Financing: launched in a basement with a credit card and a prayer, Barringer Moving & Storage had to move itself a few times to keep up with rapid growth.

PositionBARRINGER MOVING & STORAGE

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

The idea seemed so perfect, so attainable, that Chris Barringer set up a company office in his basement, gathered supplies and a few employees, and charged the whole start-up on his wife's credit card.

Since that modest beginning in 2010, Barringer Moving & Storage has blossomed into a profitable endeavor with 28 staff members, an 88,000-square-foot storage facility and an arsenal of trucks ready to roll anywhere east of Texas. His company provides services including packing, office and furniture moving, loading and unloading, prepping and packing, unpacking and organizing, post-move cleaning, turnkey services, logistics and long-term storage and services for vacant homes.

"Some of my old employees said, 'Chris, start another company,' and they said to pray about it, and I did. I talked to some of my old clients and asked, if I started a new company, if they would hire us. They all said, 'How soon can you start?"' Barringer says.

Going back into business ownership, in what would be his third attempt, had risks. Barringer, 55, previously owned a moving business that didn't fare well. He then opened a piano restoration company, but that wasn't the ticket, either. Still, he and his wife, Melissa, were determined. So, with an initial investment, he says, of about $5,000, Barringer Moving & Storage took root in Newton, with Melissa taking care of administrative tasks at home.

"My uncle had a little 5,000-square-foot building, and he allowed me to start (storage) in that building, and within two years, I had six buildings. I was renting that little building, and it filled up quickly," Barringer says. "In between the two moving companies, I also had become a Realtor, so I had a lot of contacts. The office was in our basement, but it's in the new building in Newton now."

With everything self-funded, the Barringers were careful with spending: "We knew the expenses of the business, so we were very frugal with our money. We still are. But I knew what I was doing; I had the clientele base. And we've averaged 58 percent growth (in revenue) per year in five years."

Barringer purchased his first necessities, such as blankets and dollies.

"There wasn't much initial cost. We started on a shoestring. We initially rented trucks as we needed them. As you can imagine, Penske really loved me for a few years," he says. "Now, we own five trucks and lease one. We're going to continue to buy more as we can, when we have the time and the...

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT