Today we’d like to introduce you to Ricardo Herrera.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
This all started at a young age for me. From a very young age, I learned I had to work for what I wanted. When I got to high school I discovered the shop classes, mechanic, welding, auto body, and none less Woodshop. Those classes motivated me to go to school, especially woodworking!
Woodworking got me into school competitions (SkillsUSA) that got me scholarships. I went to SLCC, and the only classes I wanted to take were cabinet making, and furniture making. My counselor didn’t let me do that, so I had to enroll in construction management, which led me to taking a class that changed all my plans. In this class we got to build a house from the ground up!
After I took that class, I thought to myself I could be a handyman or a contractor of some sort. I went off, registered my business, and found a company that subcontracts people to install their gutter guard. From there my rain gutter business started.
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?
It has not been a smooth road, but nothing good come easy. It’s hard starting a business without having experience of running a business. There’s so much you have to worry about like taxes, license, bills, scheduling the list goes on.
Another big issue I’ve had has been my age. I started this business when I was 19. With that being said banks didn’t want to give me loans, my insurances were more expensive, people wouldn’t trust me to work on their home, and when I would go to work out of town hotels would want to give me a room.
All these experiences have shaped me and taught lessons, I’ve also had great mentors to help guide me.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At the moment my business focuses on seamless rain gutter installation. We are specialists at what we do, and when we step foot on your project, we get it done the right way.
When we are doing a job, I make sure we are taking care of the customer, because I want to be recommended, called back to more projects for them, be told we did a great job, and just feel appreciated for our hard work.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
There’s going to be low moments, you might want to drop everything, and quit. That’s when you need to grab control of things, it’s just a test. Like I said, “Nothing good comes easy”.
When I first started I wish I knew a lot more about taxes. It has been an experience for sure.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.upgradehomes-gutters.com
- Instagram: @UPGRADE.HOMES
- Facebook: UPGRADE.HOMESUT
