After selling my painting franchise for $1.46 million, I needed a break and some time to reset. In my mind, I wanted to do something completely different but I just didn’t know what that was yet. After a couple vacations and several months of thought, I came to a realization… I could not think of a better idea than a trade business. The demand was high, the overhead was low, the bar for professionalism and standing out was low, the ability to build wealth was high and the time (AI disruption) was great. When I sold, for some reason I told myself I needed to try something different, by why? This was and is such a great industry to build wealth and freedom in.
So I decided to jump back into the arena, only this time I did plan to approach it differently. There were two things I wanted to avoid. Franchise fees and debt. The good news was I already had the playbook on how to run a good painting business and this time I was going to start from scratch without debt and without ongoing royalties.
The startup phase in business can be hard for many reasons. But when you have a playbook and you choose the right industry, you can actually gain traction much faster than you might think. By month 3 in my new business, I had already hit a $19K profit month. I will tell you a little bit about how that was achievable so fast and why choosing the right type of business model is key.
One big reason I was able to achieve this was by taking advantage of the subcontractor model. I am able to keep my overhead low and utilize quality subcontractors to partner with and who already have all of the necessary equipment. This in turn, makes me the marketing, sales, and project management engine. Not only is this an easier starting point, but it's scalable.
Another reason I was successful was utilizing a marketing approach that encompasses free and effective strategies first, and then layers in paid strategies carefully. Most people either only do free/cheap strategies and never really hit the growth gear or they jump into all kinds of paid strategies and they burn cash. Knowing what drives leads in the door that you can convert is a way to get revenue quickly.
Choosing the right industry, like the blue collar industry, is also a key component of having early start-up success. The blue collar industry is full of unprofessional, unreliable people. This is where your corporate background can be an advantage. Simply by looking professional, doing what you say you will, and being respectful, you can outdo the competition.
As I always say, this journey is achievable and worth it, but that doesn't make it easy. However if you are willing to take the risk and put in the work, it can change your life. Some of the wealthiest people I know own painting, landscaping, and pest control companies.
Until next time,
Zac
P.S. Hit reply anytime. I will be reading everything and I would honestly love to know what brought you here.