Property Maintenance Business is on Point Thanks to WorkBC’s Self-Employment Services

While on one of their first dates, now married couple Sandy and Scott Lenton hiked Pine Point Trail in Manitoba’s Whiteshell Provincial Park. Marvelling at the view of where the Whiteshell River drops down to fast-flowing rapids, the Lentons never envisioned at that time they would one day start their own business 2,000 kilometres west in the Okanagan.

Thanks to the tools attained from the WorkBC Self-Employment services, the Lentons started Pine Point Property Maintenance in Lake Country last year.

With business now expanding to include clients in Lake Country, Kelowna and West Kelowna, Sandy says it has been a long journey, with quite a few twists and turns, to get to this point.

 “You have to have that motivation to start your own business. Not everyone wants to work on their own. I never wanted to be my own boss, but would I ever go back to work for someone else? No. With young kids, it also helps to have a flexible schedule,” she says.

Heading to New Pastures

As a busy mother with a sports administration background, Sandy has never shied away from hard work.

After graduating from Mount Royal University with a diploma in physical activity and sports administration, she worked as a Recreation Programmer for a community association in Calgary and as Coach Recognition and Development Coordinator for Sport Manitoba.

After deciding to move to the Okanagan, Sandy and Scott were married at Silver Star Mountain Resort.

“I used to live in Kelowna and wanted to move back west,” explains Sandy, who was able to find work in an office before finding out she was pregnant.

Sandy eventually ended up staying at home to raise the couple’s two daughters, while Scott worked out of town.

The Lentons later found themselves in a challenging situation when Scott’s work ended.

While Sandy was able to find temporary employment through the Vernon WorkBC Centre, the Lentons knew they had to do something more sustainable. That’s when they started thinking about starting their own business.

Narrowing Down a Plan

After making the crucial decision that Sandy would enrol in WorkBC’s Self-Employment program, the Lentons started to devise a business plan.

“Our original business idea was completely something else,” explains Sandy. “My husband was going to start a landscaping company, and I was going to do office administration, but it didn’t seem like a viable option for me, so we went back to the drawing board.”

The Lentons decided to add a cleaning service to their business proposal. Around the same time, Scott gained sustainable full-time employment. Worried that she would have to scrap their idea all together, Sandy’s doubts were relieved when her mother, an experienced gardener, came up with a solution.

 “A landscaping company that my mom worked for folded, so we took on some of their clients, and my mom came on board as my mentor and is now paid staff,” says Sandy.

Seeing the Forest Through the Trees

Since starting Pine Point, the Lentons have gained new clients and have kept all the clients they attained in their first year of business.

Besides cleaning, they have expanded to include a property maintenance and home check service for clients while they are away.

Sandy and her mother now keep busy landscaping and gardening from spring to fall, while Scott comes in to handle the more massive maintenance projects.

“I like to be physical when I work. We have amazing clients, and I get to work in beautiful settings. I certainly enjoy it. It’s really peaceful and Zen-like,” says Sandy, who next plans to take horticulture courses at Okanagan College.

Sandy says her advice to others who want to start their own business is to seek out help and then go for it.

“It’s certainly a scary time, with so many unknowns, but if you find yourself needing to work and are running out of options, I’d definitely look into the WorkBC Self-Employment services and follow the advice they pass along. They don’t just drop you at the end of the program. You still have an advisor and a great support system as you navigate your way through. The touch-back sessions have been incredibly helpful.”

If you have a business idea, the determination to make it a reality, and meet the eligibility requirements, see how WorkBC’s Self-Employment services can help. Contact the WorkBC Centre in Vernon at 250-545-2215 ext. 233 or visit workbccentre-vernon.ca for more information.