Students’ small businesses at our school have proven to be the key to financial and personal success. They provide the ability to be your own boss and pursue your passions while controlling your own schedule.

Being self-employed, you have more control over your workload and schedule. Gavin & Miles Lawn Servicing LLC co-founder senior Gavin Dennis attests to this benefit of entrepreneurship.

“I could work fewer hours mowing lawns than working at Starbucks and make a similar amount of money, which makes up so much time,” Dennis said. 

Owning a small business can also be a way to pursue passions and interests—senior Fiona Birnie began teaching piano due to her connection with the instrument.

“I played piano until I was 11. I quit because my teacher was so strict, and I was dreading lessons. A little bit after quitting, I missed piano, and I started teaching,” Birnie said. 

Many believe that small businesses make limited profit. However, owning one can have major financial benefits. Both Birnie and Dennis have found their business ventures extremely rewarding.

“I bought my car. I had $12,000 saved up, and then, my parents matched that,” Birnie said. 

“I made a goal for myself to do $20,000 in revenue before the end of the year, and we were able to just barely cross that number,” Dennis said. 

Yorktown offers a variety of courses to aid you through the process of starting your own business. Jennifer Powell teaches Introduction to Business and Marketing, Entrepreneurship and Dual Enrollment Entrepreneurship at our school. 

“In my entrepreneurship class, we talk about current entrepreneurs and the ones of the past. For my introduction to business and marketing, I focus on real-world experiences. Right now we are talking about layoffs now and how they fit into the business atmosphere,” Powell said.

Starting a business is a learning experience with opportunities for growth. Embracing your mistakes and identifying opportunities is key to the development of a business. 

“Know your worth, be organized with scheduling and know how to spend your money because it’s such a shame that I wasted my money on things that I didn’t need,” Birnie said.

“There’s no way to do something only half way. You have to put in quite a lot of hours. I bought 1000 business cards for 55 dollars and just drove around putting them in mailboxes for hours and hours,” Dennis said.

Starting a business can be challenging, but it can also be incredibly rewarding, as demonstrated by the success stories of Gavin Dennis and Fiona Birnie. Our school offers resources and courses to help students explore the entrepreneurial path, including classes taught by experienced entrepreneur Jennifer Powell. Whether you’re looking to start a business or simply want to explore a new opportunity, these resources can help you unlock your potential for success.