Going From a Solo Cleaner To A Cleaning Business Owner

Going from a solo cleaner to hiring employees and becoming a cleaning business owner/operator is incredibly challenging. I quickly received a crash course on interviewing, hiring, training, w2 vs. 1099 employees, workers comp, business insurance limits, payroll, scheduling, product pick-up and distribution, client feedback surveys and much more! Every single day presents a new challenge that I have to overcome and even though it is highly stressful, I am learning and growing so much.

The Investment

Something that I wasn’t prepared for was the investment it would take to acquire teams. Beyond payroll and the taxes assumed with W2 employees, I have to buy enough supplies and tools for each new employee (in case someone called off) and I also have to make the investment of acquiring the employee (paid employment ads, training and background checks). At the end of the day, it costs a little over $1,000 to hire 1 employee! Whew. Now I know…

Refining The Business

When you are a solo cleaner, you only have to think about yourself. Before managing employees, I never had to think about whether or not I would show up on time, it's my business, so of course I'm showing up or would the quality of work be up to my standards, of course it is, I'm representing me and my company. Having to think of others and creating systems was a huge course correction. It's HARD… but man, it forced me to refine my business and simplify the processes. I had to become the teacher and follow my cleaning system to a “T”. I had to be the example that I wanted my employees to follow. Hiring employees has forced me to be BETTER. 

Communication

My persona is extremely self aware, leans heavy on common sense, and the “I’ll figure it out on my own” mentality (except around my husband). I do not talk much because I am constantly scanning my surroundings, keeping an inner dialog of what the next most important task to complete is and I speak only when necessary. I am much more interested in other peoples stories and opinions than my own so I ask a lot of questions and listen intently. Your name will be forgotten but I will know your life story. Because I am like this, communication is hard for me. To actually say out loud, “You have to dust high to low” seems silly and frivolous. Of course, you dust high to low, right? Wrong. I can not assume people know these things and I have to start from the basics. Assuming others' knowledge is detrimental to the business and me learning how to communicate with all varieties of learners is still an ongoing challenge, but I’m working on it and getting better with each new day.

Authored By:

Gina Chauvin

Camellia Cleaning Service