Gavin, GBC Queensland, Roma QLD

Meet Gavin who started a handyman small business and has since hired four employees. His business has expanded to include lawn mowing and firewood manufacturing.

Gavin started his small business by providing handyman services. With the help of his business coach, Gordon, and Many Rivers’ financial services, he has been able to expand to have three different entities which each offer different services. Today he operates his new company, GBC Queensland Pty Ltd, and now trades as three different entities – Roma Handyman Services, Roma Firewood and G. Brown Contracting.

“I know that Gordon has my back and he’s let me know of other services that are available if I need them. For example, solicitors to draw up contracts and things like this. Gordon has been very helpful and supportive and even linked me up with contacts within local government. I can’t recommend him enough.”

Keep reading to hear Gavin describe his small business journey.

Meet Gavin

I’m have been operating for a year now. I am a handyman and I do lawn mowing. We do work for four real estate businesses at the moment and three motels plus regular clients and a we have a government contract with Horizon Housing.

We are also testing the waters with firewood too. So, we collect firewood and then we process it and pack it into the packs and I have a deal with one buyer who distributes the packs to service stations around Australia.

I was a truck driver for two and a half year before that.

A lady from APM employment recommended Many Rivers.  They are in the same building as Many Rivers. When I started working with Gordon I was just one man with an old lawnmower and old whipped snipper. But is was only for a few months and then I spoke to Gordon.

I was just sick of being away from home as a truck driver. I just wanted to be at home more.

At the moment, I have four staff plus myself. One full-time, two part-time and one casual. I just hired a secretary and she does 15 hours a week. At the end of the day, it is a 24/7 responsibility and you have to be able to work around other people’s schedules. We just got another job with Westfield Shopping Centre so we have to work there on Sundays. Be prepared to work seven days a week.

Working with Many Rivers

We went through cashflow and all the basics of business. We really hit the ground running and things have just gone expediential. So, the main assistance that I needed was financial assistance to gear up and service what we are doing. I have four vehicles in the fleet now as well as mowers and trailers etc. I’ve put a lot of my own money into it too, obviously, to set it up. It’s a small business that started with one man and a van and has grown to what we are doing now. There is still potential for growth for us as far as I am concerned.

I also know that Gordon has my back and he’s let me know of other services that are available if I need them. For example, solicitors to draw up contracts and things like this. Gordon has been very helpful and supportive and even linked me up with contacts within local government. I can’t recommend him enough.

There was the original loan that I received from Many Rivers to get my equipment all set up, at that time I was very small and I only had a dozen clients by then. After about 12 months I paid that off and got another loan to buy some more gear and more vehicles.

Biggest Success

The development and growth of my business, and that I have been able to give other people the opportunity to be employed and give them a job.

Biggest Challenge

Accounting and that sort of thing. When you take on new clients the biggest thing is the cashflow and managing payments, because often they pay monthly which is a challenge because we have weekly wages so I have to make sure we have enough money for the month. Like any small business that is the biggest challenge, managing cashflow and accounts.

Future Goals for Gavin’s small business

I would like to get into the firewood more. My businesses are really multi-faceted with the handyman as one arm of it. We separated it at the end of the month from a sole trader to a company. Basically, I have three entities now. I have bought a truck and trailer and a workshop. The handyman and lawnmower are stand alone. We operate our businesses through our new company GBC Queensland Pty Ltd and now trade as three different entities – Roma Handyman Services, Roma Firewood and G. Brown Contracting. It has all come off the back of the handyman business.

Thanks Gavin for sharing your small business journey.

We want to encourage more and more people to take that first step towards building on their small business ideas, or their existing business.

We’re here to support you the whole way.

Please take the Small Business Self-Assessment and see if we are right for you.

If you loved hearing Gavin’s small business journey and would like to read another, take a look at Drew’s business journey. Drew owns Dee Pee Electrical Contractors, which is an electrical salvaging small business, in Roma QLD.

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