The Working Traveller 

The Working Traveller (previously Your Lifestyle Business), is a blog and brand dedicated to helping (50+) nomadic solopreneurs build a business, travel the world and live their best life!

Founder

Jo Barnes Online

Jo Barnes Online, was my personal blog before transitioning to The Working Traveller (previously Your Lifestyle Business) in 2019. All the content can now be found on The Working Traveller site, on my youtube channel, in my podcast or in the weekly newsletter.

The Social Networking Academy

Voted The No 1 Social Media Product Online - IM Report Card

The Social Networking Academy was a results focused, online Social Media training academy for Entrepreneurs, Digital Product Creators, Authors, Coaches, Social Media Coaches, Managers & Consultants, Social Media Trainers, Experts, Public Figures & Businesses wanting to seriously increase their customers and revenue through Social Media and Online Marketing.

People who used the information explained in The Social Networking Academy training videos state that the information was extremely concise and easy to put into action. Others state that this was one of the best investments they have made in their online businesses. 

What was included in The SNA;

90 Day Coaching Program
The Social Media Library incl training on;
Facebook
Pinterest
Google+
Twitter
YouTube
LinkedIn
Social Media Superbrand Course
Drag & Drop Facebook Landing Page Templates
Contest App
Timeline Graphic Creator
Bi-Weekly Live Coaching Calls
Members Only Facebook Group
and much much more....

Creator

Free Fan Page Templates

My Free Fan Page Templates were the very start of my online adventure! 

State of the Art Drag & Drop Software to create Facebook Landing Pages, Contests and Timeline Graphics in minutes!

With over 40 Background Templates for the Landing Pages and Contest Apps, over 50 Timeline Cover backgrounds, 500 Social Media Icons, download buttons etc, you could either utilise our done for you templates or create your own from scratch.

We also had easy drag & drop widgets to add images, text, social media buttons, slideshare presentations, optin forms, contact forms, videos.

Unfortunately after pumping thousands of dollars and hours into this product, I got rapidly out-gunned and out-marketed by entrepreneurs and developers with much deeper pockets! 

I was happy to have helped as many as I did build email lists and an audience using the templates on facebook at the time.

Founder & Creator

For the last 13+ years I’ve been building online lifestyle businesses while traveling the globe.

Currently based in Phuket, Thailand, I left the UK with my family in 2010 with minimal savings and a couple of credit cards.

Since then we’ve visited and lived in 40+ countries and have launched, grown and sold multiple location independent businesses.

Here’s a quick timeline;

2010 – Started online biz, built email list to around 10k, generated $30-$40k selling a Facebook course
2011 – Launched The Social Networking Academy, generated $117k in 7 days during launch
2012 – 2014 – Grew email list & income to 5 fig months via membership site, affiliate marketing, social media courses & coaching.
2015 – Started on Amazon, sold over $1million in products in the first 12 months.
2016-2020 – Built Amazon biz to over $3 million a year in sales (around 20% net profit). Sold early 2020.
2019 – Started Your Lifestyle Business Blog as a bit of a side hobby to share past 10 years experiences. Currently generating $10k/month in affiliate sales & sponsorships. 
2023 - Launched our new YLB 90 Day Goal Setting Planner on Amazon & The Solopreneur Success Formula - a 3.5 hour video course sharing my 13+ years experience with new strategies to start & grow a location independent business in your 50’s & beyond.

If you want to learn how to start & grow your own lifestyle business, travel the world and live your best life, here’s some resources to help you; (Links in the Featured section)

1. Join ‘Unretirement’ for weekly tips.

The only newsletter you’ll need to help you create physical and financial freedom and get the very best out of life!

2. Take The Solopreneur Success Formula Course. 

In just 3.5 hours you’ll learn which business model suits your personality, how to pick a niche you can’t wait to immerse yourself in, how to create a brand story that resonates with your target market, how to build an engaged audience and email list, how to create products that sell and how to obliterate self doubt and imposter syndrome (that plagues us all!)

3. Check out the Your Lifestyle Business Blog

Over 450 articles and guides on how to start your lifestyle business, online money making ideas, how to get started in every imaginable online business model, how to become a digital nomad and travel the world, how to move overseas and more!

I can’t wait to help you start & grow your location independent business and maybe meet under a waterfall one day!

Contact me here - jo@yourlifestylebusiness.com
Or find me here for travel inspiration - https://www.instagram.com/jobarnesonline/

Jo Barnes

Acquisition Ace

President

Fit Pro Tracker

Co-founder & Chief Financial Officer

Alliance Defending Freedom

Sr. Director of Transformational Partnerships

• Experienced leader passionate about serving others and creating lasting relationships.
• Inspire others to collaborate and support ADF and its guiding principles.
• Reach and develop deep relationships to broaden support for ADF.
• Serve our ministry friends and be the conduit between support and results.
• Develop and build ADF's presence in the Northeast Region to ensure strong relationships and an increasing support base.
• Be the best team member, collaborator, and servant-leader.

Director of Transformational Partnerships

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Selected for a position with the top two Scottsdale private banker teams performing prospect research, strategy, and client investment portfolio consulting. Oversaw prospect selection and development during the entire life cycle from prospect to client.

Private Banking Associate

Hand Selected as one of the first three members of the JPMorgan Chase & Co. Military Officer Executive Development Program (MOEDP) in Phoenix, AZ. MOEDP selects top performing junior military officers and develops them into future business executives within JPMorgan Chase. I am currently serving in Phoenix Location Services Department.

Associate

US Army

Chosen over peers to lead and manage over 250 personnel in an arduous and results-oriented environment. Integrates multiple cross-functional teams to train, develop, and prepare civilian volunteers into Soldiers in a 10-week cycle. Responsible for over $3 million worth of equipment and the management and mentoring of 18 training personnel.

Company Commander

Project Manager for the daily training operations of 250 personnel. Utilized project management life-cycle principles for efficiency and scalable results. Coached and trained fifteen team leaders in order to share tools, techniques, and best practices. Ranked as #1 team out of 5. Developed local community partnerships through engaged leadership. Planned and led over 4-community school outreaches pairing military leaders with disadvantaged children in a local elementary school. Consistently ranked as #1 of 5 Executive Officers.

Project Manager/Executive Officer

Managed 5 intelligence analysts tasked with proving security analysis and consulting for local threats against the United States Military in Germany. Developed and implemented individual and team training programs. Created intelligence gathering program to gather, analyze and disseminate critical security related information, which led to the apprehension of 3 terrorists planning an attack on a local military base in Germany.

Consultant/Intelligence Officer

Coordinated training for all five units geographically dispersed throughout Germany, Italy, and Belgium. Supervised the training schedules and supply requests for all five Companies within our Battalion unit. Emplaced a maintenance program which increased equipment operational rating to over 90%. Received commendation from Senior officer for effectively coordinating 3 tons and 700,000 dollars of equipment during a 2,000 personnel exercise.

Project Manager/Training Officer

Acquired & scaled 7 businesses with little or $0 down. | Off-market deal sourcing fanatic. | Helping others do the same.

Hey! Ben here...

I help everyday people buy profitable businesses with little to no money down.

My journey started 6 years ago when I was working 60 hours/week at JP Morgan, dreaming of more time with my family.

Today, I own a portfolio of 6 businesses that generated $7M+ in revenue last year, and I only work 18 hours per week.

The secret?

I discovered how to acquire existing, profitable businesses using creative financing strategies and government-backed loans.

I've used this method to build a portfolio that includes:

• A SaaS company making $150k/year (bought for $5k down)
• An ATM route generating $40k/year (zero money down)
• A financial services company producing $450k/year
• 3 other businesses bringing in steady cash flow

The best part?

I never work more than 20 hours a week.

This gives me the freedom to spend quality time with my wife and three kids while still growing my wealth.

Here's what most people don't realize:

Right now, 10,000 Baby Boomers are retiring every day, many looking to sell their profitable businesses. 

This creates an unprecedented opportunity for those who know how to take advantage of it.

You don't need to start from scratch.
You don't need huge savings.

You just need to know how to structure the right deals.

Want to learn how to buy profitable businesses using other people's money?

📲 DM me "Biz" and I'll show you how.
🤝 Follow me to stick around for more!

Thanks for being here!

Ben Kelly

75 Million Baby Boomers Will Retire by 2030.

That's 10,000 per day.

And they own 2 out of every 3 small businesses in America.

Most people see this as a retirement crisis.

But the smartest graduates from Harvard Business School see it differently...

They're calling it the greatest wealth-building opportunity of our generation.

While everyone else is chasing startup dreams or climbing corporate ladders, they're buying profitable businesses from Boomers who are desperate to retire.

Here's why this works:

→ The sellers want out. They've spent 30+ years building these businesses. Their kids don't want them. They just want a good successor and a smooth exit.

→ The banks are eager to lend. SBA loans cover 90% of the purchase price because the business is already profitable. The risk is lower than funding a startup.

→ The businesses already work. These are cash-flowing operations with employees, systems, and customers in place.

I've used this exact strategy to acquire 7 businesses generating over $7M in revenue.

The math is simple:

• Find a Boomer-owned business making $300k/year.
• Offer 2-4x cash flow
• Use an SBA loan for 90%
• Find an investor for the 10%
• Give them 15% equity in return

You put in little to $0 of your own money and keep the cash flow.

The Silver Tsunami is the biggest wealth transfer in history, and most people are completely sleeping on it.

If you want to learn the exact process I used to acquire 7 businesses paying me $850k/year...

DM me "Biz" and I'll show you how.

Rich families don't leave their kids with money in the bank.

Why?

Because 70% lose it by the 2nd generation.

& 90% lose it by the third...

That's why wealthy families pass down businesses that require management and generate ongoing wealth.

This structure forces competence across generations because the assets demand attention to maintain value.

→ Cash inheritance creates entitlement.
→ Business inheritance creates responsibility.

I realized this strategy wasn’t exclusive to the ultra-wealthy (the mechanics work at any scale).

So I copied their playbook.

I’ve repeated this process 7 times over 5 years.

Now my portfolio generates $850,000 annually across businesses in different industries.

But the real move was creating an irrevocable trust with my children as beneficiaries.

The businesses sit in the trust, so when I die, they inherit income-producing assets, not liquid cash.

They can’t sell everything and blow it on cars and houses.

They inherit the responsibility of managing operations that employ people and serve communities.

This is how generational wealth actually works in practice...

Not through stock portfolios or real estate, but through operating businesses that survive beyond individual lifespans.

If you want to learn how you can do the same to build generational wealth for your family...

DM me "Biz" and I'll show you how.

This is Ryan Reynolds.

He owns 10+ businesses that make 100s of millions.

I'm no Hollywood A-lister…

But I still own 7 boring businesses that make $836k per year.

Here's how I bought them as a normal guy:

--

Ryan Reynolds is quite a skilled value creator when it comes to entrepreneurship.

He owns and invests in:

🥃 Aviation Gin (sold for $610M)
📱 Mint Mobile (sold for $1.35B)
⚽ Wrexham FC (Soccer team)
🏠 Maximum Effort Productions
💰 Wealthsimple (Investment app)
🍿 1st Avenue Machine
🎬 Futurism Studios

And more...

--

I’d even go as far as to say he makes more now than he did acting in blockbusters.

But even if you're just a normal guy (like me) you can do the exact same thing.

I've bought 7 businesses that pay me $836k per year.

Here's my full blueprint (no gatekeeping):

--

1) Pick a recession-proof industry (HVAC, Accounting, Laundromat, etc.)

2) Use SMBmarket(.com) to look for businesses that are up for sale.

• $10k+/month cash flow
• $500k-$1M price
• 5 years old

3) Apply for an SBA Loan

4) Bring your tax returns & W2 pay stubs

5) Explain which business you want to acquire and why you are buying it.

6) Hire an accountant to analyze the financials of the business you're looking at.

(btw, you can pay them in equity)

7) Look for consistent, increasing revenue

8) Talk to sellers (see why they're selling)

Note: I usually buy from retiring Boomers

9) Make an offer between 2x-4x SDE (cash flow)

Example:
↳ If the seller took home $400k last year, you should make an offer of $800k-$1.6M.

10) Use your SBA loan to finance 90%

11) Find an investor who'll give you the last 10% (give them 15% equity in return.

Congratulations.

You bought a business with $0.

--

Let's say the biz cash flows $33k/month.

I pay the investor 15% ($5k/mo) and I pay a GM to run the daily ops ($5k/mo)

Then I pay $12.6k in debt servicing (which is 11.5% interest rate over 10 years).

I'm left with $10,733 per month.

--

I'm just a regular guy (ex-corporate).

I'm nowhere near Reynolds' level, but business acquisition still changed my life.

I earn way more than my old job at JP Morgan, and I only work 20 hours per week.

SBA can work for you as well.

--

Want to learn more about how you can acquire a boring business for yourself?

You're in the right place.

DM me "Biz" and I'll show you how.

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5 years ago, I told everyone I was quitting my job.

I wanted to go all in on buying boring businesses.

My parents thought I was crazy for throwing away everything I’d worked so hard for…

My colleagues told me I would regret it…

People called me ungrateful...

But it just wasn’t right.

I wasn’t happy, and I wasn’t seeing my wife as we were just starting our family.

So, I quit.

I’d already been buying businesses on the side…

So I had cash-flowing assets to provide for us.

I bought 3x businesses while working a W2.

If you’re in corporate and you want to leave but don’t want to risk your financial situation...

You can still buy a business on the side before you leave your job.

& If you want to learn the exact strategy I used to go from 0 to $850k year...

DM me "Biz" and I'll show you how.

The startup world sold us a dream that doesn't exist.

Meanwhile, there's a simpler path nobody talks about:

Find a Boomer who owns a profitable business, get an SBA loan, hire a good GM, and collect the cash flow.

No pitching VCs...
No burning through runway...
No praying for product-market fit...

Just immediate cash flow from day one.

This boring strategy will beat 95% of startup founders.

(And you'll actually sleep at night)

If you want to learn the process I've used to generate $836k/year in take-home income...

DM me "Biz" and I'll show you how.

5 years ago, I had $5k and zero experience owning a business.

Today?

I'm at 7 businesses, work 20 hours a week, and made $836k last year.

No venture capital.
No viral product.
No "disruption."

Just boring businesses that print cash while I'm with my family.

I own things like:

• ATM routes
• Trucking routes
• Accounting firms

The stuff nobody brags about at dinner parties.

But it changed my entire life.

& if you want to learn how I found and financed these businesses with little to $0 down...

DM me "Biz" and I'll show you my strategy.

If I were making $75k+ & wanted to quit my job...

I wouldn't add more to my 401(k).
I wouldn't start a side hustle.
I wouldn't do real estate.

I'd study creative financing for 1 hr/day.

Here's the ONE thing I'm confident will set you financially free (if you follow these 6 steps):

–

Step 1: Find a business that's already profitable.

I use SMBmarket(.)com to search for businesses with:

• 5+ years of operation
• $500k-$1M asking price
• $10k+ monthly cash flow
• Ideally owned by a retiring Boomer

–

Step 2: Speak with the owner.

Once you find a business you like…

Talk to the owner.

Ask why they're selling and request their financial statements for the last 3 years (tax returns, profit & loss).

–

Step 3: Get pre-approved for an SBA loan.

The Small Business Administration backs these loans, making banks more willing to lend.

Bring your last 3 years of tax returns and explain which type of business you want to buy and why.

–

Step 4: Structure the deal with Creative Financing.

This is the magic formula:

• SBA loan covers 90% of purchase price
• Find a private investor for the 10% down payment
• Give that investor 15% equity in return

(This means $0 out of your pocket)

–

Step 5: Break down the numbers.

Let's say the business costs $1M and makes $300k/year:

• SBA loan: $900k (90%)
• Investor puts in: $100k (10%)
• Investor gets: 15% of profits ($45k/year)
• You keep: 85% ($255k/year minus loan payments)

–

Step 6: Hire a GM to run daily operations.

You can pay the manager well and still profit without working in the business day-to-day.

This is how I’m able to own multiple businesses but only work ~20 hours per week.

(Your job is strategy & growth)

–

I went from a corporate job at JP Morgan to making $836k/year, all because I studied creative financing and business acquisition.

If you want to learn more about the exact strategy I used…

DM me “Biz” and I’ll show you how.

I haven't had a 9 to 5 in 4 years.

Why?

Because I own 7 boring businesses that pay me $800,000+ per year.

You can do the same (if you start now).

Let me show you how:

--

Step 1: Make a target list.

Head to SMBmarket(.com) & build a list of 20-30 businesses that you like.

Use these filters:

• 5+ years in business
• Service-based (no retail)
• Min. $10k/month cash flow
• Recession-resistant industries

--

Step 2: Start making calls.

Call every seller on your list.

Ask these questions:

• Why are you selling?
• How involved are you daily?
• What's your biggest challenge?
• Who runs things when you're away?

Good reasons to buy: Retirement, divorce, health etc.

--

Step 3: Build your A+ team.

You want 2 key people:

1. An M&A accountant to audit financials (offer 2.5% equity instead of paying cash upfront).
2. An industry professional who can assess operations (also 2.5% equity).

This team will pay for itself by catching red flags.

--

Step 4: Verify the numbers.

Request 3 years of:

• Tax returns
• Balance sheets
• P&L statements

Your accountant will check for:

• Reasonable owner compensation
• No suspicious expense spikes
• Consistent/growing revenue

You want to see steady cash flow of $200k-$400k annually over multiple years.

--

Step 5: Start your SBA pre-approval.

Contact these banks that specialize in small business loans:

• Truliant
• Huntington
• Live Oak Bank

Bring 3 years of W-2s and tax returns, plus a personal financial statement.

--

Step 6: Structure your offer.

Take the average yearly cash flow (SDE) and multiply by 2-4x.

Example: Business makes $300k/year → Offer $700k-$900k.

Then finance it like this:

• SBA loan covers 85-90% ($630k-$810k)
• Private investor covers 10% ($70k-$90k)
• You pay 0-5% out of pocket

Give your investor 15% equity for putting up that 10%.

--

Step 7: Execute due diligence.

You typically have 30-45 days before closing.

Your team should verify:

• Lease terms & transferability
• Employee turnover rates
• Equipment condition
• Customer retention
• Any legal issues

--

Step 8: Plan your first 90 days.

Before you close, map out exactly what you'll do:

Days 1-30:

• Transfer bank accounts & insurance
• Meet every employee personally
• Change passwords & access

Days 31-60:

• Identify quick wins
• Document all systems

Days 61-90:

• Hire or promote a GM
• Implement 1-2 improvements

--

The math on a $1M purchase:

• Business cash flow: $300k/year
• SBA loan payment: $100k/year
• Investor's 15% cut: $30k/year
• GM salary: $72k/year

You keep: $98k/year

That's $8,166/month for an asset someone else operates.

--

If you want to learn more about the process I’ve used to build my portfolio of businesses generating $7M/year in revenue…

DM me “Biz” & I’ll show you how.

BREAKING:

Americans with 4-year degrees now make up 25.3% of total unemployment.

• Markets are uncertain
• People can't afford to live
• Layoffs are at all-time highs

Owning assets is the only solution...

Here's exactly how to save yourself:

--

The corporate ladder isn't what it used to be.

You can do everything "right" and still end up on the wrong side of a restructuring email.

A diploma doesn't guarantee anything anymore.

--

Plus, a salary will never give you real security.

It doesn't matter if it's $75k or $175k.

If you're trading time for money, you're one decision away from $0.

The only real security comes from owning cash-flowing assets.

--

Here's what I mean:

Right now, there are thousands of profitable businesses for sale.

Owners who built them for 30+ years are retiring with no one to take over.

These aren't failing businesses (they're just owned by people ready to be done).

--

The opportunity looks like this:

Find a business making $200k-$400k/year that's been around 5+ years.

Something boring like HVAC, accounting, or cleaning services.

The bank will give you 90% of the money to buy it through an SBA loan.

--

For the remaining 10%?

You find a private investor who covers it in exchange for 15% equity.

This means you can buy a cash-flowing business with little to $0 of your own.

The business pays for itself while you keep the profits.

--

Let me break down the math on a real example:

Business price: $1M
Annual cash flow: $300k

• SBA loan covers: $900k (90%)
• Investor covers: $100k (gets 15% equity = $45k/year)
• Loan payments: ~$100k/year
• GM salary: $60k/year

You keep: $95k/year for a business you spent $0 to buy.

--

And here's the part most people miss...

You're not buying yourself a job.

You focus on buying businesses that have an existing team to take care of the day-to-day operations.

Your role is strategy & growth.

--

This is exactly how I went from:

Working 60-hour weeks at JP Morgan → $836k/year working 20 hours/week.

I own 8 boring businesses.

Nothing sexy. Everything profitable.

--

The corporate world wants you dependent on a paycheck.

But the real wealthy own assets that generate income whether they show up or not.

While everyone's worried about layoffs…

There's a massive opportunity happening.

--

If you want to learn exactly how to find, finance, and acquire your first business...

DM me "Biz" and I'll show you the full system I used to build my portfolio.

If you want financial freedom, buy a boring business.

• It beats your salary
• It grows year over year
• You can sell it in the future

Here are 10 business buying tips from 5 years, 7 acquisitions, and 8 figures of lifetime revenue:

--

Tip #1: Personalize your outreach.

You have to know who you’re talking to here.

Start with a personal note:

“Hey (landscaping biz owner), I grew up in (town) and used to always see your trucks.”

Now, there’s a personal connection.

--

Tip #2: Ask about the culture.

This is a great way to show you care about the employees (and customers).

Figure out if they have any

• Annual events
• Holiday gatherings
• Sports teams or leagues

These are the kinds of things that keep employees happy and hard-working.

--

Tip #3: Build a deep relationship.

Most Boomers spent their lives building and working on their businesses.

It’s personal to them.

They want to know they can trust you.

In other words, get to know the father before you ask to marry the daughter.

--

Tip #4: Show some understanding.

This one’s really important.

You need to show that you understand:

The way they make money.
The company mission.
The customers.

99% of Boomers would rather let their business die than let it get ruined by someone else.

--

Tip #5: A $3M deal is easier than a $300k deal

Bigger deals often come with:

• Better financing options
• Experienced teams
• More stability

This game is all about mitigating your risk and leveraging scale for success.

--

Tip #6: Leave your emotions at the door.

The worst thing you can do when acquiring a business is involve your emotions.

A few tips:

• You have way more options than you think
• If you spot a red flag, run the other way
• The right business is worth the wait

--

Tip #7: Apply for pre-approval

If there’s one thing that will help you get funding from your lenders of choice…

It’s being on their “serious buyer pile.”

Get here by showing them your business plan + the quality team you’ve built:

• Accountant
• Operator
• Lawyer
• etc

--

Tip #8: Defeat impostor syndrome

You don’t need to know every nook and cranny of the business you’re buying.

You need to understand the model:

• What it's supposed to look like
• Who your competitors are
• How the service works

Don't let impostor syndrome stop you.

--

Tip #9: Check for a fax machine

This is more metaphorical than anything.

For every business I consider, I run what I like to call “The Fax Machine Test.”

If they still have one?

You can bet your bottom dollar that there are other improvements to be made.

--

Tip #10: Boring is best.

Don’t try to acquire a business because it’s “cool” or gives you lots of status.

Acquire with financial freedom in mind.

Follow my B.L.A.N.D. formula:

B = Boring
L = Low-risk
A = Achievable
N = Non-volatile
D = Differentiated

--

If you want to learn more about the strategy I used to build my $7M/year business portfolio…

DM me “Biz” and I'll show you how.

The cost is $1 million. Which are you choosing?

The author can see how you vote. Learn more

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