In this episode, Tim talks with Ashley Coates, a real estate investor, broker, and operator who has built multiple businesses across real estate, restaurants, and residential care. Ashley shares how she started in real estate at a young age, lessons from buying and operating different businesses, and how she turns properties into scalable residential care facilities with systems and leadership in place.
She breaks down what it takes to remove yourself from day‑to‑day operations, how to evaluate owner‑dependent businesses, and why hiring, systems, and feedback loops are critical to scaling without becoming the bottleneck.
Tim is an entrepreneur who believes everyone should explore the opportunities that business and real estate can provide on the path to financial freedom. He owns and operates a wine & liquor store, a software startup, a consulting company, and a growing portfolio of commercial and residential real estate.
Tim's passion for independent business has led him to support dozens of other business owners. For over a decade, he has worked with businesses on strategy, processes, finances, and marketing. These experiences, along with analyzing dozens of other businesses for potential acquisition, have provided Tim with an immense knowledge base to pull from.
Tim has appeared on multiple top-tier podcasts in the financial space, such as Bigger Pockets Money and The Freedom Chasers Podcast.
[00:00 – 01:20] Intro & Ashley's background
[01:20 – 05:18] Early start in real estate and taking responsibility young
[05:18 – 08:55] Mindset around risk, fear, and learning through mistakes
[08:55 – 11:55] First business acquisitions and lessons from laundromats
[11:55 – 17:05] Entering residential care facilities and identifying opportunity
[17:05 – 21:05] Systems, scaling, and removing owner dependency
[21:05 – 24:50] Hiring, leadership, and building strong teams
[24:50 – 30:40] EOS, structure, and operational discipline
[30:40 – 35:16] Buying and systematizing a restaurant business
[35:16 – 38:36] Technology, data, and operational efficiency
[38:36 – 41:07] Growth strategy for residential care facilities
[41:07 – 43:15] Feasibility, market demand, and evaluating opportunities
[43:15 – 46:02] Mentorship, masterminds, and accelerating growth
[46:02 – End] Final advice for business buyers and operators
Guest Bio
Ashley Coates is a real estate investor, broker, and operator with over two decades of experience across real estate, business acquisitions, and operations. She specializes in converting residential properties into licensed care facilities and building scalable, system‑driven businesses that run without day‑to‑day owner involvement. Ashley is also the founder of Residential Care Collective, where she helps investors and operators build and grow residential care businesses.
Connect with Ashley:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikeandashleycoates/
Connect with Tim and the community on social media for more tips and updates:
Website: https://www.powerofbiz.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@powerofbiz
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/timtdelaney/
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@timtdelaney
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothytdelaney/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/timtdelaney
Tweetable Quotes
"Every lesson was very expensive — and I learned it three times." – Ashley Coates
"You have to understand the owner dependency before buying any business." – Ashley Coates
"Systems and leadership are what allow a business to scale without you." – Ashley Coates