Lakeville Teens Build Growing Handyman Business Focused on Trust, Work Ethic, and Community
Published: February 27, 2026.
LAKEVILLE, MINNESOTA: What started as helping friends, neighbors, and family with small home repairs has quickly grown into a promising small business led by two 17-year-old entrepreneurs determined to make their mark in the local trades industry.
Solus Fix, founded in May 2025 by Ollie Sonterre and Telden Tran, is a Lakeville-based handyman service built on reliability, strong communication, and practical solutions for everyday homeowners. In less than a year, the duo has turned their initiative and hands-on experience into a growing operation serving Lakeville and surrounding communities.
Filling a Gap in the Market
Sonterre and Tran say the idea for Solus Fix came naturally.
“We started helping friends, family, and neighbors,” they explained. “Then we realized a lot of homeowners were looking for dependable help with everyday maintenance and repairs, especially the smaller jobs that bigger contractors don’t usually take.”
That niche, patching drywall holes, caulking showers, installing fixtures, handling yardwork, and tackling general maintenance, became the foundation of their business model. While major construction companies often focus on large-scale remodels and builds, Solus Fix positions itself as a dependable option for small-to-medium household projects that still require attention to detail and professional care.
Their services include:
General home repairs
Fixture installations
Seasonal maintenance
Yardwork and cleanup
Painting
A wide range of small-to-medium residential projects
The focus, they say, is on long-lasting solutions rather than quick fixes.
Combining Hands-On Experience with Professional Training
Though just 17, both founders bring notable training and experience to their work.
Ollie Sonterre, a hands-on handyman, is known for his solutions-first mindset and strong work ethic. With experience spanning repairs, yardwork, cleanup, and full-day labor-intensive projects, he approaches each job with efficiency and foresight. Sonterre has a particular focus on HVAC and electrical-related projects, giving him added expertise when diagnosing, repairing, and maintaining such systems.
Telden Tran studied Construction Management and is OSHA certified. He also holds a Procore Certificate in Project Management and is verified on Angi Services, a platform that connects homeowners with vetted trade professionals. Raised in a family with a construction background, Tran says he learned early on the importance of craftsmanship and doing the job right the first time.
By combining practical field experience with project management training, the two say they can bring both professionalism and personal accountability to every project.
“When a challenge pops up, we tackle it head-on,” they said. “We stay focused, communicate clearly, and make sure no detail is missed.”
Built on Communication and Trust
At the core of Solus Fix is a commitment to customer service, something the pair says sets them apart.
They emphasize strong communication before, during, and after projects, ensuring homeowners understand the scope of work and feel confident in the results. Their goal is to build long-term relationships rather than one-time transactions.
“We treat every home like it’s our own,” they said. “We want people to feel comfortable calling us again.”
In a market where homeowners often struggle to find reliable contractors for smaller jobs, that customer-first mindset has helped Solus Fix steadily grow through word-of-mouth referrals.
Looking Toward the Future
While the business is still in its early stages, Sonterre and Tran have ambitious plans.
Their long-term goal is to expand within the community and eventually become fully licensed in Electrical, Plumbing, and HVAC, and to obtain General Contractor certification. Ultimately, they hope to grow Solus Fix into what they describe as a “one does it all” company, a trusted local name capable of handling everything from small repairs to larger-scale projects.
“We just started in May of last year,” they said. “Since then, we’ve been working day and night figuring out what we can do to make it better than it was yesterday.”
For now, their focus remains on growth, consistency, and strengthening their reputation in Lakeville and the surrounding areas.
As two young entrepreneurs balancing school, training, and business ownership, Sonterre and Tran say they’re proud of how far they’ve come, and motivated by the opportunity to serve their community.
“We really have a strong passion for growing this business as far as we can,” they said. “We’re proud of ourselves, and we’re hoping to help the community around us.”
Website: https://solusfix1.com/
Written by: Will Wight
