Hey, I'm Kevin.
I know what it takes to build a business from the ground up.
I didn't learn from a textbook,
I didn't take a course,
I didn't cut any corners.
I learned it by doing it the right way.
Today, I'm proud to say the team & I have built a highly successful, multi-franchise operation in Sligo.
Kevin Egan Cars represents Peugeot and Citroen. We recently invested €4 Million to build a showroom.
We stock over 250 vehicles, operate a fully utilised well oiled 6-bay workshop,
We employ 34 staff from the local area.
But, It wasn't always like this.
Taking the Self-Employment Leap
In 2009, I left my secure job as a salesperson at a local dealership. I wanted to try car sales for myself, but little did I know what was waiting around the corner with the global recession. I navigated through it and came out the other end.
In 2010, I "doubled" my workforce and hired my first employee, Mark Walsh. When you have 34 staff today, it's easy to hire "one more." But the day Mark started was terrifying. I am incredibly proud to say that Mark and I are now business partners. His loyalty at the very beginning earned him a shareholding in the business, and it remains one of the best decisions I ever made.
Want the full, gritty story?
Rather than boring you with all the details here, we recorded a raw, 5-part podcast telling the complete history of Kevin Egan Cars.
Managing Growth
We successfully built a business from having 2 vehicles in my front drive to the facility we have today. To get here, I had to navigate intense meetings with pillar banks and specialized motor industry lenders. I arranged massive stocking loans, secured multiple commercial mortgages for staged growth, and did it all while backing myself and figuring it out on the fly.
Systems, Staff, and The Shift
That obsession with data and systems sparked my second business: H2O Dealer Management. Out of sheer stubbornness, I couldn't find a software system that ran a dealership the way I wanted, so I built my own. We've used it for 14 years, and today H2O stands on its own, supplying dealerships across the country.
But here is the crucial lesson: because I worked with my own business coach, I realized I wasn't the right person to bring H2O to the mass market. I found a go-to-market partner and handed over the day-to-day running of that business to them.
That is the ultimate shift from Salesperson to Business Owner. I just love making businesses better; it's my passion and what gets me up each morning.
Beyond the Business
When I'm not looking at roadmaps or systems, I'm at home in Sligo. I'm married to Stacey, and we have three kids who keep us busy: Abigail, Ben, and Cole.
I've been a lifelong Liverpool FC supporter, and to keep the head right and the fitness levels up, I'm a regular at Mickys Gym—a unique spot that hits that perfect balance of professional training and great friendships.
I hung up the astro football boots about eight years ago and traded them for a road bike. These days, I'm obsessed with road cycling—whether it's doing it, watching it, or talking about it. In my spare time, if I'm not out on the road, I'm usually busy working on something new.