Published on October 24, 2023  
Perry Ash1

Ash Perry, a senior accounting major, is a resident in the Samford Startup student-led business incubator. Through the program, Perry launched his business Howl Services LLC, a service-oriented business that connects high school and college students with various jobs around the communities.

What is the story of your company? How did it start?

Howl Services a service-driven business with a two-sided market that connects high school and college students with various tasks in the communities in which they live through an on-demand booking app. Howl provides services such as yard work, painting, junk hauling, pressure washing, installing and removing holiday decor, moving, and a multitude of other odd jobs.

"We fulfill our mission through our on-demand booking app and plan to expand to several cities across the nation," Perry said.

Why did you want to join the Samford Startup program?

I wanted to be a part of Samford Startup to be a part of a supportive community that understands what it’s like to run a business and be a full-time student. It’s great to have the support of the facility and other students during this journey.

How has the Samford Startup program supported your business?

Samford Startup has helped me launch my business by giving me a space to collaborate with fellow students also pursuing their entrepreneurial dreams. With the help of Brock School of Business faculty and local professionals, we are also gaining new insight and tangible ways to grow our businesses. It’s the resources and collaboration that this program offers that have helped me start a business that will hopefully make a redemptive impact here on campus and around the nation.

What has been the most challenging part of launching your business? How did you overcome this?

The most challenging part of starting Howl was obtaining an LLC and keeping track of the accounting and taxes. Making sure that all financial information is updated and correct takes a lot of time and effort. When starting, I had to learn to keep a careful record of everything I did.

How has the Samford Startup program helped you grow professionally?

Through the program, I have made many professional connections. We have meetings every other week and have the opportunity to learn about marketing, accounting, branding, strategy, etc. It’s truly a neat opportunity to learn from other business workers who have been in our shoes.

How has the Samford Startup program helped you achieve or exceed your business goals?

Samford Startup offers funding and mentor support that has helped keep me accountable in maintaining my goals. The funding has provided the necessary technology for my business that keeps the operations running smoothly.

Looking to the future, what do you envision for your business?

One day I plan to expand my business to other cities based on the demographic data I ah a collected. I see the need for my idea in the market and I would love to scale across the nation.

How is your business redemptive in a Christ-like manner?

I believe that all businesses should have a redemptive aspect to them. My business gives back to schools and sports programs as a way of thanking the community for the support. We hope that our team members are meeting influential members of the community during their job which strengthens our community as a whole.

How do you see your company having an impact on the Samford and Birmingham communities?

I think Samford has the potential to have a lot of potential team members and Birmingham has a need for our services. I think being in Birmingham will be a great opportunity for scaling.

Why would you encourage other student entrepreneurs to also join the program?

This program is a great opportunity to find support for your business while being a full-time student. It has opened many unique opportunities for me and I think anyone with a business at Samford should apply.

Learn more about Howl Services through these platforms:

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 6,101 students from 45 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.