Here is a "0 to $100k Blueprint" tailored for your Skool community members. It is stripped of your personal details so it applies to any solo operator starting out.
🚀 The Solo Operator’s Roadmap: $0 to $100k (Without Debt)
Hitting your first $100,000 feels impossible when you’re staring at a calendar with no jobs. But if you break it down, $100k is just $8,333 a month.
That is roughly four $2,000 days a month. That’s it.
The mistake most guys make is thinking they need a bucket truck and a chipper to start. You don't. You need a saddle, a saw, and a strategy.
Here is the Lean Model to hitting $100k in Year 1:
Phase 1: The "No-Chipper" Model (Months 1-6)
Goal: High profit margins, zero debt.
The quickest way to go broke is buying a chipper before you have the cash flow to feed it. Chippers equal maintenance, fuel, and dump fees.
The Strategy:
* Sell "Drop & Stack": Market to homeowners with acreage or wood stoves. Offer a discount if they keep the wood.
* The Pitch: "I can do this for $1,500 if I stack the wood. If you hire the big guys, they’ll charge $2,500 because they have to haul it."
* Rent for the "Must-Haul" Jobs: If a client demands removal, rent a chipper/mini-skid for that day.
* The Rule: Charge the customer the rental fee + 20%. They pay for the machine, not you.
* Low Overhead: Work out of a pickup truck. Don't upgrade until the truck can't physically carry the cash you're making.
Phase 2: The "Gap Filler" (Contract Climbing)
Goal: stability and networking.
In the beginning, the phone won't ring every day. On the days you don't have your own leads, do not sit on the couch.
The Strategy:
* Sub-contract yourself: Sell your climbing services to other companies for $400-$600/day.
* Why this works: You have zero costs. No gas, no dump fees, no sales effort. It is pure profit.
* The Math: 2 days of contract climbing a week = ~$50k/year. You only need to find another $50k in your own jobs to hit your goal.
Phase 3: The "Minimum Minimum"
Goal: Stop working for free.
New owners accept tiny jobs just to feel busy. This kills your hourly rate.
The Rule:
* Set a Minimum Call-Out Fee: (e.g., $400).
* If a job is $200, you quote $400. If they say no, you saved yourself the gas money and wear-and-tear. Do not start the truck for pocket change.
Phase 4: Digital Real Estate
Goal: Get found.
You don't need a $5,000 website. You need Google Business Profile.
* Get verified immediately.
* Upload photos of technical work (rigging, climbing). Show them you aren't just a guy with a ladder.
* Get 5 reviews in your first month. Ask family, friends, or the neighbors of the jobs you just did.
🛑 The Trap to Avoid
Don't buy the shiny toy (lift/chipper) to "look" like a business. Be a business first. Buy the toys when the tax write-off makes sense, not before.
Who here is running the "No-Chipper" model right now? Drop a comment 👇