A 7-Day Challenge: n8n and Claude Researched Local Businesses and Sent 90 Cold Emails
In a filmed 7-day challenge, an n8n workflow with Claude researched Dallas plumbing, HVAC and electrical businesses, sent 90 personalized cold emails, got 8 replies by day 3 and showed $1,240 from three clients by day 7, on screen only.
Who this is about: Side hustler selling AI services (@lasthumannode)
- Income claim
- Unverified claim$1,240 from three paying clients by day 7: $450, $390 and $400 Stripe payments shown on screen in his reel
- Money comes from
- Selling AI or web services to local businesses found through automated, personalized cold email.
What it takes
- Cost
- Free to self-hostn8n: Cloud plans start at €20 a month billed yearly (Starter); Pro is €50. You can also host it yourself under its Sustainable Use License, which allows internal business use; you pay for your own server.Plus Claude, Firecrawl and the other connected tools.Price checked Oct 15, 2026 on n8n.io. Prices change; check before you buy.
- Setup time
- A few daysOur estimate from the source, for one business.
- Skill needed
- Some tech skillsComfortable installing an app, pasting an API key or running a command.
Explain it simply
n8n is a tool that chains steps together automatically. In this challenge it had Claude search for local trades businesses, read their websites, and draft personalized cold emails, then tracked replies and bookings. A person still reviews what goes out; the AI does the research and first draft.
How it works
- Have n8n run a Google search for one trade in one city (here, plumbing, HVAC and electrical businesses around Dallas).
- Scrape each business's website with Firecrawl and have Claude note one specific thing the business could improve.
- Have Claude draft a short personalized email offering your service. He sent 90 on day 1, from Gmail.
- Track replies in Airtable, let Cal.com book the sales calls, and take payment with Stripe.
How it went
He showed 8 replies by day 3. By day 7, Stripe on screen showed $450, $390 and $400 payments: $1,240 against a $1,000 goal. The figures are on screen only.
- One of the three named clients is a law firm, not a trade, so the targeting wasn't only trades.
- Commenters questioned mass cold email from one Gmail account, which risks deliverability and spam-law problems.
- Promotional: the video ends with "comment BOOM for the build map," so the build is a lead magnet.
Prompt
n8n flow: Google search [trade + city] -> Firecrawl each site -> Claude:
"From this website text, note the business name, owner name if shown,
services, service area, and one specific thing they could improve (no
online booking, slow mobile site, no reviews shown). Write a 90-word email
that mentions that one thing and offers [your service] for [price]. Plain
text, no links, one question at the end."
-> save draft to Airtable -> you review -> send in small batches from a
dedicated domain with an unsubscribe line.Our version; his build map isn't public.
Business fit
Who this suits, and how:
Side hustlers selling AI or web services: pick one trade in one city and let AI do the research and first draft of each email.
Solo foundersFreelance designers and marketers: personalize outreach using what's on each prospect's website.
AgenciesLocal agencies: use the same research step to prep for sales calls.
AgenciesAnyone doing cold email: start with 20 hand-checked prospects and a proper sending setup, not a personal Gmail.
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- Make money with AI automation examplesAll 25 income automations
Similar tools
Other tools for this job, and how they differ. Chosen by our editors, never paid for.
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