Building a Business That Runs Itself
Tue Feb 03 2026
What do you do when you realize the “safe” path isn’t actually your dream?
Brandon Fuhrmann went to law school, passed the bar… and then walked away – because building Cooler Kitchen, a space-saving kitchen brand born in a tiny NYC apartment, sounded way more fun than billing hours forever.
In this episode of This Is Small Business, Brandon breaks down how he actually built Cooler Kitchen – from choosing products based on keyword research to scaling in the Amazon store. He also shares how his kids are shaping his next product line and how he built a massive community for sellers through the conference he co-hosts, Innovate, because entrepreneurship doesn’t have to be a lonely grind.
If you’ve ever wanted freedom, flexibility, and a life where you can make money while you sleep, this one’s for you.
Watch the full conversation on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@Thisissmallbusiness
In this episode of This Is Small Business, you'll learn about:
(00:59) — Should I quit a stable career to start a business?
(01:56) — Is Amazon FBA the easiest way to start selling online?
(04:55) — How do you choose your first product without wasting money?
(07:58) — Can you run a business and still be a present parent?
(09:52) — What Amazon tools actually move the needle for sales?
(10:56) — Why is selling internationally so much harder than it looks?
(12:32) — Building a business can feel lonely, so how do you find your people?
(15:03) — What’s the number 1 mindset shift new entrepreneurs need to survive?
More
What do you do when you realize the “safe” path isn’t actually your dream? Brandon Fuhrmann went to law school, passed the bar… and then walked away – because building Cooler Kitchen, a space-saving kitchen brand born in a tiny NYC apartment, sounded way more fun than billing hours forever. In this episode of This Is Small Business, Brandon breaks down how he actually built Cooler Kitchen – from choosing products based on keyword research to scaling in the Amazon store. He also shares how his kids are shaping his next product line and how he built a massive community for sellers through the conference he co-hosts, Innovate, because entrepreneurship doesn’t have to be a lonely grind. If you’ve ever wanted freedom, flexibility, and a life where you can make money while you sleep, this one’s for you. Watch the full conversation on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@Thisissmallbusiness In this episode of This Is Small Business, you'll learn about: (00:59) — Should I quit a stable career to start a business? (01:56) — Is Amazon FBA the easiest way to start selling online? (04:55) — How do you choose your first product without wasting money? (07:58) — Can you run a business and still be a present parent? (09:52) — What Amazon tools actually move the needle for sales? (10:56) — Why is selling internationally so much harder than it looks? (12:32) — Building a business can feel lonely, so how do you find your people? (15:03) — What’s the number 1 mindset shift new entrepreneurs need to survive?