Editor’s Note: For the rest of the summer, The Dispatch is profiling some of the area’s youngest entrepreneurs. Do you know a child earning money in a unique way? Let us know by emailing [email protected].
STARKVILLE — When Ben, 17 and Max Buehler, 18, were looking for a fast way to make some extra cash this summer, they weren’t sure what to do.
Their mother, Alison, on the other hand, suggested a moving business. Before the brothers could even mull it over, she had already posted an advertisement on Facebook.
“(My mom) does things with a sense of urgency and in an efficient manner,” Max said. “… I woke up one day and apparently she posted an advertisement on Facebook claiming her two sons had a moving business. Before we knew it, we had calls coming in and had no choice but to get to work.”
Max and Ben started Two Guys one Truck in mid-May in Starkville and ran the business through early August, assisting Mississippi State University students and Starkville residents move in and out of dorms, apartments and houses.
“We (liked) the idea because it’s a lot of money for not a lot of time,” Ben said. “It helps people who don’t want to hire a big moving company. We are convenient.”
Since starting, the brothers have made more than $2,000 in sales and hope to use some of the money to pay for regular expenses during the school year.
Ben said he and Max usually charge $100 to move students in or out of their dorm room and $25 per hour for larger jobs such as houses and apartments.
Their services include packing up belongings, moving them into the truck and dropping them off at the customer’s desired location in Starkville such as a new house or a storage unit, Max said.
Ben said the only expense for the business was gas, but the brothers didn’t keep track of it as they became so busy with customers.
Ben said he enjoyed working together on the business over the summer and took away valuable social and time management skills he will need at a regular job.
“This has been a lot better than mowing grass for hours or working long hours at a regular job,” Ben said. “We learned more organization by having to schedule all the jobs at the right times and that communication with customers is important.”
Max added that he learned to love making an honest dollar, and he will use some of the money they earned to help pay for car insurance and other expenses while he attends the University of Mississippi this fall.
“I think my brother and I have both learned the importance and value of a good work ethic,” he said. “The business has turned out to be way more successful than either of us thought it would be.”
While the brothers said they liked the business, they do not plan to continue operating it next summer since Max will be busy with school.
“My partner is leaving for college to pursue other interests,” Ben said.
“I am going to attend film school at Ole Miss this fall,” Max added. “I have met a lot of interesting people and taken part in many great stories with my brother that I can surely implement into future movies.”
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You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 41 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
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