Start It or Scrap It

Send us Fan Mail

Thinking about starting a business or growing one? This episode of Start It or Scrap It is all about how to actually succeed. From hiring your first employee to protecting your online presence, we cover real stories and strategies to help you avoid costly mistakes.

⏱️ Timestamps:  
00:00 – Welcome to Ep 30  
02:00 – How to really succeed in your first business  
10:15 – Why your Google profile could destroy your revenue overnight  
16:16 – Gummi gives Mike a gift  
20:17 – Interesting App Idea
27:40 – Managing screen time & digital addiction (dopamine scores?)  
34:55 – The guys provide idea feedback
42:02 – Hardest First Steps in Starting a Business
45:10 – Common legal & compliance mistakes to avoid  
52:00 – Real audience questions and lessons learned
56:12 – Legal formalities to know about when starting your small business
01:10:11 – How to structure a business presentation
01:19:30 – What business should you start in 2025?
01:33:30 – The guys wrap up the show!

🙌 Join the community:  
IG → https://instagram.com/startitorscrapit
TikTok → https://tiktok.com/@start.it.or.scrap.it
X → https://x.com/StartItScrapIt
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/startitorscrapit/
✅ Full episodes on Spotify, Apple, and all major podcast platforms.

📣 Have an idea you want us to review? Drop it in the comments!

Send us Fan Mail

🚀 Ready to launch your business? In Episode 29 of Start It or Scrap It, we break down real stories from entrepreneurs, including scams to avoid, what to watch for in contracts, bouncing back after failure, and how to build your network the RIGHT way.

⏰ Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro & Big Ideas
02:00 - Why relationships matter in business
10:00 - How a ‘business opportunity’ can ruin your life
16:00 - Accepting failure and learning from it
25:00 - From idea to execution: who to ask for help
45:00 - What we’re struggling with right now (honest chat)
55:00 - Real advice for early entrepreneurs

💡 What you’ll learn:
✔️ Spotting red flags in ‘too good to be true’ offers  
✔️ Why so many startups fail and how to bounce back  
✔️ How to test ideas before you waste time and money  
✔️ Building a business that doesn’t depend on you doing all the work  

🎙️ Listen to the full episode and share your thoughts in the comments!

👉 Subscribe for real business talk every week.

🔗 Connect with us:
IG → https://instagram.com/startitorscrapit
TikTok → https://tiktok.com/@start.it.or.scrap.it
X → https://x.com/StartItScrapIt
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/startitorscrapit/

#Startup #Entrepreneurship #BusinessAdvice #SmallBusiness #Podcast #RedditStories

Send us Fan Mail

In Episode 28, we share blunt advice on why traditional networking beats fancy ads — and how real relationships fuel million-dollar deals. From golf outings to sporting events, get raw insights into how smart founders build trust before investing a single dollar.

🔔 Subscribe for more no-BS business advice!

⏰ Timestamps:
00:00 – Introduction
02:00 – Million-dollar deals on the golf course
05:15 – The ROI of trust and likeability
09:45 – Spotting red flags in partners & clients
14:20 – Creative ways to build connections
18:00 – When NOT to work with someone
23:15 – How bad partnerships destroy wealth
30:00 – Should you go into business with friends or family?
38:00 – Stories of partnerships gone wrong
45:00 – Real talk: when to get a lawyer involved
50:00 – Tips for young entrepreneurs & parents
55:00 – Teaching kids smart money habits
01:07:15 – Outro
 
📢 Subscribe for raw startup advice!
IG → https://instagram.com/startitorscrapit
TikTok → https://tiktok.com/@start.it.or.scrap.it
X → https://x.com/StartItScrapIt
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/startitorscrapit/

#BusinessGrowth #business #money #podcast #Investing #StartupAdvice #Relationships #EntrepreneurLife #startitorscrapit

Send us Fan Mail

Welcome to Start It or Scrap It Ep. 27! Mike & Gummi dive into Reddit’s boldest business ideas—from exclusive chef events to kid ventures like sneaker trading. Should you start or scrap them? Plus, we unpack imposter syndrome, founder syndrome, and why 7 years of “failure” might be your biggest asset. 

⏱ Timestamps
00:00 – Intro: Windy yards & banter
01:14 – Imposter syndrome: Why you doubt your success
07:05 – Founder syndrome: Micromanaging your startup to death
12:15 – Reddit pitch: Solve problems worth solving
21:06 – Kid entrepreneurship: $80K sneaker empire at 15!
39:43 – Exclusive event app: Michelin chef dinners?
56:00 – Finding a mentor: Free vs. paid advice
1:09:24 – Quick landing pages: Wix or bust?
1:21:32 – Burned-out founder: 7 years, no wins—now what?
1:36:20 – Outro

📢 Subscribe for raw startup advice!
IG → https://instagram.com/startitorscrapit
TikTok → https://tiktok.com/@start.it.or.scrap.it
X → https://x.com/StartItScrapIt
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/startitorscrapit/

#startitorscrapit #startupideas #redditbusiness #impostersyndrome #foundersyndrome #kidentrepreneur #mentorship #landingpage #entrepreneurship

Send us Fan Mail

Welcome back to Start It or Scrap It, the podcast where business ideas meet expert critique.

In this episode, we break from the usual format—because one of the ideas we found wasn’t just interesting... it was good. Good enough for us to say: let’s consider buying it.

Here’s what you’ll learn in Episode 26:

* The decision-making process behind investing in a small business
* Common traits of business ideas worth funding
* The reality behind "first-mover advantage" in AI
* Why company culture is more important than technical talent
* The hidden cost of bad hires and bad clients
* Tactical sales psychology that closes more deals

⏱ Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro
07:00 – What makes a business actually investable  
11:20 – AI startup bubble: will it pop?  
15:45 – Building vs. buying: what we look for  
18:40 – Bad hires and toxic culture  
24:00 – Sales mindset: ask better questions  
30:30 – Our business buying philosophy  
36:00 – Deep dive: What we loved/what gave us pause  
42:15 – Culture fit: aligning values with performance  
48:40 – How we stress-test a pitch before buying  
55:05 – Negotiation tactics: structuring a deal  
01:02:20 – Lessons from failure
01:10:55 – Why we passed on a seemingly great AI idea  
01:18:30 – Your toughest purchases 
01:34:43 – Final takeaways

📲 Want more no-fluff startup insights?
Follow us everywhere:
IG → [https://instagram.com/startitorscrapit](https://instagram.com/startitorscrapit)
TikTok → [https://tiktok.com/@start.it.or.scrap.it](https://tiktok.com/@start.it.or.scrap.it)
X → [https://x.com/StartItScrapIt]
LinkedIn → [https://www.linkedin.com/in/startitorscrapit/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/startitorscrapit/)

#BusinessPodcast #Startups #StartupPitch #SalesTips #AIStartups #SmallBusiness #TeamBuilding #EntrepreneurLife #StartItOrScrapIt

Send us Fan Mail

Welcome back to Start It or Scrap It! Episode 25 tackles the raw challenges of entrepreneurship—hiring chaos, the debate over quitting your business, and rethinking the 9-to-5 path. We share insights on e-commerce realities, practical expense tracking, and why self-worth isn’t tied to owning a business. Perfect for founders facing tough decisions or exploring new ventures.

⏱ Timestamps
00:00 – Intro & Northeast wind struggles
00:02:21 – The hiring process: applications and interviews gone wrong
00:09:04 – Work mindset evolution: gig economy impact
00:28:08 – IRS-friendly expense tracking strategies
00:49:02 – E-commerce challenges for late 30s couples
00:57:02 – The truth behind influencer entrepreneurship hype
01:24:02 – Should you quit after 3.5 years?  

📢 Follow us for more real talk on business:
🔹 Instagram: https://instagram.com/startitorscrapit
🔹 TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@start.it.or.scrap.it
🔹 X: https://x.com/StartItScrapIt
🔹 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/startitorscrapit/

#startitorscrapit #entrepreneurtruths #hiringstruggles #ecommerceinsights #expensetips #businessresilience #quitdecision #founderjourney #2025business

Send us Fan Mail

Welcome back to Start It or Scrap It! In Episode 24, we get brutally honest about the ugly side of entrepreneurship—how to protect your company culture, avoid early leadership mistakes, and why most startup websites completely miss the mark. Plus, we tackle what a startup CEO should actually be doing every day and how customer service (not product) builds brand loyalty.

Whether you’re pre-MVP or managing a 10-person team, this episode is for the business owners in the trenches.

⏱ Timestamps
00:00 – Intro & Weather banter
01:11 – Amazon Fresh, Chick-fil-A & building intentional culture
06:15 – Why one bad hire will destroy your business
10:16 – $0.26 that built a brand loyalist
13:00 – Customers don’t leave companies, they leave cultures
19:40 – Firing customers vs. protecting your team
23:00 – What should a startup CEO do every single day
26:30 – Selling before MVP: non-negotiables for startup founders
30:00 – PayPal Mafia, the power of networking, and social capital
37:00 – Don’t quit your day job (yet): the real emotional toll of startups
44:00 – Why most first businesses fail (and how it made us better)
54:00 – Revenue hides your bad habits—until it doesn’t
1:00:00 – The AI gold rush & historical cycles of innovation
1:07:00 – Messaging mistakes on startup websites
1:15:00 – Sales is service: why features don’t sell, but problems do

📢 Follow us for more real talk on business:
🔹 Instagram: https://instagram.com/startitorscrapit
🔹 TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@start.it.or.scrap.it
🔹 X: https://x.com/StartItScrapIt
🔹 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/startitorscrapit/

#startitorscrapit #startupculture #leadership #entrepreneurtruths #chickfila #badhires #ceoadvice #startuptips #marketing #customerservice #founderlife #paypalmob #mvpadvice

Send us Fan Mail

Welcome back to Start It or Scrap It! In this episode, we dig into the real stories behind LLC missteps, underused tax strategies, gamifying SaaS products, and why working with your kids could be your smartest business move. Whether you're launching a startup or scaling a company, you need to hear this.

⏱ Timestamps
00:00 – Intro
01:00 – Real client horror stories: LLCs done wrong
05:00 – What happens when you pocket cash as a contractor
10:00 – Legal vs. practical consequences of breaking the corporate veil
13:00 – The $60K tax bill that didn’t need to happen
16:00 – Who every profitable business owner needs on their team
20:00 – Why intergenerational entrepreneurship works
30:00 – How to teach your kids entrepreneurship early
35:00 – The tree company that started on the way to the bar
41:00 – More SaaS ideas & startup Q&A
58:00 – MVPs, Google Forms, and looking professional
1:05:00 – Course-building AI tools and the future of EdTech
1:19:00 – Best advice for 18-year-old developers: where to start

📢 Follow us for more startup insights:
🔹 Instagram: https://instagram.com/startitorscrapit
🔹 TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@start.it.or.scrap.it
🔹 X: https://x.com/StartItScrapIt
🔹 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/startitorscrapit/

#startitorscrapit #entrepreneurship #smallbusiness #llc #businesstips #saas #gamification #edtech #taxstrategy #startupadvice #intergenerationalbusiness #mvp #businessstructure

Send us Fan Mail

What makes someone an actual entrepreneur? In this episode, we go deep—from your first lemonade stand to the big global AI race. We also dissect product launches, investment trends, MVP timelines, and the psychology of management.

🎧 Topics Covered:
00:00 – Intro
01:05 – China’s DeepSeek AI vs the West
05:47 – Market panic and tech investor overreaction
12:47 – Product soft launches & newsletter boosts
19:13 – How tiny actions create massive impact
27:11 – Gamification of fitness: Turning workouts into RPGs
45:07 – MVP in 90 days with $10K: realistic or not?
52:30 – Discovering new music through social platforms
1:05:08 – Are your employees your friends?
1:21:10 – Life lessons from first jobs to building empires

🔔 Subscribe & turn on notifications!

📢 Follow us for more startup insights:
🔹 Instagram: https://instagram.com/startitorscrapit
🔹 TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@start.it.or.scrap.it
🔹 X: https://x.com/StartItScrapIt
🔹 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/startitorscrapit/

#entrepreneurmindset #founderlife #startups #ai #gamification #businessadvice #lemonadestandvibes #startitorscrapit

Send us Fan Mail

Welcome back to another installment of Start It or Scrap It! 

📌 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe – it helps more than you know!

In this jam-packed episode, we cover everything from wild emergency stories to game-changing ideas like AI-powered store assistants and first responder kits. We also hear from a special surprise-guest, Joe Cover (an Online Reputational Manager from Digital One, LLC).

Whether you’re thinking about turning your empty field into a profit machine or reimagining the grocery experience, this episode’s got something for you.

⏰ Timestamps
00:00 – How to turn an empty field into a business
00:49 – Wild fire rescue story: jumping from a second story window
03:22 – Witnessing and helping after a car crash
06:23 – Real-time iPhone crash detection & speaking to a stranger’s mom
10:28 – Why people don’t help during emergencies
13:31 – Emergency car kits: What to always keep with you
16:23 – Turning a car kit into a business idea
20:17 – Huge vending machines replacing locked store shelves
23:55 – AI vs impulse buying in retail
28:28 – Consumer psychology in grocery stores
34:00 – Open-source social media? The challenges ahead
44:32 – Dorm cleaning service: legit or long shot?
51:02 – The baseball card grading dilemma – and a new solution
1:01:20 – Card collecting stories and AI grading ideas
1:15:01 – Empty field in California? Here's what you could grow
1:24:00 – Organic farming and niche agriculture ideas

📢 Follow us for more startup insights:
🔹 Instagram: https://instagram.com/startitorscrapit
🔹 TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@start.it.or.scrap.it
🔹 X: https://x.com/StartItScrapIt
🔹 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/startitorscrapit/

#StartItOrScrapIt #Entrepreneurship #EmergencyPreparedness #RetailTech #AIinRetail #BaseballCards #GradingCards #BusinessIdeas #SmallBusiness #OrganicFarming #SocialMedia #OpenSourceTech #PodcastClips #StartupTalks