Summer Company lets Richmond Hill student be own boss, start business

Joshua Gomes-Szoke, Grass Stylists' founder, received startup funding

Yorkregion.com
June 11, 2018
Teresa Latchford

The Richmond Hill Summer Company program has given Joshua Gomes-Szoke so much more than summer employment.

The University of Toronto student joined the Rotman commerce entrepreneurship organization because of his interest in entrepreneurship. The group hosted a number of fireside chats with business startup founders, which sparked his interest in starting his own business. He recalls one guest speaker telling the story of a business teacher who gave his business students $100 with two weeks to turn it into $1,000. This speaker created a yard cleaning business in a senior community and turned the original investment into $3,000.

“It occurred to me at this point that I had a lot of yard equipment since I grew up in the country,” Gomes-Szoke said. “I knew at this point that for the summer, I would start up a landscaping company.”

It was only a matter of days following his decision that he heard about the summer company grant, which provides up to $3,000 in startup funding for students looking to be their own boss in the summer months.

But having the funding didn’t mean the journey was easy, as Gomes-Szoke still had to make a sales pitch to potential customers. At first, it was very long days full of rejection as he tried to convince property owners to trust him to be reliable and provide quality work.

“Sometimes an entire eight-hour day would result only in disinterest and rejection,” he said. “The only reason that I succeeded and made any sales in the first month was that I never gave up and accepted every loss as an opportunity to learn and improve.”

Now in full swing, the Grass Stylists' client list is growing.

The experience has left him with hands-on experience in sales, marketing, accounting, finance and management skills he can apply in future endeavours.

“I hope this will act as a stepping-stone for my career,” he said. “I recommend this to all who have an interest in being an entrepreneur.”

The program is available to students 15 to 29 years of age with an idea, free summer and short business plan.

For more or to apply, visit Richmondhill.ca.