From TRASH to CASH ► $200K Business Turnaround

[@zacharycavacas7833]

Man I smoke too much. Thanks Mike for coming out. I learned a lot, and it was a great experience.

[@xbebe]

That’s the first step brother, lol jk I hope the best for you man

[@jonbauer2977]

You got my mind racing with this idea and the gold mine idea you have. Way to go Zach! I'm truly in awe.

[@StuntDummyLives]

You should check bakeries for buckets. I buy them here for 50 cents each and they always have stacks of them to get rid of. Also, most of them are white with labels that can be washed off or covered with a sticker of your own.

[@thunderusnight]

Hey man I love your informative and honest way of speaking, and I really loved seeing into your business. Would you consider running a KZbin channel talking about it? I would love to see more of what goes into the business and to watch you grow! Either way I know you'll do very well, good luck!

[@christitus6436]

What a dawg. Great work ethic.

[@mndtole]

Could he expand into worm farming along with the compost.Lots of good fishing in VT

[@Notmuchhutch]

This is a good guy! I can’t wait to see the return and see how Zach does!

[@duaneayers6117]

He told the truth about every nursing home in America. Their only goal is the money. I've seen what he has seen and it's sad.

[@natas1603]

This man is amazing The branded buckets would be amazing but otherwise guy is killing it

[@jackmcdonough2679]

Was thinking the same thing - real simple and cheaper, Maybe an investment in a small packer customized truck. Love this guy

[@jonbauer2977]

If the compost makes no real money... raise the price and give the compost back to them for their small gardens. You could even work with a local gardener to get info about the benefits of home gardening and the excitement of the ease of self wicking bucket container gardening. Adding value with something that isn't making much money. Upping the price which pays for the composting money you are making now. Clears out the compost, continually mixing it with not just thier own scraps but over 500 peoples scraps. I bet that compost is super nice. Not to mention, you are already going to their house to pick up the scraps.. when it's time for fresh compost, they request you drop off a bucket!

[@TzUuup]

Sounds like a great idea until they realize they can do it themselves for free

[@jonbauer2977]

@@TzUuup I can make Fetacinne Alfredo but still go to Olive Garden occasionally. Not everyone has the space or willingness. That's my guess.

[@TzUuup]

@@jonbauer2977 they did the work already why not just leave the bucket in their backyard until they're ready to use it in their garden Instead of being double charged

[@jonbauer2977]

@@TzUuup double charged? I never said that. Added value... sure. you mix 1 persons scraps with everyone else's along with the proper materials and turning, time, etc to create a rich compost and give it back to them.

[@Losomar]

Best turn around so far

[@m.creekrenovations]

If his numbers are right with revenue at $187k and gross profit of $130k, he’s running at 70% profit margin….thats insane!!

[@zacharycavacas7833]

It's right!

[@Poppykat9866]

Employees are a vaery expensive aspect of a small business and there is this gray zone where hiring can grow your business but lose you money, so you have to push your business into a bigger format to balance it back out/grow. (Former small restaurant owner)

[@craigmacher8439]

Expenses are the truck and gas?

[@nicholasreed514]

Zach is the real deal. Awesome guy!

[@jvick953]

I love it. This guy is gonna be mayor of that town soon. I look forward to fridays. Wish you uploaded them on Mondays, so maybe I'd look forward to Mondays. Lol

[@richardstone5241]

Don't try to hire an "employee". Bring in a "Limited Partner" who gets a share of the "PROFIT". Work hard and earn more! Did you ever consider raising high quality pigs like Kune Kune pigs and getting TOP DOLLAR for the meat? Also, have you considered taking in the debris from tree trimmers, yard clippings etc. and making compost? And, how about "WASTE COOKING OIL" you can make your own Diesel Fuel and eliminate your fuel costs!

[@zacharycavacas7833]

I don't raise pigs, and don't collect cooking oil. I do get a lot of wood chips, etc from those companies.

[@richardstone5241]

@@zacharycavacas7833 Good luck, hope things work out for you!

[@1234GOPRO]

Get a vinyl wrap that shows blue buckets inside his truck bed.

[@jackmcdonough2679]

I hope Kubota or Volvo maybe CAT would look at this as an opportunity to promote this guy and help him with a new tractor

[@PremiumFuelOnly]

They dont make money giving away equipment. They might give him a shirt lol.

[@jackmcdonough2679]

@@PremiumFuelOnly I understand they don't make money giving away equipment that is simple economics but with this platform you never know who may want to promote their product and loan/lease just for the good will. It can be a write off their P&L so I don't think it hurts to promote.

[@craigmacher8439]

I would think that you could pre sell the dirt yard bags. Start giving flyers to your customers in march.

[@Tobynsocks]

If he could do it on a larger scale and get in with like a local feed supply store those bags would absolutely sell out. I mean if it was possible people in my area would pay upwards of $50 for a yard. As a landscaper I've noticed the loan you get nowadays is just screened crap from construction sites. It used to be from farmlands. It has just gotten so bad and so expensive because it seems like you're paying for a little sticks along with glass

[@caiomoura9637]

People are so afraid to raise prices

[@ChristianSalveti]

All he needs to do is contract with 3-4 landscape supply yards or companies or large landscape companies. Rent a loader for 1 week every quarter and tell them to send triaxles quarterly to take 1000’s of yards out maybe even monthly.

[@jdude000]

Mike, I like how you offer copilot as a solution for routing but don't push it as THE solution despite it being in your best self interest. You're a stand up guy and a big role model for me. I would love to meet you someday.

[@zacharycavacas7833]

Yeah he definitely wasn't pushy about it or weird about it.

[@Andres-xi7tw]

StopSuite is what this guy needs, I own a glass recycling company and all the compost people use it.

[@ryansepaniak2033]

Zach my man I wish you were in Pennsylvania have been trying to establish the same business in my town

[@perishthoughts]

It seems like you need someone experienced with scalability (how to scale up pickup of scraps ie contracting out pickup, efficient pickup routing so no waste of gas/time, branding & growing sales of compost, growing each side of the business ie: commercial clients/residential, having an employee benefits & retention package). Automate your processes as much as possible (invoices, payment, paychecks). Cool Concept, love that you're helping the environment & making bank!

[@Kushert]

Seems like a good business. Nice niche.

[@Lawn-Stewards]

One word to summarize this episode.. Inspiring

[@brickriver9627]

Such a nice guy. Needs to raise prices to 30$. Get automated. No one is going to feel bad for him when it goes under. So don’t let it happen.

[@ronkruchten5867]

Zach, you are amazing. I believe that God is blessing you with this incredible business opportunity for having overcome your addictions and trying so hard to be such a good man, husband, father and friend, after all you've been through in the past. Don't blow it! RAISE YOUR PRICES as Mike suggested. It might seem hard but it really isn't with the right mindset. Sometimes you have to be tough for your children and their future, even if you're personally content at the moment with things as they are. Start making some serious money and packing it away for the hard times that are coming.

[@guidedbyvoices23]

Great name music mountain..

[@urbanrootslandscaping3874]

Great episode

[@RayWilliamJohansen]

This is probably a good idea that would work in a state like california where theres a lot of tree huggers

[@joehanika]

Keep up the hustle! Congrats on the sobriety, too!

[@gio_32]

Raise your prices. If people push back give them a discount or give them an extra bucket and make less trips to their house for pick up

[@zacharycavacas7833]

Easy to say, hard to do for me unfortunately

[@Tobynsocks]

I like and respect Mike first content and what he does however at some point people have to realize on these business turnarounds it's spend more on marketing raise prices blah blah it's the same spiel. We as business owners should take way more pride and responsibility in providing more to our employees. Pay them more take pride in building a future for your guys that are making you money . I literally tell customers what my guys make so they understand that I'm taking care of my guys so their families can eat family semi comfortable lives. Obviously the numbers have to make sense we all should try to do a better job stop taking care of our people because at the end of the day we are responsible for their livelihoods

[@irontale1834]

Tbh this is smart

[@stonemullins9602]

Algorithm

[@bubba8020]

I

[@alvinmendaros]

He can’t keep employees because that job stinks 😷 👃

[@zacharycavacas7833]

That's a fact. That's why I start them at $25 an hour

[@dylanstevely1443]

That’s just insane, you got to be crazy to pay 22 dollars to fill up a bucket with food and have it taken

[@cmzasada1]

girl gets caught with a weed pipe, yall show a crack pipe wtf

[@ronkruchten5867]

You sound like an expert on the subject. (Those are random images pulled off the Internet; it's not a How-to Documentary on proper techniques of drug abuse etiquette...)

[@Nebuchadnezzar357]

Who’s buying the soil

[@zacharycavacas7833]

Locals, and my customer base mainly

[@Nebuchadnezzar357]

How did u find these customera

[@nickd5591]

I just did a few deliveries of this compost soil (Williston VT area) At $120. YDw/tax *delivery not included* Customers are NOT happy.. It was around $70 a yard last year! Black Gold is what I call it now.. The quality isn't any better either. I expect my sales to fall off soon.

[@zacharycavacas7833]

​@@nickd5591That's not me lol

[@zacharycavacas7833]

​@@nickd5591I'm the only one who's delivers my soil. maybe your thinking of Vermont Compost?