Jack Raizin, Founder, Seabee Jack’s Mobile Mechanic & Oil Change, based in Surprise, AZ. (Image provided and enhanced by the Start design team.)

Food Stamps to Fleet Owner: How Jack Raizin Bet It All on a Mobile Oil Change Business

A few weeks ago, I met a banker named Rose Bhatia at a Christian Business Partners (CBP) networking event on the west side. I mentioned Start Magazine to Rose, and she thought it sounded great. One week later, Rose arranged a sit-down for me with Mia Brooks at their WaFd Bank branch in Surprise.

The three of us were just getting acquainted and looking to become referral partners. I asked Mia if any of her banking clients had an amazing story to tell.

She immediately answered by saying, “I need to introduce you to Jack Raizin. He has an incredible story behind his mobile oil change business. Don’t let me forget to give you his business card before you leave.”

Mia was exactly right. I spent over 90 minutes on the phone with Jack across two separate calls. There was so much to his story that we couldn’t capture it all in one sitting.

By the time my wife texted me to come downstairs for dinner, it was obvious neither of us actually wanted to hang up. Sometimes you just connect with certain people for no explainable reason.

I can still hear the ice cubes jangling around in his giant glass of tea through the phone speaker, as Jack walked me through the stages of his entrepreneurial journey.

False Security

Jack understands the brutal reality of the working-class hustle. For seven years, he worked a traditional job while he and his wife, Morenda, raised their five children. To the outside world, he had the ultimate safety net of steady employment. Behind closed doors, they were surviving on food stamps and clipping coupons just to keep the pantry stocked.

INSIGHT

According to federal labor data, a massive segment of American families relying on food assistance programs have at least one adult working a full-time job. The concept of corporate job security often masks severe wage stagnation and traps families in a continuous cycle of poverty.

Jack knew his safe job was actually keeping his family broke. He and Morenda even held off on buying a home to save every spare dime. The breaking point arrived while watching an episode of Family Feud. Steve Harvey delivered a powerful speech about identifying your talent and taking a leap of faith.

Jack took those words to heart. In May 2020, he finally made his move. He set up an account with a commercial oil supplier and went to his day job. While he was on the clock, his very first bulk oil shipment arrived at his house. Morenda called him, completely confused about the delivery truck in their driveway. Jack hung up the phone, turned to his boss, and quit on the spot.

Bungee-Cord Empire

Starting a mobile service business in May 2020 meant launching right into the teeth of a global pandemic. Jack did not have massive financial backing or a fleet of shiny trucks. He started out of a Chevy Silverado.

The early street hustle was relentless. He skipped the fancy marketing tactics and ground it out by posting in local Facebook groups. He also ran ads on Craigslist to secure his first loyal customers.

He eventually upgraded to a starter vehicle, but it was far from glamorous. He hauled his gear in “The Cube.” That was a massive mobile toolbox he literally strapped into the back of his first vinyl-wrapped service van using bungee cords.

He spent three brutal years building the business the right way. He slowly replaced the bungee cords with proper oil rigs and professional equipment. Jack now operates two fully wrapped service vans with a third one currently on the way.

A photo of the second Seabee Jack’s service van. (Image provided.)

Unplanned Legacy

Growing a business brings an entirely new set of headaches. Jack quickly learned the harsh realities of trusting outsiders. He hired marketing agencies that simply took his money and ran.
He eventually realized his absolute best marketing asset was his own hard work. A third-party service simply helped him track down his previous customers to ask for Google reviews. Jack currently sits on hundreds of five-star reviews, and every single one was earned by his actual wrenching, not an agency trick.

Staffing has been another massive hurdle. Finding reliable, non-family employees who actually show up to work is difficult. However, Jack is not done with outside hiring. He is currently working with a local mechanic trade school to recruit a certified tech. He wants someone with some skin in the game, completely avoiding the shade-tree or YouTube wrenchers.

Fate also stepped in to solve a major personnel problem. His son, Dominic, was a professional motocross rider whose racing career was cut short by severe injuries. Dominic also experienced a massive closed door when he was turned down by the Marines due to his epilepsy.

Those setbacks positioned Dominic perfectly for a new path. Jack brought his son into the business, bringing a core piece of the operation completely in-house.

Together, they have evolved into a nearly full-service mobile automotive service. They go far beyond basic oil changes, performing tune-ups and easy-to-moderate repairs right in the customer’s driveway. Taking a massive risk and leaving that safe job allowed Jack to build a permanent, closed-loop legacy for his family.

The Start community will definitely be watching.