Community Highlights: Meet Katie Goth of Yard deSIGNS LLC

Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Goth.

Hi Katie, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
In 2017, my little sister graduated from nursing school, and my mom wanted to order a yard sign to celebrate. At the time, there were no local companies in our area that offered yard sign set-ups. So, we ordered a sign online and tried to do it ourselves. Unfortunately, it didn’t go well—the sign wasn’t weatherproof and couldn’t hold up against the snow. That experience sparked an idea.

My mom, Becky Johnson (now Owner and Co-Founder), and my aunt, Tracey Wiley, started seriously considering what it would take to launch a yard sign rental business. That’s how Yard deSIGNS was born.

They invited me to help with marketing. I had a full-time job at the time, but with my degree in marketing and background in events, it felt like the perfect side project for nights and weekends. After some quick market research, we secured inventory and launched just in time for the 2018 graduation season. By May, we had a basic website, social media accounts, and a few ads running—and we set up 50 yard signs that month.

We quickly realized this “garage business” was growing faster than we expected. Over the next year, we refined everything—from working with a graphic designer to create durable, weather-resistant inventory, to building a user-friendly online ordering platform. The response was incredible. Customers loved how easy it was to book, and the signs brought so much joy to their celebrations.

As demand grew, especially from people in other cities and states, we saw an opportunity. Because Yard deSIGNS is a rental-based business, we couldn’t fulfill all of those out-of-area requests ourselves. So, we made the decision to expand by offering licensing opportunities to entrepreneurs.

Fast forward to today—Yard deSIGNS operates in 12 states with 25 locations and counting. It’s truly the best leap of faith I’ve ever taken. I now get to combine my business background with my creative passion to help others celebrate life’s moments and support new business owners in launching their own success stories.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Owning a business is never a smooth road—and that’s part of what makes being an entrepreneur so rewarding. There are always challenges, whether it’s managing growing pains from expanding too quickly or figuring out how to invest wisely without going overboard on new ideas.

But one of the hardest lessons I’ve learned as a business owner is the importance of delegation. In the beginning, you feel like you need to do everything yourself—and that asking for help means you’re not doing enough. Letting go of that mindset was a game-changer for me. Once I accepted that I can’t do it all, I was able to focus on the areas of the business that truly needed my time and leadership. Delegating isn’t a weakness—it’s a strength that allows the business to grow more intentionally and sustainably.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Yard deSIGNS LLC?
Yard deSIGNS, LLC is a family-owned yard card rental business that creates customized yard greetings to celebrate life’s special moments. From birthdays and graduations to retirements and baby showers, the possibilities are endless. We design, deliver, and remove each greeting—making it easy and fun for our customers to celebrate.

Since launching in 2018, Yard deSIGNS has grown to include 25 licensees across the country, and we continue to expand with opportunities available nationwide. What truly sets us apart is that we’re still family-owned—and we treat our licensees like family, too.

Unlike many brands, we actively run our own local location in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, which allows us to stay connected to the day-to-day work our licensees do. That hands-on experience helps us better support, guide, and relate to our licensees as they build their own businesses.

It’s tough to choose just one thing I’m most proud of, but if I had to, it would be watching our licensees grow and succeed. From the very first interview to watching them build thriving businesses, it’s incredibly rewarding. I’ve seen moms and dads gain the freedom to stay home with their families and leave behind the 9-to-5 grind—all because of Yard deSIGNS.

Most importantly, I want readers to know that you can be an entrepreneur. It takes hard work, dedication, and persistence—but it’s absolutely worth it. With Yard deSIGNS, you have the opportunity to run your own business while receiving support, guidance, and tools from a company that’s truly invested in your success.

In many ways, it’s a business-in-a-box—complete with a trusted brand, custom inventory, an online platform, and the backing of a hands-on, family-run company that cares.

We are always here to answer any questions you have about what it takes to become a Yard deSIGNS owner.

Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
Luck has definitely played a part in my life and business—but probably not in the way most people think.

Honestly, one of the “unluckiest” moments turned out to be the start of it all. When we couldn’t find anyone local to set up a yard sign for my little sister’s graduation, we were pretty frustrated. But that small letdown sparked an idea, and that’s how Yard deSIGNS came to life. What felt like a random hiccup ended up opening the door to something so much bigger than we ever expected.

Since then, sure—there’s been good luck here and there. We’ve met some amazing people at just the right time, had doors open when we needed them, and found support when we didn’t even know we were looking for it. But the truth is, we were ready for those lucky breaks. We had put in the work, built the systems, and stuck with it through the hard stuff.

The luckiest part of all, though? It’s being able to raise my kids while building something I love. I get to be present for the little moments—school drop-offs, field trips, family dinners—while still running a business that means so much to me. That kind of balance is rare, and I don’t take it for granted.

So yes, luck has definitely played a role—but I think it’s what you do with those lucky moments that really matters.

Pricing:

• $7500 to launch a new location
• Yard deSIGNS packages start at $85 for yard card rentals

Contact Info:

• Website: https://theyarddesigns.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yard_designs/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yarddesignscorporate/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/yard-designs-llc/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1WKrIUbFVF2pHcBzwJRgLg
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@yarddesigns