He Pivoted Away From Single Family Investing & Turned 200K Into 2.4M With Storage Yards | Chris Long

---

Introduction: Solving Your Own Problem Can Lead to a Scalable Empire

What if that overlooked stretch of industrial land could be your ticket to a seven-figure payday?

That’s exactly what happened to Chris Long, a licensed carpenter turned real estate entrepreneur. In this episode of the Millionaire Mindcast Podcast, Chris shared how he transformed a personal storage problem into a high-cash-flow business model with unlimited potential.

He didn’t just solve his own need—he created Long Yards, a scalable business now expanding internationally.

---

What You’ll Discover in This Blog:

• How Chris turned $200K into $2.4M with one deal
• Why storage yards can outperform truck parking in cash flow
• The creative finance, zoning, and leasing tactics behind Long Yards
• How YOU can replicate this playbook step-by-step

---

The Origin Story: How a Contractor Became a Real Estate Innovator

Chris Long’s path into real estate wasn’t driven by market trends or formal education—it came from necessity. As a contractor and licensed carpenter working in infrastructure for over a decade, Chris was constantly in need of a reliable place to store heavy equipment, building materials, and tools. The existing options—traditional self-storage units or truck yards—were either too small, too expensive, or didn’t offer the flexibility he needed.

This problem wasn’t unique to Chris. Many of his blue-collar peers—landscapers, tradespeople, small-scale logistics operators—faced the same challenge. That’s when it clicked. If he could solve his own storage problem, he could likely solve it for others too.

What started as a personal solution quickly became a business concept. Chris identified a piece of raw industrial land just eight minutes from his home. He wasn’t yet thinking about demographics, data modeling, or pro formas. He simply saw an opportunity to build something useful.

He developed his first site using a bootstrap mindset, carving out small fenced yards within a long strip of land, and leasing them to local businesses. The lease-up took just five weeks. That early success validated the demand—and lit the fuse for Long Yards.

Today, Long Yards is scaling across North America with a clear mission: provide flexible, functional outdoor storage for the under-served small business market. What started as a personal need quickly became a scalable business model.

“I needed this space. I was my own perfect customer.” – Chris Long

---

The First Deal: $200K In, $3.6M Out

Chris bought a raw industrial parcel for $470K. He invested $200K of his own money, raised another $700K from a partner (as a simple debt structure), and built out the property into 67 mini yards.

• Appraised value: $3.6 million
• Cash flow: $40,000 per month
• Equity multiple: Over 10x in under two years

After refinancing, Chris paid off his investor, pocketed profit, and kept 100% ownership of a cash-flowing asset.

“I turned $200K into $2.4M in value… and it cash flows $40K a month.” – Chris Long

---

Beyond Truck Parking: Why Storage Yards Are More Profitable

Chris is quick to clarify that his business isn’t truck parking.Here’s why storage yards outperform:

Higher Net Rentable Square Footage

Truck parking requires large turning radii and compacted infrastructure. Storage yards can use creative layouts (like long narrow strips) to maximize rentable area.

More Tenant Diversity = Lower Risk

67 tenants renting small parcels = diversified income stream. Losing a few doesn’t hurt cash flow.

Less Regulation & Overhead

Unlike apartments or self-storage, Chris doesn’t deal with landlord-tenant boards or extensive permitting. If someone doesn’t pay, the automated gate locks them out. Period.

Creative Land Use

Chris can use oddly shaped or "ugly" land parcels that traditional investors overlook. "Give me a messed-up piece of land with power—I’ll make it work."

---

Chris Long's Storage Yard Playbook

Ready to build your own storage yard empire? Here's how Chris did it—and how you can too.

Step 1: Start With the Problem

Ask yourself: Who needs secure outdoor space in your market?

• Contractors
• Landscapers
• Utility companies
• Construction crews

These blue-collar businesses are growing and have no place to store their gear.

Step 2: Find the Dirt

Chris's current buy box includes:

• Minimum population: 50,000
• Close to highways/arterial roads
• Zoning: Light industrial, heavy industrial, or flexible commercial zoning
• Avoid sites with years-long entitlement hurdles

Step 3: Fund the Deal Creatively

Chris doesn’t use syndications or large LP structures. Instead:

• SBA loans: Just 10% down on land + buildout
• Simple joint ventures: One or two partners max
• Landowner partnerships: Lease or profit share if they want passive income

Step 4: Build It Fast, Lease It Faster

• Use fencing and gravel to create rentable mini-yards
• Avoid expensive infrastructure unless needed
• Lease to small businesses who value location and access

Chris has a multi-channel marketing strategy:

• Facebook and Instagram ads
• PPC and SEO
• Flyers and boots-on-the-ground networking

Step 5: Manage With Tech & Simplicity

• Gate automation and keycode access
• Simple lease agreements
• Month-to-month contracts or short-term leases

"If they don't pay, the gate locks them out. No evictions needed." - Chris Long

---

Your Playbook: Action Steps for Every Investor Level

Whether you're just getting started or you're an experienced investor looking for new opportunities, here’s how to put Chris Long’s strategy to work for you:

Beginners: Start Small, Think Big

• Find a Need: Look around your area for underserved contractors and tradespeople.
• Scout Land: Look for low-cost industrial parcels near population centers (min. 50,000 people).
• Educate Yourself: Learn about zoning, SBA financing, and simple land development.
• Connect with a Mentor: Consider partnering with someone experienced or joining a mastermind.

Intermediates: Build a Lean Operation

• Narrow Your Buy Box: Use Chris’s population, zoning, and access criteria.
• Secure Creative Financing: Use SBA loans or joint ventures to limit out-of-pocket capital.
• DIY Development: Use simple fencing, signage, and gravel to create leasable spaces.
• Automate Management: Invest in gate control, billing software, and basic CRM tools.

Advanced Investors: Scale and Systematize

• Vertical Integration: In-house your marketing, construction, leasing, and operations.
• Expand Markets: Replicate your model across multiple metros with the same playbook.
• Enterprise Value: Focus on building recurring cash flow to attract private equity or roll-up buyers.
• Lead a Brand: Like Long Yards, create a recognizable brand for outdoor industrial storage.

---

Real-Life Wins & Results

• $200K to $2.4M+ in equity on one property
• 67 tenants leasing mini yards in a long, narrow parcel
• Expanding to 10+ locations across North America

Chris is building a vertically integrated company that handles everything in-house: site selection, development, leasing, and management.

"We want Long Yards to be the brand you think of when you need a yard." - Chris Long

---

Conclusion: From Problem-Solving to Profit Scaling

Chris Long's journey from tradesman to real estate visionary is a powerful reminder that the best investment opportunities often stem from solving your own problems. What began as a practical solution to store his tools evolved into a multimillion-dollar business model serving thousands of small businesses across North America.His success is rooted in simplicity:

• Identify a real, underserved market need.
• Use creative financing and lean development.
• Scale through systems, partnerships, and innovation.

Through Long Yards, Chris is not just building properties—he’s building infrastructure for small business success. And while he’s received interest from private equity groups, his focus remains on service, impact, and building a brand synonymous with industrial storage.If you're tired of traditional real estate models and looking for something fresh, sustainable, and scalable, take a page from Chris’s playbook. As he shared on the podcast, "I'm not just chasing equity—I’m solving a massive problem. And when you do that well, the money follows."

---

Stay Connected & Learn More

🎧 Listen to the full podcast episode here: LINK

👁️ Watch the full episode here: LINK

📩 Be part of the discussion! Join our Facebook group: LINK

📅 Book a coaching call w/ Matt Aitchison: LINK

🚀 Enroll in our EXPERT-led courses: LINK

---