At 16, Jo'Marion Swiams is running his own pet-waste and yard-care business in Milwaukee while still finishing high school, a turnaround that comes after a school year in which he racked up 10 suspensions. The Bradley Tech High School junior launched BarkClean Yard Services in April, not long after getting his first car in March, and he's now visiting as many as 15 properties on a single busy day.
Swiams' path to entrepreneurship started at home. As reported by TMJ4 News, his father, Jonathan Swiams, suggested pet-waste removal as a possible business for his son, and Jo'Marion began by cleaning yards for family members before turning it into a paying venture. According to the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service, Swiams had already been cleaning up after his family's four dogs as a household chore before he saw it as a commercial opportunity, and he launched the business out of Milwaukee's Capitol Heights neighborhood driven in part by a desire to focus on something positive after his brother's incarceration.
Jonathan Swiams, who has worked as an independent contractor for nearly two decades, taught his son hands-on work skills that now show up across BarkClean's expanding service list. What began as pet-waste removal has grown into lawn work, cleaning, TV mounting, basic car work and construction-related jobs, per TMJ4's reporting. Swiams describes BarkClean as a one-stop shop, and he promotes the business through flyers and Facebook, with appointments also available online through the company's social media and website presence.
A Suspension History Rooted in Wider District Trends
Swiams' 10 suspensions during the prior school year did not happen in isolation. District discipline reports for the 2023–2024 academic year showed that 9th-grade students in Milwaukee Public Schools suffered 5,884 out-of-school suspensions — the highest count of any grade level in the district, with fighting and classroom disruptions cited as the primary drivers, according to a report shared on Facebook by WISN 12.
A broader analysis of district discipline data found that Black students accounted for nearly 80% of suspensions — 12,456 out of 15,739 — in Milwaukee Public Schools during that same school year, despite representing roughly half of overall district enrollment, per a Stacker analysis reported by BlackGirlinCLE. Federal authorities have previously investigated MPS discipline policies for civil rights compliance, according to that same reporting.
Swiams has said that people at school now tell him they are proud of him, and he has talked about wanting to do right despite being only 16. He's said that starting his business gave him a positive way to use his time and energy, and that having something to focus on and look forward to put him in a better place. He's also said that people don't always see the hard work behind his business and the social-media attention it's drawn — and that people can recover from mistakes and change their future.
Early Mornings, Late Nights and a Growing Client List
Running BarkClean means an unusual schedule for a high schooler. Swiams sometimes starts client yards as early as 6 a.m. and also works movie-theater shifts that can stretch past 1 a.m., according to TMJ4's reporting. His father has said he's proud of Jo'Marion and wants him to recognize that he's the one in control of his life's direction.
Swiams' pricing has undercut established competitors in the city. BarkClean charges a $25 initial yard cleanup fee, $20 to $35 for weekly or biweekly service, and $48 to $105 monthly, compared with traditional Milwaukee pet-waste removal businesses charging $90 or more, the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service reported. He set those lower rates deliberately, aiming to build an accessible client base on both Milwaukee's North and South Sides while still staying competitive.
He isn't the only teen in his circle building a business this way. Swiams developed BarkClean alongside 15-year-old friend Jaidyn Boyce, who launched Ballin Bullies Grooming after teaching himself dog grooming with an Amazon kit — a way to avoid the high cost of commercial grooming for his family's two dogs, per the same outlet's reporting.
Riding a Booming Pet-Care Market
The teens are stepping into a fast-growing industry. The American Pet Products Association projects total U.S. pet industry spending will hit $165 billion in 2026, up 4.4% from $158 billion the year before, according to a September report from Forbes Advisor. Spending specifically on services like pet waste removal, grooming, boarding, sitting and walking is projected to reach roughly $15 billion nationwide this year, per data reported by eTailPet.io.
Demand is also being fueled by more households bringing dogs home. Dog ownership expanded to 71 million U.S. households in 2025 — 53% of all domestic households, a 4% year-over-year increase — according to the American Pet Products Association's 2026 Dog Report as relayed by Vertical IQ.
County Recognition and Plans for a Youth Incubator
The Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors has recognized Swiams for his contributions to the community, selecting him to receive a formal citation. Per the recognition letter, he was honored for identifying a community need and addressing it through entrepreneurship, TMJ4 reported.
Swiams says he wants to help other teens interested in hairstyling, barbering, pet grooming and similar businesses, and he plans to obtain a location where young entrepreneurs can work and grow their own ventures. He's said his focus is on young people who have the drive to start a business but lack the resources or space to do it.
Wisconsin's youth labor rules changed this year as more teens like Swiams take on paid work. Effective June 1, the state Department of Workforce Development implemented Administrative Rule CR 26-015, updating Chapter DWD 270 of the regulations governing youth work permits, allowed work hours and employment safety, according to a September analysis from Amundsen Davis. The rules enforce strict daily and nightly curfew limits for high school students during the academic term.
