After 200+ episodes, I’m hitting pause on Think Business with Tyler. In this solo episode, I share why I made the decision, what I’ve learned from these conversations, and where I’m headed next. If you’ve enjoyed the stories and insights here, I’d love for you to join me on my new show, Profit & Grit, where I dive deep into the real challenges and wins of home service entrepreneurs.
Listen in for a heartfelt thank you and a look at what’s next.
My links:
www.profitandgrit.com
www.cfomadeeasy.com
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4:36
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4:36
How Trusting the Wrong Expert Almost Sank My Company - Vince Perri
Vince Perri once brought in over $500K in a single year, and still found himself nearly broke.
After scaling a public adjusting firm during a major hurricane surge, Vince assumed his CFO, COO, and CMO had everything under control.
But the numbers weren’t adding up. Cash was disappearing, payroll was overwhelming, and his business was on the verge of collapse.
What followed was a brutal wake-up call and a full reset. Vince took ownership, overhauled his systems, and rebuilt with a focus on simplicity, structure, and financial visibility.
Now a certified business broker and exit strategist, Vince helps owners create businesses they can actually sell—or walk away from without regret.
In this hard-earned, operator-level conversation, Vince shares:
How a high-income year still led to a cash crisis
Why trusting advisors too much nearly destroyed his business
The turning point that forced him to implement Profit First
How he rebuilt using SOPs, Loom, and team accountability
Why your business isn’t healthy if you can’t leave for 30 days
His method for creating “value clarity reports” before a sale
Why recurring revenue and owner independence drive valuation
Key Lessons:Revenue Can Lie – Big income doesn’t mean you’re safeBlind Trust is a Risk – Understand your advisors or pay the priceProcess First, People Second – Don’t hire leadership without systemsOwner-Dependent = Unsellable – Build it so it runs without youInformation Should Be Timely – Late numbers aren’t helpful
Host: Tyler Martin, Think Business Podcast
Want a financial strategy that scales with your service business? Let’s talk:
📅 Book a Strategy Call
🎧 Subscribe: ThinkBusinessWithTyler.com
Follow Tyler:
🔗 LinkedIn
📸 Instagram
▶️ YouTube
🎵 TikTok
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48:59
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48:59
Fired Up, Not Burned Out: How One CEO Rebuilt After Toxic Leadership - Aubrey Amatelli
Aubrey Amatelli walked away from a toxic executive role, burned out and battling workplace harassment. A year later, she bootstrapped PayRio—a fintech startup focused on cannabis and alternative medicine payments—and hit profitability without taking a salary.
As a single mom of three, Aubrey didn’t just build a company—she built a system designed to withstand chaos. No outside funding. No fluff. Just smart execution, relentless focus, and a culture her team now calls family.
She now leads one of the fastest-growing high-risk payment processors in the country, recently earning “Best Place to Work” from Cannabis Business Times.
In this real-world, founder-to-founder episode, Aubrey shares:
Why she left a C-suite role after hitting a wall with toxic leadership
How she bootstrapped with 1099 sales reps and kept costs lean
The playbook she used to become profitable in year one
What happened when a key partnership fell apart and cost her seven figures
How she treats contractors like full-time employees to drive loyalty
The system she built to manage culture and turnover as she scales
What she’s doing to prepare for federal cannabis legalization
Key Lessons:Build Through Adversity – Your worst season can launch your best workTrust is a Growth Strategy – Aubrey hired people she already knew and built from thereRun Lean, Not Bare – Focus on profitability before scaleCulture Is Earned – Treat your people like people, not payrollPrepare for the Inevitable – Market changes are coming; build now, pivot later
Host: Tyler Martin, Think Business Podcast
Want a financial strategy that scales with your service business? Let’s talk:
📅 Book a Strategy Call
🎧 Subscribe: ThinkBusinessWithTyler.com
Follow Tyler:
🔗 LinkedIn
📸 Instagram
▶️ YouTube
🎵 TikTok
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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49:57
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49:57
Still Running Your Business From the Gut? Here’s the Wake-Up Call - Matt Ebert
Matt Ebert opened his first body shop with $100K in credit card debt, no formal education, and no safety net. Today, he runs Crash Champions—one of the largest collision repair companies in America, with over 600 locations across 38 states.
But Matt didn’t scale overnight. He bootstrapped for 15 years, maxed out SBA loans, stretched every dollar, and nearly lost everything trying to get past four shops. He didn’t bring on private equity to cash out—he used it to double down.
In this episode, Matt shares what it really takes to scale a gritty, blue-collar business into a national powerhouse—without losing control, culture, or clarity.
In this candid conversation, Matt reveals:
Why most businesses break at location #2 (and how he survived)
How he grew past cash flow hell and vendor delays
What he looked for in a private equity partner—and what scared him most
How he keeps culture strong at 600+ shops
Why staying founder-led gives him an edge
What he’s building toward now—and why he’s not slowing down
Key Lessons:
Survival Comes Before Scale – You can’t grow what you can’t keep alive
Think Bigger, But Know Your Numbers – Dreams need discipline
Use Capital, Don’t Depend on It – PE should be a lever, not a life raft
Don’t Rob Peter to Pay Paul – Scaling can backfire without the right team in place
Founder-Led Still Wins – When you’ve done the job, people trust your leadership
Host: Tyler Martin, Think Business Podcast
Want a financial strategy that scales with your service business? Let’s talk:
📅 Book a Strategy Call: https://calendly.com/tylermartin/strategy
🎧 Subscribe: ThinkBusinessWithTyler.com
Follow Tyler:
🔗 LinkedIn
📸 Instagram
▶️ YouTube
🎵 TikTok
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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43:44
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43:44
How Eric Malka Built and Sold a Luxury Brand from Scratch
Eric Malka crossed the border at 17 with no green card, no college degree, and just $100 in his pocket. Twelve years later, he sold his luxury grooming brand, The Art of Shaving, to Gillette in one of the most unexpected strategic exits of the decade.
What started with a 250-square-foot NYC shop and a few products on consignment turned into a globally recognized brand that redefined men’s grooming. But Eric didn’t just build a business—he built a playbook on grit, execution, and staying calm when everything’s on the line.
From dodging shady vendors to navigating the 2008 financial collapse mid-acquisition, Eric’s journey is proof that bootstrapped brands can still win big.
In this no-fluff, straight-shooting episode, Eric shares:
How being broke and undocumented shaped his entrepreneurial mindset
Why he started with $12K and a tiny store before chasing scale
The newspaper article that 20x’ed his revenue overnight
What happened when a key supplier tried to blackmail him for equity
How he built an entire new product line in secret
What drove his decision to sell during the Great Recession
The most common mistake he sees new founders make today
Key Lessons:
Execution is Everything – Ideas are cheap, but execution is what builds empires
Start Small, Think Big – Small, profitable wins compound fast when paired with bold vision
Don’t Chase More – Know when “enough” gives you freedom and take it
Vendors Aren’t Partners – Protect your leverage and be ready to pivot fast
Build for Pressure – Your calm under fire will define your success
Host: Tyler Martin, Think Business Podcast
Want a financial strategy that scales with your service business? Let’s talk:
📅 Book a Strategy Callhttps://calendly.com/tylermartin/strategy
🎧 Subscribe: ThinkBusinessWithTyler.com
Follow Tyler:
🔗 LinkedIn
📸 Instagram
▶️ YouTube
🎵 TikTok
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Unfiltered Stories and Actionable Advice from 7 & 8-Figure Entrepreneurs
Ever wish you could peek behind the curtain of successful businesses?
Think Business with Tyler delivers raw, unscripted conversations with founders who’ve scaled through chaos—divorce, health crises, near-bankruptcies, and breakthroughs.
Host Tyler Martin (Fractional CFO, 2x exit entrepreneur) cuts through the hype to uncover real strategies for profit, leadership, and resilience.
Why Listen?
No fluff, just results: Tactical takeaways on cash flow, hiring, and scaling from CEOs who’ve been there.
Relatable struggles: Learn from failures—like the $1M deal that backfired (Connor Paddon) or the ego that almost sank a company (DJ Moore).
Top-tier insights: Ranked in the top 5% of global podcasts, with guests from e-commerce, franchising, and niche industries.
Who It’s For:
Scaling entrepreneurs stuck at 6–7 figures.
Burnt-out leaders battling cash flow or team chaos.
Aspiring founders who want truth, not "get rich quick" schemes.
Sample Episodes:
"One Bad Deal Changed My Whole Path" – Costly contract lessons from a poker pro turned 7-figure CEO.
"Leadership and Ego in Business" – How DJ Moore saved his company by firing his ego.
"Building Scalable Businesses" – John Burdett’s remote-work playbook for sustainable growth.
Subscribe for weekly episodes every Monday on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at ThinkBusinesswithTyler.com. Ready to think bigger?