Senior Kristopher Frometa’s GPA is not even at the C-average level but his business is way above average. Frometa began his own business at 14 selling and building custom high-end saltwater tanks which he started as a hobby when he was twelve.

“It was chump change back then,” he said. Now he makes between $400 and $1200 depending on the week.

Frometa knew how to maintain saltwater tanks because he had one at his house; He needed cash so he started offering to service people’s tanks. Then he realized he could make more money building and selling his own tanks so he learned how to make tanks from the internet.

“Advertising’s the key to my business,” Frometa said. He spends between $200 and $600 on promotions such as flyers, cards, and ads in the Miami Herald and New Times. “Ya gotta spend money to make money,” he said.

Frometa puts much time and effort into his business but does not have that same enthusiasm toward school. He has a GPA of 1.9. “I’m not getting paid for school,” he said, “If someone was giving me $100 for school, I’m sure I would be getting a 4.0.”

Mr. Mickens, his American Government teacher, said Frometa is quiet and attentive in class. “He doesn’t talk unless I force him to answer a question,” he said.

Frometa believes college is important but is not necessary to own a business, hence his own.

“I know a lot of people who didn’t even graduate from high school and they are multimillionaires,” Frometa said.

Dave Thomas for example, the late owner of the fast food giant Wendy’s, dropped out of the ninth grade to pursue a career in business. Bill Gates dropped out of Harvard in his junior year to give full attention to his Microsoft Company.

Although Frometa’s GPA is low, he still plans to attend Miami Dade College and FIU. “Ya gotta have something to fall back on in case your plans don’t work out,” he said.

His friends are proud of his business success. “I think it’s cool that he’s not even out of high school and he’s making a lot of money,” said freshman Frankie Sangineto.

Senior Brian Fernandez said,

“He’s doing something he really likes.”

Both friends have asked him to hire them, but Frometa wants to keep all the money for himself. “I don’t pay much. I’d pay them like $6 an hour; that’s like pennies,” he said.

Running this business can be a hassle. One time Frometa had to clean out a client’s entire tank after their child accidentally poured in laundry detergent. “It was a horrible, horrible smell,” he said. One of Frometa’s clients, Ariel Rodriguez, was very impressed by Frometa because most teenagers are more concerned with MTV, movies, and music whereas he is concerned with making his own money and practices his business.

Rodriguez also appreciates the way Frometa does business. “He was very professional and he was very well informed” he said.

Despite his success, there are some downsides to being a young entrepreneur. Some clients try to take advantage of his youth.

A client’s check might bounce or they don’t pay at all so he has learned to be careful with payments through a strict policy. “Cash up front, no credit cards, no checks,” he said.

In terms of the future, Frometa plans to eventually open his own saltwater tank warehouse and store in North Miami when he turns eighteen.