Sunlight Services, a waste management business in Marvell, Arkansas, is owned by Andrea White and her husband. Over the past four years, they’ve steadily grown their company, supplying large metal trash bins to consumers, businesses, and government organizations. Andrea’s husband handles operations, while she manages the administrative side to keep things running smoothly.
Their entry into the waste management industry happened almost by accident. “It’s a funny story,” Andrea recalls. “We had a dump trailer just sitting around with no real use for it. One day, we parked it in a lot with a ‘For Rent’ sign, just to see what would happen. By the next day, three people had already called to rent it for the weekend.”
This unexpected demand revealed a gap in the market, and they quickly moved to fill it.
They began with smaller dumpsters, around 15 to 20 yards, but as their customer base grew, so did the demand for larger sizes. Today, Sunlight Services has 25 dumpsters, including 10 highly sought-after 30-yard units, all of which are consistently fully booked. “If someone called today, we wouldn’t be able to accommodate them,” Andrea said. “It’s a great problem to have. Now, four years in, the business is doing well for us.”
Their growth has been supported by their relationship with the Entrepreneurship Team at Communities Unlimited (CU).
Recognizing the need to get their finances in order, Andrea reached out to Pam, who then introduced them to CU Management Consultant Tracy Cook.
Tracy identified several challenges, including asset tracking, liability tracking, and bookkeeping. CU provided training in accrual accounting, helped implement an online bookkeeping system, and developed a financial model to run growth scenarios and assess risks. This led to accurate financial statements that enabled Sunlight Services to secure a loan, capture a government contract, and increase their revenue.
Andrea acknowledges that they wouldn’t have received the funding without Tracy’s help.
"When I say Tracy was helpful, I mean very helpful, I always let him know how much I appreciate it. He’s been incredibly dedicated.”
Despite their success, Sunlight Services faces challenges in managing the growing demand for their services with a small team. However, they continue to thrive, providing essential services to local projects.
What started as a simple idea — renting out a dump trailer—has grown into a successful business that contributes significantly to their community.
“Our business is a good kind of challenge,” Andrea said. “When they call needing a dumpster, it’s great to be able to say, ‘Yes, we can get one to you,’ even if it might take a day or so. We’re enjoying the work.”
