From Renos to Rentals: How Branden Sparkes’ Pivot Launched Sparkes Rentals Inc.
Tucked into the rolling landscape of Sydney Forks, Cape Breton, you’ll find a determined entrepreneur who’s not only building a business — he’s reshaping what personal, small-town service can look like in an increasingly distant, digital world. Branden Sparkes, owner and operator of Sparkes Rentals Inc., has taken his hands-on experience in home renovations and turned it into a thriving local venture offering portable storage container rentals.
But the path to starting Sparkes Rentals wasn’t always obvious. For years, Branden worked in home renovations, a career he built from the ground up without formal schooling. “It was a natural ability,” he explains. “My family has a string of very talented carpenters, and when I came back home from Alberta, I just started doing renovations for my parents and friends.” What began as small favors evolved into a full-time renovation business that lasted nearly eight years.
Eventually, though, Branden started to feel the weight of the business on his own shoulders. “I’m very hands-on and particular, and I realized I couldn’t scale it the way I wanted without stepping back — which I wasn’t comfortable doing,” he says. Add in an elbow surgery that limited his physical abilities, and the timing seemed right to pivot toward something new.
Spotting a Gap — and Seizing It
That “something new” came into focus when Branden noticed a significant shortage in the local self-storage market. “There hadn’t been any development in storage in over a decade,” he says. His initial idea was to build a traditional storage facility, but with no land secured, the project stalled.
“I ended up messaging people on Facebook to try and buy land,” he recalls with a laugh. During that time, others caught wind of the same opportunity, and self-storage facilities began popping up. Rather than compete directly, Branden adapted. “I pivoted to portable storage units. There was way less competition — if any.”
A New Business, A Helping Hand
That’s when CBDC — the Community Business Development Corporation — came onto his radar. Branden connected with CBDC Coastal’s team, first working with Patricia MacNeil, then later with Bailey MacIntosh, who became a key figure in his startup story.
“I didn’t have land, just a business idea,” he says. “But Bailey helped me build the business plan and made sure I truly understood what I was getting into.” Through numerous cash flow analyses, revisions, and careful planning, Branden says the CBDC team gave him more than just a loan — they gave him confidence.
“Growing up, I was a pretty introverted, quiet person,” he says. “But through the renovation business and through the process of starting Sparkes Rentals, I learned that I could actually do it. CBDC helped me realize that the only thing left to consider was my work ethic — and I’ve always had that.”
Full-Service, Local, and Lightning-Fast
Today, Sparkes Rentals Inc. offers 12 portable storage units, all available for quick delivery using Branden’s custom tow truck. “People can be impulsive,” he says with a grin. “If someone calls me at 2 PM for a unit, I’m often there delivering it by 5.”
Everything is clearly listed on his website — from daily and weekly rental rates to delivery fees — a transparency many customers praise in glowing Google reviews. “I just try to offer the kind of service I’d want to receive,” he says.
Branden also handles all maintenance himself, often with the help of his father, a longtime mechanic and business owner. “There’s a lot of pride in fixing things up on your own,” he adds.
Looking Forward
Now just a year into business, Branden is already dreaming of expansion — more storage units, and eventually, employees. But for now, he’s still wearing every hat: customer service rep, marketer, and delivery driver.
“Ultimately, I want to build something great, something Cape Breton recognizes,” he says. “I’m not in this to flip a business. I want to grow the Sparkes name.”
He’s also passionate about inspiring others to follow their dreams. “I just hope that everyone with ideas and ambitions finds their way to CBDC,” he says. “I know I wouldn’t have been able to do any of this without them.”
Branden Sparkes is proof that with vision, adaptability, and the right support system, a quiet idea can grow into a bold, community-driven business — one delivery, one rental, and one satisfied customer at a time.