The Credit Card Side Hustle No One Talks About

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Summary

This video features an interview with Colin, a 26-year-old entrepreneur who runs a successful credit card rewards consulting business called Go Somewhere. Colin explains how he helps business owners optimize their credit card spending to earn more points and then assists individuals in booking luxury trips using these accumulated points. He shares his journey from a side hustle to a full-time venture, detailing his revenue, marketing strategies primarily through LinkedIn, and how he leverages AI in his operation. The discussion also covers tips for maximizing points, common pitfalls, and the scalability of his unique business model.

Highlights

Introduction to Colin's Business and Success
00:01:09

Colin, 26, is the founder of Go Somewhere, a business that helps clients maximize credit card rewards. He charges $875 for a single consultation and generated $231,000 in his first full year. He started with limited knowledge but used tools like ChatGPT to become an expert.

Services Offered and Business Model
00:01:44

Colin defines himself as a credit card rewards consultant, operating as a 'travel agent for people with points.' He offers two main services: creating credit card strategies for business owners to earn points and helping individuals book trips with their accumulated points. His consulting package costs $875, including a 75-minute call, strategy implementation, and planning one trip. A separate trip planning service costs $300-$400, or more for complex itineraries.

Revenue Growth and Financials
00:07:34

Colin details his financial journey, starting with $1,000 in March 2024 (as a side hustle with minimal costs) to $13,000 by November 2024 when he quit his job. His first full year in 2025 yielded $231,000 in gross revenue, with about $40,000 in expenses, primarily on software and contractors. Affiliate links for premium credit cards also became a significant revenue stream.

Client Engagement: Time and Value Proposition
00:10:37

An $875 client engagement typically involves a 20-minute discovery call, 45 minutes of research prep, a 75-minute consultation, and 30 minutes for a follow-up email. Trip planning time can vary from 20 minutes to four hours. Colin notes that clients are often satisfied with just optimizing their point earning, even if they don't immediately take a trip, as their primary concern is 'leaving money on the table.'

Case Study: Colin's Parents and Point Maximization
00:12:13

Colin used his parents, who owned a medical practice and spent $40,000 monthly on a 1% cashback card, as his first business client. He advised them to switch to a Capital One and Chase strategy, enabling them to earn over a million points in their first year. These points funded a $9,000 luxury trip to the Dominican Republic, highlighting the significant upgrade from their previous 1% return.

Ideal Clients and AI Usage in Business
00:14:03

Colin's ideal clients are often blue-collar business owners, particularly in construction, who spend large amounts but aren't necessarily world travelers or credit card experts. He uses AI, specifically a custom CRM built on 'Lovable' for managing trip research, and leverages tools like Seats.aero's AI assistant for finding the best flight deals using points.

Tips for Maximizing Points and Avoiding Pitfalls
00:16:46

Colin advises business owners to focus on point earning rates rather than just card benefits, as many accrue points at suboptimal rates. He also emphasizes the importance of understanding point transfers to airline and hotel partners for higher value redemptions. He warns against hoarding points due to 'points-flation,' where loyalty programs continually devalue points, similar to how insurance rates increase over time.

Scalability and Future Growth
00:20:05

Colin believes his one-on-one consulting is not easily scalable, but his trip research service has high growth potential. With two contractors and 35 active trips, he aims to handle over a hundred trips monthly, seeing almost unlimited demand from high-income individuals with large point balances. He plans to explore paid advertising to scale this aspect of his business further.

Advice for Aspiring Credit Card Consultants
00:21:55

Colin encourages aspiring consultants to self-educate using blogs and AI tools. He suggests practicing by researching and 'booking' fake trips without finalizing them to build expertise. He also recommends documenting these learning experiences on platforms like LinkedIn, as his own viral post about 'fake booking' a complex trip significantly boosted his early business.

Recommended Credit Cards and Resources
00:26:26

For business owners, Colin recommends Chase Ink Unlimited for a flat 1.5x on everything, and Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business for uncapped 3x on ads, especially if spending over $150,000 annually. He advises against blindly pursuing premium cards with high annual fees. For learning resources, he suggests The Daily Drop for its free course, in addition to other popular blogs like Frequent Miler and The Points Guy. Colin also promotes his own newsletter and LinkedIn content.

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