What does it actually take to launch a service business from scratch — with no experience, no safety net, and a $300K loan hanging over your head?

In this episode, Aaron sits down with Greg, the first-ever franchisee of Bumble Roofing, who pulled off a $1.3M first year while navigating newborn life, quitting his job, and going all in on building something from nothing.

If you’re thinking about buying a franchise, escaping the corporate grind, or building in the home services space — this is the real talk you won’t get from a sales deck.

👉 Subscribe for more stories from real operators scaling service businesses the hard way.

⏱️ Timestamps / Chapters:
0:00 – Welcome & how they connected
1:00 – Greg’s background (sales, baseball, baby)
2:30 – Why roofing? Why franchising?
6:00 – Choosing Bumble & being franchisee #1
9:00 – Starting from zero: no systems, no safety net
12:00 – What surprised him most about franchising
14:00 – “No one cares about you at first”
17:00 – Revenue numbers & real startup pressure
20:00 – What lead sources actually worked
22:30 – The broken franchise buying experience
26:00 – $300K SBA loan and the real risk
28:00 – The myth of passive ownership
32:30 – Early wins, winter collapse, and surviving
35:00 – Benefits of the franchise system
38:00 – Sharing wins across franchisees
43:00 – Roofing vs. power washing
45:30 – Newborn + new business = pressure cooker
48:00 – Mental health and founder loneliness
51:00 – How Aaron built Rolling Suds differently
55:00 – Greg’s long-term vision: $25M+
59:30 – Going deep instead of wide
1:02:00 – Final thoughts + where to follow Greg

📲 Follow Greg:
Instagram – @gregmgeezy

After scaling an HVAC company from ≈$3 M to ≈$6 M in two years—and deciding to hand day‑to‑day control to a CEO so he could get back on the road in his RV—Austin Linney sits down with host Aaron Harper to unpack:

why doubling revenue isn’t worth it if you’re doubling misery

the moment he realized the business now needed “boring consistency,” not more fireworks

building a Navy SEAL consulting team that only works with founders who value life as highly as EBITDA

sober entrepreneurship, panic attacks, and leaving “good” behind for “great”

how rejecting the wrong commercial contracts can save a company

practical frameworks for resource allocation, founder energy audits and carving out a role you actually love

Timestamps
Time Topic
00:00 Aaron’s intro & why this episode matters for fast‑growth founders
02:14 Meeting internet friends IRL and Austin’s “relentless curiosity” about money‑making models
07:45 Focus + energy: why most owners fail (Aaron’s resource‑allocation rant)
12:30 Austin on stepping out of sales, installing a CEO & choosing “boring consistency”
18:55 Commercial vs. residential work — the hidden risk of whale hunting
25:40 Cash‑flow velocity, client selection & walking away from red flags
33:05 Austin’s back‑story: hospitality, Airbnb, meth addiction, six years sober
41:10 Building the Navy SEAL consulting trio (people, process, ops)
48:30 Founder loneliness, masterminds & creating your own tribe
55:00 The 5 Types of Wealth & designing a life that scores on more than money
1:04:45 Aaron’s travel dilemma, kids, and the “10 good years” rule
1:15:20 Rapid‑fire wrap‑up + where to find Austin

Paul Tran has built restaurants from scratch, scaled multi-unit franchises, and helped national brands go global. In this episode, he joins Aaron Harper to talk about what it really takes to grow a franchise system responsibly—without losing your soul. From launching The Halal Guys in Southern California to his newest venture with Pepper Lunch, Paul unpacks the wins, the losses, and the frameworks behind smart, sustainable growth.

00:00 – Intro
Paul joins the show after some behind-the-scenes issues (and laughs it off like a pro).

00:51 – How Paul and Aaron Met Online
Their “Twitter friendship” and mutual journey in franchising.

03:00 – Crawfish, College, and First-Time Founder Moves
Paul’s first restaurant—and the ignorance that helped him win.

05:00 – Entering Franchising at France Mart
Working under Dan Rowe, early franchise deals, and learning the ropes.

08:30 – Discovering Pepper Lunch
Why the concept blew Paul away—and how he became a franchisee and consultant.

10:00 – Unit Economics Breakdown
Labor-light operations, higher build-out costs, and long-term profitability.

15:00 – Franchise Sales is Not Like Other Sales
Paul and Aaron reflect on their early struggles closing deals and qualifying candidates.

21:00 – The Private Equity Debate
How PE changes incentives—and why responsible growth matters more than ever.

32:00 – Building in Public
Aaron and Paul talk about the power of transparency, trust, and organic marketing.

43:00 – Scaling with Strategy
How content reduced CAC, funded an executive team, and attracted better franchisees.

47:00 – What’s Next for Paul
Plans for expanding Pepper Lunch and staying connected to responsible franchising.

50:00 – Real Numbers: Costs & Revenue
Paul shares candid details about store costs, staff size, and what makes Pepper Lunch work.

56:00 – Final Thoughts + Where to Find Paul
Why good franchising needs better storytelling—and how to connect with Paul online.

In this episode, Aaron Harper sits down with Cole Ruud-Johnson—an entrepreneur who’s built call centers, real estate companies, and consulting arms—to break down what really drives business success. They dive into the myth of passive income, the power of ruthless focus, the dangers of burnout, and why most people never see compounding growth.

If you're tired of the fluff around entrepreneurship and want a real conversation about what it takes to win, this one’s for you.

👇 Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro clip
01:00 – Cole’s journey from dropout to business builder
05:15 – Why focus changed everything
10:30 – Sales follow-up failures in home services
14:00 – Franchisees and the lead conversion trap
20:00 – Lyme disease, burnout, and rebuilding from scratch
26:30 – The five types of wealth
29:00 – Closing five businesses to grow one
33:00 – Aaron steps back from sales to focus on content
37:45 – Debunking the passive income fantasy
44:15 – When bad advice ruins good entrepreneurs
50:00 – The compounding power of staying in one lane
52:30 – Finding your “why” in entrepreneurship
59:00 – Building leverage through content
1:05:00 – Final reflections on team, delegation, and long-term thinking

Forget flashy startups. Nik Hulesky is building power washing companies, tree stump businesses, and perfume dealerships—and they're printing serious cash.
In this episode, we break down how "boring" businesses scale fast, the systems behind successful franchising, and why content is the unfair advantage most operators ignore.

If you're building a business, growing a franchise, or just trying to figure out where the real money is—you’re going to want this one.

⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 - Intro & Nik’s background
02:00 - How Nik built and sold multiple businesses
06:30 - Going all-in on content and Twitter
08:00 - The first signs of traction
11:25 - Why “unsexy” businesses actually win
13:00 - CoFounders.com and structuring partnerships
17:30 - What went wrong with their first operator funding model
20:00 - The perfume & tree stump businesses explained
23:30 - Kids, tech issues, and real-life interruptions
26:00 - How Rolling Suds scaled truck production
30:00 - Health care, preventative business opportunities
35:30 - Building a life around values, not just income
43:00 - Government spending and efficiency rants
48:00 - Nik’s home podcast setup and AV workflow
49:30 - Why entrepreneurs need to be a little crazy
53:00 - Nik’s “why” and building for his family
57:00 - The grind of early franchise sales
60:00 - “You just get rewarded for doing the boring stuff really well.”
63:00 - Growth, discipline, and not chasing shiny objects
66:00 - Twitter’s ETA & franchise community
68:00 - Nik’s investment in Tribe & the power of community
71:00 - Masterminds, founder loneliness, and building with others
73:00 - Where to find Nik & closing thoughts

What if the fastest path to building wealth isn't starting a business from scratch — but buying the right one?

In this episode, we sit down with Brian Beers, who scaled from 2 Midas locations to a $45 million multi-unit franchise empire. He reveals how franchising gave him the structure, scale, and freedom that most entrepreneurs chase for years — and how you can follow a similar path.

Whether you're in corporate and ready to escape, or you're an entrepreneur looking to scale smarter, this episode delivers real talk on building wealth through franchising.

⏱️ Timestamps:
00:01:00 — How Brian and Aaron connected through Rolling Suds

00:03:40 — Brian’s background: starting with 2 Midas locations

00:10:15 — Letting go of control and becoming a better business owner

00:16:45 — Why sales roles are often the hardest to delegate

00:28:00 — 💥 "Franchising changed your life..." (The host tees up the trailer moment)

00:28:36 — Why Brian doubled down on franchising and never looked back

00:36:00 — Content, credibility, and the hidden upside of personal branding

00:41:00 — How Brian allocates time as his most valuable resource

00:59:00 — Structuring partnerships with operating partners

01:05:00 — Brian’s big, long-term vision for wealth and legacy

01:07:50 — Final advice for anyone considering buying a franchise

In this episode of The Scaling Podcast, Courtney Joyce shares his journey from 13 years in toxic coal mines to building and selling a 7-figure cleaning business — and how he's now scaling multiple ventures with virtual assistants and smart systems. We dive into entrepreneurship, leadership, time freedom, and what it really takes to escape the golden handcuffs of a steady paycheck.

If you're looking to scale your business, build systems, or get inspired by a true operator’s story — this episode is for you.

👇 Timestamps
00:00 - Intro: From Coal Mines to Entrepreneurship
02:12 - Why Courtney Left a $170K Job for Freedom
04:00 - Starting a Cleaning Business from Scratch
06:23 - Scaling with Culture and Smart Hiring
09:00 - Selling His First Business for $500K
11:00 - The Power of Virtual Assistants in Growth
13:35 - Niching Down: Serving Health & Wellness Franchises
18:50 - Lessons from Managing 50+ Staff
22:30 - Balancing Family, Business, and Focus
30:00 - Biggest Constraints When Scaling Multiple Companies
34:40 - Building a Sales Team & Stepping Out of Founder-Led Sales
37:00 - Routines, Mindset, and Staying Energized as an Entrepreneur
40:00 - How Courtney Leads a 100+ Person Team Remotely
44:15 - Final Lessons on Leadership, Systems, and Long-Term Growth

👍 Like this episode? Subscribe for more insights on scaling businesses, leadership, and entrepreneurship.

🔗 Follow The Scaling Podcast for weekly interviews with founders, operators, and industry leaders.
#Entrepreneurship #BusinessGrowth #VirtualAssistants #Franchising #TheScalingPodcast

Welcome to the Scaling Podcast With Aaron Harper

Jack Carr is not your typical entrepreneur.

Follow me on x for more: https://x.com/AaronHarperCEO

Instead of starting businesses from scratch, he has mastered the art of entrepreneurship through acquisition—buying and scaling businesses across multiple industries. From managing wineries in Napa Valley to diving into Bitcoin mining and now leading a booming HVAC and plumbing empire, Jack’s journey is a masterclass in spotting opportunities where others see barriers.
In this episode of the Scaling Podcast, host Aaron Harper sits down with Jack to uncover:

Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro: Meet Jack Carr
02:21 - From Napa Valley Wineries to Business Ownership
06:28 - Why Jack Left a Stable Career for Entrepreneurship
10:10 - Buying vs. Building: Why Acquisition Beats Starting from Scratch
15:37 - The Challenges of First-Time Business Acquisitions
22:11 - How Jack Scaled His HVAC Business to $4M+30:29 - When Everything Goes Wrong: Losing His Entire Team Overnight
38:52 - The Role of Community & Twitter in Business Growth44:13 - Raising Capital for Business Growth: What Jack Learned
51:22 - The Future: Scaling to $20M and Beyond

Subscribe for more business insights!