Small Business Ownership

Codie Sanchez pushes small-business ownership over investing in new book 'Own or Be Owned'

Codie Sanchez, founder of Contrarian Thinking, has released a book arguing that buying an existing small business is a more reliable wealth-building path than traditional investing. She discusses common mistakes entrepreneurs make when running businesses informally, or 'cowboying' operations, and addresses how artificial intelligence fits into ownership strategy.

fastcompany.com · 2026-09-21

Codie Sanchez Scales 'Boring Business' Movement Into Contrarian Thinking Empire

Codie Sanchez, who built a following of roughly 15 million by teaching people to buy overlooked small businesses like laundromats and car washes, has expanded her platform into a larger company called Contrarian Thinking that spans investment, advisory and media work. She credits her success to buying aging owners' established businesses rather than starting from scratch, a strategy she first used over a decade ago and later turned into a bestselling book and online following.

entrepreneur.com · 2026-09-16