The Martell Method w/ Dan Martell

Episode: The 6 Most Profitable AI Businesses to Start in 2026

Date: December 12, 2025
Host: Dan Martell

Episode Overview

In this engaging episode, Dan Martell—serial entrepreneur, bestselling author, and business coach—dives into six high-profit AI business models poised for massive growth in 2026 and beyond. Drawing from practical experience and robust market data, Dan shares actionable strategies, practical startup costs, required skills, income potential, and market trends for each opportunity. The episode is a no-nonsense, data-backed guide aimed at serious entrepreneurs ready to invest time and energy into building - not side hustles, but sustainable, scalable businesses in the AI era.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Introduction and Methodology

• Dan frames the episode by emphasizing his data-driven, long-term view: "These are real data backed opportunities that you can start today. They're growing fast and they're only getting bigger." (00:45)
• He establishes two core criteria for every opportunity:
  1. Are you selling to high-income buyers (people who value time & will pay)?
  2. Is the market for this service growing significantly?

#6: AI-Powered Virtual Assistant Business (02:06)

Key Takeaways:

• Focuses on providing high-income individuals (busy entrepreneurs/creators) with AI-augmented admin, scheduling, research, and automation services.
• Startup Cost: Minimal—can leverage tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, or Fixer without high technical barriers.
• Effort: Low; requires no certifications, and you can quickly get up to speed with available apps.
• Income Potential: $10K–$20K/month managing just 4-5 clients.
• Market Growth: Virtual assistant market set to surpass $30B per year by 2030, growing at 20% annually.

Notable Quotes:

• "Doing simple admin work for busy people, that's a great start for a business." (04:27)
• "You shouldn't be sorting emails, booking calls, answering questions that someone else could have handled for you. You need to focus on what actually grows your business." (05:40)

#5: AI Content Repurposing Service (07:30)

Key Takeaways:

• Use AI tools to help creators and business owners turn long-form content (videos, podcasts) into multiple short-form pieces for diverse platforms (TikTok, Instagram, YouTube).
• Startup Cost: Low; many open/free tools (e.g., opusclip.com, descript.com) available.
• Effort: Medium; technical ease but requires a good design/content sense tailored to each client.
• Income Potential: $10K–$30K/month with 5–7 clients; demand is skyrocketing as content becomes more critical.
• Market Growth: Creator economy projected at $480B, and rising.

Notable Quotes:

• "If you got paid to do the thing you do when you procrastinate, that is the perfect job." (08:30)
• "Most people don't realize this, but I only spend three hours a week creating content... it's literally taking what I'm already doing and then creating content with it." (11:00)

#4: AI Implementation and Automation Agency (13:22)

Key Takeaways:

• Build or optimize business process automations for SMBs using AI—lead gen, workflow management, project automation.
• Startup Cost: Medium, as some advanced tools or integrations may require investment.
• Effort: Medium; some technical and systems learning, but most can be self-taught using AI itself.
• Income Potential: $20K–$50K/month depending on scale and client size.
• Market Growth: Hyperautomation market projected to hit $249B by 2032.

Notable Quotes:

• "Every kid that comes up to me and they're like, I want to start a business, I don't know what to start. AI Automation Company." (14:13)
• "The cool part is as long as you give [AI] the information... it will tell you how to set it up. It's crazy what's possible." (16:24)

Examples:

• Referenced Martell’s product YourAtlas.com as a real-world AI call automation solution.

#3: AI Lead Generation Agency (21:12)

Key Takeaways:

• Uses AI for targeted lead identification, outbound messaging, qualification, and appointment setting for businesses.
• Startup Cost: Low; accessible tools like clay.com, apollo.io, and ChatGPT power the core work.
• Effort: Medium-high; need to understand marketing and sales workflows, plus some technical automation knowledge.
• Income Potential: $30K–$80K/month; direct ROI to clients by delivering revenue.
• Market Growth: Lead gen sector growing at 17% per year with strong, recurring client demand.

Notable Quotes:

• "If I said, hey, give me a dollar and I'll give you back $10, how many times would you trade that $1 with me?" (21:42)
• "Companies are always willing to pay more to get services that bring them revenue." (22:45)

#2: AI-Managed Cybersecurity & MDR (Managed Detection & Response) (26:50)

Key Takeaways:

• Providing 24/7 AI-driven cybersecurity monitoring and rapid response for businesses facing increasingly advanced AI-powered threats.
• Startup Cost: High; requires investment in enterprise security tools.
• Effort: High; technical learning needed, but demand is huge if you have a knack for tech/security.
• Income Potential: $40K–$80K/month with only a handful of clients.
• Market Growth: Cybersecurity market to reach $500.7B by 2030.

Notable Quotes:

• "Hackers are using AI too. So most businesses can't even keep up because the hackers are using AI to attack them." (27:50)
• "This just exemplifies how much there's a need for cybersecurity... sometimes the boring businesses is where the billions are made." (30:30)
• "If you do nothing from this episode, add this to your personal and professional life: have a secret code word everyone must use for requests involving money." (29:30)

#1: Responsible AI Governance & Compliance Services (33:15)

Key Takeaways:

• Consulting for large businesses to ensure their AI applications follow legal/ethical guidelines, especially with fast-changing global compliance frameworks (EU AI Act, etc.).
• Startup Cost: Medium; requires research, some certification, and networking with enterprise buyers.
• Effort: High; steep learning curve on privacy, data, and legal requirements.
• Income Potential: $50K–$100K/month—big clients, big budgets, and ongoing retainer potential.
• Market Growth: Global AI compliance spending to hit several billion by 2026; every firm using sensitive data is a candidate client.

Notable Quotes:

• "If you're the kind of person that's addicted to news, get into this business. Your job is literally to understand how all these data privacy laws are changing." (34:10)
• "Compliance is a non-negotiable... it's just a decision: are they going to give it to you or somebody else?" (36:30)

Key Closing Advice & Mindset (40:10)

• Dan counters the "side hustle" hustle:
  "I'm talking to the person that's like look, AI is the future. I want to do this, this isn't a side hustle for you. This is a real business you want to start if you're willing to dedicate the time—a thousand days." (40:30)
• Strategy:
  • Build expertise, leverage AI to teach yourself, charge early and iterate, focus on real business-building.
• Empowering vision:
  "If you show up every frigging day to want to make this happen... you'll be the person in your family that separates you from everybody else." (41:10)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Topic | Timestamp | |----------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|------------| | Introduction & Criteria | Episode setup, long-term mindset | 00:00–02:05| | AI Virtual Assistants | Easiest entry, scalable service | 02:06–07:29| | Content Repurposing | For creatives & content lovers | 07:30–13:21| | Automation Agencies | Solving process problems for businesses | 13:22–21:11| | Lead Gen Agencies | The direct ROI offer businesses crave | 21:12–26:49| | Cybersecurity/MDR | Essential high-security, high-return business | 26:50–33:14| | AI Governance/Compliance | Serving enterprise, legal, and regulatory needs | 33:15–40:09| | Final Advice & Mindset | The long-term play—how to be the exception | 40:10–end |

Final Thoughts

Dan Martell delivers a practical, playbook-style breakdown of AI-powered business opportunities—backed by market data and real-world examples. Each model is evaluated for revenue potential, time-to-learn, startup resources, and—most critically—the actual buyer and growth prospects. The tone is direct, motivational, and grounded in entrepreneurial experience. Whether you're creative, technical, or business-minded, there's a path in AI for you—if you're ready to make a real commitment.