Thank you for checking out What’s Your Margin! My name is Corey Sedrel.  I started my self employment journey in 2007 when I realized the corporate rate race was not for me and would never get me to my ultimate goal of success and freedom to drive my own life. 

I’ve started and owned a lawn care company, counter top resurfacing business and a franchise over the course of the past 12 years.  I’ve been in the lawn care and landscaping business since 2007 when I fired up an Ariens snowblower and started doing residential snow removal for my neighbors in Des Moines, IA.

I’ve made a few good decisions and a made a lot of mistakes.  The journey has not been easy but has been very rewarding.  Starting a business with $250 and and a vision seems pretty crazy looking back. 

I’ve met a lot of amazing people along the way and have learned priceless things along the way.  I grew up in Des Moines, IA and majored in Account Information Systems at Central College in Pella, IA.  After college I started at Principal Financial Group as an Investment Analyst.  It was that job that opened my eyes to the possibilities of investing in yourself and the heights you can reach with the right direction in life.

Although staring at a computer 50 hours a week wasn’t my cup of tea I learned a lot money, investing, and getting a return on your assets  When the economy tanked in 2008 it greatly impacted my job.  I was eventually laid off in April of 2009.   Luckily In 2007 I had started going residential snow removal in my neighborhood and decided I would go full time into my lawn care business after being laid off from my job.  It was the best thing that could have happened to me.  

I knew the corporate 8 to 5 grind for the next 30 years of my life was not a fit for me so searching for another job at that time didn’t make sense for me.

I had no prior experience owning a business or any landscaping experience.  My family did not own a business.   Through my business knowledge I gained in college and the corporate world I applied the same techniques to my lawn care business and was able to grow my business from $16,000 in revenue in 2009 to $500,000 by 2014.  While the growth was pretty impressive I made a lot of mistakes along the way and spent thousands of dollars I didn’t need to spend.  In 2013 I purchased the rights to a national franchise and operated that franchise until June 2017. In 2016 I also started a small online power equipment business as well which primarily sells on Ebay.

I have learned alot and come a long way since 2007.  I’ve spoke with more than 100 business owners around the country and the one thing I’ve found is we are all in the same boat.  We all struggle with financial issues, funding, employees, marketing, pricing and the list goes on.

My goal is to help small to medium size service businesses achieve their goals and help them create a financially strong and viable business.  I have 13 years of experience running my own businesses.  

Whether you are starting up a a business, currently operating one, or just need a fresh look at your business please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Keep an eye on our blog for articles, videos, and discussions bringing you topics that will help you and your business.