Wichita businessman buys his own company as ‘a bet on myself’

Why would someone give up a successful career in one field to buy his own business in a completely different industry?

Mike Ludlow can answer that in three words:

“Freedom and flexibility.”

Ludlow has worked in outsourced payroll and accounting for most of his career. After he got his MBA, he worked in financial analytics for a time and most recently was vice president of outsourced payroll operations at AGH.

For about a year, he’s been keeping his eyes open for an opportunity to have his own business.

Ludlow decided to buy Harmony Home Concepts, a home improvement and custom storage business that grew out of Phil Davis’ Handyman Matters franchise, which Davis purchased in 2005.

Since the pandemic, when Harmony’s business especially started picking up, Davis’ wife, Shelley, has been at the company.

Now, the two would like to spend more time with their grandchildren and help an aging family member, which is why they decided to sell.

Ludlow said he also was thinking of his family when he bought the business.

Unlike his other career, Harmony allows him “to do it on my own schedule and maybe be around a little bit more for kids’ events and sports and that sort of thing.”

He and his wife, Keesha, have two young daughters.

That’s the flexibility part of his new equation. The freedom, at least financially, likely will come after years of hard work, Ludlow said.

Even though this is a new career for him, he said he believes in his abilities to learn and adapt.

“I consider it . . . a bet on myself to be able to take it on on my own.”

Harmony offers home repairs and a variety of storage solutions for closets and cabinets, including slide-out shelving.

Ludlow said he’s able to help with all kinds of storage needs in a variety of sizes.

“Anything you want to throw at us.”

The company also is an authorized dealer for Swisstrax, a type of weatherproof flooring for garages that helps keep them clean.

Ludlow said he’ll talk with customers and listen to their needs and be able to handle the software side of things to make sure everything is smooth and efficient with the work crews he sends out.

Todd Bailey, president of Transworld Business Advisors of Wichita, brokered the sale of the business.

Phil Davis said he’s looking forward to seeing where Ludlow takes Harmony.

Ludlow, of course, is looking forward to that flexibility and freedom.

“That’s what it’s all about to me.”