92: The Single-Person Business: Building a $1M Company Without Staff

Business is Good with Chris Cooper

Is it really possible to build a million-dollar business without hiring staff?

Yes—and it’s happening more often.

In this episode, I explore how solopreneurs are using AI, automation, and smart systems to run lean, efficient, and scalable businesses without employees. We’ll break down the steps to systemize, optimize, and automate your business, and share real-world examples of solo founders who are doing it right now.

In this episode:

• Why the more valuable you are to your business, the less valuable your business is to others
• The 3-step method to replace yourself: Systemize → Optimize → Automate
• What “robots” actually are in 2025 (hint: not humanoids with wheels)
• How tech replaces management: no training, no turnover, no emotional labor
• Case Studies:
• 🐶 Jasmine, the pet salon owner who uses automation to rebook, upsell, and deliver loyalty rewards
• 📊 Daniel, the remote bookkeeper running 35 clients solo with automated onboarding and reporting
• 🏋️‍♀️ Carla, the coach who replaced staff with Trainerize, Stripe, bots, and weekly voice notes

Key Quote:

“You don’t need a team—you need systems. Code is your new staff.”

Takeaway:

We’ve left the Information Age. Welcome to the Augmentation Age—where you can build smarter, faster, and leaner by augmenting yourself with technology.