It was a degree in Philosophy that inspired local entrepreneur, Jessica Larson, of Indy Soft Water, to continue the family-owned water softener and drinking water filtration business that was passed down from her father.
“Indy Soft Water chose us,” she said. We purchased the business from my Dad in 2006. We knew that we wanted to work for ourselves and I fell in love with water. I can’t imagine doing anything else.”
Indy Soft Water treats residential and commercial water issues, hard water staining, filter drinking water for the best taste and quality, and even filtered drinking water for large office settings.
“It’s funny to say that we were local before it was a thing, but it’s true,” she explained. “It is super exciting to see the movement where individuals really want their companies to support the local community, and we do. Our employees earn living wages, we support our local non-profits and it’s all part of the cycle of a real community.”
However, Larson says the biggest challenge she faces within her industry is conveying the value of purchasing quality products at the local level. She has also found challenges in being the front person in their organization as a woman. “The water industry is traditionally very male-oriented and that’s what people expect,” she said. “We do things differently because we are woman run, and in my opinion better!”
Larson says the advice she would offer to those who are thinking of starting their own business is the answer her father gave her about what she learned being a small business owner: “You don’t own the business, it owns you.”
Eventually, Larson says their plan is to deepen their relationship with the Hoosier Environmental Council and participate in 1% for the planet, which would be 1% of their profits being donated to the environment.
Indy Soft Water currently serves Indianapolis and the surrounding areas including Carmel, Fishers, Greenwood, Noblesville, Westfield, Zionsville, Avon, Plainfield, Brownsburg, Danville, and Anderson.
For more information, visit https://indysoftwater.com/
