INVERNESS, Fla. — A young entrepreneur is changing the landscape when it comes to running a business.

This Citrus County barber has taken the old-school concept of a classic barbershop and putting it on wheels. It’s a business venture with higher hopes to expand in the future.

What You Need To Know

  • From growing up in Inverness to joining the British Royal Navy, Joe Kelly has returned home to start his own unique business

  • Kelly, a Citrus County barber, has taken the old-school concept of a classic barbershop and has put it on wheels with his own "Gentleman Joe's Mobile Barbershop"
  • It's a passion project now turned into a full-time job that Kelly is proud to be doing in his hometown
  • Gentleman Joe’s is in Inverness every two weeks for three days, you can learn more on his Facebook page

“It’s a warm feeling inside to be able to make a difference and an impact in someone’s day, because you really just can’t put a price on looking good and feeling good,” said Joe Kelly.

Inside his decked-out utility trailer, Kelly perfects his craft and proficiency as a barber. But Kelly is more than that — he’s an artist. His canvas? The hair of paying customers. And this trailer is his studio.

“For me, to be able to create a barbershop atmosphere in a trailer with one person, that was just the most important thing to me,” said Kelly, owner of Gentleman Joe’s Mobile Barbershop.

This passion project of his all started when he joined the British Royal Navy. He made a spur-of-the-moment purchase before being shipped out.

“I walked past a $20 pair of clippers and I was like, ‘I guarantee nobody is going to bring a pair of clippers,’” he said. “So, I bought the clippers and was on the ship, did my first ten haircuts for free. I messed a lot of people up and then the rest I watched YouTube videos. I was self-taught for two years. Done over a thousand haircuts before I’d even went to school in London.”

Every snip and every cut has led to this: Kelly’s very own mobile barbershop. Hand-built by him with some added help, of course.

“It’s more realistic for your average barber that is trying to get out from working for someone paying commission, paying booth rent,” Kelly said. “Just the flexibility of it and just being able to travel. My background in the Navy on traveling the world, I was like, ‘How can I do what I love and not be stuck in a shop all day for 8 hours?’”

It’s his passion now, turned into a full-time job. And to be doing it in his hometown is rather stylish.

“People would have seen me leave this town and come back and then build this,” said Kelly. “I’ve got a good reception from the community and I have a lot of support here and it means the world to me.”

One day, Kelly says, he wants to return the favor. But until then, he’ll keep doing what he loves, one cut at a time.

“Having this trailer is just opening so many doors for people to make a lot of money, to be their own boss, and I just think everyone deserves to be able to tap into that,” he said. “To have the potential to own their own trailer and travel across America and give out haircuts.”

Gentleman Joe’s is in Inverness every two weeks for three days. You can learn more about Kelly’s mobile barbershop on his Facebook page.