How This 23-Year-Old Profits by Renting Out 200 Used Washers and Dryers. Ep. #102
Dec 9, 2024
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Kyler Liston, a 23-year-old entrepreneur from Orem, Utah, transformed a $30k investment into Utah Appliance Rental, a booming business renting out washers and dryers. He shares valuable insights into the transition from renting recreational equipment to essential appliances, emphasizing market validation via Facebook Marketplace. Kyler discusses the financial perks of renting versus buying, the importance of customer focus, and the impact of flexible side hustles, all while navigating the ethical responsibilities in the rental industry.
Kyler leveraged Facebook Marketplace to validate his appliance rental idea, turning a $30k investment into a near-passive income business with minimal hours spent weekly.
By focusing on a subscription model and customer communication, he successfully addressed common concerns like theft and service reliability while making renting more convenient than ownership for his clients.
Deep dives
Unconventional Business Start
A young entrepreneur leveraged Facebook Marketplace to test his idea of renting washers and dryers on a month-to-month basis. Upon returning from a cruise, he was surprised by the high demand, leading him to invest $30,000 in washers and dryers. He emphasizes that many potential business owners are deterred by concerns about insurance and contracts, advocating instead for a practical approach, which involves throwing the appliances on a porch and accepting payments via Venmo. This mindset reflects the essence of entrepreneurship: problem-solving and evolving through hands-on experience.
Recognizing Market Opportunities
Influenced by his grandparents' rental business, the entrepreneur identified a gap in the market for apartments lacking washers and dryers. Through firsthand experience delivering appliances and understanding common installation issues, he realized the potential for his own rental business. His initial success with a different rental idea, a PVC game known as nine square, also contributed to his confidence in recognizing lucrative opportunities. This background, combined with regular postings on Facebook Marketplace, allowed him to validate ideas effectively.
Scaling the Business
To grow his washer and dryer rental business, he initially purchased new sets but later transitioned to used ones, which proved to be more cost-effective without sacrificing demand. He implemented a subscription-based payment system to streamline transactions and further enhance customer service. The entrepreneur discovered he could efficiently manage upkeep and installation by leveraging tools like a stair climber dolly, allowing for easier delivery to various locations. This operational improvement allowed him to balance between being hands-on and keeping time commitments manageable.
Addressing Concerns and Misconceptions
The entrepreneur actively counters common apprehensions about his business model, such as theft and service reliability. He adopted a $600 insurance policy to mitigate risks, focusing on the crucial importance of communication with renters in the event of payment issues. Furthermore, he pointed out that most of his customers prefer the convenience of renting over purchasing and owning their machines outright. This perspective reframes his business as an invaluable service, offering key advantages that address financial challenges faced by many potential clients.
In this episode, I sit down with Kyler, founder of Utah Appliance Rental (utahappliancerental.com), to talk about how he turned a $30k investment into a business that generates near-passive income requiring only 5-10 hours of work per week. We talk about how he started his appliance rental company, scaling, and leveraging Facebook Marketplace to validate ideas.
Timestamps below. Enjoy! --- Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-yt Ask me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-ask Learn more about me:http://tkopod.co/p-cjk Learn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cof Follow me on Twitter here: http://tkopod.co/p-x Free weekly business ideas newsletter:http://tkopod.co/p-nl Share this podcast:http://tkopod.co/p-all Scrape small business data:http://tkopod.co/p-os --- 00:00 The Birth of an Idea: Washer and Dryer Rentals 02:56 Navigating Challenges: The Reality of Entrepreneurship 06:11 Scaling the Business: From Rentals to Deliveries 09:01 Understanding the Market: Customer Needs and Preferences 11:47 Operational Insights: Tools and Strategies for Success 15:07 Addressing Concerns: Insurance, Risks, and Customer Relations 17:57 The Bigger Picture: Financial Education and Ethical Entrepreneurship 20:47 Final Thoughts: Building a Sustainable Business Model
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