When Nick Johnson pulled his plumbing truck onto a street near the same park where he played Little League as a kid, he had to stop and take a picture.
The job itself was a simple kitchen faucet swap. But for Johnson, the moment was much bigger than that.
Born and raised in central Ohio, Johnson is now working to build his own name in the Delaware, Marysville, and Sunbury communities as the owner of a new local plumbing business, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing. It is a path shaped by family, faith in hard work, and a major life change that came at an unexpected time.
After nine years in corporate America, Johnson was laid off shortly before he was supposed to go on paternity leave.
“That day changed everything,” Johnson said. “I took it as a sign. It was time to stop building someone else’s dream and start my own.”
The trades were not completely new to him. Johnson’s grandfather was a self-employed contractor, and Johnson spent summers working alongside him from the time he was five until he was 18.
But plumbing became personal after Johnson and his wife, Rosa, welcomed their first son, Nickito.
Johnson said becoming a parent changed the way he looked at everything, including the water running through his own home.
“When Nickito was born, Rosa and I started paying closer attention to what was actually coming through our water,” Johnson said. “Plastics, contaminants. He has sensitive skin, so even the detergents we used to wash his clothes became a concern. It hit us that plumbing isn’t just a home service, it’s a health issue.”
That realization helped push Johnson toward the business he is building today.
For him, plumbing is about more than fixing a leak or replacing a faucet. It is about helping homeowners protect one of their biggest investments before small issues become larger when ignored or neglected.
“When water is involved, problems get more expensive over time,” Johnson said. “Most homeowners don’t realize they don’t have to wait for an emergency. A good plumber helps you invest in your home proactively.”
That is the kind of plumber Johnson wants to be for the Delaware and Marysville communities: someone customers call not just once, but for as long as they live in their home.
The transition from a traditional 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to business ownership has been an adjustment for Johnson’s family as they work to get the company off the ground.
“Cash flow is real when you’re starting a business,” Johnson said. “We’re cutting coupons and skipping takeout more than we used to. But honestly, we don’t miss it.”
Rosa and Nickito are the reason Johnson had the courage to take the leap. Rosa, who is originally from Mazatlan, Mexico, is his partner in life and in business. Their son has become part of the company’s long-term vision.
“I run this company with the mindset that it already belongs to my son,” Johnson said. “I just have to do a good enough job to hand him the keys when he turns 18.”
That mindset also shapes the way Johnson says he wants to treat customers.
The values guiding Benjamin Franklin Plumbing are honesty, transparency and fairness. To Johnson, those words show up in everyday decisions: how to price a job, how to explain bad news, and how to treat people when no one is watching.
Johnson said he hopes customers see the business as local, personal, and built for the long run.
Outside of work, Johnson is a Buckeyes and Browns fan, follows the Columbus Blue Jackets, plays golf when he can, and loves trying pizza around Columbus. He is also someone who believes deeply in Ohio.
“I love Ohio,” Johnson said. “I truly believe it’s the heart of it all.”
Now, as he builds his plumbing business in the same region where he grew up, Johnson said the experience still feels surreal.
His hope is that customers come away knowing they have a plumber who takes the work personally. But he also hopes his story encourages someone else to take a chance on themselves.
“Life is short,” Johnson said. “If one person reads this and decides to finally take their shot, that’d mean everything to me. If you have grit and you do the right thing when nobody’s watching, I believe you can make it through anything.”
To learn more or schedule service with Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, visit their website or call (740) 520-2665.
