Part 1 Of 5: Dependent Business Prison

FREE CASE STUDY KIT: Reveals the ‘insider’ secrets of how our service-based business owners build businesses that grow, run, and scale without them.

Hi! I’m Eric Dahl, founder of IndependentBusinessBuilder.com and creator of the Independent Business Method.

Welcome to Part 1 of our 5-part series, the “Independent Business Tell-All Interview,” featuring one of our standout community members, Ed Waggoner, owner and founder of Empire Property Management.

In this episode, we’re diving into “Dependent Business Prison: Why 60-90 Hour Weeks Are Holding You Back.” 

You’ll discover what’s keeping so many business owners stuck in endless workweeks and why breaking free is the first step toward building a business that grows, runs, and scales without you.

Ed was deep in the trenches of property management, a demanding field that required him to be available to customers 24/7. He often fielded emergency calls at all hours, even at 2:00 AM.

At that time, Ed was running a one-person operation.

• He worked more than 60 hours a week, including weekends.

• Like many business owners, he wore all the hats—marketer, salesperson, manager, and fulfiller.

The Transformation Begins:

I introduced Ed to the Independent Business Method™—a powerful approach to building a business that grows, runs, and scales without the owner’s constant involvement.

Ed’s Journey:

Ed dedicated himself to mastering the 12 steps I teach and consult on. 

He successfully transformed his business from a Dependent Business Prison™—a 60-plus-hour job he owned—into an Independent Business™ that grows, runs, and scales without him.

The Results:

• Ed no longer works in his business because he took the time to build systems the right way.

• He now has a team of great employees managing the day-to-day operations.

• Ed created an automated lead generation system that feeds into his scalable sales process, which his team manages.

• He also established a hiring process that attracts the best talent and a training process that quickly gets them up to speed.

The Outcome:

Ed now controls his time and income at a level only possible when one masters the 12 steps of the Independent Business Method™.

Well Done, Ed!

How would you like to achieve the same results as Ed?

Ed used the Independent Business Method™ to escape his Dependent Business Prison™ and transform it into an Independent Business that grows without him. 

Now, he enjoys the time and freedom to live a good life.

Hear It from Ed:

Here's what Ed Waggoner says about his experience implementing the Independent Business Method™...

Introduction to the Interview:

Today, we’re interviewing one of our Independent Business Builder community stars—Ed Waggoner, the owner and founder of Empire Property Management. 

I’ll let Ed introduce himself, but I’m excited about today’s interview.

Ed, Tell Us More:

Ed, tell the viewers a little bit about yourself and your family.

Ed’s Background:

Ed: Absolutely, I’m Ed Waggoner. I started Empire Property Management in 2005. 

I was licensed as a property manager in 2003, and two years later, we incorporated it into Empire Property Management.

Starting from Scratch:

• At that time, I had zero customers. I was managing properties for myself.

• I grew up in a construction family, building rental properties, investment properties, apartment complexes, and more.

• After we started building rentals, I naturally took on the management side, which eventually took on a life of its own.

The Challenge:

However, I had never managed properties for anyone else before. 

I was always focused on building my income base. In 2003, we had 37 units—not a large number, but a solid platform for building a management company.

Taking the Leap:

So, I decided to branch out, even though I had no experience managing properties for other landlords or property owners. At the same time, I was also involved in construction.

• I had plenty of employees working on construction projects for me.

• But I was still intimately involved in every detail, from every nail driven to all the bookkeeping and administrative tasks.

The Reality:

I didn’t have a business—I had what I used to call “a job with many employees.” 

When I stopped bringing in work and running the operation, everything stopped—the money, the employees, everything.

The Pressure:

This added tremendous pressure, as I had to keep finding work to present to my employees. It was incredibly stressful.

A New Direction:

So, I started looking for a way to pivot into a different kind of business using the skills I had already developed. 

Property management was a natural fit because I know the rental and real estate industry.

Leveraging My Background:

Ed: I grew up in the construction industry, and my profound background made it a natural fit to use my talent and experience to venture into a new business.

A Shift in Focus:

• The construction industry started slowing down by 2008, but we still had projects running up through 2011.

• It wasn't until 2012 that I officially launched Empire Property Management.

Balancing Business and Family:

At that point, my family was growing significantly. Your viewers might not know that I have a huge family by almost any standard.

14 Children:

• Yes, that's right—I have 14 children!

• Raising such a large family requires more than being the breadwinner; I needed to be present as a Dad.

Then, in 2012, I met Eric Dahl by great fortune, and that encounter changed my life's trajectory toward building an Independent Business. 

Thanks for joining us for Part 1 of the “Independent Business Tell-All Interview” with Ed Waggoner, owner and founder of Empire Property Management.

Today, we uncovered the “Dependent Business Prison” and why 60-90 hour workweeks hold so many entrepreneurs back.

Be sure to join us for Part 2, where we’ll explore “The Choice to Change: Leaving the Dependent Business Prison Behind.” 

Recently, I compiled a one-hour ‘Tell All’ Interview Video, Audio, Transcript, Checklist, 3-part Video Series, Masterclass, and on-demand training valued at $297 into this FREE Independent Business Case Study Kit. 

It reveals the ‘insider’ secrets of how our offline and online business owners build businesses that grow, run, and scale without them, and I want you to have it.

You can access it for free right now by clicking HERE.

Eric Dahl, Founder Of IndependentBusinessBuilder.com

Our mission is to empower you to take 1 year OFF, and your business STILL grows, runs, and scales without you!