In this episode of the Be Wealthy Podcast, Brett Tanner sits down with his longtime CPA, tax strategist, and trusted advisor Brian Muia for a deep dive into entrepreneurship, wealth-building, and advanced tax strategy.

Brian shares his journey from growing up with limited resources to building and exiting multiple businesses, including companies in software, steel recycling, and accounting. He breaks down how early lessons around hard work, leverage, and replaceability shaped his entrepreneurial mindset — and why building a business that doesn’t rely on you is the key to true freedom.

The conversation goes deep into passive income, leverage, exits, subscription-based businesses, and the latest tax strategies from the “Big Beautiful Bill.” Brian explains how smart planning around depreciation, Section 179, QSBS, and opportunity zones can dramatically accelerate wealth creation for entrepreneurs and real estate investors.

This episode blends real-world business lessons, mindset, and highly tactical tax insights every serious entrepreneur should understand.

1. Hard work is the foundation — leverage creates freedom.
2. Entrepreneurs must learn to replace themselves to build sellable businesses.
3. Wealth is the ability to choose what you work on.
4. True wealth isn’t money — it’s control over your time and focus.
5. Leverage people, systems, and capital early.
6. Businesses grow when you stop doing everything yourself.
7. Passive income takes time — not shortcuts.
8. It can take 10+ years to truly remove yourself from operations.
9. Subscription businesses attract buyers.
10. Recurring revenue models are highly attractive to private equity.
11. Tax strategy accelerates wealth.
12. Smart planning can preserve millions in capital for reinvestment.
13. Replaceability increases business value.
14. If the business can’t run without you, it’s not sellable.

00:00 – Welcome and introduction to Brian Muia

02:30 – Brian’s upbringing and early money lessons

05:15 – How wealth and freedom are defined

08:00 – First entrepreneurial business and learning leverage

13:00 – Work ethic, discipline, and John Wooden lessons

17:00 – Building a business that doesn’t rely on you

21:00 – Systems, leadership, and becoming replaceable

26:00 – Pivoting, iteration, and entrepreneurship reality

30:30 – Major business exits and scalable thinking

35:00 – Opportunities in trades and subscription businesses

40:00 – Why tax strategy matters...