Q. Kindly give our readers an introduction to your business. Please include what your business is all about, in which city you are located and if you have offices in multiple locations/ cities.
A. Sacramento Repipe & Plumbing is a family-owned plumbing company based in Sacramento, California. We specialize in whole-home repiping, water heater installations, and a wide range of plumbing services for both residential and commercial clients. We are proud to serve communities across Sacramento, Elk Grove, Folsom, Roseville, Rocklin, Lincoln, El Dorado Hills, and surrounding areas. Our focus has always been on providing honest, reliable, and high-quality plumbing services with up-front pricing and no hidden fees.
Q. Kindly give us a brief description about yourself (it should include your brief educational or entrepreneurial background and list some of your major achievements).
A. My name is David Ortiz, and I am the founder and owner of Sacramento Repipe & Plumbing. I started in the plumbing industry over 20 years ago, learning the trade hands-on before establishing my own business in 2003. Since then, I’ve grown Sacramento Repipe & Plumbing into a trusted name in the community, known for professionalism, communication, and exceptional service. One of my proudest achievements is building a company that has earned the trust of homeowners throughout the Sacramento region and maintains a 4.9-star Google rating.
Q. What inspired you to (start a new business venture) or (to make significant changes in an existing business)? How did the idea for your business come about?
A. I was inspired to start my own business after seeing how often homeowners struggled to find a plumber they could truly rely on. I wanted to create a company that put honesty, integrity, and customer service first. The idea for Sacramento Repipe & Plumbing came from a vision of building a service-driven business where every client could feel peace of mind knowing the job was done right the first time.
Q. What three pieces of advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs?
A. 1. Be consistent and don’t give up when things get tough—perseverance pays off.
2. Always put the customer first, no matter what industry you’re in.
3. Manage your finances wisely from day one; cash flow is the lifeblood of any small business.
Q. What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?
A. Resilience, communication, and problem-solving. Challenges will come your way constantly, but being resilient helps you push forward. Strong communication builds trust with both clients and employees. And problem-solving is at the heart of running a business—finding solutions that work for everyone involved.
Q. How many hours do you work a day on average?
A. On average, I work 10 to 12 hours a day. Owning a business means your responsibilities don’t end when the clock hits five, but I’m passionate about what I do, so it doesn’t feel like a burden.
Q. To what do you most attribute your success?
A. I attribute my success to consistency, treating people fairly, and never cutting corners. Customers know they can trust me and my team to stand by our work, and that reputation has carried us forward for over two decades.
Q. How do you go about marketing your business? What has been your most successful form of marketing?
A. Word of mouth and customer referrals have always been our strongest marketing tools. Nothing builds trust like a recommendation from a satisfied client. In addition, we’ve seen great success with digital marketing, including Google reviews, which showcase our reputation for quality work.
Q. Where did your organizations funding/capital come from and how did you go about getting it? How did you obtain investors for your venture?
A. I started Sacramento Repipe & Plumbing with personal savings and a lot of hard work. We didn’t rely on outside investors—just dedication, sweat equity, and carefully reinvesting profits back into the business to grow it sustainably.
Q. What is the best way to achieve long-term success?
A. The best way to achieve long-term success is to put relationships first—whether that’s with customers, employees, or your community. If you treat people right, word spreads, and your business naturally grows over time.
Q. Where you see yourself and your business in 5 – 10 years?
A. In the next 5 to 10 years, I see Sacramento Repipe & Plumbing continuing to grow while maintaining the personal, family-owned touch that makes us unique. I’d like to expand our team further and possibly open a second office to better serve more of Northern California.
Q. Excluding yours, what company or business do you admire the most?
A. I admire companies like In-N-Out Burger because they’ve built a strong brand by keeping things simple, consistent, and customer-focused. Their dedication to quality and service is something I try to mirror in my own business.
Q. How important have good employees been to your success?
A. They’ve been essential. A company is only as strong as the people behind it. Having trustworthy, skilled employees who share my values has been critical to building long-term success.
Q. How long do you stick with an idea before giving up?
A. I give an idea a fair chance, but I also know when to pivot. If something isn’t working after consistent effort and evaluation, I adapt and move on quickly.
Q. What motivates you?
A. My biggest motivation is helping homeowners feel secure and comfortable in their homes. Plumbing may not always be glamorous, but it’s vital to people’s daily lives.
Q. What are your ideals?
A. Honesty, hard work, and accountability. I believe in doing the job right the first time, and standing by my word.
Q. How do you generate new ideas?
A. I listen—to customers, employees, and industry trends. Many of our best ideas have come from paying attention to client feedback and adjusting accordingly.
Q. How do you define success?
A. To me, success means being trusted by your community and knowing you’ve built something that improves people’s lives.
Q. How do you build a successful customer base?
A. By delivering consistent quality and treating every client like family. A satisfied customer will come back and refer others, and that’s the foundation of our customer base.
Q. What is your favorite aspect of being an entrepreneur?
A. The freedom to build something of my own and to create opportunities for others. I enjoy being able to shape the direction of the company.
Q. What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
A. One of the most satisfying moments has been seeing families relieved after we complete a full home repipe, knowing they no longer have to deal with constant leaks and plumbing problems.
Q. What do you feel is the major difference between entrepreneurs and those who work for someone else?
A. Entrepreneurs carry the responsibility of risk. When you own the business, success or failure rests on your shoulders. It requires a different mindset and level of accountability.
Q. What kind of culture exists in your organization? How did you establish this tone and why did you institute this particular type of culture?
A. Our culture is built on respect, teamwork, and accountability. I set this tone by leading by example, being hands-on, and making sure every employee feels valued.
Q. In one word, characterize your life as an entrepreneur.
A. Rewarding.
Q. If you had the chance to start your career over again, what would you do differently?
A. I would focus on building systems and processes earlier. They make growth smoother and reduce stress.
Q. What is your greatest fear, and how do you manage fear?
A. My greatest fear is letting down my customers or employees. I manage it by staying consistent, prepared, and proactive.
Q. How did you decide on the location for your business?
A. Sacramento is home. It’s where I grew up and built my career, so it made sense to serve the community I know best.
Q. Do you believe there is some sort of pattern or formula to becoming a successful entrepreneur?
A. Yes—hard work, persistence, and integrity. While there’s no exact formula, those three traits are always part of the equation.
Q. If you could talk to one person from history, who would it be and why?
A. I would love to talk to Thomas Edison. His persistence and ability to learn from failure is inspiring.
Q. Who has been your greatest inspiration?
A. My father. He taught me the value of hard work and always doing right by people.
Q. What book has inspired you the most? (OR what is your favorite book?)
A. ‘The E-Myth Revisited’ by Michael Gerber. It taught me the importance of working on your business, not just in it.
Q. What are some of the biggest mistakes you’ve made?
A. Early on, I tried to do everything myself instead of delegating. It slowed growth and burned me out.
Q. How can you prevent mistakes or do damage control?
A. By being transparent with clients and taking responsibility. If we make a mistake, we fix it—no excuses.
Q. What are your hobbies? What do you do in your non-work time?
A. I enjoy spending time with my family, fishing, and staying active outdoors.
Q. What makes you happy?
A. Seeing satisfied customers and knowing my work makes a difference in people’s lives.
Q. What sacrifices have you had to make to be a successful entrepreneur?
A. Time. Long hours and missed events come with the territory, but I’ve learned to balance better over the years.
Q. If you were conducting this interview, what question would you ask?
A. I would ask, ‘What drives you to keep going every day?’
