We were lucky to catch up with Andrew Noll recently and have shared our conversation below.

Andrew, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Parents play a huge role in our development as youngsters and sometimes that impact follows us into adulthood and into our lives and careers. Looking back, what’s something you think you parents did right?

My parents have taught me so much and gave me an incredible foundation to be successful. They taught me how to work hard, be kind to others and keep my priorities straight. They helped me start my first business (landscaping) before I was 12yrs old. This business grew to eventually help pay my way through college and taught me how to be independent.
By being kind to others, I have made so many valuable connections and friends throughout my life. I am fulfilled both personally and professionally by connecting with and helping others.
Advancing my career and scaling my businesses is always a priority but my parents taught me that family, friendship and happiness comes first. This helps me keep a sense of balance, even at my most stressful times.

Andrew, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I have always had an entrepreneurial mindset. This started with handmade buckeye necklaces at the young age of 10 years old. I paid my siblings to help me collect and string the necklaces, I would then load my bike wagon up with 100-200 necklaces every home game, ride down to OSU’s campus and sell them to fans. I first started with my dad, but after he felt comfortable and saw my eagerness, I made the trips by myself for years. During and soon after the necklaces, around 12years old, I started landscaping. First it was picking up sticks and leaves but it transitioned into mowing lawns, power washing, mulching etc. Eventually I bought my own equipment, hired employees for big jobs and serviced over 40 customers annually. I was on the cusp of scaling the business, but went on to study engineering at Ohio University and I decided to sell it. I worked multiple jobs at school to save for tuition payments.
I got a full time job in automotive manufacturing after graduation, but always have the itch to start new businesses and gigs on the side. I started Noll Crafts in 2020, which provides custom woodworking, furniture and laser engravings to customers all over the country (www.nollcrafts.com). I have plenty of standard products, but I invite any and all creative projects to tackle! My woodworking business is going well and I am constantly looking for ways to streamline and systemize the order flow.
I love to travel and over the years I have bought and flipped 3 camper trailers. I buy them on a discount, use them as I fix them up, then sell them for profit. This taught me so much about remodeling, which transitions well into real estate.
In 2022 I started Noll Capital. Noll Capital is a real estate acquisition and holding company. While only about a year old, I have been in 2 real estate deals, own and manage an AirBnb in central Columbus, and am actively looking for rental properties.

I now live in Columbus with my beautiful fiance and 2 handsome dogs!

Have you ever had to pivot?

After high school, I continued to service my lawn customers for 2 years whilst in college. I would wake up early on weekends, drive to Columbus from Athens, Ohio to mow lawns, then drive back down for classes Monday. This eventually became too much with an engineering workload and I sold the business. This consisted of liquidation of my trailer, equipment and customer list. I toyed with the idea of finding employees and a manager for the business. While it still would have been profitable, I would have a lot of time involved in growing the business. I also found it troubling that I wouldn’t be connected to the final product – a happy customer. Taking the secure route of an engineering degree and full-time job would provide the discretionary income to pursue other passions and side gigs. This was a defining point in my career because I knew I had what it took to do it again, and I am excited for the future of my current businesses.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

Noll Capital has and is actively bringing on investors for a competitive return. I knew that I wanted to bring on investors but at the company’s inception, I had no idea how to do it. I solicited a mentor as well as invested in real estate deals from the lender side. This gave me the perspective of the investor and exposed me to the legal side of real estate investing. It also allowed me to get involved with the Columbus real estate community and has provided ample connections. I meet with all my investors 1-on-1 to get to know them, their goals and their position. At this time I introduce my business model, explain the investment process and provide documentation. Giving my investors all the material and information they need to make a confident decision, makes both parties more comfortable and helps the deal move forward.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.nollcrafts.com
• Instagram: @nollcrafts, @andrewnoll
• Linkedin: Andrew Noll