We recently connected with Liam Lark and have shared our conversation below.

Liam, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear your thoughts about family businesses.

Owning a family business like Mr. Backflow has been an incredibly rewarding experience. There are several aspects that work well and obviously some challenges that come along with it. But let’s start off with what works well. First and foremost, Trust and Commitment, our family members are deeply invested in the success of the business, which fosters a strong sense of trust and commitment. This shared vision and dedication drives the business forward.
Additionally understanding each other’s strengths and weaknesses, allows for more flexible roles and responsibilities. This can lead to a more harmonious and efficient work environment. And last but not least and the most important one to myself as the business owner is Legacy and Pride. There’s a unique sense of pride in building and maintaining a family legacy. Knowing that the business represents the hard work and dedication of multiple generations is incredibly motivating to me.

Now to some of the fun challenges. At times It can be difficult to separate our personal and professional relationships. Disagreements at work can spill over into family life, and vice versa. Another problem we faced is the fact that relying solely on family members can sometimes limit the diversity of ideas and perspectives of our business. It’s important to bring in external expertise when needed to keep the business innovative and competitive for us to grow.

When asked, would I want my children to join the family Business? I would be thrilled if my children chose to join the business, but only if it’s something they are genuinely passionate about. It’s important for them to have the freedom to pursue their own interests and dreams. If they do decide to join, I would ensure they are well-prepared and have the necessary skills and knowledge to contribute effectively.

Overall, owning a family business is a unique journey filled with both rewards and challenges. It’s a privilege to work alongside loved ones and build something meaningful together.

Liam, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

At Mr. Backflow, we specialize in providing top-notch backflow prevention services to ensure the safety and reliability of your water supply. Our journey into this industry began with a passion for protecting public health and a commitment to delivering exceptional service.

Liam Lark started Mr. Backflow with a vision to create a company that prioritizes customer satisfaction and water safety. With years of experience in the plumbing and water management industry, Liam recognized the critical need for reliable backflow prevention services. This led to the establishment of Mr. Backflow, where we combine expertise, dedication, and a customer-centric approach to meet the needs of our clients.

We offer a wide range of services, including:

Backflow Testing: Regular testing to ensure your backflow prevention devices are functioning correctly.

Backflow Repair: Prompt and efficient repair services to fix any issues with your backflow prevention systems.

Backflow Installation: Professional installation of new backflow prevention devices to protect your water supply.

Outdoor Plumbing Services: Including replacing shut-off valves, pressure regulator repairs, replacing hose bibs, meter upgrades, and more.

Our primary goal is to prevent the contamination of potable water supplies by ensuring that backflow prevention devices are properly maintained and functioning.
We address issues such as:
>Preventing backflow incidents that can lead to water contamination.
>Ensuring compliance with local regulations and standards.
>Providing peace of mind to property owners and managers by maintaining the integrity of their water systems.

What truly sets Mr. Backflow apart is our unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction and our expertise in the field. One of our proudest moments was when we successfully completed a large-scale backflow prevention project for a major commercial property, ensuring the safety of their water supply and earning their trust and satisfaction. This project showcased our ability to handle complex challenges and deliver outstanding results.

At Mr. Backflow, we are passionate about what we do and are committed to providing the highest level of service to our clients. We believe in building long-term relationships based on trust, reliability, and excellence. Whether you need backflow testing, repair, installation, or outdoor plumbing services, you can count on us to deliver exceptional results.

Thank you for considering Mr. Backflow. We look forward to serving you and ensuring the safety of your water supply.

Has your business ever had a near-death moment? Would you mind sharing the story?

This is a very recent story of work shortage during the holiday season.

This December of 2024, we faced a particularly tough financial quarter. Begging in November and all of December our work had grinded to a halt. There were no new customers contacting us, and the water districts were radio silent. We were dead in the water. Although we expected a slow month, we didn’t anticipate everything completely stopping. With finances still going out and none coming in it was a dark time for our small business.

We had to get creative and resourceful. We reached out to other plumbing partner companies and even hit rock bottom on looking on craigslist for side gigs, just to keep the business afloat.

Thanks to the dedication and hard work of our team, we managed to pull through and make it into the new year with the business still standing This experience taught us the importance of maintaining a financial cushion and having contingency plans in place. It also reinforced the value of teamwork and the incredible resilience of our staff.

Some of the Lessons we want to pass down to you are: Always have a financial buffer to handle unexpected delays or expenses. Keep open lines of communication with clients and suppliers to negotiate terms when needed. A strong, dedicated team can overcome even the toughest challenges.

This close call was a turning point for Mr. Backflow, and it strengthened our resolve to build a more resilient and financially stable business. We’re proud of how far we’ve come and the lessons we’ve learned along the way.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

This is a Suprise to us. But Google Ads has been the best source of stirring up new customers. So, our recommendation is to get really good at Google Ads Words. It’s a pretty difficult system to learn by yourself but if you take the time and use a Guidebook like the Fourth Edition Google AdWords by Perry Marshall you can learn to use the system yourself and get:
>Access 1-Billion People in 10min
>Double your website traffic overnight
>Build a profitable Ad campaign from scratch
On top of all of this you save yourself thousands of dollars from someone else doing this for you with bare minimum results.

Trust us, We know…

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mrbackflowca.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mr.backflow/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561379061396
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mister-backflow-1994222ba/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MrBackflow
• Other: https://shoutoutsocal.com/meet-liam-lark-owner-of-mr-backflow-company/

Image Credits

Mr. Backflow – Liam Lark