I Ranked the Most Profitable Businesses to Start Before 2026
Timestamps are as accurate as they can be but may be slightly off. We encourage you to listen to the full context.
Podcast Summary
In this episode, entrepreneur Dan Martell delivers his definitive ranking of 15 business models for aspiring entrepreneurs, evaluating each based on speed to first dollar, learning curve, long-term profitability, and sellability. He categorizes businesses from S-tier (no-brainer starts) down to F-tier (straight-up scammy), placing real estate at the top (01:05) while warning against NFT projects as potential scams (01:34). Martell emphasizes the importance of "meta skills" that transfer between ventures (14:07) and challenges entrepreneurs to build sellable assets rather than high-paying jobs, offering a strategic framework for choosing your next business venture in 2026 and beyond.
Speakers
Dan Martell
Serial entrepreneur who has built seven multimillion-dollar companies and achieved a $100 million empire. Wall Street Journal bestselling author who went from rehab at 17 to becoming a successful business coach for hundreds of entrepreneurs, sharing proven strategies through The Martell Method.
Key Takeaways
Master the Revenue Speed Test
Evaluate every business opportunity by asking: "How quickly can I get my first dollar?" The fastest path to cash flow reveals market demand and validates your concept before you invest months of effort. (00:27)
Build Meta-Skills, Not Just Businesses
Choose ventures that develop transferable expertise—copywriting, paid ads, AI automation—so even if your current business fails, you're equipped with compound skills for future success. (14:07)
Create Assets, Not High-Paying Jobs
Ask yourself: "Would someone buy this business if I disappeared tomorrow?" If your personal involvement is required for revenue generation, you've built a glorified job, not a sellable asset. (14:25)
Leverage AI Before It Replaces You
Position yourself in AI-adjacent businesses like automation agencies while the technology is still emerging. Being "in the game of AI" protects you from obsolescence better than avoiding it entirely. (04:07)
Prioritize Subscription Revenue Models
Focus on businesses that generate recurring revenue rather than one-time transactions. Software and information products offer 97% profit margins and create predictable cash flow that scales without proportional effort increases. (12:12)
Statistics & Facts
- 70% of all New York Times bestselling books were written with a ghostwriter. (07:30)
- Software businesses achieve 97% profit margins, making them one of the most profitable business models alongside information products. (03:45)
- One young entrepreneur is making $6,000,000 per year with a paid ads agency at just 22 years old. (02:41)
