The entrepreneurial journey for Dennis Balonze began when he was 12, sweeping floors in his uncle’s barbershop in Paterson, New Jersey. He was inspired by the sense of community and business hustle, eventually earning his hairdresser license while still in high school. After graduation, Dennis worked in salons to master his craft and, in 2001, he purchased an 80-year-old barbershop in Montclair, New Jersey. That shop grew into multiple locations and sparked his interest in real estate investing.

At 22, Dennis bought his first two-family investment property in Belleville, New Jersey. Managing and renovating it taught him the power of passive income and appreciation. In 2005, he used a 1031 exchange to expand, which led him to Huntsville, Alabama, and the founding investment career. He later invested in Fort Benning, Georgia, and partnered with firms like Borland Capital to underwrite deals and scale his knowledge.

After two decades in the barbering business, Dennis sold off his shops to focus fully on real estate—specifically real estate investing.

Check out Dennis’ YouTube channel, BarberUPP!