When Tom McCaughey first learned about Go Mini’s in the early 2000s, he had an immediate thought: That’s a smart business. I should be a part of that. Already established in transportation and logistics, industries where efficiency, reliability, and strong customer relationships are essential, the portable storage model immediately clicked. It combined trucking, logistics, and service in a way that perfectly aligned with his expertise.
The timing wasn’t quite right at first, but the idea stayed with him. Years later, the opportunity to bring Go Mini’s to Southern New England finally aligned with Tom’s vision and his desire to build a business alongside his sons, Patrick and Sam. Together, the three recognized it as the perfect moment to combine their experience and launch a venture that would become a family enterprise.
A Family Business with Generations of History
For the McCaugheys, entrepreneurship is part of their family story. Go Mini’s of Southern New England operates out of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, on property that has been part of the family for generations.
The home and yard where the business now operates once belonged to Sam and Patrick’s great-great-grandfather, who immigrated from Northern Ireland and opened a furniture business there. Over the decades, the property has hosted several family-run enterprises, including a paint shop and a waste disposal company. Today, it serves as the yard and office for the McCaugheys’ portable storage operation.
Operating from that same location carries special meaning for the family. The property has supported businesses in their family for more than a century, and continuing that tradition ties their newest venture to the generations that came before them.
Combining Experience Across Industries
One of the advantages the McCaugheys bring to the business is the range of experience across the family. Tom has spent most of his life in the transportation industry. Early in his career, he co-founded a waste management company that hauled dumpsters and handled disposal services for more than two decades before the company was acquired by a national firm. After that, he launched a charter bus operation that transported school sports teams and community groups, running the business successfully for many years before it was also eventually acquired.
Those decades in transportation gave Tom extensive experience in logistics, fleet management and customer service, skills that translate naturally to portable storage.
His sons bring their own entrepreneurial backgrounds. Patrick, the company’s Chief Technology Officer, has spent years starting and building businesses. He ran specialty coffee ventures for nearly a decade, launched pop-up food businesses and later worked in automotive shipping and logistics before moving into the transportation software sector. Now, he uses that experience to help the company modernize its systems and operations.
Sam, Chief Operating Officer, spent much of his career working in food and beverage, primarily with small, locally owned businesses. After college, he built a career helping those businesses grow and eventually co-founded a restaurant. Later, he stepped away from that venture to join his father and brother in building the Go Mini’s business, something he had long hoped to do.
Why Go Mini’s Stood Out
When evaluating the opportunity, the McCaugheys quickly saw how closely the Go Mini’s model aligned with their experience. Portable storage sits at the intersection of transportation, logistics and customer service, areas the family already knew well.
Still, what ultimately confirmed they had made the right decision was the strength of the franchise network itself. Just a few weeks after purchasing Go Mini’s of Southern New England, the family attended the annual Go Mini’s conference in San Diego. Meeting other franchise owners and learning more about how the system operates gave them confidence they were joining a brand designed to support its operators.
The Go Mini’s network provides franchisees with an in-house customer relationship management system, national preferred vendor partnerships and ready-to-use marketing materials that help local operators establish their presence. Franchise owners also stay connected through regular check-ins with leadership and fellow operators, creating opportunities to share ideas and best practices.
Operating a Go Mini’s location still requires hard work and local initiative, but the McCaugheys say the framework provided by the brand allows them to focus on building their business locally.
A Local Approach in a National Industry
Portable storage is a competitive industry, but the McCaugheys believe their biggest advantage is their local presence.
While some competitors operate primarily through large national systems, Go Mini’s of Southern New England emphasizes relationships within the community. The family works directly with local businesses and organizations and is actively introducing the brand throughout the region.
Their goal is to become a recognizable and trusted name in the communities they serve. The team attends trade shows, meets with business owners and builds connections across Providence County and Bristol County in both Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
At the same time, they are continuing to modernize the business. After taking over the franchise, the team implemented updated workflows and introduced digital tools such as online payment options. These improvements help streamline operations while maintaining the personal customer service the family values.
Looking Ahead
Today, Go Mini’s of Southern New England serves communities across Rhode Island and nearby Massachusetts, including Providence County and Bristol County. As the business grows, the McCaugheys are focused on expanding their operations, building brand recognition across the region, and giving back to their communities.
After decades of experience across industries and years of watching the Go Mini’s brand from afar, Tom and his sons are confident they have found the right fit.
“The systems and support are important, but what really excites us is the chance to build something locally,” the McCaugheys say. “We want people in Southern New England to know our name and know they’re working with a family that lives and works in their community.”