This is How He Makes $1.4M/Year Selling Burgers

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 02:26:36 +0000

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A burger changed Henry Smith’s life… and it started with nothing more than a YouTube thumbnail.

Growing up, Henry was known as the athletic kid who did well in school. But by 9th grade, everything shifted. His grades dropped, he hated homework, and he openly admits he became lazy, with no real direction.

At 17, he made his first burger after watching a random tutorial online. It wasn’t perfect, but when his dad gave him rare praise, something clicked. He spent the next six months obsessing over every detail: testing buns, patties, fries, and flavors until he found something special.

At 18, Henry and his childhood friends launched Smashers from a small food trailer, backed by a $40,000 loan his parents took from their own savings because they believed in him. And a $150,000 loan (not $550,000). That small food trailer became the place where Henry built his work ethic, learning what it meant to show up every day when failure felt public.

Today, his restaurant brings in over $120,000 a month, but the journey came with sacrifices, long hours, and tough risks.

In this episode, Henry shares how a simple obsession with making the perfect burger turned into a growing restaurant brand, and why sometimes the thing that changes your life starts with one small decision.

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👉 Check out Henry’s website - https://smashers.com/

Timestamps:
00:00 - Start
00:48 - From wheels to walls
02:00 - Obsession with perfection
02:31 - Calling the shots at 18
03:26 - Operation: Trojan Burger
04:17 - Choosing the right location
04:50 - Let’s make ‘em Smashers!
08:03 - Pricing and margins
09:08 - Everyone’s favorite part
10:22 - Breaking your ceiling
12:27 - Startup costs
13:06 - The payroll math
14:05 - Revenue
14:49 - A breath of fresh air
17:09 - The man behind the laughs
18:36 - Second generation IS the way
19:27 - Pros and cons
20:06 - Leveling up with drive-thru
20:53 - Thinking big since day 1
22:02 - Everything in one place
23:12 - Sourcing quality beef
23:58 - Only the best, no less!
24:48 - Managing food costs effectively
25:47 - Ego comes at a price
27:04 - Is commissary really necessary?
27:28 - Systems make age irrelevant
28:38 - All about pay
28:59 - Joy of Missing Out
29:34 - The food truck side
30:29 - $35K in 30 days
31:01 - Ditching the NEW trailer?!
31:35 - Built for the big leagues
32:04 - “Failing upward”
32:40 - Ignorance is bliss
34:07 - Protect your brand
34:47 - Moment of truth!
35:32 - Failure is your best friend
35:57 - Outro