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MACON, Ga. (WGXA) -- Three students at Howard High School are defeating the odds and proving that age is just a number as they become entrepreneurs while also being full-time students.

Finn Wakefield and Jaden Adler are the owners of Window Magic, a business that specializes in window cleaning for residential and commercial properties like Your Pie and Zaxby's. It all started when Adler watched videos on Tik Tok that inspired him to start a business and Wakefield was in the market for a new job. The pair decided to start Window Magic which has proved to be very successful in less than a year.

"One day or day one and we chose day one, so we just started it," said Adler.

Wakefield was working two jobs as he was developing Window Magic alongside Adler and despite skepticism from those closest to him, he quickly quit his original job when he saw Window Magic's potential. It was all a decision that stemmed from one conversation in math class.

"I was working Window Magic and my other job at the same time and when I saw Window Magic pay off I just quit," said Wakefield.

Similar to the conversation between Adler and Wakefield in math class, the duo decided to expand Window Magic and brought in their other friend, Rick Canosa. He is now the Head of Operations for Window Magic and assists with the daily tasks of running a business alongside Adler and Wakefield.

"I saw the vision and I said, 'yeah I would be glad to join y'all and make it bigger'," said Canosa.

With the help of some mentors, the trio recently competed in the Foundational Leadership and Entrepreneur X-Perience (FLEX) competition. It is a competition where students with student-run businesses participate in a business expo and pitch their business model to a panel of judges. They came in first place in the regional division earning them $5,000 and a storefront in Downtown Macon. Then, they placed second in the state division that earned them another $5,000, totaling their winnings to $10,000.

"It's really been amazing and a gift from God," said Wakefield.

The trio said their success would not be possible without their mentors and help from Hutchings College and Career Academy. Window Magic's success is an example of the model that Hutchings puts forward.

"When we look at our mission statement, we are providing an experience, so they know exactly what they want to do when they graduate this model ensures that students are ready, college and career- ready. That way if you're going into entrepreneurship, you know exactly what it looks like before you graduate high school," said Dr. Cassandra Washington, the CEO of Hutchings College and Career Academy.

Hutchings helped the trio with many things including pitching a business plan and learning financial literacy.

With the money won from the competition, they said they will be expanding Window Magic by buying better equipment and hiring more employees.

"We had this great idea, and an idea can't come to life unless you do it and pursue it. We did it and just naturally over time we're going to get better and better. We obviously have had goals and to see those be met has been a great feeling."

Author: Cecily Stoute

Published: 1:07 AM EDT October 20, 2023

Updated: 3:47 PM EDT October 20, 2023

MACON, Ga. (13WMAZ) -- For some, getting a job while in high school is a chance to put some cash in your pockets or save for college. But for Jaden Adler, he wanted to take a slightly different path.

"We just didn't want to go with the normal you know Chic-Fil-A, Zaxby's normal route like that," Adler said.

Adler and Finn Wakefield wanted to start saving money for college. Instead of getting a job, they decided to start their own window-washing business: Window Magic.

"You know it's very hard to work on a high schooler schedule, so we just wanted to do it ourselves," Adler said.

A study by Ernest and Young and Junior Achievement USA showed that 60% of teens start a business rather than get a traditional job, but that doesn’t surprise Wakefield.

“I think it gives us more options. We can do what we want to do and kinda find a way to make money for it. You know, you can work with whoever you want. You can kinda go to your friends," Wakefield said.

Rick Canosa is the first employee and manages the operations of Window Magic. He was attracted to join his friend’s business, but it’s been a transition.

"It’s hard you know cause you’re on your own. You don’t have a boss to look up to so all three of us we manage this by ourselves and we just got to be independent and we think of everything ourselves," Canosa said.

Chris Hefner owns Your Pie off Bass Road. He believes this group is different from their generation.

"The generation today is not always…they’re more just wanna look at your phone, but to their credit, they really have gone out and knocked on a lot of doors and got a lot of business and done the work. Now they’re starting to get repeat business from existing customers," Hefner said.

The same study concluded that 69% of teens have a business idea and don’t know how to get started, but Adler gives his best advice.

"It’s going to be really hard," Adler said. "Just try to hustle get out there and make as much money as you can. You need to plan it out and it takes a lot of time and effort but it’s something you can definitely achieve if you take the time and put in the work." 

Wakefield said there are plans to continue their business through college.

But as the band of juniors from Howard High School continue to work on developing their business, they are looking to expand the business and make it even more successful.