“Usually it seems like lenders are just turning and burning borrowers to make a quick buck but with CEF, it was like they were partnering with us and taking that leap of faith into entrepreneurship with us. Since then, CEF has continued to provide support."
– Christopher W. Jenkins, Owner

Q&A with Owner, Christopher W. Jenkins

Give a high level overview of your business. What products or services you offer, where you're located, etc.
SOCO INDUSTRIAL CORPORATION is a mobile equipment service and repair business operating 24-hours a day, 7-days a week in Southern Colorado. We currently offer oil changes and used oil collection for both automotive and heavy equipment applications. Additionally, we offer on-site hydraulic hose and AC hose crimping services eliminating the need to transport equipment when there is a break down. Our service truck is equipped with the tools, equipment, and inventory needed to bring a mobile shop to customers anywhere in Southern Colorado. We officially opened in July 2023 when we set out on our own but that was after 18-years of heavy equipment repair in the manufacturing and railroad industries.

How did the idea for your business come about?
My wife & I moved to Florence with our two children in 2021. I was working a delivery job at an HVAC warehouse after 10-years in the railroad industry. While making deliveries, I met a lot of contractors in remote places with heavy equipment but no repair services and saw the opportunity.

How long have you been in your industry and what do you love most about your industry?
19-years ago I started working on heavy equipment in an apprenticeship program at the Coors Brewery. After 6-years there, I left to focus on my master's degree. After graduating, I took a job with a railroad contractor and spent the next 10-years there. I love seeing something different everyday.

How did your journey lead you to Colorado Enterprise Fund?
Taking the leap into entrepreneurship meant exhausting our remaining life savings and that still wasn't going to be enough. As a brand new business entity we couldn't find any lenders that would work with us. But my banker suggested I reach out to CEF and when I did, they actually heard me out.

What was your experience like when trying to get funding for your business? Ie, how long had you been looking? Did you experience difficulties, etc.?
We had been working on funding for 3-months when we found CEF. No lenders would give us the time of day. No business history, credit lines almost maxed out, income down by 70%. We had risk written all over us. But CEF took the time to get to know us and learn about how awesome our business idea was.

What was different about working with CEF compared to other lenders?
Working with CEF was surprisingly easy. Usually it seems like lenders are just turning and burning borrowers to make a quick buck but with CEF, it was like they were partnering with us and taking that leap of faith into entrepreneurship with us. Since then, CEF has continued to provide support.

What were you able to do with the funding you received from CEF?
With the funding we got from CEF we were able to get all the equipment we needed to upfit our service truck like the hydraulic hose crimper, the oil exchanging equipment, and our welder. We were also able to get our initial inventory, uniforms, decals for the truck, and more.

What's on the horizon for you and your small business?
We are continuing to expand our services as we learn more about our customers and their challenges. We're expanding our used oil collection services by getting a second dedicated truck. On deck after that, we'll be offering equipment washing services to keep equipment clean, safe, and ready to go.

Have you worked with our Business Navigation (coaching) team? What difference has working with them made for your business?
Yes

What difference has working with them made for your business?
Running a small family-owned business has its challenges, I have to wear a lot of different hats and I don't always know what the right direction is. Having a coach available has helped give me direction and encouragement when I need it most.

What is something you're looking forward to in the next 3-6 months in your business?
I'm looking forward to having steady cash-flow. At first the phone wasn't ringing but suddenly the calls started coming in and they haven't stopped. September was a great month for us and if we can keep that momentum going through the fall then we'll be looking to on-board our first employee soon.

Is there anything else you would like to share with us?
For anyone thinking about becoming an entrepreneur, running your own business doesn't guarantee success but you have to bet on yourself if you want to win. This was my 8th startup attempt and because I learned from my mistakes and got the right kind of support, my dreams of running my own company are finally becoming reality.