Start It or Scrap It

Send us Fan Mail Most small business owners do not know what they need to open a business bank account. Most of them are also at the wrong bank when they need to borrow money. And most of them have no idea that a video with 117 views can generate more business than one with 5.7 million. Episode 78 of Start It or Scrap It covers all of that and more with Kevin Dolton, a 39-year banker and relations...

Send us Fan Mail Your employees are not your friends. Traditional marketing is outperforming digital for a lot of businesses right now. And most people quit right before they hit success. Episode 77 of Start It or Scrap It is a live question episode, just Mike and Gummi taking real questions from the audience in real time. No script. No guest. Just honest practical answers to the questions founder...

Send us Fan Mail Is college worth it? Are Ivy League schools actually about the network? And how do you avoid overpaying for an education that may not get your kid where they want to go?   In Episode 76 of Start It or Scrap It, we sit down with Jay London, the College Advice Guy and Independent Educational Consultant, for an honest and practical conversation about one of the most expensive decisio...

Send us Fan Mail How do you build a business that actually lasts? According to this week's guest, it comes down to one thing: someone has to fully own it, breathe life into it every single day, and hold the standard relentlessly.   In Episode 75 of Start It or Scrap It, we sit down with Phil de Paul, a serial entrepreneur and home services franchise operator on Long Island, NY running both 1-...

Send us Fan Mail How do you get your first 10 paying customers? What does it actually take  to recover from burnout without quitting? And when you're ready to sell —  what do buyers really look for? In Episode 74 of Start It or Scrap It, we sit down with Alex Booth —  owner of Get CSM, a customer success manager staffing firm, and  Huckleberry Consulting — to break down the real answers to th...

Send us Fan Mail AI isn’t coming… It’s already here. In this episode of Start It or Scrap It, we break down real-world ways AI is changing how businesses operate, including how it can replace hours (or even hires) when used correctly. We get into: - How AI saved hundreds (if not thousands) of hours - Why businesses are using AI instead of hiring - The risks of using AI incorrectly (and how it can...

Send us Fan Mail Signing a commercial lease seems simple… Until the hidden costs start showing up. In this episode of Start It or Scrap It, we break down what most business owners don’t realize until it’s too late: 👉 Rent is just the beginning. We get into: - Hidden costs inside commercial leases - What “triple net” actually means - Why repairs and maintenance can fall on you - The financial trap...

Send us Fan Mail If your business requires you 100% of the time… 👉 Do you actually own a business… or did you just create a job for yourself? In this episode of Start It or Scrap It, we break down one of the most controversial truths in entrepreneurship. We get into: The difference between a business and a self-created job Why most solopreneurs get stuck How to build systems that run without you...

Send us Fan Mail What’s the best side hustle you can start with no money? In this episode of Start It or Scrap It, we break down real, practical side hustle ideas that don’t require capital — just execution. We get into: Service-based businesses you can start immediately How to use AI to find the right business for YOU Why niche markets are more powerful than you think Real examples of simple idea...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when employees leave… and start competing with you? In this episode of Start It or Scrap It, we break down a real-world scenario where a company gets split apart—and what it means for founders, employees, and growth. We get into: - Non-competes vs non-solicitation (and what they actually protect) - Why employees leave and take others with them - How private equity dea...

Send us Fan Mail Some of the best business opportunities don’t look obvious at first. In this episode of Start It or Scrap It, we break down ideas, assumptions, and patterns that most people either overlook or misunderstand. We get into: - Where people are thinking about business the wrong way - Opportunities hiding in plain sight - The gap between ideas and execution - Real-world insights from ac...

Send us Fan Mail What does the future of virtual reality actually look like? In this episode of Start It or Scrap It, we break down real business ideas, including a VR concept that might be more viable than you think, and where this technology is actually heading over the next few years. We also get into: - How VR and AR could reshape everyday life - A niche VR business idea and how to monetize it...

Send us Fan Mail Starting a business is one thing… but building it the right way is something completely different. In this episode of Start It or Scrap It, we break down real questions from founders and entrepreneurs, including: • how to get your first customers • the difference between working IN your business vs ON your business • why business partnerships fail (and how to avoid it) • how to st...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when a competitor copies your product? For many entrepreneurs, it’s one of the most frustrating moments in business. In this episode of Start It or Scrap It, our hosts Mike Terkanian and Gummi Sigurdarson discuss: • What to do when someone copies your product • When comparisons and demonstrations may fall under fair use • Why specialized legal advice matters in busine...

Send us Fan Mail What makes entrepreneurs think differently from everyone else? In this episode of Start It or Scrap It, hosts Mike Terkanian and Gummi Sigurdarson explore the mindset that separates entrepreneurs from the average professional. From risk tolerance and opportunity recognition to how founders evaluate decisions, the conversation breaks down why entrepreneurs often approach problems,...

Send us Fan Mail Most founders hire based on urgency. Smart founders hire based on stage. In Episode 63 of Start It or Scrap It, we break down: • When to hire generalists • When specialists become necessary • Why hiring timing determines your growth ceiling • How to validate startup ideas before building them If your business feels stuck, your hiring strategy might be the reason. Alt Titles When t...

Send us Fan Mail Most founders think their biggest problem is competition. It’s not. It’s control. In this episode, we break down Founder Syndrome — what it is, why it happens, and how it silently prevents businesses from scaling. We also talk about hiring, delegation, leadership psychology, and the hard truth every entrepreneur eventually learns: “If you can’t let go of control, you’ll never grow...

Send us Fan Mail Starting a business isn’t about certainty. It’s about judgment. In Episode 61 we break down: - Why market research isn’t a guarantee - How founders actually make decisions - Why marketing matters more than product early on - The difference between borrowing money vs giving equity - Why even well-tested ideas can fail If you’re building something and waiting for certainty… this epi...

Send us Fan Mail Most founders don’t fail because they lack ideas they fail because they make the wrong decisions too early. In Episode 60 of Start It or Scrap It, Mike Terkanian and Gummi Sigurdarson break down: - When you should automate instead of hiring - Why founders burn out trying to do everything themselves - The mental roller coaster of building without a playbook - Why racing to the bott...

Send us Fan Mail Most podcasts don’t fail because of bad microphones, bad cameras, or bad editing. They fail because founders misunderstand branding, audience, and consistency. In Episode 59 of Start It or Scrap It, Mike Terkanian and Gummi Sigurdarson break down: - Why most podcasts never make it past a few episodes - What “brand” actually means (and why it’s more than a logo) - The difference be...

Send us Fan Mail What if the goal wasn’t to close the deal today, but to become the person clients call for everything? In Episode 58 of Start It or Scrap It, we break down why long-term businesses win by prioritizing relationships over commissions, service over shortcuts, and trust over transactions. From travel agencies to professional services, we discuss: - Why helping even when you don’t get...

Send us Fan Mail Quitting your job is one thing. Figuring out what comes next is another. In episode 57 of Start It or Scrap It, we talk through the reality that hits after you walk away from a steady paycheck and try to launch your first product. The uncertainty. The fear. The slow starts. And the mindset shifts that actually matter if you want to survive the early stages of building something on...

Send us Fan Mail This is a special one. For the first time ever, Start It or Scrap It was recorded LIVE in front of a full student, alumni, and faculty audience at Saints Neumann Goretti High School in South Philadelphia. We were invited by School President Timothy Cairy to come in and not only record an episode but also teach students how a podcast is actually made: from setup, to lighting, to ma...

Send us Fan Mail FORM YOUR LLC in 2026 — the smart way, not the expensive way. In episode 55 of our show, Mike & Gummi break down the real differences between LLCs, S-Corps, DBAs, and C-Corps — and how to avoid the costly filing mistakes that destroy new businesses every year. We cover: - When you should start an LLC - When you absolutely should NOT - How to avoid predatory filing services - W...

Send us Fan Mail Most business owners think their problem is marketing. It’s not. In this episode of Start It or Scrap It, we break down why founders trust the wrong signals — platforms, tools, dashboards, and agencies — instead of focusing on what actually drives results. We talk about: Why ad platforms don’t tell you the full story The difference between tools and strategy Why throwing money at...