Looking to buy/start local service biz

3,485 Views | 27 Replies | Last: 4 days ago by tbone94
Houstonag2015
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
4:40a, 1/25/26
Hey guys. My wife and I (class of 2018 and 2014 respectively) are throwing around the idea of evacuating Houston with our two boys to come home and raise our family here. My parents as well as my sister and her family are here now also, so it's a no brainer for us.

I own a small commercial roofing company in Houston but lord knows CS needs another roofing company, and I really would like to never have to go to Houston for work again so I'm open to switching completely. I would love to find another local service biz to start or even purchase. I prefer commercial/B2B if possible but open to residential/B2C as well.

We just don't want to raise a family in Houston or even go there in general. Came to the forum to post this and saw someone asked a similar question about local businesses that need more competition, but didn't see anything. Feel free to email me at aginhouston at gmail. TIA guys would love to make the move!
Reply Quote
10
Mister Shipwreck
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
10:13a, 1/25/26
Good luck, is all I have to offer. Sorry.
Reply Quote
1
plant science guy
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
9:30a, 1/26/26
Based on that other thread it really does seem like everything that people may be willing to spend money on is already crowded.

Unless you and I start an airline together.
Reply Quote
6
EliteElectric
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
10:14a, 1/26/26
Tough market here for SBO. There are a lot of legitimate small business owners and also a good portion of former students who made a lot of money in other industries then decided they needed a business n BCS to fulfill their narcissistic/vanity needs, so they come back here and open a business that doesn't need to be profitable or cash flow properly and stick their name on it. That wreaks havoc on SBO's who are trying to make a buck and now suddenly have competition from someone who doesn't need to be here, or to be profitable but rather wants to be here for vanity reasons.
www.elitellp.net/

Reply Quote
7
Hornbeck
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
11:15a, 1/26/26
AG
You will need a corny tv ad if you want to be a roofer here.

The "Roofer Girl" is taken. Maybe you want to be the "Roofer Dude", I dunno.
Reply Quote
maroon barchetta
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Hornbeck • 3:24p, 1/26/26
Hornbeck said:
You will need a corny tv ad if you want to be a roofer here.

The "Roofer Girl" is taken. Maybe you want to be the "Roofer Dude", I dunno.


"Girl".
Reply Quote
1
Hornbeck
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to maroon barchetta • 3:28p, 1/26/26
AG
That's like saying I'm a "Boy".

I'm in my 50s.
Reply Quote
1
tu ag
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
5:19p, 1/26/26
AG
From my (limited) knowledge of the market, here are a few things we need more of:

-appliance repair
-painters
-plumbers
Reply Quote
4
Monywolf
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
6:11p, 1/26/26
A quality fence company.
Reply Quote
6
tu ag
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Monywolf • 6:27p, 1/26/26
AG
Monywolf said:
A quality fence company.

Almost made my list. So I 2nd this.
Reply Quote
SlimM
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Monywolf • 6:33a, 1/27/26
AG
Monywolf said:
A quality fence company.

You're not alone!
https://texags.com/forums/35/topics/3592003
Reply Quote
maddiedou
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to tu ag • 8:42a, 1/27/26
AG
tu ag said:
From my (limited) knowledge of the market, here are a few things we need more of:

-appliance repair
-painters
-plumbers


I will address this

Appliance repair The ones we have seem pretry good but the problem everybody complains that the rate is 125.00 plus which if unless the machine is 1500 plus I amnjust going to buy a new one

Also trying to get Noah to start his A/C / appliance business
But his main guy is headed to some kind of secret service in Marines so now he is looking

Painters I can help on the painters I have two very good painters that would rather work on my jobs than their own because they know they will get paid by me ( yes homeowners have not paid them sometimes)

Plumbers I have my own but he is getting older and I myself is looking for a younger guy but he is by far the best

Fencing This is about the easiest job there is but again cost always plays a factor of getting the job

Last. Employees suck now and I am to old (well not really old tired of working 7 days a week ) So from a business perspective the owner can not be everywhere on each job and makes them depend on others (who show up late, does not show up at all, leaves early ) And that makes it hard to schedule

Thats it

maddiedou
Reply Quote
1
plant science guy
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
9:01a, 1/27/26
Quick reaction to Maddiedou's post:

It looks like the most likely place you'll actually be able to find customers is plumbing and fencing.

Lets say you start your own company.

If you aren't already a plumber, where are you supposed to learn? You'd have to apprentice under someone else and then leave once you've got experience. How much does an apprentice plumber make and how long do you have to apprentice for before you're competent?

Fencing is simple, I agree. We helped my dad build fence growing up. But it takes at least 2 people so you run into the problem of having employees. To be competitive I imagine you can't pay yourself much more than $15 an hour, plus you have the headache of running the business, figuring out taxes and insurance an whatever. Do you have to get permits to build fence?

I'm not saying it's not worth it. Did I miss anything? I'm trying to do my homework and help OP as well.
Reply Quote
EliteElectric
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
10:04a, 1/27/26
Don't forget licensing, in Texas anyone (except the home owner) must be licensed.

I don't know about plumbing but in our trade that requires 10000 hours of experience as a Journeyman and passing the exam. I would imagine plumbing has similar requirements.
www.elitellp.net/

Reply Quote
1
Broncos
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
8:16a, 1/28/26
A local news network. KBTX needs some competition.
Reply Quote
18
Hornbeck
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Broncos • 9:12a, 1/28/26
AG
Broncos said:
A local news network. KBTX needs some competition.

That tracks....
Reply Quote
1
techno-ag
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
10:49a, 1/29/26
AG
If you're looking for an existing business try https://www.bizbuysell.com/

It's always fun to poke around and see if you can figure out which businesses are for sale in town. They're kind of vague on the details until you contact the seller but you can get clues from the listings sometimes.
The left cannot kill the Spirit of Charlie Kirk.
Reply Quote
BCSWguru
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
11:09a, 1/29/26
fencing is easy? i need to replace one side of a wooden fence. any takers?
Reply Quote
maddiedou
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
11:58a, 1/29/26
AG
Send me a text
979
Eight two o
l 87o

But it will be at least 3 weeks before i can do it

Also that wiggle guy seems to get alot of recommendation so maybe him if you cant wait three weeks
maddiedou
Reply Quote
histag10
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to BCSWguru • 12:22p, 1/29/26
AG
We have a pretty great subcontractor for fencing. Can pass on his info if you like. He is out of Houston, but does a lot of work for my husband around here (and generally beats the prices of the few local places, and offers a good warranty)
Reply Quote
1 edit
Hornbeck
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to BCSWguru • 12:36p, 1/29/26
AG
BCSWguru said:
fencing is easy? i need to replace one side of a wooden fence. any takers?

My neighbors think I'm crazy, but I do all mine myself.
Reply Quote
maroon barchetta
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Hornbeck • 1:06p, 1/29/26
Hornbeck said:
BCSWguru said:
fencing is easy? i need to replace one side of a wooden fence. any takers?

My neighbors think I'm crazy, but I do all mine myself.


Those two things aren't necessarily related.
Reply Quote
4
RockyMountainAg
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
5:59p, 1/29/26
AG
Start a mobile pet grooming service. The ones in town do not return phone calls. We called three of them multiple times and no one called back. We even offered to pay double the going rate and still no call backs.
Reply Quote
1
tu ag
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to RockyMountainAg • 7:19p, 1/29/26
AG
Double?
Hmmmmm...I like animals.
Reply Quote
EvenPar
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
7:42p, 1/29/26
AG
I'd try this…

Make a list of every company(small business) you paid money to in 2025.

Take that list and narrow down to which types you might like to own/operate yourself.

Once narrowed down to what you could see yourself doing, make a list of comparative businesses in BCS. Using their web sites and social media find those that have owners 65+ years old.

Introduce yourself to the owners and determine if they'd be in the market to sell.

Numbers show a much higher success rate when buying as opposed to a start up. And you'd be surprised how many boomers just close up their business when they are tired or burnt out of working, leaving money on the table.
Reply Quote
7
AgsWin11
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Houstonag2015 • 10:02p, 1/29/26
AG
Would like to talk to you more about what you're looking for. Currently out of town will be back next week how can we connect ?
Reply Quote
AgsWin11
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to AgsWin11 • 10:04p, 1/29/26
AG
7one3 -seven 0 two - three 0 nine 2
Reply Quote
tbone94
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
8:33p, 1/31/26
AG
Weigle Fence is the answer to your fencing needs
Reply Quote
Refresh
Page 1 of 1
 
×
subscribe Verify your student status
See Subscription Benefits
Trial only available to users who have never subscribed or participated in a previous trial.