***New Video Alert!
I’ve been making YouTube videos for 11 years and this is the first one about customer concentration??
Today, we fix that and look at this from all points of view.
Sellers
Buyers
Bankers
Check it out in this week’s new video: https://youtu.be/1t-MdRHTijQ
Cheers
See you over on YouTube
David C Barnett
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
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.
***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
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
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.
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
