Live Trademarks, Patents and Franchise Investing with Jeff Holman

 

Live Trademarks, Patents and Franchise Investing

New Livestream guest-> Jeff Holman

I’m happy to have Jeff Holaman join me on a live broadcast.

Jeff has 20+ years of experience solving complex business and legal problems for entrepreneurs and companies in growth phases.

Tune in and we'll be discussing having your very own attorney on staff!

Well, part of one anyways.

We’ll also be talking about patents, trademarks and the effects of tariffs on e-commerce businesses.

This is a ‘must see event’ for Franchise Investors & Operators, Entrepreneurs.

Be sure to join live so that you can ask questions, replay will be available.

Set yourself a reminder on YouTube here: https://youtube.com/live/fzCQGGo8vZg 

We’ll be going live September 15, 2025 at 1PM Atlantic Time and 12 Noon Eastern Time

See you there!

David C Barnett

Why You Need a Side Business (Even If You Love Your Job)

I remember years ago when I’m flying to Vegas. Sure, I’ll have some fun — but I’ve also lined up a business meeting with a well-known podcaster. Why? Because I believe every “vacation” is an opportunity to mix in a little business (and yes, my accountant agrees). https://youtu.be/jKFSwN-IUA8 

Here’s the bigger lesson ⬇️

If you rely 100% on a job for your income, you really only have one customer: your employer. Lose that customer, and you lose all your income. That’s risky.

Compare that to a coffee shop: if one customer stops showing up, it’s irrelevant. Thousands more come through.

The way the world is moving — outsourcing, gig work, automation, AI — jobs are becoming less secure. CBRE even projects that 50% of today’s occupations could disappear within 30 years.

That’s why I think it’s critical to build a side business, even if you’re happily employed.

• It diversifies your income streams.
  
  

• It teaches you real-world business skills.
  
  

• And if you lose your job, you can shift those freed-up hours into your own venture.
  
  

The future of work looks a lot more like the past — when tradesmen, cobblers, and blacksmiths lived off many small “gigs,” not one employer. The internet is making that possible again, but on a global scale.

I’d call that both a challenge and a huge opportunity.

👉 That’s why I wrote Invest Local. It’s about creating real investments and income streams in your own community, instead of depending entirely on a paycheck (or Wall Street). You can grab it at DavidCBarnett.com 

👉 Want deeper dives like this? Join my email list at DavidCBarnettList.com  for early access to videos, insights, and 7 free bonus gifts.

Depreciation vs Capex (Buyer's Biggest Mistakes)

 

***New Video Alert!

If you buy something and pay for it over 10 years and need to replace it after 2, that would be bad, right?

Here’s how a lot of buyers and sellers get into pricing problems.

Check it out in this week’s new video: https://youtu.be/qcr-MR0TT58 

Cheers

See you over on YouTube

David C Barnett

LIVE- Ashish Gupta Soothe growing pains with a fractional COO

 

Soothe growing pains with a fractional COO

New Livestream guest- Ashish Gupta

I’m happy to have Ashish join me on a live broadcast.

He’s got operational experience in making things go smoothly across a great array of business sizes and types.

Tune in and as we’ll be discussing how a growing business can take advantage of a fractional Chief Operating Officer while controlling costs vs. having a full time expert on staff.

This is a ‘must see event’ for anyone growing quickly in their business or who knows they suffer from bottlenecks and clients who regularly ‘slip through the cracks’ of how you would like them to be served.

Be sure to join live so that you can ask questions, replay will be available.

Set yourself a reminder on YouTube here: https://youtube.com/live/I9HhK21cdr0 

We’ll be going live September 08, 2025 1 PM Atlantic Time and 12 Noon Eastern Time

See you there!

David C Barnett

Investment vs. Speculation: Why the Difference Matters

 The other day, I was chatting with a lawyer’s client who runs a tech startup. They were talking about raising money from “investors.” https://youtu.be/QEACN_QVEvE 

But here’s the thing: I don’t think that’s the right word.

👉 An investment means you put money in with a reasonable expectation of getting money out — usually from an existing flow of cash.

• Example: A bakery. Customers come in, buy bread, money flows, and investors can get a share of that return.
  
  

👉 A speculation is different. You’re putting money down on something that might generate returns in the future — but only if a whole series of external conditions line up:

• New money continuously flows in to cover expenses
  
  

• The market decides the product is valuable (though no one has bought yet)
  
  

• Eventually, a “liquidity event” (like an acquisition) creates a payoff
  
  

In speculation, there’s no steady cash flow to rely on. The bet is entirely on future possibilities.

⚠️ Why the distinction matters:
Calling speculation “investment” blurs the risk. I’m not against speculation — as long as it’s informed, and only a small slice of your portfolio.

✅ Personally, I prefer actual investments in local businesses where cash is moving today.
That’s what I cover in my book Invest Local — available on Amazon or at DavidCBarnett.com  

👉 Want deeper dives like this? Join my email list at DavidCBarnettList.com  for early access to videos, insights, and 7 free bonus gifts.

3 Signs Your Business Won’t Sell (And How to Fix It)!

Thinking about selling your business? 

Don’t make the same mistakes that keep most business owners from ever closing a deal. 

In this video I reveal the 3 warning signs your business won’t sell and more importantly, how to fix them before it’s too late.

-> Learn why buyers walk away
-> Discover common mistakes that kill deals
-> Find out how to make your business more attractive to buyers

If selling your business is part of your retirement plan, exit strategy, or growth goals, this video is a must-watch. 

Prepare now so you don’t end up in the 80% of owners whose businesses never sell.

Don’t risk being in the 80%—Watch Now: https://youtu.be/zR6vl3nOVEU  

Cheers

See you over on YouTube

David C Barnett

 

Off-Balance Sheet Financing in Gas Stations: A Hidden Risk (or Opportunity)

 When evaluating a gas station, I came across an interesting situation that perfectly illustrates why buyers need to dig deeper than the income statement. https://youtu.be/PNGKaRg9uWU

Here’s what happened:

⛽ Two ways gas stations work with fuel:

1. Buy and resell the fuel (you own it).
   
   

2. Dispense the oil company’s fuel for a commission (per liter/gallon).
   
   

In this case, the owner had accepted money from the oil company to replace tanks and pumps. Instead of recording that advance as a loan, the repayment was buried in the operating results:

• They earned just 1¢ per liter, while the industry standard was 2.5–3¢ per liter.
  
  

• Why? Because the oil company was deducting repayment from their commission.
  
  

On paper, the business looked weak.

 In reality, once repayment ended, profits would rise dramatically.

👉 The accounting problem:
They should have:

• Recorded full commissions as income
  
  

• Shown the oil company’s advance as a loan on the balance sheet
  
  

But because it was buried, the business looked like it was underperforming.

💡 Key Takeaways for Buyers

• Learn industry benchmarks (margins, cost structures, typical commissions).
  
  

• Watch for off-balance sheet obligations — they distort performance.
  
  

• Misstatements aren’t always bad news. Sometimes they hide upside.
  
  

This gas station wasn’t struggling — it was on the verge of becoming more profitable once the “hidden loan” was repaid.

📚 Want to go deeper?
Check out my program: businessbuyeradvantage.com — a course on how to properly analyze and buy small businesses.

Don’t forget to join my email list for early access to my latest videos and insights at DavidCBarnettList.com . You’ll even receive 7 FREE gifts when you sign up.

– David C. Barnett

Top 10 SMB Terms you need to know

 

***New Video Alert!

Confused by some of the terms you come across?

This week, I run down a list of the top 10 SMB deal making terms you need to understand to avoid bad deals.

Even if you believe you’re experienced, you may learn a thing or two in this week’s video: https://youtu.be/xVU_HofGDys 

Cheers

See you over on YouTube

David C Barnett

Are FedEx Routes Good Businesses to Buy?

 A while back, I did a video about bread routes (or “bread routes,” depending on where you’re from). Since then, I’ve had a lot of comments and questions about FedEx routes. Are they good businesses? Are they like franchises? What are the risks?

I’ve actually evaluated a few of these businesses, so let’s break it down. https://youtu.be/lp6OB_8yRYI 

Are FedEx Routes Franchises?

The short answer: No.

A FedEx route is not a franchise. You’re not buying a protected territory like you would if you bought a McDonald’s or Subway franchise. Instead, you’re entering into a contract for services with FedEx.

Here’s what that means:

• FedEx hires independent contractors (corporations only, not sole proprietors or partnerships).
  
  

• You and your employees use your own trucks to deliver packages.
  
  

• FedEx pays you based on volume or mileage.
  
  

You are not buying a business opportunity from FedEx. You’re becoming one of their suppliers.

The Illusion of Buying a “Business”

Here’s where it gets tricky.

Contractors who’ve built profitable FedEx delivery operations sometimes sell those operations to other buyers. People pay big money sometimes millions for the trucks, employees, and the assumption of the FedEx contract.

But here’s the risk:

• The contract is renewed annually.
  
  

• FedEx can change the rules at any time.
  
  

• If they pull your contract, your business evaporates overnight.
  
  

At the end of the day, what you’re really buying is a business with one customer. And if that customer goes away, so does everything you’ve built.

The Risk of One-Customer Businesses

I’ve evaluated other courier operations that served multiple companies. For example, one rural delivery service worked with five different courier companies at once.

That business had:

• A built-in barrier to entry (no single courier had enough volume to go it alone).
  
  

• Diversified revenue (losing one client didn’t destroy the whole business).
  
  

That’s a real delivery business with intrinsic value.

A FedEx route? By contrast, you’re tied 100% to a single customer. That’s what we call customer concentration risk.

How to Protect Yourself if Buying a FedEx Route

If you’re considering buying one, you must structure the deal carefully. Here’s my rule of thumb:

• Down payment: No more than the value of the hard assets (trucks, equipment). That way, if the contract ends, you can sell the trucks and recover your investment.
  
  

• Goodwill: Should be financed by the seller through vendor financing. If FedEx cancels the contract, you’re not stuck paying off millions in goodwill that no longer exists.
  
  

• Payments: Tie them to the continuation of the FedEx contract.
  
  

Otherwise, you’re taking on massive debt for an asset that could disappear with one letter from FedEx.

Bottom Line

FedEx routes can be profitable but they’re not franchises and they’re not low-risk businesses.

They are supplier contracts with one customer. If you lose that customer, you lose everything.

If you’re going to buy one, make sure the deal structure protects you and that the seller shares the risk of FedEx changing its mind.

Don’t forget to join my email list for early access to my latest videos and insights at DavidCBarnettList.com . You’ll even receive 7 FREE gifts when you sign up.

– David C. Barnett