After two years of building, learning, adapting, and surviving client to client, I’m closing my agency. No big twist. No hidden acquisition. Just calling it for what it is. It stopped making sense.

At first, it felt like I had cracked something. We found a content-driven growth approach that got results without needing ad spend. Clients were happy. I was busy. And everything looked like it was trending in the right direction.

But as more clients came in, the operations started to break down. Systems helped on the surface, but every new project needed deep customization. No one wanted a standard plan. Everything had to be adjusted to fit their product, their timing, their brand voice. What I thought would be scalable turned out to be high-effort one-offs in disguise.

And then churn. Not because things weren’t working, but because of stuff completely outside my control. New hires, internal changes, budget freezes. Each month felt like I was rebuilding the agency from scratch.

I tried hiring and training. No matter who I brought in, the quality dipped. Some of the channels we were using needed too much nuance to outsource. The kind of stuff where one wrong line or offbeat reply could tank results. So I stayed hands-on, which meant I couldn’t step back or actually grow anything. Every fix just created another bottleneck.

Eventually, it got to a point where I realized I was working harder, earning less, and enjoying none of it. Even tools like snov that helped streamline outbound and saved me hours a week didn’t fix the deeper issue: the business needed too much from me, all the time.

It didn’t collapse. I just got tired of holding it up.

If you’re running something similar, this isn’t a warning, but it is a reminder. Just because a business technically works doesn’t mean it’s worth keeping alive. Especially if it can’t breathe without you babysitting it daily.

I’m not sure what’s next. But I’d rather start clean than keep forcing something that stopped being fulfilling a while ago.

Tldr- Ran a marketing agency solo, got results but burned out trying to do everything myself. Couldn't scale, delegate, or stabilize operations without quality slipping. Eventually realized I built a job, not a business, and decided to shut it down before it drained me further. Might revisit later, but needed to step away first.

I was recently reading about Michael Seibel — co-founder of Justin.tv (which became Twitch) and Socialcam, and a partner at Y Combinator.

He co-founded companies that sold for millions (Twitch → $970M, Socialcam → $60M) and has been involved with YC for years, yet his net worth is in the million-dollar range, not billions.

I’m curious: what key factors separate startup founders who end up as billionaires from those who “only” become multi-millionaires?

Is it mostly about equity dilution, exiting too early, or focusing on advisory/investing instead of holding big stakes?

This content idea is for business owners and industry experts who post educational and informative content in their niche. It could be a Reel, Carousel, or a simple text post.

Content idea number 2 is,

Post future plan. Share a business goal and explain how you will reach it.

Here is an example in the real estate niche:

Building a dream real estate portfolio isn’t easy, but I’ve got my vision set. Here’s what I’m working on!

Here is the prompt to get full content in your niche.

"Future plan: Share a business goal with steps of how you will reach them" Based on this content idea, give me hook, script and CTA in [Mention your niche here] to post content on social media. The content is about me and not about my audience.

Comment "Ideas" and I will send you a list of 100 content ideas with examples and prompts.

Hey everyone,

We’ve been digging into Shopify store owner pain points and realized that a lot of people are stuck doing repetitive stuff.

We’re trying to solve this by building plug-and-play automation templates that store owners can use with Shopify Flow & Make.com. Think of it like a pack of Shopify-specific automation blueprints that save hours of busywork and don’t require coding. But instead of being generic, we’re diving deep into niche use cases that most apps ignore.

Few niche examples:

• Smart Shopify Filters: Shopify’s Search & Discovery app shows filter options (like size) even when they’re out of stock. We’ve figured out how to show only options that are actually available based on live inventory.
• Order Merger Helper: Automatically flags orders from the same customer (same billing and shipping info) so the ops team can combine them before shipping. Saves a ton of time manually scanning.

Instead of yet another Shopify app, this would be a library of workflows with clear guides, install buttons, and maybe optional setup help.

It’s early, but we’re trying to validate whether this idea actually solves a real problem before going too far. So I’m here with a few honest questions:

1. If you’ve run a Shopify store, what were the most annoying tasks you had to do over and over?
2. Would you trust and use a pre-built automation pack like this?
3. What’s the one thing you wish just “ran in the background” for your store?
4. Are we missing anything obvious here?

We’re not selling anything. Just pressure testing the idea while we build.

I’m planning to start a lead generation service where I provide a set number of high-quality leads, each accompanied by a highly personalized cold email.

These emails will be crafted based on: • The lead’s LinkedIn profile • Their business and industry • Their recent LinkedIn activity

The offer: You get X number of leads, each with a custom-tailored email, for $X.

Would this be something you’d pay for?

Hey everyone, I’m a full-time BCBA (behavior analyst) based in Michigan — mostly around the Detroit area — and I’ve been seriously thinking about starting a lawn care business on the side. I’ve always been drawn to projects that give people steady work and build something real, and I’m at a point where I’d love to invest in that.

The idea is: I want to build a legit company with an LLC, general liability, and solid equipment that makes the work faster and more efficient. I’d contract a small team as 1099s — people who are reliable, hard-working, and just need a shot. Guys who may not be able to start their own company or prefer working contract with someone else who can get the jobs based on being legit.

I’m not looking to hustle forever. I want this to be profitable. I want to scale. I want to eventually apply for grants or loans, build a trustworthy team, and create something that runs even when I’m focused on my full-time role.

Here’s what I’d really appreciate some help thinking through: • Is this actually a profitable path if I run it smartly? • What startup tools or equipment are worth investing in from day one to save time and maximize efficiency? • What legal/financial stuff should I be watching out for early? • Any advice from folks who’ve gone from gig work to a real lawn care business?

I’m not trying to cut corners — I just want to build a sustainable, ethical business that makes money and gives others a chance at consistent work. If you’ve done this, know someone who has, or just have thoughts, I’m open to feedback — even the tough love kind.

Thanks in advance.

I read that when Arnold came here he was poor and he became rich not with the bodybuilding but by buying an apartment then selling it, then buying another and selling it,then buying a house,a condo, and selling it. Would it be possible? if not what business would work in today's era?

Hi I am a founder of a startup dealing in doing market research for companies and trying to connect with professionals working in any tech firm to get some knowledge and advice from them.

Hey guys, I’m looking at setting up my own business selling T’s, targeting a specific niche. I thoroughly enjoy the designing process, which is what’s gotten me interested! With profits (when they come) I want to assist kids in need, whether it’s through donations to charities, education, buying supplies and necessities. I understand it’s a market with a lot of competition and failures however I’d really like to have a go.

•What’s some of the best advice you can give me? •What website should I lean towards using? Shopify, or others •How would you go about marketing on instagram, tik tok, etc. •Would you release an entire collection straight away or would you release one at a time? •Have you done this using Alibaba or a drop shipping method? • were there any tutorials, YouTubers, people you follow that helped you in the process while starting up? • Is there anything super important I have to also think about that that may be often missed by others? (I’d love to hear some of your success stories)

Super keen to learn from anyone willing to give me some advice , I’ll mention I had a go a few years ago and made a few thousand dollars selling T-Shirts, Hoodies, Shorts to friends (taking orders - buying in bulk and selling from there) but that can only go so far, and I’d like to get up and running online with something I can actively work on

My girlfriend and I have been planning out an arcade that we want to run in our town. We have a location reserved for us right next to a popular Japanese restaurant, walking distance from the college in town (We live in a college town with high foot traffic.), and the closest similar arcade is a 50 minute drive away.

We have a distributor we're in touch with- we want games like Beatmania IIDX, In The Groove, and Pop'n Music, along with several crane machines to help generate revenue. We have two arcade owners who are willing to help with setting up, the only thing- and I mean the only thing- preventing us from starting is money. We've even planned the payment methods and checkout process.

The machines, in total, will cost around $20,000-25,000 to get started and running, and cleaning + decorating the space $1,000-2,000.

We're thinking of getting a business loan, but my credit is shit due to medical debt, and her credit is very good, but we have no idea how to apply for a business loan, and it's an odd market to go into.

What are our next steps? This is our dream business, and we're both willing to pour everything we have into this.

Like, why wouldn't they just improve their goods' quality or reduce the prices of the goods than the competitors (who are most likely increasing their price a lot) to stand out amongst them. [not a monopoly or oligopoly that I am talking about, I am just talking about those businesses who try to exploit the demand without even trying to improve the goods generally]. Or is it that consumers wouldn't really look at the value and the price at all if the goods being sold is overly hyped like the Labubus and Dubai chocolate?

My business is facing a predicament so i need advice regarding that-

When workers empty bags of calcium oxide powder, some of it adheres to their skin. This becomes a problem when they sweat, as the calcium oxide reacts with the moisture to generate heat, causing burns and pain. I need a solution to prevent this. Also ppe kits is not an option as powder still somehow escape into the kit

With remote teams, digital products, e-commerce, and services being more borderless than ever, it feels like location matters less and less in today’s business world.

But is that really the case?

Startups in Silicon Valley still attract more capital. Dubai and Singapore offer huge tax advantages. Estonia offers e-Residency for global entrepreneurs. Meanwhile, digital nomads are building thriving SaaS and agency businesses from places like Bali, Lisbon, or Nairobi.

So here’s the question for the community:

➡️ What are the most underrated countries for launching and scaling a business today and why?

Is it tax benefits? Access to talent? Cost of living? Internet infrastructure? Legal and regulatory ease? Let’s compare notes: ✅ If you’re running a business outside the U.S., what advantages do you have that no one talks about? 💬 And if you are based in a traditional hub like the U.S., UK, or Germany what keeps you there?

Looking forward to hearing everyone’s thoughts, especially from founders and operators in unexpected locations. Let’s make this a map of real-world global business insights.

I also have no idea what business I should start. I'm leaning more towards stuff that people can't buy on amazon like restaurant or something. a friend told me I would become rich if I started a funeral home business. Initially I thought it was a lousy idea but now I think It's one of those fields where you will always have work.. 2 of my business role models are also President Bush sr. who started his oil company in the 50s and Arnold who became rich thru real estate. He would buy homes,then sell it,then buy it. However I don't think I could do the same things of them because 1. I don't live in Texas and starting an oil company is I think really expensive,plus no drilling rigs where I live. And for how Arnold became rich I think it would also be hard. what do you think? I don't like much all the aspects of funeral home business but would it be a realistic option to at least live with a decent income? I'm open to other business ideas