After working for seven different farm equipment dealers in two different states as an agricultural machinery technician, Jason Shatek decided there was very little chance for advancement in his chosen occupation. So he decided to create his own advancement by starting his own machinery repair service nearly five years ago in New Hampton, Iowa.

The large farming machines used today are difficult to transport to a dealer’s shop. They are usually loaded on a semi-trailer truck, hauled to the dealership, repaired, and hauled back to the farmstead. Such transportation expense can be considerable. When competing with major-line, multi-location farm equipment dealerships, Jason knew he needed to serve a niche and have a strong competitive advantage, so he developed a repair shop on his service truck and took his business on the road. Jason began offering on-farm services to a multi-county area based around New Hampton.

Jason has grown his Mobile Ag Repair business since 2007 by offering high-quality, on-the-farm services specializing in John Deere equipment, but also providing services to all colors and makes of ag machinery. Entrepreneurship is contagious, evidenced by Jason’s wife, Joy, who started her own business. The couple also buys and sells autos and farm equipment and taking care of rental properties consumes the rest of the couple’s spare time.

Even though Mobile Ag Repair had been experiencing steady growth, the recent sluggish economy carried through into the farm economy, making it difficult for Jason to expand. Continual innovations in machinery technology requires education, shop manual updates, and test equipment.

Jason began to search for sources of capital to fund needed updates and was referred to the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at the University of Northern Iowa. SBDC consultant Rich Petersen explained various funding programs and Jason decided to go with the Iowa MicroLoan program. The SBDC provided assistance in preparing his company’s loan application, updating the company’s business plan, and preparing the necessary financial projections.

The company’s Iowa MicroLoan application was approved so Jason made his updates and successfully expanded and improved his business.

Jason said the business planning process with the SBDC was very helpful in developing growth strategies for the future of his business. When asked about the biggest challenges of business ownership, Jason replied, “Being the boss is nice, but some days, when working alone, it’s hard to get motivated. It’s easy to get distracted.” According to Jason, “The SBDC has been very helpful in answering our questions and preparing a financial strategy. The program is a tremendous asset to the small business community.”