Bungobox: Move. Unpack. Now give 'em back.

CASSELBERRY, Fla. (WOFL Fox 35) - Tom Cannon thinks outside the box ... literally. While working for a manufacturing company, Cannon got the idea to use these plastic shipping containers in a new way, and founded BungoBox.

“BungoBox is a sustainable, convenient, cost effective alternative to the traditional cardboard box,” Cannon explains.

The central Florida company rents their boxes to people and businesses on the move.

“Typically a cardboard box costs about $3, so for a week we're almost 50 percent less than having to go buy an individual cardboard box,” Cannon says.

They'll even deliver and pick up their inventory from your home or office, but what's unique about the company isn't just the concept.

“We started BungoBox in may of 2009,” Cannon says.

…at about the same time the economy took a nosedive. But Cannon says they used the downturn to their advantage.

“We probably spent 50 percent less money in getting this business up and running than we would have in a really good economy,” Cannon explains. “For example, this building that we purchased, we paid about 50 cents on the dollar for the building.”

They also saved on boxes, trucks, equipment, and the BungoBox team.

“The talent that we have -- professional talent and labor talent -- is also costing us much less than if we were in a good economy and salaries were much higher," Cannon explains.

If you're thinking about starting a business, Gordon Hogan says now may be the right time.

“It isn't easy, and it's probably even more difficult, but the good news is it's possible to do it and it's been proven over and over,” Hogan explains.

Hogan is the director of the University of Central Florida’s Business Incubation Program, which provides new and existing companies with the tools and training to succeed. But he warns, if you're going to take the plunge, be prepared for a long swim ahead.

“There's one rule that's prevalent -- it always costs more and takes longer than you think,” Hogan explains.

He also says businesses need at least six months of expenses before they're even considered for the incubator ... and that's being conservative.

But as Cannon proves, sometimes a good idea and a lot of hard work, pays off.

Thanks to BungoBox, there are about 30 new jobs right here in Central Florida, and the company is still growing. This past January, they began franchising and now have 7 locations in the U.S. and one in Canada. They expect to have about 20 by the end of the year.