I recently got out of the USAF in OKC and was referred to your website. I just finished reading this thread and I cannot say thank you enough! It’s rare to find someone who puts the time and effort into making a free resource that is so helpful and geared towards bringing others up vs scaring potential business owners from trying. I’m in the process of building my first rig (Hot 8GPM 3500) and recently I’ve been feeling a bit discouraged with some self doubt, but after seeing your progress and how successful a husband and wife team can be; I cannot wait to finish my rig and to hopefully follow a similar path of having a fleet within 2 years!! Hope you guys are doing well!
-Andrew
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Welcome to civilian life. It’s been a fun adventure after 20 years of active duty service.
You’re definitely going to have hard days and challenges ahead. I still face my share of them everyday.
We currently run 3 trucks and I’m off the trucks completely. We recently completed our biggest project to date and I didn’t visit the project site once during the work. That was a weird feeling.
My advice is educate yourself daily, solve problems for customers, be honest, own mistakes, track metrics, try new forms of marketing and you’ll find your way.
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This site is owned by @Chris .
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Not something I’d be proud of.
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Be careful, your post will be deleted lol.
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Again, depends on your goal…we had an entire service area that I only visited when something broke, it was just too expensive to maintain. If your goal is to scale and grow/expand, then it is definitely something to be proud of. Honestly, if my presence is ever required, that’s a sure sign that I need better team…
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I’m very proud that my partner was able to handle it. If I don’t train the team to handle it without direct supervision I think my training programs and systems would be lacking.
My teams are also proud they handled it themselves. Hand holding is fine but not for running a business.
We have different views and that’s ok.
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Agreed. I can only be in so many places during the day. I did the initial walkthrough for the project, laid out the goals, coordinated with the team and was involved, I just didn’t have to go down to the site.
The other company I run is far more time intensive at the moment and I was there instead.
If you always have to show up to save the day your team is poorly trained and unable to adapt and overcome obstacles. I see it often with the new venture as companies send crews to us for very simple things. They just cannot handle it.
You learn everyday. I’m for sure learning things daily.
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Hey Andrew! I retired from Tinker back in 2008. AWACS by any chance?
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Yes sir! Was in the 552nd in the Computer shop for about 3 years and then Backshop for the last 2, small world!
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After year 2 we did some depot level maintenance on Master Blaster.
Sand blasted the frame and bed.
Rust prevention paint.
Raptor lined the bed.
Redid the bed wrap.
Upgraded to slim line tanks for water and SH. New aluminum ladder rack. Added a 10GPM burner a while back. She has 5 electric reels, two IGX800 10GPM’s and an AR45.
Year 2 we did $474K. We are currently running 3 trucks, on pace for $750k + in year 3.
We’ve also opened a separate window cleaning company which is getting very busy and handles all of TPW’s window cleaning jobs too.
We operate a store with custom rigs and builds out of Houston, just signed the lease for a Tampa location and currently evaluating more locations.
I hope everyone has been doing well, I wish your families well and may your businesses all prosper.
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I like how you utilized the space over the cab to hold all your pump sprayers. Clever!
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Thanks! Having a master welder and your own fab shop allows for some creative ideas to take shape.
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Well year 3 came and went. We didn’t hit the $750k goal. We hit $500k. Definitely had some serious issues and I had to step back in and run the washing company again. But things happen and you learn.
The stores are doing well. There are now 5 stores total. 4 in Texas and 1 in Tampa Florida.
We are also trailer manufacturing now. Soon rolling out a 6x8 deck over tandem aluminum trailer with around a 6k payload capacity, electric brakes, breakaway system, and bulldog hitch.
We do custom fabrication for many different industries and other installs as well. Bollards, parking garage headache bars, fire escape ladders, Cinemark contracts us, and more.
We are also parking lot striping as a separate company and painting residential and commercial as a separate company. I am spinning these new company’s up with employees who have worked for me for years and I want them to have something of their own.
The core of our company has been and will be veterans. Mostly retired but some 4-6 year members. The talent level and drive to solve all problems is large.
Looking back I am deeply fond of the forum, the friendships I’ve made here, and the people who still reach out. The random call on a Sunday to catch up recently made my day. Networking, being professional, working with others, and educating yourself will take you far.
Year 4 for washing I am running the company again and we’ve bid some large contracts, landed some, missed on others, and we are swinging at everything. My advice is take your shot at it all and use your network to succeed.
These Colors Don’t Run. Texas Forever.
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Great job Heath……awesome to see your growth. Much success for the future, take care!
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Just picked up the Allison pump, do you know what oil the gearbox takes?
80w-90 gear oil
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New addition to the fleet. Dodge 2500 Tradesman. 8FT Skid going in it soon. Pulling the Dodge 1500 over to the striping company.
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Sweet! Another truck on the road, gotta love the growth!
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