No MBA required.

The business education you should've had all along.

You're great at the craft. Nobody handed you the playbook for pricing, cash flow, marketing, or building systems that don't fall apart the day you take off. We translate the useful parts of a business education into plain English, then help you actually put them to work. No corporate fluff.

Co-founder Brandon Walcott presenting The Secret Sauce live to a room of small business owners

Sound familiar?

You're doing everything yourself, and it's still not enough.

  • You're the owner, the marketer, the bookkeeper, and the support team, usually before lunch.
  • Business "education" is either a $200 course you never finished or an MBA you can't afford.
  • You're making it up as you go and worried about the costly mistakes you can't see coming.
  • You want to grow, but you're not sure which lever to pull first.

This is for you if…

You want results, not just information.

Everyone sells you the information. We make sure you actually use it.

Most courses and newsletters inform you and walk away. We pair plain-English fundamentals with the systems and accountability that get them implemented, until your business actually changes.

Watch

See what we're about.

Heads up: this was our first-ever intro into a masterclass, our first real go at running one of these. It's a little raw, but the substance is all there. Here's a look at what happens when you join us live.

What we do

Four ways we help you run a better business.

Learn · on demand

The Living Library

A growing library of actionable courses built for owners who want results, not just videos. Marketing, finances, operations, and more.

Explore the Library
Start here · live

Live Events

The Secret Sauce and Intro to AI, in person. Straightforward, no-fluff strategy and the best way to meet us.

See upcoming events
Go deeper · 1-on-1

Coaching

Mentorship with real accountability in your corner. Most owners don't fail for lack of information; they fail in isolation.

Apply for coaching
Hands-on · done-with-you

Business Support

Done-with-you and done-for-you help putting it into practice, from marketing and systems to day-to-day operations.

Get support

Upcoming live events

Come see it live.

In-person, practical, and worth the drive. No gurus, no sales pitch disguised as "value." Seats are intentionally limited, so grab one early.

The Average Joe's MBA presents Introduction to AI, an in-person masterclass on Tuesday, July 14, 2026 in Loomis, CA Tue, July 14, 2026 · 10:00 - 11:30 AM · $50

The Average Joe's Introduction to AI

SparkStudio HQ, 3843 Taylor Rd Ste D, Loomis, CA

About event

A pre-101 class for the curious, confused, or mildly terrified. What AI actually is, where it goes off the rails, and simple ways to use it in your business. No jargon, no shame.

🎟️ Get tickets
The Average Joe's MBA presents The Secret Sauce, an in-person masterclass on Thursday, July 23, 2026 in Elk Grove, CA Thu, July 23, 2026 · 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM · $25

The Secret Sauce

New York Life, Elk Grove Office, 9280 W Stockton Blvd #200, Elk Grove, CA · sponsored by Colby Bell, New York Life

About event

Everyone sees the highlight reel, but very few people see the recipe. The Secret Sauce is a live, in-person event for small business owners and leaders who are tired of generic advice and want to understand the real levers that actually move the needle to get more clients.

🎟️ Get tickets
The Average Joe's MBA presents The Secret Sauce, an in-person masterclass on Monday, September 1, 2026 in Elk Grove, CA Mon, September 1, 2026 · 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

The Secret Sauce

Elk Grove Chamber of Commerce, 8820 Elk Grove Blvd, Elk Grove, CA

About event

Everyone sees the highlight reel, but very few people see the recipe. Our signature live session on attracting clients and running a smarter small business. Registration opens soon.

Get details
August & October · dates TBD

Host The Secret Sauce

Got a great space and a network of hard-working owners?

We're looking for venues for upcoming live presentations. Let's partner up.

Contact us to host

Past events

A look back at the room.

We've hosted The Secret Sauce with small business owners across the Greater Sacramento area, sold-out rooms, real questions, and a lot of practical takeaways.

See event photos

Why trust us

Real experience, not theory.

The Average Joe's MBA was built by Chris Camara and Brandon Walcott, distilled from their own startup journeys into something any owner can actually use. We've run the businesses, made the expensive mistakes, and built the systems. Now we hand you the playbook.

Work with us

Co-founders Brandon Walcott (left) and Chris Camara (right) of The Average Joe's MBA
Brandon Walcott & Chris Camara, Co-Founders

What people say

Reviews from real owners.

Our latest Google reviews will show up here. In the meantime, see what owners are saying (or leave your own) on Google.

See us on Google

Ready to build smarter?

Apply to work with us, or catch The Secret Sauce live.

Apply now
Prefer to talk? Call (916) 415-8662

Frequently asked questions

You've got questions. We've got answers.

After doing a number of The Secret Sauce presentations, we've gathered the most common questions and answered them for you.

Who should attend The Secret Sauce?

Business owners and leaders. Leaders who want leverage, not motivation. People who value clarity, execution, and truth over hype.

Who should NOT attend The Secret Sauce event?

People looking for shortcuts without doing the work. Anyone who wants industry buzzwords and hype with no proof. People who think there is anything magic about marketing... spoiler it's a lot of little efforts that make a big impact!

What makes this different from books, podcasts, or online courses?

It's live and in-person baby! Most resources give you information. This gives you context, prioritization, and judgment. We focus on what actually matters, what to ignore, and why. You'll leave knowing what to do next, not just what exists.

I'm a marketing expert already, I don't need any help getting leads

Many attendees already run businesses and want fewer blind spots and better decision-making. The value isn't basic definitions, it's perspective, frameworks, and lessons learned the hard way so you don't have to.

How do you guys make money doing this?

That's a great question. We don't! Between the venue rental, food, promotion, and backend admin... we don't even break even. Everything about The Average Joe's MBA has come from a "Servant's Heart". Our focus for this presentation specifically is to provide massive value. That said, we have some exciting things in the works, and plan to provide even more value in the future (With hopefully profit for us at that time. It's always going to be about providing massive value first, money will follow.).

What is The Average Joe's MBA anyways?

The Average Joe's MBA is a practical, experience-backed guide to starting, running, and growing a small business without the confusion, fluff, or overpriced programs.

Instead of academic theory, it distills the essential business fundamentals that actually matter. The lessons come directly from real startup journeys, real mistakes, and real wins. The focus is on clarity, smart decision-making, and using proven, often free strategies to build smarter systems, attract clients organically, manage money with confidence, and grow sustainably.

This isn't an MBA replacement. It's what most business owners wish they learned before figuring it out the hard way. If you want fewer blind spots and more momentum, that's the point.