Army E5 Turned Civilian Entrepreneur Shares Why He Started His Own Business After Military Service
EcoFresh Bins
Owner/Operator, John Roberts
Tell us about your business. What products do you sell or services do you offer?
EcoFresh Bins offers trash bin cleaning services, as well as other power washing services to commercial and residential clients in the central Virginia area.
Where are you located in Virginia?
Hopewell
When did you establish your business?
March 2025
Who are the veteran owners of your business?
Me - John Roberts, sole owner
In which branch of service did each owner serve and during what period of time?
U.S. Army, August 2016 - February 2024
What encouraged you to establish your business and do you have any advice for other transitioning service members or veterans who may be considering establishing a business?
Seeing others being successful in business made me want to go into something very niche and this is what I came up with. I'm glad I did because it is one of the most freeing things being your own boss and the job isn’t that bad...most of the time. Some advice I would give to transitioning service members and veterans is to make sure you have a solid business plan before even looking at equipment or inventory. We’ve all heard of the 5Ps: proper preparation prevents poor performance. Prepare for a tough and grueling couple of years financially and mentally. It will all be worth it in the end.
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