Main Street Business

Hosted by Mark J Kohler and Mat Sorensen

Business Entrepreneurship Management

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Episodes

643

Latest episode

Aug 2026

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About the show

The Main Street Business Podcast, hosted by attorneys Mat Sorensen and Mark J. Kohler, is the go-to resource for entrepreneurs, investors, and business owners who want to build, protect, and manage their wealth. Each episode explores real-world scenarios and offers practical advice on business structuring, tax planning, side hustles, real estate, self-directed retirement accounts, and more. With decades of combined legal and tax experience Mark and Mat make complex financial topics understandable through charismatic discussions and practical education. Their goal is to empower listeners to make smarter legal and financial decisions by turning advanced concepts into clear, actionable strategies for LLCs, corporations, estate planning, tax reduction, raising capital, asset protection, and retirement planning. Mark J. Kohler is a CPA, attorney, best-selling author of six books, and a nationally recognized authority on small business tax and legal strategies. Mark serves as a Senior Partner at KKOS Lawyers and Board Member at Directed IRA Trust Company, which manages over $3 billion in assets. As the founder of the Main Street Certified Tax Advisor Program, Mark has trained thousands of CPAs and Enrolled Agents nationwide, helping millions of small business owners better navigate tax and legal strategies. Mark also co-hosts The Main Street Business Podcast along with Mat Sorensen. Mat Sorensen is an attorney, best-selling author of The Self-Directed IRA Handbook, and CEO of Directed IRA & Directed Trust Company, a leading self-directed IRA custodian with nearly $3 billion under administration. He is a national expert on self-directed retirement strategies and a Senior Partner at KKOS Lawyers. Mat also co-hosts The Main Street Business Podcast along with Mark J. Kohler.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

August 14, 202632 min

#632 Fear in the Housing Market Almost Always Signals Opportunity

Before your next real estate investment, start with my law firm, KKOS Lawyers. Our Comprehensive Tax & Business Consult helps you make sure the deal fits into the right tax, entity, and asset protection strategy before you buy. - https://hubs.ly/Q04t0Vn00 In this episode, Mark J. Kohler sits down with Kathy Fettke, co-founder of RealWealth and host of The Real Wealth Show, to talk about what smart investors should actually be watching in today’s market. They break down the proposed restrictions on institutional homebuyers, why reacting to headlines can leave investors behind, and the key indicator RealWealth looks for before entering a market: job growth. Kathy also shares how her team identified opportunity in Sherman, Texas, why the housing challenge is increasingly about renters, and how investors should think differently about active versus passive real estate. Key takeaways from this episode: Why fear in the market almost always means better deals are available - The truth behind the new bill capping institutional home purchases and why it's more political than practical - Why relying on headlines (or AI summaries) means you're investing on old, already-priced-in data - RealWealth's #1 rule for picking a market: follow the jobs - How Kathy's team spotted the CHIPS Act opportunity in Sherman, TX before anyone else moved - Why the real housing shortage today is a renter problem, not a buyer problem - The difference between active real estate (flipping) and passive real estate (buy-and-hold) — and why confusing the two costs people money - Why managing your property manager beats trying to manage the property yourself Kathy also shares how to get started with RealWealth's free resources, including property tours, weekly market webinars, and her book Retire Rich with Rentals. This episode is a must-watch for anyone who's been sitting on the sidelines waiting for the "right time" to invest or who's been burned trying to time the market off the news cycle. Ready to Take the Next Step? Work With Mat & Mark’s Law Firm Get strategic legal guidance for your business, taxes, asset protection, and estate planning with KKOS Lawyers . [Book a Call with KKOS Lawyers] Take Control of Your Retirement Want to invest your IRA or 401(k) in assets you actually understand? Check out our self-directed trust company Directed IRA . [Learn More About Directed IRA] Free Resources Mat Sorensen’s Optimal Order of Investing Guide Learn how to prioritize where your money should go and build a smarter investing strategy. [Download the Free Guide] Mark J. Kohler’s 30-Point Tax Guide Discover practical tax strategies and planning opportunities every business owner and investor should know. [Download the Free Guide] Get More From Mat & Mark Watch on YouTube Tax strategies, business planning, investing, asset protection, and more. [ Visit the YouTube Channel ...

August 7, 202650 min

#631 Is Buying a Franchise Right For You? HomeVestors VP Mike Oberholtzer Explains

If you're considering buying or selling a franchise and want experienced legal guidance throughout the process, book a consult with Mat and Marks law firm KKOS Lawyers to get started: https://kkoslawyers.com/ Buying a franchise can be a great path to business ownership—but it's important to know exactly what you're getting into before signing on the dotted line. In this special episode of the Main Street Business Podcast, Mat Sorensen sits down with Mike Oberholtzer , VP of Franchise Development at HomeVestors, to break down the entire franchise buying process. Together, they discuss how to evaluate franchise opportunities, what to look for in the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), the real costs of franchise ownership, and how to determine whether buying a franchise is the right fit. Whether you're looking to transition out of a W-2 career, diversify your investments, or become a business owner, this episode provides practical insights to help you make a more informed decision. In this episode, you'll learn: How to determine if franchising is the right path for your goals The pros and cons of buying a franchise versus starting a business from scratch How to properly evaluate franchise opportunities What to review in the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) Why speaking with existing franchise owners is a critical step in your due diligence The franchise fees, royalties, and ongoing costs to expect What quality training, onboarding, and operational support should look like Common mistakes prospective franchise owners make—and how to avoid them Strategies for growing, scaling, and eventually selling a franchise business Ready to Take the Next Step? Work With Mat & Mark’s Law Firm Get strategic legal guidance for your business, taxes, asset protection, and estate planning with KKOS Lawyers . [Book a Call with KKOS Lawyers] Take Control of Your Retirement Want to invest your IRA or 401(k) in assets you actually understand? Check out our self-directed trust company Directed IRA . [Learn More About Directed IRA] Free Resources Mat Sorensen’s Optimal Order of Investing Guide Learn how to prioritize where your money should go and build a smarter investing strategy. [Download the Free Guide] Mark J. Kohler’s 30-Point Tax Guide Discover practical tax strategies and planning opportunities every business owner and investor should know. [Download the Free Guide] Get More From Mat & Mark Watch on YouTube Tax strategies, business planning, investing, asset protection, and more. [ Visit the YouTube Channel ...

August 4, 202618 min

#630 Think Your LLC Protects You? Think Again

Is your entity structure up to date? Business owners can get themselves in sticky situations without maintaining their entities. Thats why our most popular service at our law firm KKOS Lawyers is our Entity Clean-UP Service. Book a Consultation Today! Ready to Take the Next Step? Work With Mat & Mark’s Law Firm Get strategic legal guidance for your business, taxes, asset protection, and estate planning with KKOS Lawyers . [Book a Call with KKOS Lawyers] Take Control of Your Retirement Want to invest your IRA or 401(k) in assets you actually understand? Check out our self-directed trust company Directed IRA . [Learn More About Directed IRA] Free Resources Mat Sorensen’s Optimal Order of Investing Guide Learn how to prioritize where your money should go and build a smarter investing strategy. [Download the Free Guide] Mark J. Kohler’s 30-Point Tax Guide Discover practical tax strategies and planning opportunities every business owner and investor should know. [Download the Free Guide] Get More From Mat & Mark Watch on YouTube Tax strategies, business planning, investing, asset protection, and more. [ Visit the YouTube Channel ...

July 29, 202611 min

#629 LLC Vs S-Corp Explained in 10-Minutes

Get your entity set-up or cleaned up with the assistance of Mat and Marks law firm KKOS Lawyers. Book a 15-Minute Client Advisor Intro Call In this episode Mat and Mark conquer a huge topic in 10 minutes. LLC Vs S-Corp, when to elect and how to maximize your entity structure for your specific situation. Ready to Take the Next Step? Work With Mat & Mark’s Law Firm Get strategic legal guidance for your business, taxes, asset protection, and estate planning with KKOS Lawyers . [Book a Call with KKOS Lawyers] Take Control of Your Retirement Want to invest your IRA or 401(k) in assets you actually understand? Check out our self-directed trust company Directed IRA . [Learn More About Directed IRA] Free Resources Mat Sorensen’s Optimal Order of Investing Guide Learn how to prioritize where your money should go and build a smarter investing strategy. [Download the Free Guide] Mark J. Kohler’s 30-Point Tax Guide Discover practical tax strategies and planning opportunities every business owner and investor should know. [Download the Free Guide] Get More From Mat & Mark Watch on YouTube Tax strategies, business planning, investing, asset protection, and more. [ Visit the YouTube Channel ...

July 24, 202622 min

#628 How we Stopped the Bank from Taking our Clients Assets

Proper asset protection planning can make all the difference when a creditor, bank, or judgment puts your assets at risk. In this episode, Mat Sorensen and Mark J. Kohler share the full story of how planning completed in advance helped protect a KKOS Lawyers client from losing valuable assets. They also explain why asset protection works best before a legal or financial problem arises. Listen to the full episode to learn how the right tax, business, and legal strategies can work together to protect what you have built. Limited-Time Offer: New clients can save $200 on a Comprehensive Tax & Business Consultation with KKOS Lawyers. Book a call with our Client Advisor Team to get started: Book a Call Here Ready to Take the Next Step? Work With Mat & Mark’s Law Firm Get strategic legal guidance for your business, taxes, asset protection, and estate planning with KKOS Lawyers . [Book a Call with KKOS Lawyers] Take Control of Your Retirement Want to invest your IRA or 401(k) in assets you actually understand? Check out our self-directed trust company Directed IRA . [Learn More About Directed IRA] Free Resources Mat Sorensen’s Optimal Order of Investing Guide Learn how to prioritize where your money should go and build a smarter investing strategy. [Download the Free Guide] Mark J. Kohler’s 30-Point Tax Guide Discover practical tax strategies and planning opportunities every business owner and investor should know. [Download the Free Guide] Get More From Mat & Mark Watch on YouTube Tax strategies, business planning, investing, asset protection, and more. [ Visit the YouTube Channel ...

July 17, 202631 min

#627 Setting Up a Partnership LLC

Operating a partnership LLC? Don’t wait for problems to arise. We discuss how to structure your LLC for tax optimization, asset protection, and partner alignment—helping prevent common pitfalls and keep operations running smoothly. For a limited time, save $200 on our Comprehensive Tax and Business Consult. Book a call with our Law Firm KKOS Lawyers Client Advisor Team... Click Here to get started. Ready to Take the Next Step? Work With Mat & Mark’s Law Firm Get strategic legal guidance for your business, taxes, asset protection, and estate planning with KKOS Lawyers . [Book a Call with KKOS Lawyers] Take Control of Your Retirement Want to invest your IRA or 401(k) in assets you actually understand? Check out our self-directed trust company Directed IRA . [Learn More About Directed IRA] Free Resources Mat Sorensen’s Optimal Order of Investing Guide Learn how to prioritize where your money should go and build a smarter investing strategy. [Download the Free Guide] Mark J. Kohler’s 30-Point Tax Guide Discover practical tax strategies and planning opportunities every business owner and investor should know. [Download the Free Guide] Get More From Mat & Mark Watch on YouTube Tax strategies, business planning, investing, asset protection, and more. [ Visit the YouTube Channel ...

July 11, 202625 min

#626 You Do Not Scale A Business You Scale People

Building a good team has been an invaluable asset for Mat and Mark over the years. Think you have a good team but need better structure? Let our law firm help you get your business cleaned up with our Entity Clean-up consultation. Learn More Here. Ready to Take the Next Step? Work With Mat & Mark’s Law Firm Get strategic legal guidance for your business, taxes, asset protection, and estate planning with KKOS Lawyers . [Book a Call with KKOS Lawyers] Take Control of Your Retirement Want to invest your IRA or 401(k) in assets you actually understand? Check out our self-directed trust company Directed IRA . [Learn More About Directed IRA] Free Resources Mat Sorensen’s Optimal Order of Investing Guide Learn how to prioritize where your money should go and build a smarter investing strategy. [Download the Free Guide] Mark J. Kohler’s 30-Point Tax Guide Discover practical tax strategies and planning opportunities every business owner and investor should know. [Download the Free Guide] Get More From Mat & Mark Watch on YouTube Tax strategies, business planning, investing, asset protection, and more. [ Visit the YouTube Channel ...

July 6, 202640 min

#625 Open Forum: My Accountant Says an S-Corp Won’t Save Me Money… Is He Wrong?

Ready for an S-Corp? Or have questions on how our team of attorneys can help your business save money? Book a call with our team HERE.. Mark and Mat answer your questions on this week's episode of the Main Street Business Podcast. Submit your questions to be answered live at https://www.mainstreetbusinesspodcast.com/ Ready to Take the Next Step? Work With Mat & Mark’s Law Firm Get strategic legal guidance for your business, taxes, asset protection, and estate planning with KKOS Lawyers . [Book a Call with KKOS Lawyers] Take Control of Your Retirement Want to invest your IRA or 401(k) in assets you actually understand? Check out our self-directed trust company Directed IRA . [Learn More About Directed IRA] Free Resources Mat Sorensen’s Optimal Order of Investing Guide Learn how to prioritize where your money should go and build a smarter investing strategy. [Download the Free Guide] Mark J. Kohler’s 30-Point Tax Guide Discover practical tax strategies and planning opportunities every business owner and investor should know. [Download the Free Guide] Get More From Mat & Mark Watch on YouTube Tax strategies, business planning, investing, asset protection, and more. [ Visit the YouTube Channel ...

June 19, 202628 min

#624 Your Trust Should Own Everything [Lawyers Explain]

Our Law Firm KKOS Lawyers is currently running an Estate Plan Special, Get your trust/Trifecta set up today - https://kkoslawyers.com/estate-planning-special-2026/ Ready to Take the Next Step? Work With Mat & Mark’s Law Firm Get strategic legal guidance for your business, taxes, asset protection, and estate planning with KKOS Lawyers . [Book a Call with KKOS Lawyers] Take Control of Your Retirement Want to invest your IRA or 401(k) in assets you actually understand? Check out our self-directed trust company Directed IRA . [Learn More About Directed IRA] Free Resources Mat Sorensen’s Optimal Order of Investing Guide Learn how to prioritize where your money should go and build a smarter investing strategy. [Download the Free Guide] Mark J. Kohler’s 30-Point Tax Guide Discover practical tax strategies and planning opportunities every business owner and investor should know. [Download the Free Guide] Get More From Mat & Mark Watch on YouTube Tax strategies, business planning, investing, asset protection, and more. [ Visit the YouTube Channel ...

June 12, 202650 min

#623 The 10 Mistakes That Made Us

Ready to Take the Next Step? Work With Mat & Mark’s Law Firm Get strategic legal guidance for your business, taxes, asset protection, and estate planning with KKOS Lawyers . [Book a Call with KKOS Lawyers] Take Control of Your Retirement Want to invest your IRA or 401(k) in assets you actually understand? Check out our self-directed trust company Directed IRA . [Learn More About Directed IRA] Free Resources Mat Sorensen’s Optimal Order of Investing Guide Learn how to prioritize where your money should go and build a smarter investing strategy. [Download the Free Guide] Mark J. Kohler’s 30-Point Tax Guide Discover practical tax strategies and planning opportunities every business owner and investor should know. [Download the Free Guide] Get More From Mat & Mark Watch on YouTube Tax strategies, business planning, investing, asset protection, and more. [ Visit the YouTube Channel ...