Losing his job turned Larry Curell into a vetrepreneur.

For most people, being laid off is their worst nightmare.  Some people, however, are able to turn such misfortunes into something extremely rewarding.

After his department at Motorola was outsourced and he found himself unemployed with a baby on the way, NaVOBA member Larry Curell decided to take matters into his own hands.  Nearly 10 years later, Better Deal Printing, LLC is thriving and reaching new heights everyday. 

It wasn’t long after he was laid off that Curell started working again. He took a job almost immediately, but it just wasn’t enough.  So, channeling his inner vetrepreneur, he opened a printing shop in his living room.

“We started by offering black and white half sheet flyers that we printed on an old laser printer,” said Curell. “Within the first year, I had moved the business into the garage. By the second year business had doubled.”

Growing Pains

With the rapid growth of his new company, it became clear that Curell needed to quickly find new funding.  After seeking out different opportunities offered to disabled veterans, Curell turned to factoring, and the Performance Funding Group.  This move allowed the firm to grow into what it is today.

“Trying to find funding was a huge roadblock for us,” Curell explained.  “We want to keep our costs and prices low.  In the printing industry it’s all about volume.  It’s very competitive.  A lot of businesses go under quickly.”

Better Deal Printing, LLC has come a long way since that single laser printer in the Curell Family living room.  It’s now a web-based company with an East Coast location opening later this year. The firm specializes in eco-friendly printing and has in-house graphic designers to help customers from start to finish.  

Relationships are Key

Better Deal’s Web site at www.betterdealprinting.com highly interactive, according to Curell. Customers can find everything from product overviews and quotes, as well as upload their own artwork and track their project in real time.  With the technology he utilizes, Curell is able to work very closely with clients and build lasting relationships with them.

Better Deal Printing, LCC deals with all sizes of businesses. It currently works with businesses in all 50 states and six different countries.  In addition to numerous local businesses, the company’s clientele includes larger clients like Prudential, Nissan and SCORE.

Vetrepreneur-to-Vetrepreneur

While he enjoys all of his projects, Curell gets extra gratification when he works with veterans.  He works with the Department of Veteran’s Affairs, and actively seeks out other VOB’s as potential clientele.

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