Shows
Ditching HourlyEleanor Mayrhofer - Productized Web DesignDigital marketing strategist Eleanor Mayrhofer joined me on Ditching Hourly to describe exactly how she productized her web design services. Links:Eleanor's website » https://www.eleanormayrhofer.com/ditchingEleanor's LinkedIn » https://www.linkedin.com/in/eleanormayrhofer/Chapters:(00:00) - Introduction and Guest Welcome
(00:14) - Eleanor's Background and Business Model
(00:52) - Straight to Non-Hourly
(02:01) - Starting a Solo Business During COVID
(02:44) - Initial Market Approach and Challenges
(03:48) - Developing a Productized Service
(04:25) - Current Business Model: Website in a Week
(05:31) - Client Interaction and Project Scope
(09:40) - Copywriting and Strategy Sessions
(16:31) - Handling Project Scope and Cl...
2025-10-2143 min
The Germany Expat Business ShowHelping Freelancers in Germany Fight Red Tape with Kathleen ParkerLike the show? Have a burning question? Send a text?From opera singer to bureaucracy expert, Kathleen Parker shares her unconventional story of building Red Tape Translation—a business she started by showing up at Berlin's immigration office at 7 AM and asking strangers if they needed help. In this episode, she breaks down the real costs of freelancing in Germany (hint: multiply your employee salary by 2.5-3x), explains why the Künstlersozialkasse is a game-changer for creative professionals, and reveals what actually goes into getting a freelance visa. If you've ever wondered wheth...
2025-10-0847 min
The Germany Expat Business ShowFrom Strategy Manager to Somatic Coach: Building Community in MunichLike the show? Have a burning question? Send a text?Polish-born Paulina moved to Munich for love nearly eight years ago and ended up finding herself. After being laid off from her corporate data analyst role during the pandemic, she transformed into a somatic wellness coach who built a thriving membership business and retreat community through authentic connection rather than aggressive marketing. Paulina discusses transitioning from yoga teaching to emotional healing work, the challenges of finding affordable event spaces in Munich, and why community building beats competition every time.Connect with Paulina:...
2025-09-1751 min
The Germany Expat Business ShowFrom Licensed Therapist to International Relationship Strategist: Katie Rössler's Journey Building a Business in GermanyLike the show? Have a burning question? Send a text?When Katie Rustler moved to Munich in 2016, her therapy credentials weren't recognized - a crushing blow for any licensed professional. But instead of starting over in the German system, she got creative. Today, she runs a thriving online practice serving high-achieving international couples from Japan to Dubai, has written two books, appeared on 80+ podcasts, and built communities that have helped hundreds of expat women rebuild their professional confidence.In this episode, Katie shares her blueprint for turning professional obstacles into opportunities, the Facebook g...
2025-09-0348 min
The Germany Expat Business ShowBuilding a 11,000+ Subscriber Newsletter Empire in Berlin with Igor RancLike the show? Have a burning question? Send a text?From corporate burnout to 11,000+ newsletter subscribers – Igor Ranc built his Handpicked Berlin newsletter starting with just 20 friends. In this episode, he reveals why he ditched Substack for better business tools, how he's monetizing without paywalls in the German market, and why human curation beats AI every time. Plus: navigating German bureaucracy as a newsletter entrepreneur, the distribution problem that kills most startups, and why authenticity trumps copying other creators' formulas. Essential listening for anyone building a creator business in Germany.
2025-08-2046 min
The Germany Expat Business ShowBuilding a Business in Berlin: Rachel Wright's Journey From Student Exchange to Event DesignLike the show? Have a burning question? Send a text?From student exchange to successful event business serving clients prominent Berlin clients like Lingoda, Moss, Hello Fresh and more. Rachel Wright's Berlin entrepreneurship story is one of persistence, smart pivots, and systematic growth.Originally planning just one semester in Germany, Rachel has spent 15+ years building a thriving event design company serving international tech scale-ups. She shares the real story behind navigating German visa bureaucracy, using design thinking to find product-market fit, and why she dissolved her agency to rebuild as a solo consultant....
2025-08-0652 min
The Germany Expat Business ShowFrom Nepal to Munich: Building Startups and Mastering LinkedIn in GermanyLike the show? Have a burning question? Send a text?What happens when you delete 3,500 LinkedIn connections and start over?Sanjeev Thapa, a three-time founder from Nepal, reveals the unexpected strategy that transformed his consulting business in Germany. From burning through €700,000 in 15 months by over-engineering a startup to discovering why German language skills matter more than a stellar resume, his journey is packed with hard-won lessons about building companies in one of Europe's most regulated markets.In this very candid conversation, Sanjeev shares how he went from student visa struggles to German citizenship in...
2025-07-2241 min
The Germany Expat Business ShowFrom Politics to Digital Marketing - Jordan Beck Wagner's German Business JourneyLike the show? Have a burning question? Send a text?Jordan Beck Wagner - American expat entrepreneur who built a successful digital marketing agency in Germany after transitioning from politics to marketing through travel blogging.Episode Highlights:The Unexpected Path to GermanyStarted with a rebellious high school decision: choosing German over SpanishLed to Germanic languages degree, study abroad, and eventually 12+ years in GermanyClassic expat story: "18 months" turned into a permanent moveMet future husband at a ball in HeidelbergFrom Travel Blog to Digital...
2025-07-1055 min
The Germany Expat Business ShowFreelancing in Munich as an Industrial Designer with Gray DawdyLike the show? Have a burning question? Send a text?In this episode of the Germany Expat Business Show, I caught up with a friend, and sort-of-former-colleague, Gray Dawdy. I met Gray while I was contracting at a service design agency, where he often enjoyed a friendly chat while making a coffee in the agency Teeküche and bonded over our mutual Californian backgrounds.Gray is an industrial designer and expat solopreneur who’s built a successful freelance career in Munich, Germany. He talked about his journey from California to Germany, his experiences in the indu...
2025-05-1651 min
The Germany Expat Business ShowFrom Syrian Refugee to Successful Co-founder with Tarek Abousamra of Co-TaskerLike the show? Have a burning question? Send a text?In this episode I talk to Tarek Abousamra, an inspiring entrepreneur who journeyed from Syria to Germany. Tarek's story is one of resilience and determination, culminating in the founding of Co-Tasker, a platform that connects people with service providers for various tasks.Tarek fled Syria due to the war, eventually making a home in Germany. Despite starting from scratch, his entrepreneurial spirit led him to co-found Co-tasker, a platform designed to make finding help for tasks easy and safe. His story highlights the power of r...
2025-05-0639 min
The Germany Expat Business ShowRaising Kids and Businesses in Munich with Gelyn WellLike the show? Have a burning question? Send a text?Gelyn, a mom who moved to Germany at the height of the pandemic in 2020, found herself jobless and very pregnant. Inspired by her daughter (and probably a few hormones), she wrote her first children’s book, "Most of All, You Are Loved," a response to the pandemic, divisiveness, demonstrations, the Ukraine war, rising stories of bullying and increase in suicide rates amongst teens. She started asking herself "What can I do to protect my child?" So, she created her company called Polkaducks and started creating sto...
2025-03-1948 min
The Germany Expat Business ShowLaunching an Alpine Yoga Business in Germany with Erin WilsonLike the show? Have a burning question? Send a text?After a decade as a competitive gymnast in South Carolina, Erin found both excitement and uncertainty in shifting her focus. Her college years, filled with new opportunities and inspiring mentors, led her to discover a passion for yoga and fitness—not just as a student, but as a teacher. A six-month study abroad in Italy in 2014 also cemented her love for Europe.In 2015, Erin moved to Germany after graduating from Clemson University with a degree in veterinary science (which was no longer her passion), driven by...
2025-03-0551 min
The Germany Expat Business ShowFrom Montreal to Frankfurt (and an E-Residency Hack) with Afshan ShamaniLike the show? Have a burning question? Send a text?Afshan Samani's journey from Iran to becoming the CEO and co-founder of PinoSell is a masterclass in resilience and innovation. After navigating cultural challenges and personal setbacks, including a broken engagement during her PhD in Canada, Afshan pivoted from academia to a dynamic career in tech and startups. Her relentless pursuit of new opportunities led her to Rocket Internet and eventually to the creation of PinoSell, a company inspired by the burgeoning potential of social media selling. Through her story, Afshan provides a fascinating look at how...
2025-02-2645 min
The Germany Expat Business ShowBurning thoughts on career transition, solopreneurship and life in Germany with Ricardo BritoLike the show? Have a burning question? Send a text?“The solopreneur journey really is a mirror that reflects your deepest beliefs, fears, doubts, and limitations. It's a process of growth that forces you to confront not only the external and practical challenges but also the internal ones—those that affect how you see yourself, the world around you, and how you make decisions.”— Roberto Brito, from his Substack Burning Thoughts post ‘Building a Business, Re-Building Yourself,I really enjoyed this conversation with Ricardo. It was late on a Friday, and I kind of...
2025-02-0542 min
The Germany Expat Business ShowInsights and Advice on Entrepreneurship and Legal Solutions in Germany with Olivia Marcu-IordanescuLike the show? Have a burning question? Send a text?I became familiar with Olivia and her work through the WEM Facebook Group (Women Entrepreneurs in Munich). It was clear to me from the jump that she’s a go-getter. We had a coffee chat and then we actually met in person at the I Am Expat fair in Berlin in the summer of 2024.Olivia Marcu-Iordănescu is an attorney-at-law known for leading corporate projects for 15+ years. She is the founder of spotlegal.io, the legal solutions platform for small businesses.After moving to...
2024-12-3045 min
The Germany Expat Business ShowDanRam's Global journey to Emceeing Excellence in GermanyLike the show? Have a burning question? Send a text?I've been wowed by DanRam's LinkedIn profile for awhile, so I was delighted when he agreed to be a guest on the podcast last summer.DanRam travels the globe as an Event MC & Speaker at over 100 events a year. Hosting changemakers like President Barack Obama, billionaire founders Sir Richard Branson and Reid Hoffman, F1 champion Nico Rosberg, Grammy-winning artists and celebrities, he works on 4 continents from college campuses to parliaments to in-house corporate innovation days for Fortune 500 companies to the biggest tech conferences in the...
2024-12-1152 min
The Germany Expat Business ShowHelping ausländer new moms in Germany with Gitanjali MoreLike the show? Have a burning question? Send a text?Navigating German bureaucracy can be quite challenging, especially when you don’t speak German, are new to the processes and don’t know what support is available to you.If you’re a new parent in Germany, you’ve probably heard of Elternzeit, Elterngeld and Kindergeld and are totally overwhelmed by everything you need to take care of for your baby. And after Elternzeit, many mothers want to change jobs due to a shift in priorities or the need for more flexibility at work.Gitanj...
2024-11-2753 min
The Germany Expat Business ShowSeason 3 kick off and introducing The Germany ListLike the show? Have a burning question? Send a text?Hey everyone! Season 3 is FINALLY underway.Also, big announcement! I'm excited to introduce The Germany List. This came out of the need to connect and support the expat business community in Germany, this open directory is a centralized resource for international entrepreneurs, creators, and service providers. Together with my co-founder, Lindsey, we're publicly building a platform that aims to make finding and promoting Ausländer English-friendly services easier than ever. Tune in to learn more about the Germany List and...
2024-11-1504 min
The Germany Expat Business ShowHow to build a successful portable business and popular facebook groups with Lora McInturfLike the show? Have a burning question? Send a text?Lora McInturf supports high-performing lawyers and business professionals primarily in law, IT, finance, accounting, and coaching.Lora's business is 100% virtual. She's worked with professionals and businesses around the world - from over 40 countries and counting.She is also a founder and co-leader of the following groundbreaking online networking communities: Lawyers Coaching Lawyers - International Network, Women Expat Lawyers and Law Students, and Women Expat Entrepreneurs Empowered Germany.In this episode we talked aboutHow being exchange student lead to her...
2024-07-2242 min
The Germany Expat Business ShowProst! Bringing More Beer Innovation to Germany with Higgins Ale WorksLike the show? Have a burning question? Send a text?Jen and her husband Paul Higgins are originally from NJ. A career opportunity for Paul brought them to Munich in 2003 and Jen kept her IT career on track so they stayed.In 2018 they founded a small craft beer brewery in the heart of Munich's brewing district, creating American styled ales. In 2022, they opened a taproom next door to the brewery and have enjoyed meeting locals, expats, craft beer fans and brewers from around the world.In our conversation we discussed:
2024-07-1245 min
The Germany Expat Business ShowLeveraging Specialized Knowlege to Found an Enterprising Business in Renewables - Ira RibeiroLike the show? Have a burning question? Send a text?Thermodemand, founded by Irapua Santos Ribeiro, is a consultancy focused on sustainable energy solutions for industrial applications, particularly in solar and renewable process heat technologies.His company aims to help industrial clients reduce their carbon footprint and operational costs. Ira has started the business as a sole proprietorship, but plans to expand by forging strategic partnerships and delivering innovative, high-quality services worldwide.Irapua an impressive professional background in renewable energy. He earned degrees in Mechanical Engineering, an MBA in Business and Project Management...
2024-07-0149 min
Web Design Business with Josh Hall331 - How to Sell Website Care Plans (if you're not using WordPress) with Eleanor MayrhoferOne of the benefits of being a web designer is your option to build recurring revenue. As a WordPress web designer, I learned that one of the best ways to do this was to offer a hosting and maintenance plan. Or “care plan” as it’s more commonly referred to these days.For years, it was my assumption that if you use self-hosted platforms like SquareSpace, WixStudio, Webflow, Showit, etc then you can't offer care plans because there's no plugins to update or advanced security to monitor. But I was wrong...you CAN offer care plans...
2024-06-1755 min
The Germany Expat Business ShowDedicated to make moving to Germany and finding work easier with Cheryl HowardLike the show? Have a burning question? Send a text?A Canadian in Berlin for 10+ years, Cheryl has the unique experience of moving to Berlin – not once, but twice. During her time in Berlin, she's had five different visas and worked as both a freelancer and a permanent employee for numerous German companies.Her day jobs include working as a hiring manager, overseeing the recruitment of countless individuals, as well as a team coach helping people work better and find happiness in their careers.The combination of her personal and professional experience means sh...
2024-06-1349 min
The Germany Expat Business ShowWinning Marketing Strategies for Detail-Oriented Germans with Mandy BorchardtLike the show? Have a burning question? Send a text?Mandy Borchardt is a German marketing strategist and translator helping small non-German businesses to market their brand in Germany.In 2015 she went freelance full time as a translator for English and Spanish into German, working for translation agencies and direct clients.After a few years, she started to notice that most end clients need more than just marketing translations. They also need to understand their new target group and adapt their marketing efforts accordingly.This was when the idea of helping...
2024-05-2747 min
The Germany Expat Business ShowBuilding a Large and Loyal Audience with Jen + Yvonne of Simple GermanyLike the show? Have a burning question? Send a text?I stumbled across Jen and Yvonne of Simple Germany through their YouTube channel, and boy am I glad I did!Jen was born and raised in Guatemala and sought better quality of life due to LGBTQ+ rights and security concerns. Yvonne was raised in Germany but always wanted to explore the world and worked for many years on a cruise ship (side note: This is the second Germany Expat Business Show guest that worked on a cruise ship!)Jen and Yvonne met in...
2024-05-1352 min
The Germany Expat Business ShowDiversity, Children’s Products & E-commerce with Peter & May, Berlin Founders of KidsimplyLike the show? Have a burning question? Send a text?In this episode I talk to May and Peter Kamya, the Berlin-based founders of Kidsimply. Peter is originally from the UK and May’s family immigrated to Germany from Thailand when she was five years old.Kidsimply is an online shop selling diverse and inclusive books and toys. Through the KidSimply brand, and inspired by raising their child, Peter and May want to celebrate cultural diversity, but most importantly send out a message to ALL children that their experiences matter.In this epi...
2024-04-2933 min
The Low Energy Leads Show: For Creative Entrepreneurs Scaling UpWhere creatives find clients (Best of Low Energy Leads)How are creatives ACTUALLY booking clients? This episode is a highlights show framing up the BEST of what we've learned and discussed this past year.
Three sections to this show:
1) Your relationships: meeting people, staying in touch and referrals
2) Your client experience: onboarding, offboarding and setting expectations
3) Your hang out spots: where people get to know you and warm up to buying from you
You'll love this episode if:
You want to know as much as possible about finding clients now! Yesterday!
You're in need of fresh inspiration...
2024-04-1733 min
The Germany Expat Business ShowGrowing up in Ukraine to Finding a Passion Filled Side-Hustle in MunichLike the show? Have a burning question? Send a text?Tetyana Pirker came from Ukraine to Munich in 2002. She studied psychology in the university of Munich and afterwards she started a career at Accenture as IT SAP consultant. After many years SAP consulting he looked for a ‘soul business’. After the birth of her first child in 2017 she discovered her passion; photography. Tetyana works for both business customers but also she loves weddings. She has 2 kids, lives in the north of Munich and still works part time in the consulting while she is develo...
2024-04-1632 minThe Germany Expat Business ShowShould You Start A Side Hustle in Germany?Like the show? Have a burning question? Send a text?Time for another episode of The Germany Expat Business Show Mailbag!This time I’m sharing a question from Nutan Jaeger.Nutan is a trained architect turned writer who moved to Munich with her German husband. She was laid off from her job and has worked as a freelancer in Germany before but always stayed under the mini-job level and making enough to cover taxes and insurance.Her biggest challenge is figuring out how to start.Should she exploring bu...
2024-04-0105 min
The Germany Expat Business ShowFrom NYC to Berlin and Crushing it in the Insurance Business with John IsmailogluLike the show? Have a burning question? Send a text?It was a thrill when John Ismailoglu cheerfully accepted my request for a podcast interview. He is hands down one of my favorite LinkedIn follows, posting about - of all things - Insurance! A fellow American born and raised in NYC, John is a ‘4th culture’ person with a family story that spans Turkey, Bulgaria, the U.S. and now Germany.With close to two decades in the dynamic realm of insurance, John has seen it all. John's story began in New York where...
2024-03-1844 min
The Kids or Childfree Podcast11. Eleanor Mayrhofer on Becoming a Mom Later in LifeListen in as expat and small business owner, Eleanor Mayrhofer shares her experience of becoming a first- and only-time mom at age 44 and the emotional journey of ambivalence, decision-making, and fertility treatments that preceded motherhood. You'll hear her and Keltie discuss: The importance of understanding the practicalities and challenges of pursuing parenthood. Why fertility treatments are a roller coaster of hope and disappointment, and the importance of considering its emotional, financial, and logistical implications. How our life decisions impact our choices and Kids or Childfree path. How ambivalence and flip-flopping...
2024-03-0651 min
The Germany Expat Business ShowMastering the Art of Leadership as a Munich Transplant with Gretchen NemechekLike the show? Have a burning question? Send a text?Leaving the warm beaches of California for Munich? Gretchen and her family did just that. The result is an inspiring story of her career evolution from a CMO in the B2B software industry to business founder and entrepreneur.In this conversation Gretchen and I talk about the whirlwind of relocation, unexpected career detours and the growth that comes with such a bold move. We also discuss:The decision and backstory on moving to Germany based on a major opportunity for her career (rather tha...
2024-03-0551 minThe Germany Expat Business ShowMailbag: How Do I Get More Clients?Like the show? Have a burning question? Send a text?A subscriber to my newsletter asks the eternal question: How do I get more clients? I share my response.Links mentioned in this episode:4 Thrilling Things That Suddenly Happened When I Committed to a Niche How to Find Clients Online with Enjoyment and EaseHow to Grow Your Business Online (newsletter)You can find this episode and all episodes as well as show notes for each at https://thegermanylist.de/the-germany-expat-business-show-podcast/ Starting or running a business in Germany...
2024-02-1912 min
The Germany Expat Business ShowGiving Migrant Entrepreneurs a Boost in Germany's Tech Scene with Laila ZohaibLike the show? Have a burning question? Send a text?Laila is a Startup Coach from Stuttgart, who wants to create a safe space for migrant founders in Germany through the community empowerment project ‘The Migrant Accelerator’. She loves to talk about lived allyship and inclusion for investors and corporates.She is also the host of The Migrant Accelerator Podcast.TMA sounds like a fun place to be, it’s full of founders from: Thailand, Uganda, Russia, Palestine, India, Ukraine, Pakistan and even a few Americans!In our conversation we discussed:How...
2024-02-0534 min
The Germany Expat Business ShowHow to go from Ausländer Employee to Successful Company Owner with Ranjit VenkateshLike the show? Have a burning question? Send a text?Imagine uprooting your life and moving to a country where you don't speak the language to chase a dream. That's precisely what Ranjit did when he left India for Germany, and his journey is nothing short of remarkable. In our heart-to-heart, Ranjit, a seasoned entrepreneur, walks us through his challenging yet rewarding path from a language novice to a thriving business owner. Tune in as he shares the pivotal moments, from landing a project with Deutsche Telekom to the strategic pivots of establishing his own company.
2024-01-2239 min