When you’re running a garage door business, the stakes are high. A wrong hire or a poorly timed investment can stall your growth or wreck your reputation. In this Torsion Talk episode, Ryan from Aaron Overhead Doors walks through the biggest mistakes he’s made—and what he would do differently today.

This isn’t theory. These are hard-won lessons from years in the trenches.

1. Hiring Without Due Diligence

Ryan used to hire anyone who walked in claiming they could install doors. That approach backfired—badly.

• Do background checks
  
• Call references
  
• Verify experience
  

A rushed hire will cost you more in the long run.

2. Relying on Industry Veterans

Experienced techs from other companies often came with baggage:

• Poor attitude
  
• Dishonesty
  
• Entitlement
  

Ryan now prefers hiring from outside the industry and training new people from scratch.

3. Waiting Too Long to Develop Leaders

It took years before Ryan began leadership development. Now, his team meets weekly to discuss books and build skills. This investment pays off in retention and performance.

4. Focusing on Garage Doors Over Service

Selling and installing garage doors sounds profitable, but it isn’t always.

• More people involved
  
• Higher overhead
  
• Frequent rework
  

Garage door service, particularly backed by strong Local SEO strategies (see how Markinuity does it on their Local SEO page), tends to be faster, leaner, and much more predictable in cash flow.

5. Launching Commercial Too Early

Commercial work promises balance—but it also brings:

• Expensive gear (trailers, lifts, trucks)
  
• Delayed payments
  
• Overhead during slow months
  

Ryan recommends starting with light-duty commercial and prioritizing cash-positive service work first.

6. Not Managing the Financials Closely Enough

He missed invoicing errors from distributors. Small leaks in your books can drown your profit.

• Review every invoice
  
• Monitor job costs
  
• Track margins weekly
  

If you don’t micromanage your financials, you may end up working for free without even knowing it.

7. Delaying SOPs and Core Values

Having clear procedures saves time and mistakes.

• Create SOPs early—even basic ones
  
• Clarify your mission, vision, and values
  

If you’re not sure how to structure or optimize your SOPs, or need leadership frameworks, check out Consulting at Markinuity—they help with both operational clarity and growth strategy.

8. Taking on Too Much Risk to Grow

Big leaps in growth require preparation. Otherwise, you crash.

• Plan for success before it comes
  
• Build systems to handle higher volume
  
• Avoid growing just for the numbers
  

Want to see what effective online presence looks like? Study how Alpha Overhead Door scaled their site with Markinuity in this case study—it’s a great model for getting ready for growth.

9. Prioritizing Revenue Over Profit

It’s easy to chase top-line growth and ignore what really matters: the bottom line.

• Focus on margin, not just revenue
  
• Cut unnecessary overhead
  
• Ask: Will this move increase net profit?
  

One of the levers many garage door businesses miss is optimizing their Google presence. Markinuity’s new Google Business Profile Management packages show how focusing on visibility and reviews can lift profits without always chasing new jobs.

10. Blending in With the Competition

For too long, Aaron Overhead Doors tried to compete on price. That was a mistake.

• They now focus on premium doors
  
• Minimum door price is $5,000
  
• They only serve clients who value quality
  

If you’re wondering what a high-visibility garage door brand looks like, check out how J.A.G. & Sons Overhead Doors transformed their messaging, site, and local SEO with Markinuity in their case study.

11. Starting Too Many Things at Once

Ryan built a marketing agency, coached football, started GDU, and hosted a podcast—all while running Aaron.

He now warns: “Just because you can doesn’t mean you should.”

• Say no to stay focused
  
• Only take on projects that build on each other
  
• Know your limits
  

Key Takeaways

• Slow down your hiring. Rushed decisions lead to long-term issues.
  
• Train leaders early. Building internal leadership is a multiplier for growth.
  
• Don’t overlook service. Garage door service can be more profitable and scalable than new installs.
  
• Cash flow matters more than growth. Sustainable businesses watch their bottom line.
  
• Differentiate. Competing on price is a race to the bottom—build a brand that stands out.
  

What’s holding your business back right now?
Reach out to the Markinuity team and let’s fix it—before it becomes your next regret.