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The Integrated Entrepreneur

Welcome to The Integrated Entrepreneur with Jonathan Fodera, hosted by founder, author, public speaker, investor and entrepreneur Jonathan Fodera. On this podcast you'll learn strategies on how to become a better operator, how to acquire more clients for your company, how to retain those clients, valuable lessons, and how you can avoid the mistakes that Jonathan has triumphed on his path to $500M+ in financing for business owners and entrepreneur's.

Meet the Co-Host:
Keith Gause was born in Houston, Texas and moved to Jacksonville, Florida at the age of 2. He continues to reside in Jacksonville with my wife, Deanna, and two daughters: Addison (13) and Kylee (10) and their 4 dogs, a cat, a bearded dragon, and a snake. (If it were left to the ladies to decide, they would have a zoo!)

Keith’s childhood was spent playing sports, being an only child, and watching his father become an entrepreneur by continuously failing and trying again. His father built a multimillion-dollar company allowing him to retire and live the life he always dreamed about. Watching his father’s journey taught him a lot about business.

Not ready to jump into the family business, Keith went into the military in the year 2000 at age 18. He spent 5 years assigned to the 20th Special Operations Command in Ft. Walton Beach FL and spent a majority of his military career deployed to places that needed the most attention.

Keith continued in the world of excitement and danger by going into Law Enforcement where he spent 10 years working in Northwest Jacksonville. He worked the nightshift, 6pm -6am, which allowed him to have a full day to make an impact on what he ultimately wanted to do. That goal was to create an empire and to impact as many business owners as possible.

In 2009, wanting to care for his wife and first born in the best way, he took a big risk and spent his entire savings on an inactive business name and one inflatable bounce house. Bounce Around Jax Party Rentals was Northeast Florida’s #1 party and event rental business. At least that is what he believed!

By 2012, Keith was able to make a 7-figure exit and leave Law Enforcement and began to study all things finance & investing. He focused on learning about any mistakes he had made as a business owner and became obsessed with helping others avoid the same ones. That is how Tideland Consulting came to be. Now, Tideland operates in all 50 states and has created a non-bias ecosystem for growth-oriented entrepreneurs that maximizes how each dollar impacts the business, from protecting assets and reducing taxes to succession plans and exit strategies.

In 2023, Tideland aligned with GFG Solutions as a strategic partner to serve business owners at the highest level, with a white-glove service feel from a world-class team.

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The Integrated Entrepreneur

Beg, Borrow, and Deal: Financing Hacks for Startups

May 13, 2025 • Jonathan Fodera • Episode 73

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Join Jonathan and Keith as they explore the fundamental steps to launching a successful business. This episode kicks off with the critical importance of building business credit from the get-go, setting the stage for future financial opportunities such as equipment financing and SBA loans. Using real-world examples like Elon Musk's innovative approach to funding Tesla's Cybertruck, Jonathan and Keith illustrate the power of strategic capital management. This episode underscores the significance of understanding business capital and leverage from day one, preparing entrepreneurs for crucial moments when financial support becomes vital.

This episode also explores various financing strategies, emphasizing the pros and cons of credit card stacking when traditional loans aren't an option. Jonathan and Keith share insights on the benefits of business financing over personal financing, including the advantages of building business credit and gaining tax benefits. This conversation highlights the importance of efficient cash flow management, advising entrepreneurs to focus on marketing investments rather than upfront costs. They also caution against using third-party payment services due to potential customer service issues. Throughout the episode, Jonathan and Keith aim to equip entrepreneurs with valuable knowledge, helping them avoid common pitfalls and encouraging them to share this wisdom with others on their entrepreneurial journey.

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