The Andrew Faris Podcast He Runs A 7-Figure Brand As A Side Gig (With 6 Kids)
Jan 30, 2026
Matt Slykhuis, CEO of Modern Fuel and maker of quality writing tools who runs an early seven-figure brand as a side business while raising six kids. He walks through bringing machining and production in-house. He explains why insourcing cut costs and boosted margins. He talks shop videos, luxury positioning, scaling with ads and new products, and plans to involve family while keeping steady growth.
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From Garage To In-House CNC Shop
- Matt moved Modern Fuel from his garage to a 1,300 sq ft shop with CNC machines and insourced production.
- He learned machining and brought previously outsourced work in-house to control quality and margins.
Insourcing Lowers Risk And Increases Agility
- Bringing production closer reduced quality risk, tariffs exposure, and working capital costs.
- Insourcing created strategic flexibility for seasonal demand and product iteration.
Buy CapEx Only With Clear Payback
- Calculate CapEx payback before buying equipment and capture margin where unit economics make sense.
- Iterate: buy equipment that pays for itself quickly and expand machining capability gradually.