I Make $20,000 as a Part Time Ghost Buster. How Do I Go Full Time?

Summary

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

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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.

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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).

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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])

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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]

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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.

Transcript

[Dave Ramsey]

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[Jake]

Me, my cousin and our friend, we started a company and we do like paranormal investigations and things like that.

[Rachel Cruze]

Paranormal investigation? We're talking ghosts.

[Jake]

Yes.

[Rachel Cruze]

Okay, Wait, what? Real life Ghostbuster?

[Jake]

Yes.

[Rachel Cruze]

So.

[Jake]

I give you like a basic. What we do, we kind of just like go into people's homes and confirm that there's a presence there.

[Chris Hogan]

Shut up. How do you do this, Jake?

[Jake]

So it's a number of things. It depends on, you know, where we're at, you know what, what kind of person we're dealing with. As in like we know what the spirit is. Because sometimes you get understood the basics of what you know. You know what paranormal investigating was built on, opposed to all the fancy equipment. We do have a bunch of equipment, but it depends on.

[Chris Hogan]

They like to text. Like orbs and stuff.

[Jake]

Yeah. So I know about orbs.

[Chris Hogan]

I've done. I've done a ghost tour in my.

[Rachel Cruze]

You called on the right day, Rachel is all. She's about to pay you.

[Chris Hogan]

Okay, so sorry, sorry.

[Rachel Cruze]

This is, this is a business you started with your cousin?

[Jake]

Yeah, my cousin and then our friend.

[Chris Hogan]

Okay.

[Rachel Cruze]

Okay, so three of you, when did you start the business?

[Jake]

We started the business in August of 25.

[Rachel Cruze]

Okay. And how much have you guys made from this business so far?

[Jake]

So based on what we're looking at, we're looking at between 10 and $20,000 a year.

[Rachel Cruze]

Between the three of you, that's going to be split.

[Jake]

Yeah.

[Rachel Cruze]

Okay.

[Jake]

Now my question is, is that, is there a possibility? Obviously we can't do a full time $20,000 a year, even if it was just one of us. So my question is, is number one, is it possible for me to do this full time? And number two, if it is, what are the steps to making this a full time thing?

[Rachel Cruze]

Okay, so let's talk about it. Regardless of what the business or hobby is, let's talk through this how to do this wisely. 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. So what are you making now?

[Jake]

Right now, my full time job, around $60,000 a year.

[Chris Hogan]

Okay, good for you.

[Rachel Cruze]

So let's say the business you were like, hey, we can see a path where this could make 180k this year. After expenses, we could, we could pay ourselves 180k. 60 grand each to make this work. Would you all go all in on it?

[Dave Ramsey]

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[Rachel Cruze]

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[Jake]

No. Absolutely.

[Rachel Cruze]

Okay. Okay.

[Chris Hogan]

So with the partnership side, Jake, so that's, that's the money side. And I will say their partnerships can be very difficult. And the fact that you guys have three people who are going to have ownership in this company, you guys need to write out very, very, very, very clearly kind of this almost contract between you all when the worst case happens. Because for a lot of people in partnerships, the worst case happens. And that's everything from addictions, affairs, divorces. I mean, you go death.

[Rachel Cruze]

Yes. Someone dies, someone wants out and they want to buy out. You got to buy out their share now.

[Chris Hogan]

Yes.

[Rachel Cruze]

How does that work?

[Chris Hogan]

All of it. So you got to go through, like, in, like, a lot of detail. Think of, like, crazy situations and say, hey, if this plays out, here's what this looks like for us. And you want to be very upfront and very clear and to know that you and I hate to be Debbie Downer about partnerships, but when you go into something like this and you say, hey, we're going to commit so much time and energy into it, and I'm doing this with a family member and a good friend, there's a chance that that relationship doesn't survive if something happens to the business.

[Rachel Cruze]

Because here's what happens. Likely one of you is going to be working harder or at least think you're working harder than the other ones. And so then there's resentment. You go, well, I feel like I should get 50%. You guys should get 25 each. Because I'm handling all the business, I'm doing all the sales. And so that's where you guys need to get very clear on what the roles are, what the boundary lines are between your. Your kras, your key results areas. And so if you do it that way, this could be a fun hobby that turns into something. What's your current game plan? Like, how do you get customers?

[Jake]

So it's really word of mouth. And we have social media, but it's not really, you know, social media or. Social media isn't really, you know, big or anything, but it's really word of mouth. So if we, like, we did an investigation at pretty big barbecue restaurant near us, and that got us a few other people. Now, as for what you were saying with the, with people having, you know, written out roles. So I am the, I, I, I consider myself a leading. This is how it is. So. But most of the time, I am scheduling. I am, you know, finding new customers that are possible. I, you know, looking for anything new.

[Rachel Cruze]

So you're like customer acquisition, new business.

[Jake]

Yeah.

[Rachel Cruze]

Okay.

[Jake]

Yeah.

[Rachel Cruze]

What about the other two?

[Jake]

My cousin, she is the, the merchandise person.

[Rachel Cruze]

We got merch already.

[Jake]

What was it?

[Rachel Cruze]

You got merch like T shirts and hats. What are we talking?

[Jake]

So hollyweak. We look like a third party place where they create it and we don't buy anything. They just, they sell it. And we get a little bit like.

[Rachel Cruze]

A drop ship situation. Okay.

[Jake]

Yeah.

[Rachel Cruze]

All right. And then third person, the friend.

[Jake]

Yeah. He's the equipment tech. So what he does is if he wants to do. Well, first of all, if anybody asks questions, he's the guy to ask.

[Rachel Cruze]

He's like the expert.

[Jake]

Yeah.

[Chris Hogan]

So without him, this whole business kind of dissolves.

[Jake]

Well, I mean, all of us know all about the equipment. It's just I, I have him making, Having him ask, answer all the questions because basically to keep the workload off of myself and my cousin. Okay. So him and I know all about the equipment. My cousin still knows about it, but she doesn't, you know.

[Chris Hogan]

Gotcha.

[Rachel Cruze]

Okay.

[Jake]

But basically what his job is is, number one, to explain the equipment to people if they ask questions. Number two is that if you want, if he finds a new piece of equipment, his job is to learn as much about that piece of equipment as possible, bring it to the company, and say, here, here's this amount of money. It can do this, this, and this and this. You know, he should be. I think we should buy it and then we have a discussion about it.

[Rachel Cruze]

Okay. Most important question. Have you guys found any paranormal activity?

[Jake]

Oh, yeah.

[Rachel Cruze]

And then what happens? Do you get, like a reward? You get paid the same amount whether you find something or not?

[Jake]

Yeah. So basically how I work is it's kind of like, you know, a money back guarantee. So if you go in here, and so we recharge anywhere between $50 to $110 to 160 per house, depending on what we're looking at, what the dangers are.

[Rachel Cruze]

You said $160 on the high end.

[Jake]

Yeah.

[Rachel Cruze]

I think you guys need to up your prices, man. This is serious work. 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 to.

[Chris Hogan]

The point that you're having to turn people down because you don't have time for it.

[Rachel Cruze]

That's how you know this is going to work. But for now, leave it as a hobby. Continue to try to grow it. I would start a YouTube channel and really make this a media company.

[Chris Hogan]

That's a good point. And it's been, what, six months? That's. They said since August.

[Rachel Cruze]

August of 25. So, yeah, we're talking six months still early on.

[Chris Hogan]

So. Yep. I would just take your time. Don't rush into anything and don't go into debt for this equipment. Save up and pay cash.

[Dave Ramsey]

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