Hey, I’m Pat Flynn
I was laid off in 2008, became an entrepreneur, and never turned back. I’m a podcaster, a YouTuber, and a start-up advisor.
I’d love to help you grow your business to full time and beyond.
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Start a business
The question “Will my idea work?” keeps aspiring business owners up at night. Answer it with our free course, Smart From Scratch.
Start a podcast
Podcasting is a powerful way to share your message, connect with an audience, and even grow a business. And the best part? You don’t need a big budget to get started.
Start on YouTube
Starting and growing a YouTube channel can be overwhelming — but it doesn’t have to be. When done right, a successful YouTube channel can help you grow an audience, launch a new business, generate an income, and even change your life.
Start an email list
Your email list is your most important asset. Learn how to start one in just three days with our free challenge, the 0 to 100 Emails Challenge.
Available in bookstores now!
Lean Learning
How to Achieve More by Learning Less
“Better is possible. But it requires focused curiosity and persistence. Flynn’s book offers us a useful foundation for growth.”
Seth Godin
author of This Is Strategy
Amazon link is an affiliate link
“Lean Learning is the ultimate guide to moving from inspiration to action.”
Jenna Kutcher
New York Times bestselling
author of How Are You, Really?
My most popular videos
If I started a personal brand in 2024, I’d do this
Why Making Money Online Feels Harder Now
Stop selling info and do this instead
15 Years of Online Business Advice in 28 Minutes
Revealing FIVE Income Streams that Made Me $237K
Are podcasts really dead?
Smart Passive Income Podcast
900+ Episodes
80M+ Downloads
Average 4.8 stars (3,400 reviews)
Your go-to resource for learning how to start and grow a successful online business from scratch. Hosted by me, entrepreneur and educator Pat Flynn, this top-ranked podcast dives deep into the real-world strategies, marketing tactics, and mindset shifts that help aspiring founders turn ideas into income.
Since 2008, I have been sharing my journey — failures and all — while teaching proven methods for building authority, growing an audience, launching digital products, and creating systems that support long-term growth. With a mix of solo episodes, expert interviews, and behind-the-scenes insights, you’ll gain the clarity and confidence you need to launch your business, serve your audience, and create a life of freedom doing work that matters.
We host some of the smartest minds in business ⤵
Supercharge your skills with our popular courses
1•2•3 Affiliate Marketing
Learn to authentically generate more income for your business through affiliate marketing with our three-step system. Ideal for those who already have at least a small online presence.
A to Z Webinars
A step-by-step roadmap to help you create and deliver webinars that work. Grow your list. Increase trust. Make more money. Ideal for business owners looking for growth.
Amp’d Up Podcasting
Learn the AMP system for growing your podcast: Automate, Market, and Profit. Ideal for podcasters who want to get time back, grow their listenership, and earn more from their show.
Community Business Blueprint
Draft your ultimate community success strategy to best suit your business goals. Co-created by SPI and the team at Circle.
Email Marketing Magic
Grow your list, make more money, and automate like magic with this course on establishing an email marketing program. Ideal for anyone new to or frustrated with email marketing.
Heroic Online Courses
Learn to create powerful courses where you transform your audience into heroes. This course covers everything you need to know, including refining your course niche, creating a production plan, and crafting a powerful sales page.
Power-Up Podcasting®
Create, launch, and market a podcast that grows your income and impact online. Covers step-by-step setup, how to get found (even on launch day), and more. Thousands of students have enjoyed this course. Now it’s your turn!
Smart From Scratch®
Smart Passive Income’s first course, now updated for 2025! Learn how to find a winning business idea and land your first customer. Ideal for those who do not have a business yet or who are exploring starting a new business.
YouTube From Scratch
Learn how to start a YouTube channel and get your first 1000 subscribers so that you can qualify for YouTube’s monetization program. This is a course for beginners who do not yet have a YouTube channel.
Who is Pat Flynn?
Hey everyone! Pat here. I was laid off in 2008 from my dream architecture job, and after just getting engaged, I was forced into learning how to make money online. Now a decade and a half later, I’ve started multiple businesses in different niches, written several best-selling books, have millions of followers across YouTube and social media, and am the host of the longstanding SPI Podcast, all allowing me to spend more time with my family.
Despite not going to business school, I’ve worked for years to help other people start their own businesses. I’m not an expert copywriter or genius marketer. I am, however, a person who knows that building a successful business starts with serving others, and grows by building the right team or systems to support that service.
My goal isn’t flashy cars or luxury homes — it’s to inspire through action, share what I learn, and help others find freedom by doing work they love. That’s why we created the SPI Community — a supportive space for early-stage entrepreneurs to learn, grow, and connect. With workshops, training, and accountability from like-minded peers, it’s the best place online to build your business and stay motivated every step of the way.
Join our supportive community of entrepreneurs
The SPI Community launched in 2020 to be a welcoming place where new entrepreneurs can connect with like-minded individuals, access a variety of training courses, and receive the feedback, support, and accountability needed to grow their businesses to full-time income.
Built on the Circle platform, the SPI Community offers a seamless, user-friendly space to connect, share insights, and access exclusive resources & events in one place.
Think of it as THE place online to help you stay motivated and supported on your entrepreneurial journey.
Your business growth starts now.
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