Scaling An 8-Figure Online Marketing Business With Sustainable Income with Lucas Lee Tyson

What if building a business didn’t require a groundbreaking invention or millions in funding? Imagine succeeding with relentless learning, basic digital skills, and gritty determination. In the chaotic world of online marketing, entrepreneurs often feel overwhelmed or stuck. Many pour hours into social media with little traction. Others waste money on tools and courses without a clear growth plan. The truth is sustainable income comes from simple systems, tested offers, and repeatable processes—not viral luck.

In this episode of The Best Business Podcast, host Daryl Urbanski interviews Lucas Lee Tyson. He is a college dorm-room freelancer turned 8-figure founder. Starting with $25/hour Upwork gigs in 2019, Lucas built Growth Cave into a $50 million powerhouse, leading a team of over 100. Now, through Printer AI and License to Print, he shares proven strategies for landing clients and scaling consulting, coaching, and course businesses using digital ads. This isn’t just about ads—it’s about crafting a machine for consistent, predictable growth through smart marketing.

Gain actionable insights on building scalable systems and positioning your offer to stand out in a crowded market. Learn how to master marketing faster and avoid common pitfalls. Whether you’re a new entrepreneur or scaling an existing business, this episode shares real-world lessons rarely found in typical marketing courses.

Here are three reasons why you should listen to the full episode: 

1. Learn how Lucas scaled from freelancing on Upwork to running an 8-figure online marketing business with sustainable income.
2. Gain insight into using paid ads and webinars to sell digital products without hype or fluff.
3. Reflect on the hard-won lessons from scaling too fast—and how to avoid building a business you secretly hate.

Resources

• Printer AI: Website  
• Lucas Lee Tyson: Website | LinkedIn| Instagram | X | YouTube  
• “Ready, Fire, Aim: Zero to $100 Million in No Time Flat” by Michael Masterson.
• Best Business Podcast with Daryl Urbanski - Where you can find more insightful interviews like this one.

Episode Highlights

From Freelance Gigs to $50M: Building Sustainable Income as a Marketer

• The main topic centers on navigating the complexities of online marketing. From messy beginnings to mastering paid advertising with predictability.  
• Lucas Lee-Tyson shares how he absorbed marketing by studying agency calls 
• He mimicked marketplace trends to create sustainable income.
• His humble beginnings ground the conversation, making it relatable for anyone currently struggling to gain traction online.

The Upwork Origin Story & Curiosity That Sparked It All  

• Lucas reveals that his exposure to entrepreneurship started early. His father worked from home writing financial content.  
• Although not a hands-on apprentice, Lucas was subconsciously influenced by his father’s work ethic and digital tools.  
• After interning at a 3D printing company, he noticed that agencies managing advertising budgets earned tens of thousands monthly. 
• This was much more than he did as an intern doing similar tasks.  
• That one realization drove him to explore freelancing immediately via Upwork, where he prioritized building his profile over high-paying gigs.

The Leap from Client Work to Course Creator 

• When COVID-19 hit in early 2020, Lucas lost nearly all his clients in just weeks, pushing him to rethink his strategy.  
• With ample time during lockdown, he began creating an online course teaching Facebook ads.  
• He launched it to a small email list and earned a few thousand dollars. Just enough validation to go all in.  
• He began studying what successful course sellers and marketers were doing by analyzing dozens of funnels, which inspired him to create an automated webinar funnel of his own.

Cracking Paid Ads With Discipline and Research  

• Lucas didn't stumble upon success, he reverse-engineered it. He studied 20+ webinar funnels and YouTube ads using tools like Video Ad Vault.  
• Unlike flashy guru videos, he purposefully made lo-fi backyard videos to stand out in a sea of polished hype.  
• His unique voice and clear delivery made ads feel approachable and trustworthy, driving exponential results.  
• July 2020 became a turning point: he spent $40K in ads and made $200K in revenue.

When Big Business Breaks: The Dangers of Scaling Too Fast

• After initial success, Lucas created a high-ticket program crossing $1M/month in sales within a year.  
• Staff grew to over 100, but the cost was joy, profit dropped, clients became harder to serve, and operations became chaotic.  
• Team morale suffered, and he personally found himself overwhelmed and disconnected from his own mission.  
• By mid-2024, the business that once peaked at $4.5M/month fizzled down to zero, a crash landing rooted in ego-driven scaling.

Rebuilding Smarter: The Future Isn’t Bigger, It’s Better  

• Lucas shares that true wealth is designing a business that supports the life you want.  
• He reflects on the humility required to dismantle a revenue machine and start fresh with intention and better systems.  
• With Printer AI, he’s building an all-in-one platform that acts as a co-pilot for your online business, especially made for experts selling online offers.  
• The new goal? Help others print profits without losing their peace of mind.  

Timeless Marketing Lessons Anyone Can Use  

• Success comes from studying what works and applying it with your own voice, not from flashy gimmicks.  
• Lucas advocates using organic short-form videos as a low-cost way to test offers before spending on ads.  
• He emphasizes clarity in messaging. Pick a niche and own it visually and verbally across platforms.  
• He shares practical habits like daily time spent in Facebook Ads Library to understand trends and improve copy over time.