Grow Slowly, Learn Fast: A Rent-to-Own Owner's Playbook for Starting and Scaling

Send us Fan Mail Carson Hostetler never planned a career in sheds. He moved to Texas for a job that fell through, started selling sheds online through his brother's connection, and later joined a young shed manufacturer as a salesperson. The founders were around 21 and 22, the company was about a year old, and they asked him to serve as president. When a founder left, Carson took his shares. The deal was five years of sales targets in exchange for equity, which he describes as golden handcuffs. The company began in a founder's dad's backyard and grew as revenue allowed, adding offices, shop space, and gravel one step at a time. A hauling division was tried and later replaced by third party trucking because the numbers did not work. The team also narrowed its lane, dropping large barn style builds to focus on standard storage sheds with options like doors and windows. Carson sums up the difference between starting and growing: starting takes grit and a willingness to do anything, while growing means improving a little at a time. Carson later bought a rent-to-own "business in a briefcase" from a friend, slowly built the contract side, sold back part of his manufacturing shares, and about two years ago committed fully to Advantage RTO. Today he partners with manufacturers, buys their agreements, approves each contract, and handles past due calls, pickups, and early purchase requests himself. Most of his agreements run 60 months on a 10 by 12 shed with monthly payments, and used buildings resell well. He works in Texas, Arizona, Oklahoma, and Louisiana and researches each state's rent-to-own laws before partnering. Carson joined the NSRA board last January to learn from owners 10 and 20 years ahead and to give back. Pete and Carson close on crossover between furniture, tire and wheel, and sheds. Carson's advice to newcomers is to talk to people 20 years ahead and ask whether you can live with their stresses. APRO Association of Professional Rental Organizations RNR Tire Express Custom wheels & tires with flexible rent-to-own options. Find a store near you today! Wow Brands Digital Marketing for the RTO industry - Including Web design, SEO, ad, and much more under one roof Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show Join The RTO Newsletter: https://bit.ly/RTOPODnewsletter Subscribe on Apple: https://apple.co/4wpbUqF Subscribe on Spotify: https://bit.ly/RTOPODspotify Learn More About Sponsorship: https://bit.ly/RTOPODsponsor