Ep. 114: How To Manage 5 Businesses Without Losing Your Mind w/ Jeremiah Terhark

In the world of Iowa business, few names are as synonymous with the "web" as Jeremiah Terhark. As the Founder and CEO of Webspec, a Des Moines-based marketing powerhouse, Terhark has spent over two decades navigating the volatile waters of technology, real estate, and seasonal retail. Recently, Jeremiah sat down with host Ryan Snaadt on the Rhymes with Odd podcast—Iowa’s premier show for business and personal development. In this episode, the two dive deep into what it takes to scale a company from a one-man dorm room operation to a multi-state agency with over 50 employees. If you are a Des Moines business owner or a marketing professional looking to level up, here are the key takeaways from Jeremiah’s 20-year journey. Key Takeaways from the Interview (03:10) From Farm to Tech: A fourth-generation farm kid, Terhark taught himself web development via library books and started Webspec in high school, eventually scaling it to a team of 50. (08:23) Early Hustle: In 2001, at age 16, he began selling websites door-to-door, using his youth as a conversation starter and gaining early clients like an auto dealership and a hearse business. (21:48) Navigating Business Lows: Terhark emphasizes the importance of conservative debt management, a lesson learned from his family's farming background during the 1980s farm crisis. (29:02) Strategic Acquisitions: He uses an acquisition model to scale faster, looking for "retirement situations" where he can take over established client books and experienced talent. (39:06) Transitioning to Real Estate: He highlights the benefit of owner-occupied commercial real estate, noting that purchasing his office building was cheaper than leasing and provided a long-term "savings account" for the business. (54:11) The Realities of Physical Business: Discussing Iowa Sign Company, he warns that physical businesses are harder than they look on YouTube, involving "light construction" skills and weather-related challenges. (58:35) Capitalizing on Regulation Changes: He co-founded the Iowa Fireworks Company after the state legalized fireworks in 2017, scaling to 50 locations by managing the intense seasonal logistics and factory orders a year in advance. (1:04:55) The Bittersweet Exit: He reflects on selling dsmdaily.com (a local Groupon competitor) to Gannett, noting the emotional difficulty of watching a "baby" phase out once the novelty of the daily deal model wore off. (1:13:01) The Power of Delegation: Terhark admits he waited too long to hire operations help; he now focuses on big-picture strategy while trusting his team to handle the technical execution. Thanks for tuning in for this episode of the Rhymes with Odd podcast. Make sure to subscribe to catch future interviews. Follow on TikTok: @rhymeswithodd Follow on Instagram: @rhymeswithodd #RhymeswithOdd #BusinessPodcast