The Koerner Office - Business Ideas and Small Business Deep Dives with Entrepreneurs
by Chris Koerner
Latest Business Ideas
White-Label Course Reselling
This business idea involves purchasing white-label courses (pre-made educational content) and reselling them under your own brand. Entrepreneurs can capitalize on the existing demand for training in various fields, including technology and trades, without the need to create the course content themselves. For instance, by acquiring a course for $800 to $1,000, they could market it for $3,000 or more, leveraging government grants to cover student costs. This model not only decreases the time and effort spent on course creation but also allows for quick market entry. The ideal audience for this business includes solo entrepreneurs or small teams interested in online education, especially in high-demand sectors. The implementation would require researching reputable course providers and establishing a marketing strategy to attract students.
From: Build a 7-Figure Online School With $15K/Student Grants ⏐ Ep. #208
Employee Training Schools for Businesses
This concept involves existing businesses setting up their own internal training schools to not only educate their employees but also receive government funding for the training. Businesses can apply for grants that cover the costs of training their employees in various trades or skills, effectively reducing their hiring costs. This model is particularly beneficial for sectors struggling with staffing shortages, allowing companies to train candidates who would otherwise be difficult to recruit. Entrepreneurs can implement this by working with local workforce development agencies to understand available grants, design training programs tailored to their needs, and promote these programs internally. The target audience includes owners of SMEs in industries like healthcare, construction, and technology that require skilled labor.
From: Build a 7-Figure Online School With $15K/Student Grants ⏐ Ep. #208
Start a Government-Funded Trade School
The idea is to start a trade school that leverages government grants for funding student education. By navigating the regulatory landscape, entrepreneurs can establish schools that offer various trade courses, such as plumbing, electrical work, or HVAC, without upfront costs to students. The government pays grants ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 per student, which covers the costs of the training. This model can be particularly lucrative for individuals who understand how to white label existing courses from other providers, thus maximizing profit margins. The target audience for this business includes aspiring entrepreneurs or existing business owners looking to train employees in high-demand trades. To implement this, one would need to research state-specific regulations, identify grants, and establish partnerships with community organizations or referral partners that can help promote the program.
From: Build a 7-Figure Online School With $15K/Student Grants ⏐ Ep. #208
Custom GPT Creation for Small Businesses
This business concept involves creating and selling custom Generalized Pre-trained Transformers (GPTs) tailored for small local businesses. The idea is to help businesses utilize AI chat tools for customer service or lead generation, making them more accessible to smaller enterprises that may not have the resources to develop their own. Entrepreneurs can begin by learning how to customize GPT models and apply them to specific industries, such as restaurants or hospitality, to improve customer interaction and streamline operations. The target audience consists of local businesses looking to enhance their customer service features in a cost-effective manner. Strategies include offering a trial period, setting up easy integration guides, and promoting through local business associations to show real-world benefits of using these custom GPTs.
From: Which AI Should You Use to Make Money? GPT 5 vs Others⏐ Ep. #207
Flipping High-Value Items on Marketplaces
The podcast discusses the potential for entrepreneurs to engage in flipping high-value items as a rapid way to generate income. This idea is particularly suited for those with a knack for negotiation and market sense. The implementation can begin with identifying undervalued items on platforms like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace and reselling them at a profit. Entrepreneurs can focus on niche markets, such as refurbished electronics or antique furniture, to maximize margins. Target audiences include individual buyers who appreciate quality secondhand goods and sellers looking to clear unwanted items. Successful tactics include researching pricing trends, understanding what makes items desirable, and utilizing social media for advertisement to attract buyers quickly. With proper research, this can yield a commendable return on investment with a modest setup cost.
From: Which AI Should You Use to Make Money? GPT 5 vs Others⏐ Ep. #207
AI Implementation Consultant for Local Services
This business idea revolves around becoming an AI implementation consultant specifically targeting local service businesses, such as contractors, that are beginning to adopt AI tools. The core offering would involve helping these businesses automate their operations, improve efficiency, and leverage AI for marketing or customer management. To implement this idea, an entrepreneur can start by gaining familiarity with popular AI tools and platforms relevant to small businesses. Offering services such as creating basic automation with tools like Zapier or providing consultation on using existing AI tools effectively can help businesses save time and reduce costs. The target audience is independent service providers who may lack technical knowledge but seek to stay competitive in a rapidly digitizing market. Strategies may include networking within local business forums, presenting workshops on the benefits of AI, or creating targeted marketing campaigns highlighting AI's ROI for service industries.
From: Which AI Should You Use to Make Money? GPT 5 vs Others⏐ Ep. #207
Operational Error‑Prevention System & Toolkit
What it is: The speaker emphasizes replacing blame with systems that prevent errors — training, checks, and learning from near misses. That discussion directly maps to a digital product or SaaS: an operational toolkit for small businesses that centralizes training checklists, step‑by‑step SOPs, real‑time checks, and near‑miss/incident reporting with analytics to drive systemic improvements. How to implement: Build an MVP targeting small fulfillment operations, retail shops, or SMBs with repeatable operations. Core features: simple SOP/checklist builder, mobile checklist completion with timestamps, near‑miss/incident reporting form, role‑based assignments, and a lightweight analytics/dashboard that surfaces recurring failure points and training gaps. Start with a no‑code prototype or lightweight web app; pilot with 3–5 SMBs, gather use cases, then iterate. Monetize via subscription tiers (per location or per active user) and offer onboarding services for higher tiers. Problem solved & audience: Many small businesses lack repeatable operational systems and default to blame when errors happen. This toolkit reduces costly mistakes, improves quality and safety, and creates a culture where errors surface for collective improvement. Target users are small operations teams, e‑commerce merchants with fulfillment processes, and service businesses that rely on repeatable workflows.
From: 003: Starting a Rock Climbing Biz in My Mom’s Basement at 17: 5 Things I Wish I Knew.
Purpose‑Driven Brand Positioning & Messaging
What it is: The host explicitly credits discovering and articulating a clear, higher purpose (protecting operators) as the turning point that sustained passion, motivated the team, and became the company’s best marketing tool. This is an implementable business idea: provide a structured service or digital course that helps founders craft a concise purpose statement and build marketing around it. How to implement: Package a short, actionable program (workshop + templates + one‑page purpose statement) aimed at startups and small brands. Deliverables: a one‑sentence purpose, 3 core brand messages, a customer‑facing narrative, and an internal alignment playbook for hiring/onboarding. Offer live workshops, recorded modules, and downloadable templates; upsell a hands‑on consulting sprint for implementation into product pages, landing pages, and email sequences. Use case studies and a small cohort to gather testimonials; distribute content (podcasts, blog posts, short videos) that shows the before/after impact of a clarified purpose. Problem solved & audience: Small businesses and digital brands often lack a compelling emotional differentiator; this product solves poor retention, weak team motivation, and commoditized marketing. Target founders are early‑stage startups, niche e‑commerce brands, and mission‑adjacent B2B sellers seeking distinct positioning and stronger customer loyalty.
From: 003: Starting a Rock Climbing Biz in My Mom’s Basement at 17: 5 Things I Wish I Knew.
Niche Mail‑Order / E‑commerce for Specialized Gear
What it is: The host describes launching a mail‑order business for rock‑climbing gear from his mother’s house and scaling it into a major tactical equipment company. For a digital entrepreneur, this maps directly to launching a niche e‑commerce store (or subscription/mail‑order product) focused on a narrowly defined, passionate audience. How to implement: Validate demand by tapping niche communities (forums, subreddits, Facebook groups, climbing gyms). Start with a small SKU set and a simple storefront (Shopify, BigCommerce or a marketplace listing), accept payments (Stripe/PayPal), and fulfill orders yourself or via a lightweight 3PL as volume grows. Use email marketing and community storytelling (the origin story of mail‑order authenticity) to build repeat buyers — consider a monthly or seasonal “gear box” subscription for recurring revenue. Scale with SEO for long‑tail terms, targeted ads to climbing/tactical audiences, and partnerships with influencers or gyms for authentic word‑of‑mouth. Problem solved & audience: Solves scarcity and curation for enthusiasts who need specialized, trustworthy gear. Target customers are climbers, outdoors enthusiasts, tactical buyers, and niche hobbyists who value expert curation and reliability. The host’s experience demonstrates product–market fit and brand credibility can be grown from a passionate founder story into a larger brand.
From: 003: Starting a Rock Climbing Biz in My Mom’s Basement at 17: 5 Things I Wish I Knew.
Liquidation Flipping Business
This business idea involves leveraging online auction sites and marketplaces, such as GovDeals, bstock.com, and Facebook Marketplace, to purchase liquidation lots of equipment at significantly discounted prices and resell them for a profit. The concept is rooted in buying items like exercise equipment, restaurant equipment, or even specific high-ticket assets when businesses close down or liquidate. The method is to acquire a pallet or a bulk lot of items at a very low cost (for instance, treadmills or restaurant fryers), and then list these items online through channels such as eBay or specialty equipment sites. This approach allows entrepreneurs to start with minimal inventory risk, as the turnaround can be quick and the margins high. The implementation of this idea requires basic market research to identify underpriced or misallocated inventory, combined with skills in negotiation and digital sales. Entrepreneurs can use credit strategically to increase purchasing power while paying attention to cash flow management. The target audience for this model is small-scale entrepreneurs or generalists who have some capital and are savvy with online marketplaces. Specific tactics include spotting undervalued items on liquidation platforms, efficiently listing them on digital sales channels, and possibly using online tools to optimize pricing and marketing. This idea is particularly implementable with minimal technical skills and emphasizes quick turnaround and low complexity in execution.
From: These Businesses Can Completely Change Your Life in 6 Months ⏐Holdco Bros. Ep. #206
Recent Episodes
Build a 7-Figure Online School With $15K/Student Grants ⏐ Ep. #208
Host: Chris Koerner
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