Swivl
General Entrepreneurship

How 24-Year-Old Student Built a Profitable Home Services Business?

Cameron Galbreath , owner of At Your Service in Birmingham, AL describes starting his Home Services business while in a classroom at the University of Alabama.

Video thumbnail

About the Guest

Cameron Galbreath

Owner of At Your Service

Cameron Galbreath is the 24-year-old founder and driving force behind At Your Service, a comprehensive Home Services company based in Birmingham, Alabama. A recent graduate of the University of Alabama with a degree in Creative Media and Communications, Cameron's journey into entrepreneurship began unexpectedly during COVID-19 when a friend asked for help with Christmas tree deliveries that evolved into hauling jobs. What started as a weekend side hustle riding around in a 2001 Toyota Tacoma has grown into a multi-service company generating over $200,000 annually, offering moving, landscaping, junk removal, and handyman services.

Connect

Company: At Your Service

Location: Birmingham, Alabama

Services: Moving, landscaping, junk removal, handyman services, and home improvement projects

Company Overview

At Your Service is a comprehensive one-stop Home Services company serving the greater Birmingham, Alabama metropolitan area.

Services

  • Professional moving services
  • Landscaping and lawn care
  • Junk removal and hauling
  • Handyman services and minor home repairs
  • Partnership network for major renovations (bathrooms, kitchens)

Core Mission

Providing high-quality Home Services with a customer experience comparable to premium brands like Chick-fil-A and Publix, where quality and service excellence differentiate the company from budget competitors.

Business Model

Multi-crew operation with specialized teams for different service lines, allowing the company to maintain quality across diverse service offerings while leveraging cross-selling opportunities and building comprehensive customer relationships.

Episode Summary

Cameron Galbreath , owner of At Your Service in Birmingham, AL describes starting his Home Services business while in a classroom at the University of Alabama.

0:00Introduction
3:21Cameron's Background
5:40The COVID Origin Story
7:42Early Growth & Friend-Based Hiring
9:52Managing Business from College Lecture Halls
11:21Underestimating Risk
13:24Finding Workers & Building Teams
14:18From Google Spreadsheets to Real Software
14:45Commission vs Hourly Pay Structure
16:56Quality as Business Philosophy
19:26Student Entrepreneurship Program
20:22Field Manager vs Business Manager
21:28Current Software: ManageMart for Operations
22:24Working with Friends as Business Partners
23:21From $0 to $200K+ Annually
24:44Regional Expansion Plans
25:231099 vs W2 Employee Strategy
27:14Social Media Marketing Advantage
29:02Growth Stages
31:35Mentorship from Scott Planson
34:04Final Advice: Just Do It

On The Student-to-Entrepreneur Transition

"Starting the company from home and then going back to school - that was tough. After experiencing the real world and actually running a business, it felt strange to sit in a classroom again, taking notes with my peers. It just didn't feel as meaningful as it did before."

On Brand Positioning

"We want to be seen like Publix or Chick-fil-A - brands known for quality. When you walk into Chick-fil-A, you expect a better experience than you might at McDonald's. Same with Publix versus Walmart. That's the kind of standard we aim to set in how we run our operations."

On Youth as Advantage

"Being young gives us an edge - we have more energy, fewer commitments, and honestly, we don't even fully realize what we're getting into. We've got nothing to lose. If the company failed tomorrow, I don't have a family to support. Compared to most of my 24-year-old peers just out of college, I'm a few steps ahead."

Starting While in School

  • Use free time strategically to test business concepts without quitting your day job (or studies)
  • Leverage university resources like student entrepreneurship programs for funding and mentorship
  • Accept that managing a business from lecture halls is difficult but possible with dedication
  • Prepare for the psychological challenge of transitioning between student and business owner mindsets
  • Balance the security of education with the momentum of business growth

Leveraging Youth and Energy

  • Recognize that youth can be an advantage-less to lose, more energy, fewer obligations
  • Don't let age or inexperience stop you from starting-hire for skills you lack
  • Use generational advantages like social media literacy to compete with older, established businesses
  • Accept that not knowing what you don't know can actually help you take necessary risks
  • Build relationships with peers who can become your first employees and support network

Building Multi-Service Companies

  • Start with one service and expand organically based on customer requests
  • Specialize crews for different service lines to maintain quality across offerings
  • Partner with skilled contractors for services beyond your expertise
  • Cross-sell services to existing customers to maximize lifetime value
  • Keep operations simple initially-don't overcomplicate with too many simultaneous launches

Compensation and Team Structure

  • Start with commission structures if capital is limited, but plan to transition to hourly
  • Recognize that hourly pay may improve quality even if it reduces speed
  • Plan for a hybrid model: W2 managers with benefits, 1099 common workers for flexibility
  • Accept that a revolving door of common workers is reality in Home Services
  • Invest in key people who demonstrate leadership potential

Marketing and Digital Presence

  • Use social media expertise as a competitive weapon in traditional industries
  • Focus marketing on platforms where your target customers actually spend time (Facebook for homeowners)
  • Create professional-looking content to appear more established than you are
  • Leverage platforms like Nextdoor for local homeowner connections
  • Brand yourself like premium companies (Chick-fil-A, Publix) even if you're small

Systems and Operations

  • Start with simple tools (Google Sheets) but upgrade to proper software as you grow
  • Invest in affordable field service management software ($300/year vs thousands)
  • Implement invoicing, estimating, and payment processing through one platform
  • Track metrics even when small to understand growth patterns and profitability
  • Accept that growth happens in stages with periods of stagnation between rapid expansion

Partnership Success

  • Choose partners with complementary skills (hands-on vs business management)
  • Maintain ego-free relationships focused on common goals rather than individual credit
  • Clearly divide roles based on natural strengths and interests
  • Communicate openly about vision and plans to maintain alignment

Finding Mentorship

  • Seek out experienced business owners in your industry who've successfully exited
  • Offer energy and fresh perspective in exchange for wisdom and guidance
  • Learn from both successes and failures of mentors who've been there
  • Accept that some mentors may join you on jobs or get directly involved

College to Career Alternative Path

Cameron's journey demonstrates how entrepreneurship can provide an alternative to traditional career paths, allowing young people to build wealth and experience while their peers follow conventional routes, though it requires accepting significant responsibility early.

COVID-19 as Entrepreneurial Catalyst

The pandemic created unexpected opportunities for service businesses as people spent more time at home, needed help with projects, and sought reliable local services, showing how economic disruptions can create entrepreneurial windows.

Youth as Competitive Advantage

Being young provides unique advantages in entrepreneurship including higher risk tolerance, more energy, fewer obligations, better understanding of digital marketing, and the ability to relate to and hire other young workers.

Social Media as Equalizer

Digital marketing expertise allows small, young companies to appear as professional and established as larger competitors, demonstrating how technological literacy can overcome traditional barriers like experience and capital in service industries.

Bootstrap Growth Without Capital

Starting with literally nothing except time and energy, Cameron's story shows how service businesses can be built by reinvesting every dollar earned into tools and equipment, gradually building capital through retained earnings.

Multi-Service Business Model

Operating across multiple Home Services categories allows for customer lifetime value maximization, revenue diversification, and competitive differentiation while requiring careful crew specialization and quality management across service lines.

More Episodes

Swivl Sessions

Interviews, tips, and insights from field service entrepreneurs.

Lasting Work, Not Fast Fads: Simon Beames on True Craftsmanship

There are two distinct types of contractors in the field service world of today. There are the client focused contractors, who align closely with what a clients vision is, prioritize his requests and specifications, no matter how trendy or predictable they may be. And they are very, very compliant. And then, there is Simon Beames, of the BRITISH REMODELER and GLASS ACT MOSAICS in Colorado Springs, CO, who doesn’t do trendy AT ALL. Or predictable. What he does instead is prioritize that which is different, exciting, and above all else, unique. In this episode of SWIVL SESSIONS, Simon explains why he refuses to chase “Instagram moments,” instead focusing on creating work that is elegant, durable, and deeply personal for each client. From the fulfillment of doing things his way, to hearing about his latest venture, Glass Act Mosaics, where he’s reviving ancient artistry with a modern twist, his advice to future entrepreneurs is simple but powerful: “Don’t be afraid to make the jump.

View Episode
Scattered and Smothered Plumbing Success: From a Life Changing Decision at the Waffle House To A Life of Impact Through the Trades

The journey to field service success isn’t always an eight lane expressway.  For Ryan Hanson, owner of TRUE PLUMBING in Atlanta, Georgia, the road he traveled wound through backcountry trails, snowy slopes, and unexpected, unfulfilling turns….until finally ending in the familiar and welcoming booth of a Waffle House.   It was there, hunkered down with friend and mentor, Bruce Ackley, that Ryan made the bold decision to take a road that was becoming more and more less traveled - the plumbing industry. Embracing the challenge of a new career ahead of him, he grew TRUE PLUMBING the old fashioned way - one toilet, one drain, one customer at a time.  In this very inspiring episode of SWIVL SESSIONS, Ryan shares some of the important takeaways from his journey to building one of the most trusted plumbing companies in Atlanta - Don’t be afraid to embrace the “hard stuff”. Build lasting relationships with your customers. And, most importantly, ALWAYS acknowledge and celebrate the people who he

View Episode
Success Stories: Evan & Russell's Journey in Field Service Entrepreneurship | Swivl Sessions

Evan Pantano and Russell Olschner, with TX Handyman, are two different guys with two very different skill sets—but together, they’re a perfect example of how teamwork can be the biggest driver of success for a business. While they’ll both readily admit that “his strengths are my weaknesses”, they complement each other in a way that keeps their company moving forward. This episode of SWIVL SESSIONS highlights the power of building strong partnerships, finding mentors to learn from, and then having the guts to get out there and try. It's not about having all the answers—it's about being willing to work together, learn, adapt, and take action.

View Episode
Scaling Success: Lessons from a Handyman Entrepreneur in Kyle, TX

Join us in this inspiring episode of Swivl Sessions as we sit down with Art, a self-made entrepreneur who started crafting his path to success from the tender age of eight. Discover how his early experiences shaped his business acumen, enabling him to establish All Around Homeworks - a prominent handyman service in the Austin area. Don't miss Art's invaluable advice for young entrepreneurs and his strategic approach to scaling a service-based business without compromising quality. Perfect for anyone interested in entrepreneurship or the home renovation sector.

View Episode
How to Succeed in Field Service: Insights by Roman Guerra of Roman's Pressure Wash

Discover the inspiring journey from corporate to entrepreneurship with Roman Gera of Roman's Pressure Wash and Fence Staining. In this episode of Swivl Sessions, learn how Roman turned an unexpected career change into a flourishing business. Dive deep into valuable insights on business growth, the importance of understanding profit margins, and the power of excellent customer service. Join our host as he navigates through central Texas' weather challenges, the strategic use of technology, and the pivotal role mentors play in entrepreneurship. Don't miss this enlightening conversation tailored for field service entrepreneurs looking to up their game!

View Episode
A 20 Year Overnight Success - Nick Friedman’s Journey to Field Service Domination

Nick Friedman, co-founder of College H.U.N.K.S. Hauling Junk & Moving, shares the story of how a beat-up cargo van and a catchy name evolved into a nationally recognized franchise with more than 200 locations and roughly $300 million in annual systemwide sales. Nick discusses entrepreneurship, franchising, building systems, leadership, technology, resilience, and his philosophy of “potential maximization.”

View Episode
How Joseph Lambert Built a Multimillion Junk Removal Business Before 20.

Joseph Lambert went from a Sandy Springs teen doing lawns and construction to building a premium junk-removal company by learning fast from failures, studying proven models, and executing better—scaling from rented trucks to ~$2.8–2.9M revenue with 8 trucks and 30–35 staff. He sold the business in early 2024 with a team-first deal that gave employees life-changing bonuses, later left his VP role in Oct 2024, and now invests in manufactured housing while exploring waste-industry opportunities—his mantra: take imperfect action and keep moving.

View Episode
How $200 Turned Into a Million-Dollar Cleaning Company - Adriano Redante’s American Dream With Brazilian Roots

The “American Dream” can sometimes be an over-used and tired cliche. But Adriano Redante, co-owner of Limpia Cleaning Services in Philadelphia, PA, has dusted off and rewritten his own incredible “American Success Story.” After coming to the U.S. from Brazil with just $200 in his pocket and no English, he worked his way up from first the restaurant industry to owning a thriving million-dollar cleaning company. The “key ingredient” to the recipe of that growth was his wife, Carolina, who started Limpia Cleaning as a side-hustle to help support their family. Together, that side hustle has grown into a 14-employee operation built on hard work, resilience, and above all else, family values. The takeaway from this amazing episode of Swivl Sessions is that, sometimes, it isn’t always about where you start in life….but how far are you willing to go?

View Episode
Moving with Purpose: AP Hauling’s Field Service Journey

Fear can be crippling, especially for someone wanting to start a business. But for Peters Pierre-Louis, owner of AP Haulers in Philadelphia, PA — fear was the fuel to help him start a moving and junk removal company built on hustle, adaptability, and a priority on customer service. From being a private chef in New York to managing real estate and eventually hauling full-time, Peters embodies the entrepreneurial spirit. He shares how he turned a side hustle into a growing business, why fear kills more dreams than failure, and how staying consistent, managing expectations, and finding creative ways to pivot have been key to his success. In this episode of Swivl Sessions, his message is simple but powerful: just start, and keep getting better every day.

View Episode
The Business of Family: 2nd Generation Garage Door Service Success

They always say “the second time around” is never better than the first. But Pablo Chavez, of Deer Park Garage Door, Houston, Texas, is proving that age-old adage wonderfully wrong. Pablo shares how his father started the business in 1999 and how he’s now leading it into a new era—embracing technology, digital marketing, and modern service practices. From late-night calls to fix stuck doors to managing a growing team, Pablo talks about the real-life challenges and rewards of running a family business. In this episode of Swivl Sessions, he discusses how staying compassionate, modernizing operations, and keeping community and care at the heart of the business, will keep the Deer Park legacy alive for future generations.

View Episode

Join 1,000+ home service businesses growing with Swivl

Start your 21-day free trial today.

Swivl dashboard on mobile and desktop