At age 18, Danny Reddick started his workday like many others – as a plumber’s helper, learning the basics of a trade that would later become his life’s work. While gaining experience and earning his master’s licenses, he saw his path forward clearly. “I knew that I wanted to go out on my own because I felt like my future opportunities were limited at the company where I was employed,” Reddick shares.

Then his grandfather passed away. “Life was too short to put your dreams on hold,” Reddick recalls. He quit his job and bought a service truck, turning his small side plumbing business into what would become Reddick & Sons, a company now employing over 55 people and generating more than $1 million in annual revenue.

What separates Reddick’s story from others isn’t just his success – it’s how he achieved it. Without formal business plans or market studies, he built his company on practical experience, genuine service, and deep community connections. His journey from plumber’s helper to business owner shows how combining expertise with action can build a thriving business.

The Early Days

Reddick’s story begins in the trenches of his trade. Starting as an 18-year-old plumber’s helper, he spent over a decade mastering multiple trades. By age 30, he had earned master’s licenses in HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and gas fitting—a combination of skills that would later set his company apart in a competitive market.

During his early career, Reddick witnessed his industry weather a recession, giving him confidence in his market. “After spending over 10 years in the service industry and working through a recession, I knew that the Northern Virginia economy was strong and always in need of another tradesperson,” he explains. He relied on this direct experience rather than conducting formal market research.

The Northern Virginia market, with its proximity to DC, offered unique advantages. “Our area is unique in that it is very close to DC- lots of successful people with a great economy,” Reddick notes. While private equity firms operated in the market, Reddick’s family-owned business maintained its own path. “Our reputation was built on word of mouth- since we have always provided top-notch service as a family-owned company. We have continuously stood out from the crowd of PE firms.”

The first year of business tested Reddick’s commitment. “The first year of business, I spent mostly in my truck running service calls and doing installations,” he explains. He personally handled all phone calls and transactions while on the road. His initial investment focused on essential equipment – a Pro press, snake machine, and camera.

“There was no balance – just constant hard work and long hours,” he admits. This reality of early entrepreneurship shows the dedication required to start from scratch.

Family support proved vital from day one. Reddick’s wife began helping with administrative tasks and marketing, often balancing a baby on her lap while working. She continues with the company today as Vice President.

The initial years brought both opportunities and challenges. Running the business from home for five years tested family dynamics and employee relations. “Running the business out of our home was very hard on family life and for our employees,” Reddick shares. This experience taught him valuable lessons about separating work and family life.

The decision to move to a commercial space came when the business had grown to around 30 trucks. “They were coming to our house through our neighborhood. We were incredibly lucky in that our neighbors were understanding and supportive, but we could not continue bringing that kind of traffic into the neighborhood. Between employees and delivery drivers, it became too hectic,” Reddick explains.

Building a Team and Services

Reddick didn’t stay solo for long. “It was only a month or two before I hired a helper,” he recalls. This first employee’s role was practical – lifting water heaters, carrying tools, and handling heavy equipment. The decision to hire help came from a need to keep overhead low while figuring out if the business could sustain itself.

Within the first year, Reddick brought on several team members: a couple of technicians, a helper, a plumber, and a full-time office manager. His hiring philosophy was straightforward: “Whoever showed up every day, would care about the work we did and wanted to be part of the team.”

Many of these early hires grew with the company. As Reddick notes, “My office manager was someone I worked with for a long time in previous jobs, so bringing her aboard helped tremendously to bring balance to my responsibilities. Today, she is my General Manager. One of the first techs I hired is now my HVAC Install Manager.”

Although Reddick was known primarily as a plumber, he quickly expanded his services. “HVAC and electrical were added within a few months of starting,” he explains. This growth wasn’t random but responsive to market demand: “My reputation grew, and I was getting calls for those trades even though I was well known as a plumber.”

Having a diverse skill set and offering multiple services proved to be a smart business strategy. “Prepare for the off-season and be ready to find ways to drum up business when it’s slow. Offering all the trades enabled business to continue during slower times,” Reddick advises.

For pricing, Reddick took a practical approach: “I used prices from the place I worked at before with some discounting.” This strategy allowed him to remain competitive while establishing his own business.

Early on, Reddick recognized the importance of good systems. “There was trial and error with finding a scheduling solution but our best decision was to move to ServiceTitan,” he shares. Along with QuickBooks, these tools helped manage the growing operation and remain part of their business today.

What started as a one-man plumbing operation expanded into a home service business. Reddick & Sons now provide HVAC, plumbing, and electrical services, from routine maintenance to complex installations. “We keep your home’s most important systems in perfect working order. We offer same-day services from technicians who are licensed, bonded, and insured, and provide financial solutions to assist customers with their repair or replacement needs,” Reddick explains.

In the second year of business, Reddick began offering financing options to customers after becoming Trane dealers. “Trane had a financing relationship with Wells Fargo. I wouldn’t say it made a huge impact in the beginning in terms of revenue but it definitely made us a more legitimate company,” he explains.

Today, they offer financing through Greensky, which has “made a huge impact on revenue and ability to close jobs.” This evolution in their business model shows how added services can create growth opportunities.

Community Connections

Reddick’s approach to team building focuses on quality and retention. “We hire the best talent we can find and have a great retention rate due to reinforcing a positive work culture,” he shares. “We are very proud of our management and employees- they truly care about customer service and keeping our standards high.”

The company’s commitment to community involvement runs deep. “Our community involvement has 100% influenced our success because giving back to people who matter to us and causes that weigh on our hearts gives us purpose,” Reddick emphasizes. Their support extends across various sectors:

• Youth development through local sports teams
• Education support in local schools
• Social services through CASA
• Housing assistance via Habitat for Humanity
• Local heritage preservation in Prince William County
• First responder support through police and fire fundraisers
• Community events, including drag racing groups

These connections weren’t forced but developed naturally through friends and personal interests. For example, Reddick explains, “We became big sponsors of CASA (Court Appointed Child Advocate) through our friendship with Josie Geiger of Bion, Inc., a large HVAC and plumbing contractor I met at PHCC (Plumbing, Heating, Cooling Contractors Association). Her involvement and generosity inspired us to give back to our community every year at their annual gala.”

His wife serves on the board of the Prince William Historic Preservation Foundation, and Reddick himself sponsors a lane at Sumerduck Dragway, connecting to his younger years as a drag racer. “Sometimes it’s a client or an employee that brings awareness to a cause that we give back to—it’s all about growing personal relationships,” he shares.

Behind Reddick’s success stood mentors who believed in his potential. Pat Nugent “mentored me by showing me how to effectively run a family-owned home service company through extraordinary work ethic, profound trade knowledge, and a real commitment to fostering a great employee culture.”

Matt Pelow took a different but equally important role: “Matt mentored me by believing in me, telling me to go shoot my shot. Being there for me no matter what, from little things like questions about how he operates his own highly successful paving business, to helping me with site projects for our building. Matt is a true friend. I will be forever grateful for him.”

These relationships highlight how connections with experienced business owners can provide both practical advice and emotional support during the challenging early days of entrepreneurship.

Lessons for Future Business Owners

Building a business starts with mastering your craft. Reddick spent years earning his master’s licenses and building expertise before stepping out on his own. “I knew that I wanted to go out on my own because I felt like my future opportunities were limited,” he shares. His experience shows that deep industry knowledge combined with hands-on work creates opportunities for business ownership.

The growth of Reddick & Sons demonstrates that starting small doesn’t limit your potential. From a single service truck to a team of 55, the company expanded by focusing on quality service and community connection. “Our community involvement has 100% influenced our growth because giving back to people who matter to us and causes that weigh on our hearts gives us purpose,” Reddick explains.

Building a thriving business requires more than technical skills—it needs strong relationships, dedicated employees, and family support. As Reddick notes, “Having the support of my family and the incredible team of people at Reddick and Sons has helped make our company successful. We have grown because of our solid reputation of being a reliable, professional service company.”

For those looking to start their own business, Reddick’s story offers practical lessons: master your trade, start small but think big, build a reliable team, and maintain strong community connections. With determination and support, your own success story awaits.

Learn more about Reddick & Sons at reddickandsons.com