Knowledge Marketplace
My First Million

My First Million

The best business ideas come from noticing what's working and doing it better, faster, or for a different audience.

Back to Takes

The 'easy passive income' businesses promoted on social media (laundromats, car washes, etc.) are either lies or represent a massive opportunity arbitrage

Spiciness
contrarian_take

The Reasoning

If these businesses were truly as easy and profitable as claimed, sophisticated operators would have already captured all the value

What Needs to Be True

  • The returns are actually much lower than claimed
  • The work required is much higher than portrayed
  • There are hidden complexities not being disclosed

Counterargument

These businesses do provide steady cash flow but require significant capital and hands-on management

What Would Change This View

Meeting multiple people who truly have hands-off laundromat businesses generating claimed returns

Implications for Builders

Focus on digital/scalable businesses if you have those skills

Be skeptical of social media business advice

Understand the full cost structure before entering physical businesses

Example Application

Before buying a car wash franchise, calculate true time investment including management, maintenance, and customer service requirements