Happy Thursday!

Really quick before I dive in, I get this question all the time: “How do I actually make money with all these AI tools?” Thats why I built Playmakers- my AI agency program where I teach you how to charge local businesses $500-$5,000 a month to set up and manage AI for them. You get three live calls a week, plug-and-play automation templates you can deploy for clients on day one, a 5 Day First Client Challenge, and my personal lead lists with businesses in your area ready to connect. 120+ people are already in the community building agencies right now. Go to playmakersai.com and check it out.

Okay, let’s get into it.

What if you could get $500,000 from banks at 0% interest, use it to grow a business or buy real estate, and then do it all again six months later? It seems crazy, but that's what Brandon Elliott has been doing since 2015.

Brandon flew out last week to sit down with me, and told me some things I'd never heard of in 17 years of being an entrepreneur. I've had the same Venture Rewards card for about 13 years, always paid off, and apparently there are people out there who would pay me to add them to it as an authorized user. I had no idea that was a thing.

That was just one of the tricks he has picked up since he started using 0% interest credit cards to fund his deals back in 2015. He shows people how to get up to $500,000 at 0% interest, put it to work, and then repeat the whole process every six months. One of his members got approved for 13 credit cards in 10 days, pulled $150,000 at 0% interest, and walked away with about $15,600 in sign-up bonuses on top of it. Brandon uses this same approach to build houses in San Diego.

This business is fully remote, so you can start it from whatever city you live in. I'm going to walk you through exactly how. If you want the full conversation, watch it on YouTube, or listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

And FYI, Brandon is teaching his full approach at a live virtual 0% Capital Bootcamp, next week at 5 p.m. Pacific each day. If you want to know what banks look for before you apply, see the Bootcamp and secure your seat here.

A good credit score alone doesn't tell you how a bank will judge your application. How you prepare your profile and approach lenders matters just as much. It will be a huge help so grab your seat for next week!

Okay, before I walk you through the steps, I want to let you know this only works if you stay super organized and on top of each card. Start small with one or two cards and only expand when you’ve got down the systems.

Step 1: Fix the Errors on Your Credit Report

Brandon says about 70% of Americans have a mistake on their credit report, like a wrong date, a wrong account status, or an account that isn't theirs. Those mistakes cost you points, so this comes first.

Make a free account with each of the three credit bureaus: TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian. Download your report and mark anything negative or incorrect. If you're not sure what to look for, upload the report to ChatGPT or Claude and ask it to find the errors and write dispute letters. Don't rush to pay off an old collection to fix your score. Paying it only changes the status to "paid," and it still counts against you.

Send each bureau your dispute letter, a signed copy of your Social Security card, and proof of address. For proof of address, use the top of a utility bill or bank statement showing the company name, your name, and your address. Upload it online and also mail it certified so you have a record. If a bureau keeps stalling, small claims court costs around $50 to $70.

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Step 2: Get Your Score Into the 800s

With the errors cleared, Brandon says most people land in the low to mid 700s. Three things get you to 800:

-Keep your balances low. Use less than 9% of your available credit, and pay your cards before the statement closing date, since that's the day your balance gets reported. The due date comes about three weeks later, which is too late for this purpose.

-Have more accounts. His target is 21 or more, counting credit cards, store cards, and loans.

-Raise the average age of your accounts. Banks like to see nine years or more.

The quickest way to handle those last two is to become an authorized user on someone else's old card in good standing. They add your name to their account, and its age and payment history show up on your report. You never get the card or the login. A parent is the easiest option, or you can lease a spot through a tradeline marketplace for about 60 days. Even after you're removed, the account keeps helping your average age for around 10 years.

Step 3: Set Up Your Business and Bank Account

You can do this without an LLC, but Brandon says you'll get approved for a lot more with one. One to three entities is plenty. Choose a plain, generic name and stay away from industries banks consider high-risk. (I use Bizee for mine, and it takes about 15 minutes.)

Open a business checking account and keep it active. Banks want to see more money coming in than going out over the last 30 to 90 days, with around 17 or more transactions a month. Money that just sits in an account doesn't help you.

Step 4: Apply in the Right Order

Start with big banks, then regional banks, then local credit unions. Expect anywhere from 10 to 50 applications. For a $500,000 goal, Brandon would expect $200,000 to $300,000 from big banks and about $200,000 from regionals, with credit unions covering the rest.

A few rules to know before you apply. Chase usually denies you if you've opened five cards anywhere in the last two years or two Chase cards in the last 30 days. Each bank also has a limit it will approve without asking for paperwork: about $150,000 at Chase, $80,000 at US Bank, and $50,000 at Bank of America. Keep your requests under those numbers and approvals come faster.

Step 5: Turn Your Credit Limits Into Cash

Call the number on the back of each card and ask, "Is there any way I can get my credit limit transferred into my bank account at your promotional 0% rate?" Use the phrase "promotional rate," because a regular cash advance can run 20% to 40% interest.

Brandon says the money usually lands the next day. You pay a one-time fee of 1% to 5%, most often around 3%. On a $40,000 limit, that's $1,200 once, then no interest for the promo period, which is usually about 18 months.

Once the money is out, stop using that card. A new purchase can trigger interest on the whole balance. Make the minimum payment every month.

Step 6: Use It, Pay on Time, Repeat

Brandon puts his into real estate. He builds homes in San Diego for about $300 a square foot, they're worth $950 to $1,000 a square foot when finished, and he refinances to pull his money back out. Whatever you use it for, make every payment on time for six months, ask your banks for limit increases, and then run the process again.

The Bottom Line: Pulling $500,000 at an average 3% fee costs about $15,000 for roughly 18 months of interest-free money. The full balance is still due when the promo ends, so this only makes sense if what you're buying will earn more than that in time to pay it back.

Disclaimer: This info is for educational purposes only and isn't financial, legal, or tax advice. 0% offers, fees, approval limits, and bank rules change often and depend on the lender and your qualifications. Borrowing on credit cards carries real risk, and missed payments or balances left after a promo ends can get expensive fast. Talk to a qualified professional before taking on debt and definitely check out Brandon’s bootcamp next week if you want to learn more.

Again, if you want the full conversation, watch it on YouTube, or listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. By the end, you will have everything you need to start this CC hustle yourself.

You can just do things.

Lastly, I'm always looking for cool, unique businesses to share on my podcasts. If you have one and are comfortable sharing your journey, drop your info here!

Have a great week!

Chris

P.S. I share deep dives on business ideas and complete playbooks three times a week on YouTube and every podcast platform.