Today we’d like to introduce you to The Betlejewski Family.
Hi, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Beetle’s Plumbing Solutions was founded on March 17, 2023, with one man, one truck, and a mobile phone—but the decision to start the business had been building for years.
Both owners had reached a turning point in their careers. They had spent decades treating their previous companies as if they were their own, only to realize the direction those careers were heading no longer aligned with their values. At the same time, a profound loss—the death of a sibling in the family—forced reflection on legacy, purpose, and what truly mattered. Adding to that was their son’s tremendous interest in the skilled trades and a desire to show him a future built on pride, craftsmanship, and opportunity.
With more than 29 years in the plumbing industry, founder Larry Betlejewski Jr. took the leap. He began by calling every contact he had built over his career—relationships formed through honesty, reliability, and hard work. The core that encouraged our family to become owners. Those calls became the foundation of Beetle’s Plumbing Solutions.
Six months later, the company took its first step toward becoming a true family business when their son joined as an apprentice. In April 2024, Kelly Betlejewski officially came on board as Co-Owner and CFO, bringing extensive experience in operations, logistics, and human resources. That same year marked a major milestone: in June 2024, the company hired its first non-family employee, followed by a second non-family technician in February 2025.
Beetle’s Plumbing Solutions operates as an S-Corporation, owned 50/50 by husband and wife. The company provides residential and light commercial plumbing services, serving homeowners, assisted living facilities, nonprofits, and small commercial clients throughout the community.
Originally operated out of the family home in North Royalton, Ohio, the business has evolved through several key decisions—moving operations out of the home, intentionally hiring beyond family, and investing in equipment to expand services and diversify capabilities. These decisions reflect a long-term commitment to building a sustainable, professional organization rather than remaining a short-term operation.
Our mission guides every decision we make:
“Our mission is to proudly carry forward our family’s legacy, keeping the torch burning bright while illuminating the path for future generations. With unwavering dedication, we strive to foster excellence, innovation, and integrity in everything we do, ensuring the traditions of the past illuminate the opportunities of the future.”
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
“Has it been a smooth road? I’d say it’s been a road with a lot of beautiful scenery and some very steep climbs. After 25 years of marriage, you think you know everything there is to know about your spouse—until you start a business together. We’ve had to learn an entirely new language of communication. Navigating the shift from being life partners to business partners has been one of our greatest challenges, but also one of our biggest rewards. We’re rediscovering each other’s strengths in a whole new light.
The complexity grows when you add the ‘parent hat’ to the ‘owner hat.’ Having our young adult son working alongside us is a privilege, but it’s a delicate balance. On the job site, we are his mentors and bosses; we have to hold him to a professional standard. But at the end of the day, we’re still his parents. We’ve had to be incredibly mindful of how we give feedback—making sure it’s a professional critique and not ‘parental nagging.’ We never want the growth of this company to come at the expense of his confidence or our relationship with him.
But perhaps our most important mission is protecting the ‘sacred space’ for our daughter still at home. When you’re an entrepreneur, the business is like a third child that demands constant attention. It’s so easy for dinner conversations to turn into strategy sessions or invoice reviews. We’ve had to become very protective of her time. We want her to see her parents building a legacy, but we never want her to feel like she’s a footnote to the company. We’ve had to set ‘no-plumbing’ zones and literal ‘phone-free’ hours to ensure that when we are home, we are fully present as Mom and Dad.
Ultimately, we’re learning that a successful business is worthless if the house it’s built on isn’t solid. We aren’t just fixing pipes; we’re building a future for our family, and that means making sure the relationships at home are just as healthy as the ones we have with our customers.”
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
What we do & What we specialize in: “At the core, we are a full-service residential & Light commercial plumbing company, but we like to say we specialize in ‘Peace of Mind.’ Whether it’s a standard water heater install, a complex repipe, or an emergency, we handle it. But our real specialty is the customer experience. Because we are a family-run business, we don’t treat a job like a ticket number; we treat it like we’re working in our neighbor’s home—because, usually, we are.”
What we are known for: Is being your neighborhood family plumber. The work behind the walls is important, but how we leave your kitchen or bathroom is what you see every day. People know us for being the team that actually communicates, listens, explains the ‘why’ behind the repair, and shows up when we say we will. There’s a level of accountability that comes when your family name is on the side of the truck.”
What we are most proud of: “Honestly? I’m most proud of the fact that we’re building a business that others want to be a part of. That we are incredibly grateful for our community support and continued cheerleaders. I’m also incredibly proud that after 25 years of marriage, my spouse and I have found a way to be even better partners through the challenges of entrepreneurship. We’ve built a company that supports our family without overshadowing it.”
What sets us apart: “What sets us apart is our multi-generational perspective. We have 25 years of life experience and stability that my spouse and I bring, combined with the fresh energy and modern tech-savviness of our son and amazing non-family member technicians in the field daily. Most importantly, we aren’t just looking for a one-time fix. We’re looking to be the plumbers you call for the next 20 years. We’re building a legacy, and you don’t do that by cutting corners.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
“While our family is the heart of this company, we wouldn’t be where we are without the incredible team that has stepped up to run alongside us.
First, our technicians—LB3, Ricky, and Luke. These guys are in the trenches every day, and they represent our name with the same level of care and excellence that we do. We’re also blessed to have Christina, who has been absolutely instrumental. She works hand-in-hand with Kelly on our marketing and social media, making sure our story is told and our community knows who we are.
Our friends have been instrumental in our success and remain our biggest supporters. During our first year, each of them consistently reached out for service, ensuring we had steady work and referred us to everyone they knew.
Beyond our immediate team friends and family, we owe a huge thank you to our Plumbing Representatives. These are professionals Larry has built solid relationships with over many years in the trade. The moment we struck out on our own, they were immediately there, ready to provide the support and resources we needed to be successful. That kind of loyalty is rare, and we don’t take it for granted.
Lastly, I have to give credit to our own determination. To be honest, we had some naysayers in the beginning because of our age. People wondered if this was the right time to start something new, but we chose to ignore the noise. We decided to do this for us—to build a legacy on our own terms. Those doubts only pushed us to work harder to prove that experience and passion don’t have an expiration date. When you’re managing a business with the people you love, the stakes are higher, but the support system is stronger than anything the skeptics could imagine.”
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.beetlesplumbing.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beetles_plumbing?utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61562132242912
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beetles-plumbing-solutions-6492092b6
