The Koerner Office - Business Ideas and Small Business Deep Dives with Entrepreneurs - How to Start this $337k/Yr Service Business You’ve Never Heard Of⏐Ep. #139

How to Start this $337k/Yr Service Business You’ve Never Heard Of⏐Ep. #139

03/05/25 • 30 min

2 Listeners

The Koerner Office - Business Ideas and Small Business Deep Dives with Entrepreneurs

I sat down with Marc Gaskins (https://x.com/OvenPusher) of Event Kitchens to discuss his $337k/year event rental business in Charleston, South Carolina. Marc noticed caterers needed quality equipment and turned that opportunity into a thriving business. We explored how a bar fire led to community support, becoming a turning point. We also discussed the value of patient growth versus rapid scaling. Marc explained the unit economics of renting convection ovens, the benefits of a niche focus on caterers, and his warehouse hacking real estate strategy. He also shared why he's relied on organic growth and his future interests. This episode offers actionable insights for starting an event rental business.

Timestamps below. Enjoy!
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00:00 Highlights
00:34 The Beginning of Squeeze Bar
01:18 First Equipment Purchases
02:18 The Bar Burns Down
02:42 Community Support and Business Growth
04:44 Competitor Exits the Market
06:17 Slow and Steady Growth
08:38 Unit Economics of Rental Items
17:31 Equipment Insights and Investment Strategies
18:21 Expanding Beyond Charleston
19:22 Organic Marketing and Customer Relationships
20:47 Catering to Caterers: Business Operations
22:03 Scaling and Maintenance Opportunities
24:11 Exploring New Business Ideas
25:58 Starting Fresh in a New Market
29:05 Challenges and Rewards of the Business
30:45 Team and Facilities Overview
34:24 Financials and Final Thoughts

Previous Episode

Is It Too Late to Start a Shopify Store or YouTube Channel? + AI Agents⏐(Pt. 2/2) Ep. #138

Here's part 2 of my latest conversation with Connor. If you haven't already, go listen to part 1 (Ep. #135) now!

I sat down with Connor Gross (https://x.com/c_gro), and we discussed whether it's too late to get into e-commerce, launching apps, or YouTube. We talked about AI agents and their potential, like reverse engineering successful YouTube channels or Shopify stores. Connor shared his e-commerce insights for 2025. We debated the future of content creation and the human element, because although AI can create faceless YouTube channels, there's something to be said for being real.

Check out Connor’s free newsletter! https://www.bizbrainstorms.com

00:00 The E-commerce Gold Rush
02:53 The App Store Evolution
05:51 Emerging Trends in E-commerce
08:46 The Future of AI Agents
12:09 Innovative Business Ideas
15:02 The Role of Content in Distribution
17:53 The Human Element in Business
20:48 Social Impact and Entrepreneurship

Next Episode

Making $23K/Month by Month 2 with a B2B Home Service | Holdco Bros Discuss! Ep. #140

OG Episode that inspired Tyler: B2B Stump Grinding. Cash Cow or Dud?

HoldCo Bros are back! In this episode, we feature Tyler (https://x.com/StumpGuyTy), a listener who acted on our B2B stump grinding idea after hearing it on a previous episode, which led him to quit his 9-to-5 job. Tyler shares how he followed our advice word-for-word, testing the concept in Boise before launching in Provo. By implementing our strategies, he achieved impressive results, with $23,000 in September alone. He provides key insights into building relationships with tree trimming companies, his pricing strategy, and cold outreach techniques and more.

Learn more about Nik here: http://linktr.ee/cofoundersnik

Share your ideas with us:

00:00 Highlights
00:37 Tyler's Journey: From B2B Sales to Stump Grinding
01:13 The Initial Spark: Discovering Stump Grinding
01:41 Building the Business: Early Challenges and Successes
02:27 The B2B Sales Connection
04:41 Testing the Market: Boise vs. Provo
06:03 First Jobs and Early Experiences
12:05 Overcoming Hurdles: Mistakes and Lessons Learned
15:11 Revenue Growth and Scaling the Business
17:45 Financing the Stump Grinder
18:40 Monthly Earnings Breakdown
20:05 Building Business Relationships
21:46 Pricing and Payment Structure
23:22 Marketing Strategies
29:03 Future Business Prospects
32:18 Conclusion and Final Thoughts