From UpFlip.
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Nathan Popa launched a pressure washing business after watching an Upflip video at only 17 years old. Starting with a $100 Facebook pressure washer, he quickly grew his first company, which then funded his new Christmas light installation business. In only two months, the Christmas light business brought in $86K alone. What’s crazy is he’s grown this one business to bring in over $100K during the 2024 holiday season.
Nathan has always had an entrepreneurial spirit and enjoys explaining how other people can get started on making money. He believes that even in a competitive market, you’re still always able to make money for yourself. What sets his Christmas lights installation business apart from others is the joy his team brings to each customer. The team rolls up in a fully wrapped trailer, blast Christmas music, and dress as Santa while installing lights.
In this episode, learn how advertising brought in a majority of Nathan’s revenue, how he balances running his own business while attending college full time, and how you can start your very own Christmas light business with very little startup costs. He also explains how he’s pushing his own comfort zone by bringing in even more high quality service and experience to his customers.
Resources:
FREE Access to 137 Most Profitable Business Ideas – https://bit.ly/40WUwwa
Download Your FREE Startup Checklist – https://bit.ly/4g1llDM
Connect With Nathan – https://www.pdxholidaylighting.com/
Timestamps:
00:00 – Start
00:54 – About the biz
01:13 – But, why Christmas lights?
02:18 – Prepping the lights
02:52 – A unique touch (for guaranteed quality!)
03:58 – Revenue
04:58 – Startup costs
05:30 – A winning spiel
06:55 – Investing on a trailer
07:12 – Attracting customers as a newbie
07:47 – Rejection is a redirection
08:18 – Fan blitz
11:04 – The best strategy for the best ROI
11:50 – Marketing and ad spend
12:19 – Avoiding common pitfalls
13:06 – Cold calling: Three possible outcomes
13:51 – Trailer setup
14:54 – An absolute must-have
15:30 – Top tip for starting out
16:13 – Background
18:10 – Cheap (but effective) installation tricks
18:57 – Light installation vs. Pressure washing
19:31 – Overhead expenses
21:07 – (Almost) Everything can be decorated!
21:37 – Getting suited up… as Santa!
22:55 – Bagging the biggest job (yet)
23:56 – Keeping customers happy
24:28 – Sourcing part-time help
25:19 – An average job site
26:40 – Estimating new jobs
27:10 – Commercial vs. Residential
27:47 – Installing male plugs
28:34 – Standing out from competition
29:17 – The roadmap to success
30:03 – Staying motivated
30:58 – Installation packages
32:48 – Grab that first win—It’s your launchpad!
34:06 – Outshining competition in a seasonal market
35:11 – The hardest lesson
35:59 – Growing pains
36:55 – Handling dissatisfied clients
37:53 – Embrace the fear, but knock anyway!
39:06 – A big misconception
39:52 – Outro
#christmaslights #christmaslightbusiness #christmaslightinstallationbusiness
