Hard Working Youth Establishes Successful Business

 

Maryann Caldwell

Many of the most successful people in business started out as teenage entrepreneurs. If that is true, then Josh Roberts, of Josh’s Property Maintenance is well on his way.

Entrepreneur Josh, owner operator of Josh’s Property Maintenance in the south end of the city of Peterborough. Photo: Supplied.

Entrepreneur Josh, owner operator of Josh’s Property Maintenance in the south end of the city of Peterborough. Photo: Supplied.

At the age of 9, Josh started mowing lawns and shoveling snow for his neighbours. Josh is now 15 and has built a steady clientele. “I get most of my business through my business cards, flyers and word of mouth. At this time of year I usually have 10 to 15 regular customers, but since we haven’t had any snow yet, it’s been slow.” The services he offers include: grass cutting & lawn care, snow blowing and shoveling, gardening and landscaping, leaf raking & landscaping, tree trimming, eaves trough cleaning and small maintenance jobs. Josh has a riding lawn mower to cut lawns and remove snow but he currently has his eye on a zero turn mower.

On January 28, 2016 Josh will be 16 years old. With the money he has saved, he is hoping to purchase a truck and trailer to take his business to another level. “My business is mostly a one man operation”, says Josh “although when I get in a position where I need help I hire my friends or brother Jordy who is 14”.

When asked about some of the challenges he faces with his business, he replies “You have to make sure you have good social skills with customers which include being respectful, offering clients new ideas on how to do things and of course always being responsible and safe while working.”

So what are Josh’s future plans? “Right now I am leaning toward going to college to take carpentry or train to be a heavy equipment operator. But at the moment my business keeps me very busy during the week and most weekends. Josh is a grade 10 student at Thomas A Stewart Secondary School in Peterborough County and plies his trade at the south end of the city of Peterborough, until he has wheels to go further afield, that is.

Once a month The Millbrook Times will feature a teen that has created a job, developed a passion or participated in a hobby that inspires them in a new column, Teen Talk. If you know someone that would like to be featured email us at: thetimes@nexicom.net.

 

 

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