TARPON SPRINGS, Fla. — E-Mobilize Mobile Bike Service owner Jake McFadden credits the St. Petersburg College “Grow Your Business” free boot camp program for his company’s recent success.

“We’re up about 16% over the last year,” he said. “Which, for bike shops, that’s actually a really high metric.”

McFadden, 30, started his mobile company, which repairs e-bikes right at customers’ homes, in 2020, but said it really took off after he joined the Tarpon Spring Chamber of Commerce and enrolled in the SPC program last year.  

“It’s helped us grow a lot. They covered a lot of different topics,” he said. “The financial aspect of running a business, marketing, organization and things like that. What it takes to actually run a well-organized business and how to grow it.”

E-Mobilize Bike Service went from having 40 Google reviews for years to more than 300, according to McFadden. The eight-week “Grow Your Business” course is offered at the Chris Sprowls Innovation Hub at SPC’s Tarpon Springs campus and is open to the general public. SPC Coordinator Shawn Partin called McFadden a star pupil.

“Those are the kind of success stories we like to hear,” he said. “Whenever the community can come in and take advantage of what we have to offer, SPC’s economic impact is huge.”

At a Pinellas County Commission meeting last month, Chair Dave Eggers said he took an ambassador trip to the Innovation Hub where E-Mobilize Bike Service was honored.

“It’s an exploding industry,” he said. “They’re here to stay, and they take their repair to the people’s house.”

Palm Harbor resident Cindy Cahill said the convenience makes a big difference because of the weight of her e-bike, which she calls “old blue.”

“It weighs 65 pounds,” she said. “That is a lot of weight to lift up, and a normal bike rack won’t hold that.”

E-Mobilize Bike Service charges $125 for one hour of labor plus the cost of parts. McFadden said demand for e-bike repairs continues to grow as more people turn to electric bicycles for transportation and recreation.

He said it’s allowing his business to accelerate at the same time, and recommended the “Grow Your Business” program for anyone looking to startup a business.

“Whether you have a business already, you’ve had one for years, or you’re just thinking about even starting a business,” he said. “It really helps out a lot.”