- Joined
- Dec 8, 2023
- Messages
- 93
Rep Bank
$355
$355
User Power: 53%
I've posted a couple of times, all on the same business model. The infamous "protein box" some of you might recognize. I'll provide context then ask if anyone has any advice or tips I should know going into my next venture. In other words, I need brutally honest business advice.
Context: I have been all in on my one business for the past six months. It is a protein subscription box that sends you a certain amount of protein powders, snacks, bars, shakes, etc., per month. I started out with no specific audience and ten protein products in the box (these products are bulk-sourced from other brands; these are not my own formulations but a mix of different brands' protein sample powders, bars, snacks, and shakes). Then I decided to add customization and the option to go to my website, answer questions, and get a type of box recommended to you (vegan box, snacking box, gym-goer box). Then, I decided to target specifically skinny males with the same model whilst also offering guides, recipes, tips, a whole program to gain weight and build muscle. Still, nope. Then I could offer the product in a box format of 1 protein per day of the month, but still, nope (margins not good enough, if any). I was marketing via TikTok, Instagram Reels, and Youtube Shorts through a brand account and being the fact of it because the last thing I can afford right now is paid marketing (college student in my last year barely making rent, also a finance major).
My issue is that I've spent the last few months re-reading Alex Hormozi's $100M offers book, trying to perfect what I'm offering. You know the whole "what would I charge if my price was 10x what it currently is" value equation, I could never figure out how to add so much value. I use ChatGPT daily to figure out ways to add more value to my boxes to keep margins acceptable. I never even made one sale (excluding one warm reach out to a friend who believed in me, but I'm not counting that as an actual sale). But for my life, I couldn't figure out how to be proud of what I was offering. I thought, "I have a good product, and I can see people paying for this," but never, "Other people would be stupid to say no to this offer." I posted in this forum 2 times with the same business, and many times I was told "This is not a good business model because x" and I would think, "Yeah, they're right; everything adds up and backs up their argument as to why this won't work," but then I kept on getting one sliver of hope and would go all in again on trying to make the idea work. I'm done with trying to ego-keep-afloat my business and turn it into a learning lesson. I'm passionate about the fitness/nutrition industry if that makes a difference in how advice is given. I am trying to see if there are ways I can salvage my LLC formation, business bank account, and trademark and stay in the same niche/industry to save me the money and hassle of getting them all already. I don’t see this all as a failure and waste of time and money but more as a huge learning opportunity.
So I ask whoever is reading this right now, if you have any tips, advice, or brutally honest criticism for me, I need to hear it. I want to ensure I go into my next endeavor with a much better process. I know why my business has not worked out, and I'm scrapping the model, but I'm curious if I missed anything in learning something new (the hard way, sadly). Thanks for reading this far, and let me have it!
Context: I have been all in on my one business for the past six months. It is a protein subscription box that sends you a certain amount of protein powders, snacks, bars, shakes, etc., per month. I started out with no specific audience and ten protein products in the box (these products are bulk-sourced from other brands; these are not my own formulations but a mix of different brands' protein sample powders, bars, snacks, and shakes). Then I decided to add customization and the option to go to my website, answer questions, and get a type of box recommended to you (vegan box, snacking box, gym-goer box). Then, I decided to target specifically skinny males with the same model whilst also offering guides, recipes, tips, a whole program to gain weight and build muscle. Still, nope. Then I could offer the product in a box format of 1 protein per day of the month, but still, nope (margins not good enough, if any). I was marketing via TikTok, Instagram Reels, and Youtube Shorts through a brand account and being the fact of it because the last thing I can afford right now is paid marketing (college student in my last year barely making rent, also a finance major).
My issue is that I've spent the last few months re-reading Alex Hormozi's $100M offers book, trying to perfect what I'm offering. You know the whole "what would I charge if my price was 10x what it currently is" value equation, I could never figure out how to add so much value. I use ChatGPT daily to figure out ways to add more value to my boxes to keep margins acceptable. I never even made one sale (excluding one warm reach out to a friend who believed in me, but I'm not counting that as an actual sale). But for my life, I couldn't figure out how to be proud of what I was offering. I thought, "I have a good product, and I can see people paying for this," but never, "Other people would be stupid to say no to this offer." I posted in this forum 2 times with the same business, and many times I was told "This is not a good business model because x" and I would think, "Yeah, they're right; everything adds up and backs up their argument as to why this won't work," but then I kept on getting one sliver of hope and would go all in again on trying to make the idea work. I'm done with trying to ego-keep-afloat my business and turn it into a learning lesson. I'm passionate about the fitness/nutrition industry if that makes a difference in how advice is given. I am trying to see if there are ways I can salvage my LLC formation, business bank account, and trademark and stay in the same niche/industry to save me the money and hassle of getting them all already. I don’t see this all as a failure and waste of time and money but more as a huge learning opportunity.
So I ask whoever is reading this right now, if you have any tips, advice, or brutally honest criticism for me, I need to hear it. I want to ensure I go into my next endeavor with a much better process. I know why my business has not worked out, and I'm scrapping the model, but I'm curious if I missed anything in learning something new (the hard way, sadly). Thanks for reading this far, and let me have it!
Dislike ads? Become a Fastlane member:
Subscribe today and surround yourself with winners and millionaire mentors, not those broke friends who only want to drink beer and play video games. :-)
Access Restricted: Unlock 1,000,000+ Posts
Stop Peeking Through the Keyhole.
Open the Door.
You hit a wall because the best advice isn't free—it's earned. Since 2007, MJ DeMarco has been active here daily (99.9% active rate), building a war room for entrepreneurs who refuse to settle for mediocrity.
- Active Daily: Life-changing content posted dozens of times every day. No dead threads.
- MJ's Inner Circle: Direct access to the author of The Millionaire Fastlane.
- Vetted Network: Connect with founders scaling to 7 and 8 figures.
- Proven Roadmaps: Strategy over motivation. Execution over "hustle porn."
"SCALED TO 6-FIGURE MONTHS"
"Tips and advice here saved me from huge mistakes, others allowed me to scale my business to 6-figure months."— User MitchC
"INSANE QUALITY OF PEOPLE"
"The number of high quality people I've met from this forum has been insane. All of it predicated on building real value."— User Richard Peck
"You are the average of the five people you surround yourself with."
Are you surrounding yourself with success?
