EP #239: Behind the Scenes: How Steve Long Built a Trusted HVAC Business in an Untrusted Industry

What makes Steve Long with Crazy AC Guy a good neighbor?

What does it take to build a trustworthy HVAC business in an industry plagued by consumer skepticism? Steve Long of Crazy AC Guy pulls back the curtain on his entrepreneurial journey during this candid conversation about trust, perseverance, and smart business strategies.

Steve's path to HVAC success began in the mid-90s with an air duct cleaning business that eventually led him to obtain his air conditioning license in 2008. In 2020, he made the strategic decision to rebrand as "Crazy AC Guy" – a catchy, memorable name designed to stand out in a crowded marketplace. The rebranding strategy exemplifies Steve's marketing savvy, which now includes television advertising throughout Collin County and neighboring areas.

What truly sets Steve apart is his refreshing honesty about the challenges of entrepreneurship. "I gamble with my life savings on a daily basis," he confesses, acknowledging the constant risks of business ownership. This vulnerability extends to his service philosophy: providing truthful assessments even when customers might not like what they hear. For potential clients wondering how to identify trustworthy HVAC providers, Steve emphasizes the value of neighbor-to-neighbor referrals, online reviews, and proper licensing verification.

Perhaps most entertaining is Steve's revelation of his "top secret CEO trick" – a phone message claiming he's been "on vacation" for three years that directs callers to his office. This simple time management hack illustrates how successful entrepreneurs create systems that allow them to work on their businesses rather than constantly in them. Steve's parting advice to budding entrepreneurs resonates with hard-earned wisdom: "When you fail, which you will, get back up and do it again, do it smarter." Check out Crazy AC Guy online or give them a call – Steve promises free advice over the phone, with certified professionals ready to handle your HVAC needs with honesty and expertise.

To learn more about Crazy AC Guy go to:

https://crazyacguy.com/

Crazy AC Guy

972-752-5000

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place
where local businesses andneighbors come together.
Here's your host, Sophia Yvette.

Speaker 2 (00:10):
Welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast.
Are you in need of an HVACcompany?
Well, one may be closer thanyou think.
Today I have the pleasure ofintroducing your good neighbor
Steve Long, with Crazy AC Guy.
Steve, how's it going today?

Speaker 3 (00:27):
All is well, everything's good.
Looking forward to a goodsummer.

Speaker 2 (00:30):
Great, glad to hear it.
We are excited to learn allabout you and your business.
Can you tell us a bit aboutyour company?

Speaker 3 (00:40):
Yeah, crazy AC has been in business for well.
As we started the business in2020, I had another business
called Long Enterprise.
Before that we merged it overwith a new brand name, so we
rebranded under Crazy AC in 2020and had to have a kind of a fun
catchy name to do somedifferent type of marketing and

(01:02):
advertising to the people.
A little bit more catchy name,awesome.
And so how in the world did youget into this industry?
Well, I used to own a air ductcleaning and chimney sweep
service back in the mid ninetiesand at that time I merged my
air duct cleaning business inwith a local air conditioning

(01:24):
company in the area.
I was an employee for severalyears and in 2008, I went out
and got my license to be alicensed air conditioning guy in
Texas, and that's how it allgot started.

Speaker 2 (01:41):
And what is the most common myth or misconception in
your industry?
And what is the most common?

Speaker 3 (01:46):
myth or misconception in your industry.
Well, air conditioning peopleare not trusted or liked.
They're kind of like mechanics.
You know who do you trust inthe business.

Speaker 2 (01:53):
You know to tell you the truth and we take very good
pride in giving people optionsand telling them the truth every
time we come out, and to makesure that they're, you know,
getting the best bang for thebuck.

Speaker 3 (02:10):
How would one know if they have a good HVAC company
they're working with?
Well, it takes time.
Not everybody, you know anybodycan work on an air conditioner
Like I can hire you to come workon an air conditioner and
nobody would ever know?
I don't know.
You don't want me to work on iteither.
I own the company.
I run the company, so I'm notthe guy out fixing it.

(02:32):
I have a certified backgroundcheck employees that go out and
fix things and that are veryknowledgeable of the product and
you know that's who we hire togo do that kind of stuff.
But I manage it and run it and,like I say, I'm behind the
scenes running the company.

Speaker 2 (02:52):
So, Steve, for the clients that are looking for an
HVAC company, what are some ofthe things they can check ahead
of time to make sure they aregetting the right people to work
on their AC?

Speaker 3 (03:05):
Well, you can look at your reviews online.
That's a big deal with Google.
You can look at Better BusinessBureau.
You can check our licensing tomake sure that you know we're
properly licensed, in which weare.
As far as I missed thatquestion again, ask that again.
As far as I missed thatquestion, again ask that again.

Speaker 2 (03:29):
How would our clients , your clients, know?
Let me re-ask that questionagain.
Ideally for the customers thatare looking for an HVAC company,
what is one thing they shouldlook for to ensure they're
getting a high quality company?

Speaker 3 (03:46):
Okay, so referrals are our biggest thing in our
company and that's from oneneighbor to another and that's
our biggest referral system inour company.

Speaker 2 (03:59):
So and who are your target clients and, in terms of
marketing, how do you attractthem.
And who are your target clientsand, in terms of marketing, how
do you attract them.

Speaker 3 (04:09):
Well, we currently do TV up in the in our area where
we market, and the Sherman,denison Durant and all of Collin
County in this area, fromMcKinney to Frisco to everywhere
.
We do TV in that area and ourmarket is anybody.
I mean, if you need your heatand AC system serviced,

(04:31):
maintained, replaced, repaired,new construction, we can do it
all.

Speaker 2 (04:38):
Amazing and outside of work, what do you do for fun?

Speaker 3 (04:42):
I like to travel, a lot I travel and then if you
call my phone, it's a top secretCEO trick.
I'm going to tell you right now.
My phone says I'm on vacation.
Please call the office.
And it's been there for threeyears.

Speaker 2 (05:05):
You like that, don't you?
I do, I, I do.
I'll keep that in mind.
Um, go ahead and, uh, switchgears for a second.
Can you describe a hardship orlife challenge you overcame and
how it made you a better andstronger person today?

(05:25):
What comes to mind for you?

Speaker 3 (05:28):
You know, being self-employed is tough.
Anybody can go to a casino andtake $100 and go gamble.
I gamble with my life savingson a daily basis.
Okay, I gamble with everythingthat I own in this business and
my heart's in it.
I want it to succeed.

(05:48):
I mean life's good, I mean it'snot bad, so, but in return
there's no risk.
I mean, with the risk, there'sno reward.
You know you have to get a riskbefore you have a reward, and
so I've been doing this for along time.
I'm a self-employedentrepreneur and I just I love
providing jobs for people.

(06:09):
I love what I do.
That's all I can say.

Speaker 2 (06:15):
Well, steve, I am right there with you and for all
of our new entrepreneurs here.
What are some words of wisdomyou have for them?

Speaker 3 (06:25):
When you fail, which you will get back up and do it
again, do it smarter.
It's like they say you fall offof a horse, get back on a ride
again.
Okay, so if you want to ride,you have to get back on the
horse.
That's all there is to it.

Speaker 2 (06:40):
So so, steve, please tell our listeners one thing
they should remember about crazyAC guy.

Speaker 3 (06:50):
Well, one thing they can remember about me.
Let me think about this for asecond.
Remember about me.
Let me think about this for asecond.
We're very upfront and honestand trustworthy and, like I say,
just call us for anything.
I'll give you free advice overthe phone all day long, but when

(07:11):
we come out, you may not wantto hear what I tell you, but I
tell you the truth.
That's all I can say.

Speaker 2 (07:17):
And how can our listeners learn more about Crazy
AC Guy?

Speaker 3 (07:22):
You can go to our website at wwwcrazyacguycom, or
you can even call my cell phoneif you like.
Should I reveal that right now?
They can call me anytime, dayor night.
I'll be happy to answer.
So it's 972-832-2869.
If not, you call the office at972-752-5000.
We'll be happy to schedule aservice call, a maintenance,

(07:46):
anything that you need.
So.

Speaker 2 (07:49):
Well, Steve, I really appreciate you being on the
show.
We wish you and your businessthe best moving forward.

Speaker 3 (07:56):
Thank you, Sophia.

Speaker 1 (07:58):
Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor
Podcast.
To nominate your favorite localbusinesses to be featured on
the show, go to gnpfriscocom.
That's gnpfriscocom, or call469-221-9345.
9, 3, 4, 5.