive Sit back, grab a coffee, and learn how to grow your Amazon business using DSP campaigns.