Most entrepreneurs fear taking a loss. But for Clint Cooper, losing $600,000 became the turning point that helped him build Padly Real Estate, one of Atlanta’s top homebuying companies.

In this episode, Marcus Crigler talks with Clint about how a massive setback forced him to rethink his business, strengthen his financial systems, and double down on what really works. They dig into why chasing shiny objects can destroy momentum, the power of cash reserves, and how the right partnership can accelerate growth.

You’ll Learn How To:

• Turn failure into the foundation for long-term success
• Build cash reserves that protect your business through market shifts
• Avoid the “luxury flip trap”
• Structure partnerships that actually last

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

(02:58) How Clint got into real estate after leaving the sports betting world

(04:40) Why he chose entrepreneurship over a 9–5

(06:24) Turning early success into a real business

(06:56) The power of mentorship and modeling successful people

(09:24) What being a real estate CEO really means

(11:31) Managing unpredictable cash flow and setting up 4 months of reserves

(16:01) Why cash creates confidence in decision-making

(19:27) The $600K loss that changed everything

(21:31) Building back the company the right way

(24:20) The willingness to fail, make mistakes, learn, and grow

(26:36) Avoiding shiny object syndrome and sticking to your niche

(28:15) Building brand power through Padly Realty

(30:31) How bookkeeping and forecasting create control

(34:40) Why opposite skill sets make partnerships work

(39:40) Lessons for founders thinking about business partnerships

(43:09) Clint’s final advice: “Keep cash. Cash gives you strength.”

Who This Episode Is For:

• Real estate entrepreneurs rebuilding after losses
• Investors looking to scale without losing focus
• Business owners who are trying to fix messy finances and partnerships
• Operators who want to grow smarter, not just bigger

Why You Should Listen:

Clint’s story proves that with the right mindset, discipline, and financial clarity, even a $600K setback can become the start of something great.

Connect with Clint Cooper:

• Website: https://www.padlybuys.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clint-cooper-92256371/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clintbuysatl

Connect with Marcus Crigler:

• Website: https://beccfo.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcus-crigler-cpa-977a45b7
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/marcus.crigler

In this episode of the Strength in Numbers Podcast, Marcus Crigler sits down with Tyler Evans, COO of Padly, to share how they went from a 60-person team making half a million a month but netting zero, to a 15-person operation consistently profiting six figures.

Tyler walks through the turning points that forced him and his team to rebuild their business model. He also reveals how they cut overhead, shifted from cold outreach to inbound marketing, built a “finance bible” to guide every decision, and established the discipline that keeps them profitable month after month. Listen and enjoy the show!

You’ll Learn How To:

• Turn a large, unprofitable operation into a high-margin business
• Use data and forecasting tools to make smarter decisions
• Build a finance system that keeps you profitable long-term
• Focus on net profit, not just revenue

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

(03:46) Tyler Evans’ journey from corporate America to real estate

(08:20) Starting Padly from a bedroom and scaling fast

(12:01) How they shifted from wholesale deals to direct-to-seller marketing

(18:16) The hidden costs of chasing bad leads

(22:31) Cutting 45 people and rebuilding the company

(24:48) Raising close rates and reducing wasted marketing spend

(28:05) The power of forecasting with the “Finance Bible”

(30:34) The Finance Bible defined

(33:03) Making micro decisions that bring success to the business

(42:42) Why “boring business” is actually a good thing

Who This Episode Is For:

• Real estate entrepreneurs who feel busy but broke
• Operators managing large teams with thin margins
• Business owners who are struggling to turn revenue into real profit

Why You Should Listen:

Tyler shares the hard decisions, financial discipline, and mindset shifts that helped Padly go from chaos to clarity, proving that a smaller, smarter business can win every time.

Connect with Tyler Evans:

• Website: https://www.padlybuys.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylersevans/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flipwithtyler/

Connect with Marcus Crigler:

• Website: https://beccfo.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcus-crigler-cpa-977a45b7
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/marcus.crigler

When the market’s booming, it is easy to believe the good times will never end. But what happens when the music stops and your holding costs start eating you alive?

In this episode, Marcus Crigler shares a hard lesson many real estate entrepreneurs are learning right now: the danger of ignoring the 10% Reserve Rule. He walks through the true story of a once-successful builder who went from making millions to losing it all, and the simple financial discipline that could have saved his business.

Listen as he breaks down how to protect your company when the market shifts, why this is a balance sheet problem, and how to survive downturns by managing cash instead of chasing profits.

You’ll Learn How To:

• Avoid the mistake that wipes out even successful investors
• Build and maintain proper reserves to survive market cycles
• Shift from a profit-first to a cash-first mindset
• Turn stagnant inventory into liquidity
• Use your balance sheet as a decision-making tool for long-term growth

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

(01:17) How real estate made millions during the boom

(02:30) Make money while you can

(02:49) The 10% reserve rule every builder and flipper should follow

(04:02) What happens when you ignore liquidity during a slowdown

(05:32) The warning signs: rising days on market and shrinking margins

(08:37) Real estate as a longevity game

(09:00) The difference between a P&L exercise and a balance sheet exercise

(10:24) Why focusing on cash flow, not profit, keeps your business alive

(11:59) How to prioritize which properties to sell first

Who This Episode Is For:

• Fix-and-flip investors and builders who are struggling with rising inventory
• Real estate entrepreneurs who are learning to manage cash flow in tighter markets
• Business owners who want to build resilience and not just revenue
• Anyone ready to run a smarter, more sustainable real estate business

Why You Should Listen:

If your holding costs are stacking up and your margins are shrinking, this episode could save your business. Marcus reveals how small financial habits, like keeping 10% reserves and making balance-sheet-driven decisions, separate those who stay in the game from those who get wiped out when the market shifts.

Connect with Marcus Crigler:

• Website: https://beccfo.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcus-crigler-cpa-977a45b7
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/marcus.crigler