HVAC contractor is in the comfort business

Scott Nelson owns Oceanside Service Inc., a heating and air conditioning contractor in Allenhurst.

When did you decide you wanted to be an entrepreneur?

When I was first in the business in 1982 I knew I wanted to be a business owner.

Why did you start this business?

I thought I possessed a certain skill set that was lacking in our industry at that time. Most HVAC business owners didn't understand how to solve comfort issues in a home or commercial building and my company has been able to do that for many years now.

Were there any challenges that made you think twice about striking out on your own?

My wife and I where newly married and had just had our first child, so failing wasn't an option. But the thought of how I was going to feed my family was the biggest hurdle.

If you could do it again, what would you do differently?

I would have taken some classes to better understand the business side of owning your own business. I took many along the way and continue to do so to better myself as an entrepreneur.

What's the best business advice you have ever received?

A local business owner told me not to miss my kids growing up like he did. You have to find that delicate balance between working a ton of hours and finding time to see your kids grow up.

What personality trait helps you the most?

I am your typical type "A" personality and a take-charge person. So a lot of what I do comes naturally to me.

What's the hardest part of the job?

The summer hours commitment. When it gets into the 90s for a long stretch it is very demanding on your staff and yourself. There never seems to be enough hours in a day and days in the week to get everything done. But we always seem to manage.

The easiest?

The spring and the fall seasons. The demand service calls are less and you are kind of in "autopilot mode" for a bit.

What surprised you the most about running the business?

There are so many moving parts and pieces owning a company that operates 24 hours a day. You truly have to be "all in" to be successful, and most don't understand that concept.

Describe your most unusual customer, job or work experience.

We converted a 100-year-old-plus church in Asbury Park from a very old steam heat system to a high-efficiency water heating system and added high-velocity air conditioning. It was a very big job that had a 30-day deadline from start to finish, and we completed it on time and on budget. It was a great opportunity for my company.

How would you like the business to grow and change?

The technology in our industry changes all the time, so I would like us to evolve with it and make sure we are constantly training on all of new technology, as well as continue to be more efficient on all the tasks that we perform.

In one sentence, tell us why customers should go there.

We stand behind everything that we do and we always have our customers' best interest in mind.

What do you love about the community where your business is located?

Being five blocks from the ocean and growing up and still residing in the neighboring town, I love the fact that I have been able to have so many local loyal customers. So if I am out to dinner, or at the local food store or even grabbing a cup of coffee, there is almost always a friendly face that we have done business with and it is very gratifying.

When you leave work, do you leave the office behind, or are you always in contact?

I try, but being a 24-hour business I am always checking for a text or email that might need to be answered. But I am OK with it. I wouldn't have it any other way.

What do you do in your off time?

I am a classic car guy so that's my hobby when the weather is nice, and spending some quality time with my wife and three adult children.

When you leave the business behind some day, what will you do?

I am a volunteer fireman, so I will continue to do that, and travel a bit with my beautiful wife and still be hanging around my business. My son and my younger brother will be taking over in the future, so I will still be around to assist them.

Small Business Spotlight (app.com/smallbusiness) runs Mondays. If you're a small-business owner in Monmouth and Ocean counties interested in taking part in this Q&A, contact business producer Dennis P. Carmody at dcarmody@app.com.

OCEANSIDE SERVICE INC.

Describe your business: We install and service heating, air conditioning, natural gas-fired generators and commercial refrigeration.

Owner: Scott Nelson

Location: 531 Main St., Allenhurst

Phone: 732-531-1523

Website: www.oceansideservicesinc.com

Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, but we're always on-call for emergency calls

Founded: 1989