An Atlanta-area manufacturer of high-end motorcycle parts on becoming an entrepreneur and defining success
As an American manufacturer of high-end motorcycle parts and member of the NFIB Georgia Leadership Council, Max McAllister says he was simply born to own his own business.
“When I joke, I say I’ve been an entrepreneur since I was an embryo,” the owner of Traxxion Dynamics in Woodstock, Georgia, says. “I was just born an entrepreneur. My parents didn’t drive me in that direction and certainly the public school system didn’t do that. I’ve just always been that way.”
Traxxion Dynamics began after McAllister was a competitive motorcycle racer for many years. Seeing a demand in the circuit for components that work well without the help of an expert mechanic, he decided to start his own company.
“I wanted to make it so the rider has access to components that just worked well from place to place and didn’t require expert input all the time,” says McAllister.
With 10 employees, McAllister defines success as providing a secure income for his workers and a comfortable life for himself. When asked what he has not yet achieved, he jokes, “success.”
“Knowing that you can retire is success. Choosing to work because you want to is the ultimate dream for any small business owner. Working because you have to and working because you want to are two completely different states of mind.”
Joking aside, Traxxion Dynamics takes itself seriously, especially when it comes to being an American brand. With his dedication to manufacture all his products in the United States, McAllister says he limits outsourcing overseas as much as possible. Traxxion Dynamics completed a $1 million makeover two years ago to the Georgia factory.
“Everything that we could, within reason, from the things on the floor, the lights on the ceilings, the items on the wall, all the machinery, even the money I borrowed, I made sure it came from an American lender to buy all the equipment,” he says after retooling the factory.
Being a part of NFIB has helped McAllister and his business in more ways than one. Though he describes Georgia as “an extremely friendly small business environment,” he recognizes the difficulties that small business owners face and the challenges of increasing regulation coming down from the state and federal levels.
The greatest advantage of working with NFIB? McAllister says, “it’s knowing that there’s constant pressure at the state and federal level on politicians to support the interests of the small business owner. So even while I’m in bed, I feel like NFIB is there, working to look out for my interests.”
