Posted Under: Entrepreneurship, Our Heroes

David Heitner, financial advisor turned entrepreneur, is today’s guest under the “Our Heroes” series. David fled Corporate America and his job at Merill Lynch to start up Heits Building Services, a professional cleaning service. He bravely tapped into his savings used his experience from opening a cleaning business after graduating college to get his now multi-million dollar business going. Let’s find out more about how it all transpired…

DD: Who are you and what kind of corporate job were you at?

DH: My name is David Heitner and I’m the founder and CEO of Heits Building Services, Inc. We are a professional cleaning service that serves as a one stop shop for our customers by providing painting and power-washing, granite and marble restoration, wood floor services, etc. I was with Merrill Lynch for several years as a Financial Advisor and a Broker at an office in New Jersey before making the leap and starting this business.

DD: What made you leave the job? When did you realize that you wanted to be an entrepreneur & why?

DH: I always had the desire to be my own boss and thought that being a financial advisor was similar to being my own boss, but realized quickly that working for corporate America, even in a sales role, was nothing of the sort and not even close.  I made a huge decision by leaving Merrill because my wife was pregnant at the time and she was leaving a well paid job in New York City. I was giving up my well paid job at an unexpected time. But once you get that fire in your gut, at least for me that is, there is no turning back.

DD: What did you do to break the corporate jail? How did you prepare yourself for the employee to entrepreneur transition?

DH: I tapped into my 401K, savings account and home equity loan to get started. I had some experience because I started a small cleaning business when I graduated college to supplement my income while working for Dun Bradstreet.

DD: What are your top 5 tips for employees who want to be entrepreneurs but are hung up on something?

DH: As you get older and have kids, the decision to start your own business weighs on you even more because it makes you take a leap of faith outside your comfort zone. The fear factor is always there, but you’ve got to maintain your confidence and trust your gut feeling.

1.  Really take a look at your current situation and determine if you truly want to be your own boss or if you are just not at the right job.

2.  Think about what the problems are that you’re facing with your current position. Are you just at the point where you feel like the challenges are no longer there or are you just tired of the corporate bureaucracy?

3.  Make sure you can afford to do it. How are these issues impacting your family life?  Could you last 1 year not making any money knowing that you are building equity in something?

4.  Make sure you do your due diligence before starting your own business.  Investigate the industry, do a pro-forma and a business plan.  If the numbers seem to generate good results and you are confident, go for it.

5.  Once you make up your mind, put all other thought s out of your mind and focus 110% on developing your business.  Don’t listen to anyone who tells you it won’t work; these are the people who are jealous that you decided to make a change in your life. Believe me, there will be plenty of these people with advice to give and  if you let them get into your head it will mess you up.

DD: How are you now? Are you still in same business, and how do you feel?

DH: I am still in my own business, serving as CEO.  I could not be happier with my decision of owning my own company, especially after seeing what happened to the financial industry and Merrill Lynch.  I have built a multi-million dollar business and although there were a few bumps in the road, the hard work is well worth it.

DD: Wow! Thank you so much David! It sounds like you are happier than ever in your entrepreneurial role and I wish you the best of luck in the future with Heits Building Services, Inc.

DH: Thank you, Devesh, for wanting to hear my story and for being supportive of those of us who just want to make a change and try to make it in the ever-so-different world of the entrepreneur. I wish you the best of luck with your blog and your book, and thank you again for believing in entrepreneurship.

DD: There you have it folks, David Heitner, financial advisor turned entrepreneur and the CEO of successful professional cleaning service Heits Building Services, Inc. Remember what David said that rings so true for many of us: “Once you get that fire in your gut, there is no turning back”. He really did rise to new Heits with his idea.

Success to all!