10-year-old Bradford boy cutting lawns to help pay for soccer season

Bradford boy spends his evenings and weekends cutting grass to pay for his soccer classes

It's been a long spring, with sports activities postponed for the season thanks to the provincial stay-at-home order.

But 10-year-old Bradford boy Adam Ahmadzai is hopeful there will be plenty of opportunities to play soccer this summer with his friends at the Bradford Union soccer club and is saving his dollars to put toward the season. 

Adam has been part of the club for the past five years and says soccer is his favourite sport.

He likes cutting the lawn at home with his parents and decided to start his own local lawn cutting business to help pay for his soccer program.

"I needed money for soccer so I thought why not get a job?" he said. 

Adam's father Kyle was impressed with the idea and helped his son get started with a loan to purchase equipment and supplies. 

"I loaned him $500 to buy his equipment, a lawnmower, trimmer, and edger, and he is paying me back in installments," said Kyle. 

Adam started his business just last month, and so far has cut around 30 lawns in the community. He cuts around 90 percent of the lawn himself, with Kyle helping finish the job with trimming and edging. 

"I track the appointments for him, and I drive him around to the customer's houses," added Kyle.

Adam is in Grade 5, and like the rest of his peers, is doing online learning. He balances his time between school and work, cutting lawns after school and on weekends. 

"Since school started, half my day is on schoolwork," he said, noting that he prefers in-person learning. 

Adam is a big brother to two younger siblings ages 3 and 4, to who he hopes to be an inspiration. 

So far, he says all his clients have been satisfied with his work thus far. 

"We always tell them (customers) to leave a positive review on Facebook, and other people can see that," said Adam.  

"If they don't like the work, they don't have to pay," said Adam, noting his son offers guaranteed great service. 

After posting his ad on local community Facebook groups, the owner of Eye Candy Ads Mark Snaper contacted the Ahmadzais to see if they would be interested in having their ad on his digital billboard on Bridge Street, free of charge, to help get more business. 

"If I can help the Bradford youth in their desire to learn all the wonderful things about entrepreneurship, then I feel I have contributed a great deal to them," said Snaper. 

Snaper has been an entrepreneur since he was 14-years-old, selling Pokemon cards at a local card show. 

"I began learning what it took to bargain, have expenses...it was an extremely memorable and exciting time in my life," said Snaper. "The most important lesson I learned as a young entrepreneur was that the secret to success is doing what you love at any age."

Anyone interested in having Adam cut their lawn can contact Kyle directly through text at 416-471-6656. 

Anyone under the age of 16 with their own business is encouraged to contact Eye Candy Ads, where Snaper will be offering free advertising on his billboard. He is looking for five business sponsors for the Youth Entrepreneurs Program where each month two youth will have their business ads posted free of charge. 

"I will keep this as ongoing for the youth," said Snaper. "And my in-house graphic designer will put an ad together for each child, free of charge."

Natasha Philpott