Bootstrapping a Start-Up: Real Lessons from a $30M Founder

09/12/2025 37 min Episodio 201
Bootstrapping a Start-Up: Real Lessons from a $30M Founder

Listen "Bootstrapping a Start-Up: Real Lessons from a $30M Founder"

Episode Synopsis

If you’ve ever wondered how to scale your business from a solo operation to a multimillion-dollar enterprise — without outside investors — this episode is for you. Bryan Clayton, CEO and co-founder of GreenPal, joins host Paul Sweeney to share his journey from mowing lawns to building a $30 million tech company serving over 300,000 customers.Bryan reveals the hard-earned lessons behind bootstrapping growth — from hiring his first employees and scrambling to meet payrolls to mastering sales, building systems, and creating sustainable growth without debt or shortcuts. He breaks down the mindset shifts every business owner must make to move from doing all the work themselves to building a team that drives the business forward.Listeners will learn: How to grow from a one-person business to a thriving, scalable company Why learning each part of your business before delegating is crucial The right (and wrong) ways to use debt when growing How listening to your customers can guide product and service innovation Why overnight success is a myth — and what real, long-term growth looks likeWhether you’re running a service business or building a start-up, Bryan’s insights on leadership, growth, and resilience will inspire you to think bigger — and execute smarter.Bryan Clayton has been recognised as one of Inc. Magazine's "Top Entrepreneurs" and has built GreenPal to over 300,000 customers and $30 million a year in revenue. He is a serial entrepreneur with 22 years of experience in the lawn, landscaping, and garden industry. Before GreenPal, he built Peachtree Inc. to over $10 million a year before selling it. Bryan is a thought leader in the green industry, often sharing his insights through various media outlets and speaking engagements.www.yourgreenpal.comLinkedInSupport the showhttps://thebusinessbehindyourbusiness.com/Connect with us:Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Instagram

More episodes of the podcast The Business Behind Your Business