The Ramsey Show Highlights: “I Make $20,000 as a Part Time Ghost Buster. How Do I Go Full Time?”

Date: February 11, 2026
Hosts: Rachel Cruze, Chris Hogan, Dave Ramsey
Guest: Jake

Episode Overview

This episode centers around Jake, who—along with his cousin and a friend—runs a side business as a part-time paranormal investigator, aka "ghost buster." Jake wants expert advice on whether it's realistic to turn this unique side hustle, which brings in $10-20,000 annually (split three ways), into a full-time gig. The hosts deep-dive into business scaling, partnership dynamics, income replacement, pricing, and growth strategies, all served up in the trademark Ramsey Network style: candid, practical, and pragmatic.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Ghost Buster Business Model

• What They Do: Enter homes and establishments, use both traditional methods and equipment to "confirm there's a presence," i.e., conduct paranormal investigations.
• Business Structure: Jake leads operations with his cousin (merchandise) and a friend (equipment expert).
  • Jake: Handles scheduling, customer outreach, and new business.
  • Cousin: Manages merchandise via dropshipping.
  • Friend: Equipment tech and resident expert.

2. Current State of the Business

• Annual Revenue: $10,000–$20,000 split among three partners ([01:29]).
• Customer Acquisition: Predominantly word of mouth and select events; social media presence is minimal ([05:01]).
• Pricing: $50–$160 per investigation, depending on complexity and perceived risk ([07:26]).
• Notable Projects: Investigations at notable local spots, such as a "pretty big barbecue restaurant" ([05:01]).
• Findings: Jake affirms real paranormal activity has been encountered ([07:18]).

3. Jake’s Core Question

• Is it possible to turn this side hustle into a full-time job?
• What are the steps to grow this business into a viable career? ([01:38])

4. Advice from the Ramsey Team

Income Replacement Strategy

• Rachel Cruze: Advises not to leave a $60,000/year job until the business can reliably generate that income for each partner ([02:19]).
  • "We always tell people you want to get the boat close to the dock, meaning we want this business to be generating enough income to where you clearly can go, hey, if I did this 40 hours a week and we scaled up, I could definitely replace my income, if not get a raise." ([01:56])
• Pushes Jake to think: Would all the partners go "all in" if each could earn $60,000 from the business? ([02:27-03:14])

Partnership Dynamics & Legal Structure

• Chris Hogan: Strongly encourages a clear partnership agreement to handle worst-case scenarios (addictions, affairs, death, etc.) and avoid resentment down the line.
  • "You guys need to write out very, very, very, very clearly... almost this contract between you all when the worst case happens." ([03:17])
  • Discusses potential pitfalls: imbalance in work, changing commitment, exit strategies, and fair splits of equity ([04:31]).

Role Definition

• Get extremely clear on who does what; avoid assumptions and future conflict by delineating "key results areas" ([04:31]).
• Jake shares current delegation:
  • Himself: Acquisitions and scheduling
  • Cousin: Merch management through a third party ([06:02])
  • Friend: Equipment research, purchasing, customer queries ([06:13])

Scaling & Marketing Suggestions

• "If you want to scale it, you need to look at all the factors here and you need to get enough people in the pipeline where you can go, hey, if we did this full time, we can make this work..." — Rachel Cruze ([07:49])
• Raise Prices: Rachel strongly suggests higher service fees to reflect the demand and seriousness of their work ([07:49]).
• Grow Pipeline Before Going Full Time: Only transition when demand exceeds their capacity ([08:01]—Chris Hogan).
• Media Expansion: Start a YouTube channel and lean into content creation to become a “media company” ([08:03]—Rachel Cruze).

Financial Caution

• Take your time: The business is only six months old ([08:11]).
• Do not go into debt for new equipment; save up and pay cash ([08:17]—Chris Hogan).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Rachel Cruze on Business Scaling:

  "We always tell people you want to get the boat close to the dock..." ([01:56])

• Chris Hogan on Partnerships:

  "You guys need to write out very, very, very, very clearly kind of this almost contract between you all when the worst case happens." ([03:17])

• Jake on Company Roles:

  "I consider myself a leading. This is how it is... I am scheduling. I am, you know, finding new customers..." ([05:45])

• Rachel Cruze on Pricing:

  "I think you guys need to up your prices, man. This is serious work." ([07:49])

• Chris Hogan on Scaling:

  "To the point that you're having to turn people down because you don't have time for it." ([08:01])

• Rachel Cruze on Expansion:

  "I would start a YouTube channel and really make this a media company." ([08:03])

• Chris Hogan on Caution:

  "Just take your time. Don't rush into anything and don't go into debt for this equipment. Save up and pay cash." ([08:17])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Jake explains the ghost busting business: [00:06–01:31]
• Current revenue and challenges of going full time: [01:29–01:56]
• Rachel's "boat close to the dock" analogy and income replacement: [01:56–02:27]
• Discussion of partnership/legal issues: [03:17–04:31]
• Role breakdown among partners: [05:01–06:49]
• Pricing model and pricing advice: [07:26–07:49]
• Scaling, marketing, and next steps: [08:01–08:17]

Summary Takeaways

• Don’t quit the day job yet: Wait until revenue and demand justify a transition.
• Partnerships require clear contracts, agreed-upon roles, and expectations.
• Raise your rates and improve marketing channels—target online video/content.
• Patience is key: Let the business mature before making major decisions or investments.
• Stay debt-free: Grow at a sustainable pace—don’t buy equipment on credit.

The Ramsey team, while entertained by the ghost hunting angle, remains grounded in fundamental business and financial principles—offering both encouragement and practical caution to Jake’s burgeoning enterprise.