NFIB

Seasoned Entrepreneur Stays Active with NFIB
06/27/2003

Barry Bales of Scottsdale worked for other people for more than 10 years before he started working for himself. Looking back, he says, one of his biggest mistakes was not opening his own business 10 years earlier.

After being taken advantage of as a successful salesman and employee, Bales set out to open Barry's Full Service, a business that provided customers with whatever services they wanted.

The motto he chose: "We do everything well."

"I did not want employees, so I would line up jobs, get subcontractors to do the job, and then I would OK the finished product," said Bales. "People enjoyed the fact that they could call me with any job, I would find someone to do it and it would be done to their satisfaction."

To this day, Bales still has no employees.

According to Bales, his business grew each year and in 1979, after Barry's Full Service was open for just over five years, Bales opened Greenlawn, a business that specializes in fertilizing.

One of Bales' sons is now in charge of that venture, while one of his three daughters, who is currently getting her masters at Arizona State University, takes care of flower beds at shopping centers that hire Barry's Full Service.

Over the years as his businesses have grown, Bales has become a very active member in NFIB. As a big advocate for the permanent repeal of the death tax and other small business issues, Bales stays busy by testifying in front of the state Legislature and making phone calls to his legislators.

When he's not lining up new jobs for Barry's Full Service or acting on issues that are important to NFIB, Bales spends his free time restoring cars.

He and his son have restored more than 15 Pontiac cars from the '50s and he is currently restoring two 1957 fuel-injected Bonnevilles.

"They only built eight of these and there are only three that exist," Bales said about his most recent project. "My wife says it's not a hobby, but a sickness."

Barry still travels around the country to car shows with his wife, son and three daughters, even though the children are now grown.

Their father's initiative to start his own business must have rubbed off, as all four children work for themselves.

"It's been a real pleasure to work for myself instead of the other guy," Bales said. "The other guy controls you lifestyle and can change your life if he has a bad day!"

Quick Facts:
Business Name: Barry's Full Service
Location: Scottsdale, Ariz.
Year Founded: 1974
Number of employees: 0

Why did you join NFIB?
I joined NFIB after a 10-year battle with one of the state agencies over the use of subcontractors. The IRS had OK'd the way I was doing business, but one of the state agencies said they didn't have to agree with the IRS. With the help of NFIB we had a bill drafted, and I testified before House and Senate committees and the bill passed unanimously. Now all state agencies have to agree with an IRS decision.

What is your number one legislative concern on the federal level?
My main concern on the federal level is the death tax. I've seen too many people have to sell the family farm, so to speak, to pay the death tax. This tax should go away forever, not just for a few years. Why should the hardest working people in life not be able to pass it all on to their children, grandchildren and so on? Tax has already been paid on every dollar. I'm glad President Bush agrees with me. Maybe next term he can do away with it permanently.

What have you done through NFIB to help the cause of small business?
I have testified several times for one bill or another. I have also spent a lot of time on the phone leaving my opinion on different bills to the House and Senate leaders, and have enjoyed several NFIB days at the Capitol.

As a big advocate for the permanent repeal of the death tax and as a member of the NFIB/Arizona Leadership Council, Bales stays busy by testifying in front of the state Legislature and making phone calls to his legislators.