Bridgewater Entrepreneur is Young Fish

You’ve heard the old question: do you want to be a big fish in a small pond or a small fish in a big pond?

And three years ago, at the age of 17, Bridgewater resident Brian Fitzsimmons decided that he would be a very young fish in an old pond by launching his own business, , a pond design and construction company for residential and commercial properties.

In December 2008, Fitzsimmons was recognized by Somerset County Business Partnership in its young entrepreneur division and presented with an Outstanding Business Person Award. 

Fitzsimmons, who completed high school and then took a few courses in college, said that he was eager to jump into a business of his own and decided not to complete college at this time.

When he was still in high school, Fitzsimmons said, consumer science teacher Linda Ahrens gave him a glowing recommendation.

"Brian is definitely a determined, independent thinker who had a dream and saw it through," she wrote. "This was an industrious undertaking, well thought out, planned and successfully implemented. And he has done all of this while attending high school full-time and keeping up with his classes and the work that a high school schedule demands.”

Fitzsimmons said he knew his career path early.

“I realized early on that I wanted to work for myself,” said Fitzsimmons, who was inspired by his father who worked as an accountant. "My father always had a keen business sense."

But why fish ponds?

“I’ve been around fishing and water since I was just one years old, and I always liked the sound of running water, it always relaxed me,” Fitzsimmons said.

When he was 14 years old, Fitzsimmons said, he built his first fish pond in his parents’ backyard while they were on vacation. He said they were gone for a few days and, when they returned, they scratched their heads and just asked why there was a pond and a waterfall in the backyard.

Fitzsimmons said that, to this day, his mother keeps a photo of his first creation.

“I like looking at the photo too, it reminds me of where I began and where I am today,” he said.

And today, Fitzsimmons is running a thriving business building fish ponds of all sizes that range in size from 300 gallons to a quarter of a million gallons. They begin at $2,900.

Fitzsimmons said maintenance generally costs about $500 per year. The pumps require electricity, but he said he is currently looking into using solar powered pumps.

“People love their ponds," he said. "One of my customers put a hammock near his waterfall and he told me he just sits there and reads. Everyone treats their pond differently, but most people really love the fish that are Koi."

Fitzsimmons said customers also enjoy the tadpoles and aquatic plants, including Water Lilies and Cat Tails.

In the winter, Fitzsimmons said, ponds are covered with nets, and he installs a disc-shaped heater that floats in them.

While the economy has slowed things down a bit over the last few years, Fitzsimmons said, business seems to be picking up this spring.

And Fitzsimmons said he loves running his own business.

“I don’t mind waking up at 7 a.m. in the morning," he said. "I never liked getting up for school, but my own business is very different."

Fitzsimmons said he recognizes that he is lucky to have parents who are very supportive of his choice to go into business at a young age.

But when he initially meets his customers, Fitzsimmons said,they think he’s about 35 years old. After they pay him, he said, he tells them he’s only 19.

With all the work he has done so far, Fitzsimmons said he hopes to have a storefront one day and expand into Bucks County, but for now he recognizes that the economy poses limitations and he’ll have to wait to build up more business before he moves into a storefront.

For now, he’s very happy being a fish that can support the pond he’s in.

For more information, visit the business's website.