May 9, 2023
In this episode of The Entrepreneurial Agent, host Paul Neal interviews special guest Brian Chalsma, the owner of The Roofing Company. With over 25 years of experience, Brian is passionate about the roofing industry. He shares his inspiring journey of entrepreneurship and his love for serving his community through roofing.
The conversation starts with Brian's experience of surviving the global financial crisis while other industries were struggling. He attributes his business's survival to the fact that he had enough systems, people, processes, and customers in place to withstand the rough patch. The decision to build a larger building may have caused some stress, but ultimately led to investment and income opportunities that are paying off today.
“...we were able to get a piece of land and build a building. And we built a building with the intention of having five units in the building and our company would occupy one and then have cash flow from the other four locations.” - Brian Chalsma
As Paul inquires at what point Brian's company decided to buy or build their own building, it becomes clear that the decision was not made lightly. The company had been consistently successful and had a variety of different offerings, so they felt their business had staying power and potential for further growth in the community. Brian emphasizes the importance of due diligence and careful planning when making such a big move.
Brian's business is unique because they have a roofing school that allows clients to see their work and provides training for the industry. They train their employees on various roofing systems to ensure technical proficiencies. Clients appreciate the expertise of their mechanics and foreman. The speaker believes that as entrepreneurs, they live by faith principles of building others up and helping them, which ultimately helps themselves and their business grow.
"Don't rush into it. Lay it out. Make sure you talk to someone like Paul so you can figure out what are your finances, are you going to be able to get the loan? Make sure you interview at least one or two builders.” — Brian Chalsma
The conversation then shifts to the importance of authenticity and setting a good example for employees and customers. Brian's company is part of a Christian CEO's group called C12 (c12group.com), and the company meetings start with a prayer. The focus of the company is on building up its employees' self-image and helping them serve their community by learning a skill. The company emphasizes that each employee has a purpose and is not a mistake.
Brian talks about the skepticism clients have when choosing roofing contractors, and how his company has worked to gain trust by having a strong focus on quality and standards set by industry organizations. The company not only works on the roof but also invests in training and teaching valuable skills to their employees. By working in the roofing industry, individuals can learn valuable skills, serve their community, and feel proud of their contributions.
In conclusion, this episode of The Entrepreneurial Agent is a great listen for anyone looking to start or grow their own business. Brian Chalsma's story is a great example of the importance of hard work, faith, and community, and how these values can lead to long-term success. Tune in to discover how Brian's business has thrived and how he has made a positive impact in his community through roofing.
Connect with Brian:
https://theroofingcompany.com/
757-867-6600
Meet the Host:
Paul Neal is the founder and Principal Funding Strategist at Vantage Point Commercial Capital, a firm that focuses on helping entrepreneurs, businesses, and real estate investors win by funding their growth and dreams in nontraditional ways.
Paul’s unique perspective has been honed over 30 years as an entrepreneur, financial strategist, professional speaker, and executive coach. He took the road less traveled choosing to leave engineering right out of college to become a serial entrepreneur. From great early successes in the 90s and 2000s, to completely losing his primary business in the Great Recession of 2008, to bouncing back and just recently selling another business for a healthy 7-figure sum…he’s experienced it all. Paul offers a wealth of experience and passion to the entrepreneurial community in an engaging, upbeat, encouraging, and witty way.
Connect with Paul:
Visit his website: https://paulneal.net
Connect with him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-neal-47b8478
Vantage Point Commercial Capital: https://vpc.capital