Forum Discussion

81 Replies

  • FCG's avatar
    FCG
    Contributor 3

    This is a Great Question!

    My answer is equipment. A commercial mower and trailer would allow us to take on more jobs directly, serve more clients, and most importantly launch the program closest to our hearts: free lawn care for elderly veterans in our community who can no longer do it themselves. Right now that vision lives on paper. The right equipment makes it real.

    Would also love to put it towards operational foundation, Getting paid / pro versions of Jobber itself, as well as other necessary Programs a business needs to thrive.

  • Funds would be allocated toward licensing, insurance, and operational expenses to ensure the business remains compliant and protected as it grows. I would also set aside a portion to secure materials upfront for smaller projects, which would allow me to complete jobs faster and build stronger trust with clients. This level of financial support would help relieve some of the pressure of balancing personal income with business expenses and allow me to focus more intentionally on growth.

  • At A&A Trades & Acquisitions, LLC, the plan for the Jobber Grant is to invest in growth, efficiency, and community impact.

    1. Strengthen Operations: We’ll use the funds to upgrade tools, technology, and systems that streamline scheduling, communication, and project management. This ensures we can serve more clients reliably without sacrificing quality.

    2. Enhance Training & Career Development: Part of the grant will support mentoring and hands-on training for new team members. We want to build skilled tradespeople who can grow into meaningful, long-term careers.

    3. Expand Services Safely: The grant will help us implement additional safety measures, equipment, and resources to maintain high-quality work while taking on more projects for homes and businesses in our community.

    4. Give Back Locally: A portion will go toward community initiatives—educational workshops, safety programs, and supporting local homeowners and small businesses. Our goal is to ensure the communities we serve benefit directly from our growth.

    Overall, the grant will help A&A Trades & Acquisitions scale responsibly, continue delivering top-tier services, and create lasting value for both our team and the people we serve.

  • Service before myself. I will be starting up a non-profit in my area to provide reliable transportation to those without such. I am already repairing vehicles in exchange for serviced in which I am not skilled, like plumbing, carpentry, and roofing.

    • dandalabor's avatar
      dandalabor
      Contributor 4

      That is a fantastic public service! There are a lot of people without reliable transportation.

  • Erinn's avatar
    Erinn
    Contributor 2

    I’d buy a more suitable vehicle for landscaping (rav 4 can only fit so much 😂) and hope to hire on part time employees to keep up with demand while I grow the business to get us all full time work we love. 

  • I would buy a dedicated high roof work van with a great wrap around. I am still using a personal mini- van to get my jobs completed.

    • dandalabor's avatar
      dandalabor
      Contributor 4

      We bought a Transit 350 and man does it hold a lot of tools and equipment. Best decision we made was getting rid of the pick up and purchasing the van!

  • It would pay off my tractor and buy a replacement truck. My truck has gone about as far as it wants to at 325,000 miles

  • judithvirag's avatar
    judithvirag
    Verified Community Coach

    I would use it for moving my offices. We are growing and seem to have outgrown our current space.  

  • PestFreeCanada's avatar
    PestFreeCanada
    Verified Community Coach

    I think its only fair I start!

    I would use the grant to hire my first employee. If I had the freedom of this grant and didn't have to worry about building up my bank account to have an initial salary in the bank, I could hire the employee a lot earlier than I planned to. That extra time would be spent solely in the truck with me training and learning how my company does things differently than our competitors. I am so afraid that my first employee wouldn't offer the same level of service I am promising, but with 3-4 months of real world training before I send them out on their own, I would feel confident I could get them to a place where they can really shine.

    • Chrissy92's avatar
      Chrissy92
      Contributor 2

      Good luck with the grant! You have a well constructed plan in place. Hiring my first employee is also a goal of mine. 

    • blueocs's avatar
      blueocs
      Contributor 3

      That sounds like a solid plan. I wish you the best with the grant, and if not, I'm certain you will get there regardless! If I were to receive a grant, I'd get a good used work vehicle with a wrap (using my personal vehicle right now). There's also a training course I'm looking into, which I would need some new equipment for to implement the service into our business. 
      All the best with your business ventures!

    • Delithius's avatar
      Delithius
      Contributor 2

      Equipment  and a real employee I'm doing f everything