# Building a €5M soap business

An episode of [Ask About Wealth](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1760834494), 17 Mar 2025, 51 min.

Audio: https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/66a69d631ce75694ada31b25/e/67d5a0d5aaba807fb7f213ef/media.mp3

In this episode of the Ask About Wealth podcast, we sit down with entrepreneur John Larkin, founder of The Black Stuff. John shares the highs and lows of his entrepreneurial journey, from professional poker to scaling a handmade soap business into a global brand. This episode is a must-listen for anyone considering starting a business, making a career pivot, or looking to understand what it really takes to build something from scratch. Key Takeaways: 🔹 From poker to product: John’s unconventional path to entrepreneurship 🔹 How The Black Stuff was born during lockdown, and why action beats overthinking 🔹 The role of branding, consumables, and repeat customers in eCommerce success 🔹Why building a financial “war chest” matters before leaving a secure job 🔹 The importance of tax and succession planning early in your business journey Tune in to hear real, practical insights from someone who built a business by hand, literally. You can get in touch with John through his website here: https://theblackstuff.com Ask about wealth helps Ireland’s high earners preserve and grow wealth. https://linktr.ee/askaboutwealth Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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