Today we’d like to introduce you to Nathan Peisch.
Hi Nathan, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
i was born the middle of 7 kids, same parents. They bought into y2k and moved us all over seas in 99 to Israel and became citizens until 06 when we moved back (initially temporarily) to be close to my father while he tried to restart his general contracting business. They divorced in 2010 which eventually led to me getting my GED at 16 and starting to work full time for plumber. I started my apprenticeship and stayed with it until current day. In 2020 i was working at one of the first billion dollar mechanical companies who had bought out my prior employer. I worked my way up to a top 10 technician spot out of about 1100 total techs and eventually crossed over into management as the Plumbing Department manager. As the head of dept i was essentially a business owner with their money. Running everything from the day to day dispatching/warehouse/field technical support stuff to managing, directing, and facilitating successful mergers and aquasitions of an additional 2 companies we purchased while serving in the position. Over the course of my 7 years at that particular location, i started to see the differences and pros and cons between the old school and “new school” ways of doing things. And i decided to always do my best to marry the two together in a way that would allow everyone to be able to sleep at night with their morals. Ultimately in 2021 I made the decision to move out here due to too many disagreements and issues with the disconnect between upper management at the company who had little to no prior field experience or even general knowledge on the actual trades, and the people on the ground making things happen. Initially i started out as an employee for a local shop based out of austin serving as a service technician but i very quickly started to notice the similarities and issues between what i had left back in the north east, and what was happening here. As the company who was employing me had all so been through an acquisition and was now owned by a PE firm. It was at that moment i realized, 2k miles across the country, and it was the exact same thing. For better or for worse. And with that realization i made the decision to choose the “for better.” Over the course of the next 3 weeks i handed in my notice of resignation, filed my LLC paper work, purchased a box truck to work out of sight unseen from an out of state dealer and had it transported out to my home, and got Piped Rite Plumbing Services registered with Google Business. At this time i had very little contacts in the area and about $3500 in the bank. While being responsible for about $12000 a month in house hold expenses. Realizing i didnt have the bank roll for advertising in the more conventional ways, i discovered Google LSA ads. Where i was only charged if i spoke to them on the phone for longer then 30 seconds. And if i got them on the phone for 30 seconds, i knew i could get in the house. So thats where i started. Every time the phone rang i was there. No minimum service fees, free 24/7 emergency service, anything and everything i could get my hands on, i took. And adhering to that standard, we hit our 5 year goal of total gross revenue in the first 9 months. Still just one man with one truck. and now 3.5 years later we just broke ground on our first 7 figure project and purchased our 4th new fleet vehicle. Were building aggressively. But carefully and with intention. And i think if we just keep doing that and making sure everyone #GetsPipedRite, we will continue on this trajectory and smash our goal for the year. And in doing so, continue to live up to our current mantra of “Its My Turn Now.”
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Absolutely not. Even just starting out with the first fleet vehicle we purchased. Obviously the business has no credit so i had to personally sign for and purchase our first work truck through my own credit. So as i had done with my previous vehicle purchases, i called my credit union, gave them the details, and was approved for the requested line with no money down. Which was exactly what was needed as starting out we had zero customer basis, zero work coming in, and still the full responsibility of the home’s household financials. Exuberant, we signed the pink slip, sent it back to under writing and then RESIGNED FROM MY CURRENT PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT that coming Friday. The following monday afternoon the Credit Union called me back. Informing me that underwriting had kicked the loan back due to the vehicle not qualifying for an auto loan. With a box on the back, it had to go through as an equipment loan. “Oh Great” i thought. “Another point or two in interest.” Nope. On equipment loans, they can only loan out 80% of the sale price. Requiring me to put 20% down on a 17ft 5500 cummins box truck. Bringing the required down payment to within roughly $500 of the exact amount i had in my entire bank account at the time. The following week i had my annual physical and popped for stage 3 hypertension. At 27 years old. The road is and never will be smooth. But tbh i think i like it that way. Over the years iv learned that i need something to fight. At at time, i was able to satisfy that need with literal competitive prize fighting. But as Iv grown older, iv come to realize that the need doesnt go away. And if i dont direct that energy at something productive, it can ultimately be very destructive. But it being hard is what makes it so rewarding as you hit the milestones along the way. If it was easy every body would do it. Ill take the struggle and keep the scars along with the bragging rights, every time.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Im a residential and commercial plumber with a focus on service, drains, hydronic and steam boilers, and water treatment.
What’s next?
The next big step is to move the home base closer to austin and get/build a residential/commercial shop for our operating base as we currently operate almost entirely decentralized.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.pipedriteplumbingservices.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theuglyplumberr/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086496813093
Image Credits
Nathan P
