My name is Monique, and my son Phoenix and I started a small window and door screen repair business during COVID. It began when Phoenix accidentally broke a screen in our apartment—rather than get upset, I suggested we learn to fix it. What started as a simple lesson turned into a neighborhood bike-powered repair service, and eventually grew into residential and commercial jobs.

As I worked on my MBA, this became both a business and a learning project. Along the way, we’ve been recognized locally as Best of Business and were accepted into a competitive entrepreneurship program. But we’ve also faced challenges. Without a contractor’s license, we’ve been limited to small jobs under California’s “handyman law” and forced to pay retail instead of wholesale for materials—barriers that have held us back from growing sustainably.

For three years I’ve been working toward the CSLB C-17 Subcontractor’s Exam, which I am now qualified to take. The state has granted me one final extension, with an October 20, 2025 deadline. The law requires me to take the trade portion in California, while I’ll be allowed to complete the business portion in Virginia. Passing means our business can operate legally, grow beyond small jobs, and provide Phoenix—with his help in building it—a real foundation in the trades when he comes of age next spring.

I’ve already purchased my study materials and am preparing daily. The only thing standing in our way now is the cost of travel back to California for the exam. That’s why we’re asking for your support to cover:

Why this matters:

This license is transferable to our new home state, giving us the chance to build a sustainable family business. It’s also a legacy for Phoenix—showing him the value of perseverance, community, and hard work. Without it, we can’t move forward.

Our timeline:

This is more than just an exam—it’s about creating opportunity, stability, and a future for my son and our business.

Thank you so much for supporting us. Every donation, big or small, brings us closer to this dream.

With gratitude,

Monique & Phoenix