Is building a profitable business without outside funding impossible, or just uncommon? 

Party-character entrepreneur Hayley Henning tells host Stacey Chillemi it’s totally doable—and shares the exact roadmap she used to grow Characters.io from zero to thriving revenue.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• The zero-cost market-validation trick that landed Hayley’s first paying clients
• A pricing ladder that adds premium upsells without scaring parents’ budgets
• Her social-media casting system that keeps performers booked months in advance
• How “franchise-lite” partnerships let her scale locally, minus the investor headaches
• The resilience mindset that carried the brand through recessions and copycats

Whether you’re a creative looking for a lucrative side hustle, a parent aiming to turn weekend gigs into real income, or an entrepreneur hunting for an evergreen, low-overhead niche, this conversation arms you with step-by-step tactics to build a business that sparks joy—and pays the bills.


🔗 Transform your next celebration into an unforgettable experience—discover and book show-stopping characters at Characters.io today!

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