The $100 MBA Show — Episode Summary

MBA2687 Q&A Wednesday: What's The Fastest Way To Make Money?

Host: Omar Zenhom
Date: October 8, 2025
Theme: Fastest Path to Earning: Host Events for Immediate Cash Flow

Overview

In this Q&A Wednesday episode, host Omar Zenhom answers the listener question, “What’s the fastest way to make money?” Drawing on 20+ years of entrepreneurial experience, Omar makes a compelling case that hosting live events—such as dinners, networking mixers, or themed gatherings—is one of the most reliable and fastest paths to generating cash before you even spend a dime. Omar breaks down the entire process, from choosing a concept and venue to pricing, payments, and overdelivering on experience, providing an actionable blueprint for listeners who want to get started this week.

Key Discussion Points

Why Events Are the Fastest Way to Make Money

• Immediate Revenue: You sell tickets upfront, collecting cash before expenses. No chasing customers or building products first.
• Low to No Upfront Spend: “You don't spend a dollar until you lock in revenue. It's fun, it's energizing, and it's profitable, and it works fast.” (03:38)
• Universal Appeal: Experiences and socializing are what people crave, as proven post-pandemic.
• Diverse Event Types can include:
  • Networking mixers, dinners, themed parties
  • Industry roundtables, hackathons, adventure trips

Step-by-Step Playbook for Launching Events

1. Choose Your Event Type (07:12)

• Tailor the experience to what your ideal attendee would love.
• Mix fun and purpose for best results—think good food, interesting activities, meaningful connection.
• “Don’t overthink it. People crave connection. Make sure it’s fun, make sure it has purpose. That’s it.” (08:58)

2. Book a Venue (10:04)

• Negotiate with local venues, cafes, or restaurants, especially for weekday slots (often free or only a small deposit).
• Confirm whether the venue provides insurance; if not, event insurance is affordable and simple.
• “Most venues will give you the space for free or a small deposit…because these venues need foot traffic.” (10:34)

3. Calculate the Numbers (15:26)

• List every potential cost: food, drinks, insurance, A/V, photographer, etc.
• Add a 10% buffer for safety.
• Set ticket prices for at least a 50% profit margin—ideally much higher. Don’t undersell; higher pricing enables quality.
• “Do the numbers. Before you invite a single soul, open up a Google sheet…If the numbers make sense…you have a lucrative offer.” (15:38)
• Example: $850 total cost, $300/ticket for 12 guests → $2,750 profit in one night. Do this monthly: $33,000/year.

4. Collect Cash Before Spending (19:00)

• Use Stripe for payment links and invoices (much cheaper than Eventbrite).
• Simple RSVP process: Send invites, capture responses in a Google Form, then send payment link.
• "We collect money before we even spend a dime with the venue... start collecting it. That’s the beauty of events." (19:57)
• Prioritize mobile-friendly, fast payments.

5. Deliver an Incredible Experience (22:30)

• Over-deliver, especially on your first event—consider reduced profit to build reputation/future sales.
• Send prep emails to set expectations and provide logistics.
• Use a run sheet for smooth execution (who does what, when).
• Add surprises (parting gifts, thank you cards).
• Always send follow-up thank-you emails with feedback surveys and ask for referrals.
• “When you run your first event, you’ve got to make sure you knock it out of the park.” (23:04)

6. Create Scarcity & Leverage Social Proof (25:39)

• Limit seats to create demand and exclusivity.
• Make use of photos/videos for FOMO on subsequent events.
• Ask attendees to invite friends for future events.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Omar on Why Events Work:
  “You create something people want to be a part of…You sell tickets first, you collect the money up front. You don't spend a dollar until you lock in revenue.” (03:38)

• On Pricing with Confidence:
  “People pay for good experiences. And you can’t make it a good experience if you’re not charging enough money.” (12:09)

• On Eliminating the Risk:
  “The numbers make sense and you have enough money to make a profit, but also you’re charging enough to make a great event, then you have a lucrative offer, and now it’s time to collect that cash upfront.” (15:58)

• On Overdelivering:
  "Every time we run an event, it's fantastic. They love it and they just are so happy to get that email when they're invited to the next one." (23:32)

• The Power of a Deadline:
  "What I love about events is you choose a venue, you choose a date, and now you have a deadline. It forces you to get going, to not procrastinate, to do all the things you need to pull off a great event." (28:30)

Key Takeaways & Action Steps

• Choose an event that excites both you and your target guests—don’t force yourself to host something generic.
• Book a weekday venue; most will work with you for little or no cost.
• Calculate costs, add a buffer, and price high enough to both profit and deliver excellence.
• Get paid before you pay—Stripe or Eventbrite streamline collection.
• Meticulously plan and overdeliver; first impressions build your brand and allow for future events.
• Leverage exclusivity—small groups, personal invites, and referrals drive interest and recurring revenue.

Segment Timestamps

• Opening & Main Idea Explained: 02:00 – 04:30
• Event Types and Their Appeal: 05:00 – 09:00
• How to Book a Venue: 10:05 – 13:30
• Costing and Pricing Deep Dive: 15:20 – 17:30
• How To Collect Payments: 19:00 – 21:15
• How to Run a Great Event: 22:30 – 24:30
• Building a Sustainable Event Business / Final Examples: 25:00 – 27:10
• Final Motivational Thoughts: 28:30 – 29:00

Conclusion

Omar’s core advice: If you want to make money quickly, hosting paid events is your playbook. The model is simple, scalable, and accessible to almost anyone—no fancy tech, no big startup costs, just hustle, preparation, and a genuine desire to create valuable experiences for others.

“If this excites you…I’ve given you the whole playbook. Go ahead and execute.” (29:00)

For more tactical lessons, subscribe to The $100 MBA Show for actionable, fluff-free business advice from Omar Zenhom, three times a week.