Chris Kerner: Known as 'the king of side hustles,' Chris Kerner is a serial entrepreneur who has launched over 80 businesses generating low hundreds of millions in revenue. He runs his content and newsletter through tkopod.com (The Kerner Office).
What this episode covers
Chris Kerner joins Steven Bartlett to demystify side hustles and passive income, arguing that with today's AI and software tools, almost any business can be launched for $500 or less on nights and weekends. He champions copying proven business models exactly rather than chasing novel ideas, validating concepts cheaply via Facebook Marketplace and Meta ads, and ignoring passion to 'follow the profit' until you can afford to follow your passion. Across three suitcases of cash ($500, $1,000, $5,000), he pitches concrete businesses: AI-implementation agencies for small businesses, drop servicing, directory websites, vending machines, wedding rentals, local email newsletters, and RV parks. He also covers the perils of 50/50 business partnerships, the myth of total freedom in entrepreneurship, and how rejection and 'toxic motivation' shaped his career.
Recommended on this episode
Replit
Replit
“I would recommend going on Replit or Lovable and um typing in any website ID you have just to have that sort of eureka moment”— Steven Bartlett
Also referenced (named, not recommended)
The Lean Startup
Eric Ries
“There was a book published uh several years ago called the lean startup which talks about this idea of just like testing an MVP as quick quickly as you possibly can”— Steven Bartlett
Nano Banana
“I'm going to use Nano Banana, Chad GBT, any of the AI image generators to come up with what the product could look like”— Chris Kerner
Big reveals from this episode
- Built a remanufactured iPhone-screen business by copying a guy who cold-called him, scaling it from $2M to $9M before exiting.
- Launched an unofficial Buc-ee's online store after noticing the brand had no shop button, making hundreds of thousands in 30 days and still owns it 5 years later.
- Admits that twice partners 'burned the boats' for him by forcing him out of his safety net, and the resulting chip on his shoulder made the business thrive.
- Confesses to spending 18 months on a no-income project that 'all went to zero,' selling rental homes to keep his family afloat and going quiet and grumpy at home.
- States he genuinely has no desire to be a billionaire because hyperfocus would make him miserable and away from his four kids.
- Reveals he now considers equity 'overrated' and pays operators from cash-flow profits instead, since most equity goes to zero.
- A 2009 psychiatrist labeled him with 'delusions of grandeur'; he keeps that report in his desk drawer as motivation.
- Argues entrepreneurship is often 'more of a prison than a 9-to-5,' pushing back on the 'be your own boss' freedom narrative.
Worth remembering
- About 90% of Chris's business ideas can be launched with $500 or less.
- Chris has started at least 80 businesses, cumulatively generating low hundreds of millions in revenue and low tens of millions in profit.
- Y Combinator reportedly runs seven-minute interviews, knowing within the first three minutes whether a candidate is a fit.
- 400 million small businesses exist globally; 77% say AI would be transformational but only 5% use it meaningfully.
- Buc-ee's does billions in revenue from only ~50 locations, with stores between 40,000 and 80,000 square feet.
- Chris has been involved with about 35 RV and mobile home parks over seven years, generating $3-4M revenue a year.
- Small RV parks can be 3 to 10 times more profitable than buying a single-family home as a rental.
- Drop servicing lets you run a 'garage repair business' with no expertise by subcontracting the work and selling a better checkout experience.
- A San Diego friend makes seven figures a year from snack-and-drink vending machines, with location being the biggest factor.
- Chris knocked doors in Hungarian for two years on a church mission, getting rejected tens of thousands of times, which rewired his relationship with rejection.