It started with odd jobs around the neighborhood. CHS juniors Alex Meingast and Jeremy Simon would rake leaves, trim bushes and mow lawns, but after receiving multiple requests from their Burns Park neighbors, the demand for dog walking was apparent. Simon and Meingast started their business: Jeremy and Alex Dog Walking Business. For the past year and a half they have been regularly walking dogs for a set clientele.

The CHS juniors created a regular schedule with their newfound clients. Both walk two to three dogs separately for at least an hour, five days a week.

When one is unavailable, the other fills in. They make sure to communicate ahead of time if they have an issue with their schedule. Their teamwork makes the business run smoothly. On the schedule issues in the beginning, Simon said, “It gave us a lot more responsibility, but in the end we were able to make dog walking a part of our regular day.”

Since they started their business they went from walking one dog a week to eight dogs a week, with the occasional customers hiring for the day only. Simon believes that at times they walk too many dogs. “It is annoying sometimes to walk multiple dogs, especially when they don’t listen to you, and when they bark at other dogs,” he said. But the small downsides do not deter them from continuing the business.

The business has made Simon and Meingast make quite a profit. “We get a substantial amount for the time we put in,” said Meingast. An hour of work they can make around twenty dollars. To put into perspective, this is up to three times as much as a minimum wage job would pay. Meingast described the advantages: “We are able to make our own times to work and we make more money for it.”

Both entrepreneurs have also made the effort to advertise their business to expand. “Aside from having our clients spread the word about us, we decided to take it upon ourselves to advertise as well,” said Simon. They have made multiple posters and business cards and posted them around the Burns Park area. In addition, T-shirts were sold at CHS, with the hopes that potential customers would see them.

Jeremy and Alex’s Dog walking business has become so successful through their impression on their customers. A customer, Jane Norson, said, “Alex and Jeremy are very helpful boys. Having them be so professional and reliable is something not often seen with teenagers.”

But starting a business takes a certain kind of skill. Meingast’s advice is to “dream big, be persistent, and remain patient.”

In respnse to the question “What does it take to start a business?” Simon responded, “One must make sure they have an idea that will attract customers and be willing to take sacrifices and effort to be successful.”

According to Meingast there are many rewarding components to their business: “The money is nice. But it is also great knowing that every day we are doing something good for the fair and just people of Burns Park.” Simon added, “Being able to see the happy pooches get the exercise they need is all that matters.”

Both students hope to continue the business as long as they can; however, they have yet to decide on the future of “Jeremy an Alex’s Dog Walking” after high school. Meingast said, “I probably won’t be able to continue the business once I’m in college. But I hope to keep it alive somehow.”

Simon stated, “ I will walk dogs for as long as I can, until I die.”