Chris Koerner, a serial entrepreneur often referred to as the “King of Side Hustles,” argues that the biggest barrier to financial independence is not capital, technology, or complex ideas but mindset.
In a long-form interview, Koerner explains that the vast majority of profitable small businesses can be launched with $500 or less, using simple, repeatable service models executed on nights and weekends. According to Koerner, entrepreneurship has never been more accessible yet most people fail to act because they overcomplicate the starting line.
Key Takeaways
• Most profitable side hustles require very little capital. Koerner’s central claim is that roughly 90% of viable business ideas can be launched with $500 or less. The limiting factor is rarely money it’s hesitation, overplanning, and waiting for permission.
• Simple, boring businesses outperform glamorous ideas. Koerner advises avoiding trendy startups in favour of essential, low-competition services. B2B and maintenance-style businesses such as junk removal, carpet cleaning, or asset upkeep offer high margins with low complexity.
• The mindset shift matters more than the idea. The difference between employees and business owners is not intelligence or creativity, but how they think about money. Employees trade time for wages. Business owners build systems that solve problems for profit.
• Validate before you scale. Risk is minimised by buying one low-cost asset and selling the service immediately. Only after real customers pay should additional capital be deployed.
• The end goal is ownership, not hustle. Side hustles are a starting point. The objective is to systematise, hire, and eventually own income-generating assets rather than personally performing the work.
What They Said
The $500 Business Verdict
Koerner states that the majority of profitable businesses do not require significant upfront investment. Instead of waiting for a perfect idea or large capital reserve, he encourages people to act quickly on small, testable opportunities.
“Like 90% of the ideas I talk about can be launched with $500 or less. And there’s enough time in the day to do these on the nights and weekends.”
The Low-Risk Validation Protocol (Interpretive)
Rather than framing this as a formal Koerner-branded model, Creator Daily interprets his approach as a simple validation checklist:
- Buy one inexpensive asset (for example, a $100 used carpet cleaner).
- Sell the service immediately to two or three customers.
- Confirm real demand with real money, not interest or feedback.
- Scale only after validation, reinvesting profits rather than guessing.
The emphasis is experimentation, not commitment. If it works, expand. If it doesn’t, the downside is limited and the learning is valuable.
What Kinds of Businesses Does Koerner Emphasise?
Koerner repeatedly stresses simplicity over novelty. He favours businesses that:
• Solve obvious problems people already pay for
• Have low competition due to being unglamorous
• Can be started part-time without quitting a job
Examples discussed include service-based businesses examples like junk removal, carpet cleaning, or other maintenance-style services that prioritise simplicity and repeat demand. The common thread is operational clarity, not innovation hype.
Creator Daily Take
The $500 threshold dismantles the most common excuse: “I can’t afford to start.” What actually stops people is discomfort knocking on doors, selling before feeling ready, and risking looking foolish.
Koerner’s validation-first mindset reframes entrepreneurship as a series of small experiments rather than a life-altering leap. You’re not starting a business; you’re testing demand.
The focus on boring businesses matters. Glamour attracts competition. Unsexy services attract cash flow.
Video Intelligence (at time of writing)
• Views: 1,623,095
• Engagement: 41K likes, 2,626 comments
• Upload: December 8, 2025
• Duration: 2 hours, 10 minutes
What Viewers Are Saying
“His emphasis on experimentation and testing ideas cheaply is a refreshing reminder that entrepreneurship is about learning, not fantasies.” – @AlexanderSpencerCPA
“I’m disabled and housebound and just started my first business inspired by this.”- @mrwidestrides4802
Worth Watching If…
• You want concrete examples of low-cost, high-margin businesses
• You struggle to move from ideas to action
• You believe entrepreneurship requires large capital or tech expertise
Skip if: You already run an established business and are focused on advanced scaling or financial engineering.
Time investment: 2h 10m
🎥 WATCH THE FULL EPISODE ON YOUTUBE
About the Creator
Chris Koerner is a serial entrepreneur known for launching dozens of small, profitable businesses and for teaching practical, low-capital entrepreneurship. He hosts The Koerner Office Podcast and frequently appears on business podcasts discussing side hustles, validation, and ownership.
This article is part of Creator Daily’s Business Desk, where we break down the most useful ideas from entrepreneurship and marketing creators.