Even the best-run service companies face constant problems, and that’s normal! Every problem in your business falls into one of three buckets — Supply (staffing), Demand (leads/sales), or Operations (everything else) — and in this episode of Filthy Rich Cleaners, Stephanie talks about how she's learned to quickly diagnose issues and move forward without the overwhelm.   📌 What You’ll Learn: — The 3-bucket framework to categorize every problem: Supply, Demand, Operations — How to use the “If we had 50 employees tomorrow, what would break?” thought experiment — When you should mitigate vs. eradicate a recurring problem — Practical ways to avoid analysis paralysis when making your first W-2 hire — Where to look first if quality slips during growth (training, QC, SOPs, delegation) — Simple workload wins: automation (reminders, follow-ups) and eliminating time sinks (e.g., unnecessary in-person walkthroughs) — Planning for the inevitable (like call-outs or schedule gaps) so they’re speed bumps, not crises   Resources Mentioned: — ZenMaid Scheduling Software: https://get.zenmaid.com — ZenMaid Mastermind Facebook Group (free): https://www.facebook.com/groups/zenmaidmastermind — ChatGPT (for step-by-step state hiring setup prompts): https://chatgpt.com/   👉 Try ZenMaid free for 14 days: https://get.zenmaid.com 📞 Book a Consulting Call with Stephanie: https://serene-clean.com/consulting-services/   🎙️ Listen to the Podcast: 📖 Read the full transcript: (link)

In this episode, Stephanie is joined by Paige Collins, founder of All Spruced Up Cleaning Co., who went from being a dental hygienist during COVID to running a thriving residential and commercial cleaning business with 15 employees.   Paige shares all about her rapid growth, how she balances business and motherhood, her top tips for employee retention, and why flexibility and compassion have become her company’s superpowers. She and Stephanie also discuss building training systems for multiple employees, the right way to price commercial jobs, and what it's like hitting that first million in revenue.   📌 What You’ll Learn — How Paige grew her cleaning company from zero to 15 staff in under five years — The truth about hiring “out of desperation” and what to do instead — Why flexibility for working moms can actually boost retention — How to price and bid for commercial cleaning without overcomplicating it — Creative ways to use ZenMaid to systematize your business — What a “done early” checklist is — and how it helps with quality control — How Paige plans to scale to $1M and launch her nonprofit cleaning initiative   Resources Mentioned: — ZenMaid Scheduling Software: https://get.zenmaid.com/ — ZenMaid Mastermind Facebook Group (free to join): https://www.facebook.com/groups/zenmaidmastermind — Profit First by Mike Michalowicz — OpenPhone (now Quo) – the business phone system Paige uses: https://www.openphone.com/perks/zenmaid?utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=partnerstack&utm_content=community_experts&utm_campaign=c92107ec7cc9&pscd=get.openphone.com&ps_partner_key=YzkyMTA3ZWM3Y2M5&fbclid=IwY2xjawMr03ZleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETBleUtsVnZtUjlJa2h5ZWpwAR7Gp8p4NVVF-Y8WODTTXb-NJi57ltYrsQs-pyFmuaRR4gMrj6TGYWpL1zlA_Q_aem_Ey2JG_AkBSk_SI8w5kDOBA&ps_xid=iGpmmTBqEJNW4d&gsxid=iGpmmTBqEJNW4d&gspk=YzkyMTA3ZWM3Y2M5   👉 Try ZenMaid free for 14 days: https://get.zenmaid.com 📞 Book a Consulting Call with Stephanie: https://serene-clean.com/consulting-services/   🎙️ Listen to the Podcast: 📖 Read the full transcript: (link)

Every cleaning business owner hits this breaking point — when you’re juggling every email, call, quote, and cleaning, wondering how much longer you can keep your sh*t together. In this episode, Stephanie breaks down how she transitioned from doing everything herself at Serene Clean to building a reliable, well-trained admin team that keeps operations running smoothly (even when things go wrong).   📌 What You’ll Learn: — Why your first office hire shouldn’t be full-time — How to transition a cleaner into an admin role (without overwhelming them) — How to decide what to delegate first — The most common mistakes business owners make when hiring admin help — How Serene Clean structures its daily operations and priorities — Tips for building a “buffer” between you and the field — How to create trust, accountability, and systems that actually work   🧰 Resources Mentioned: — Trainual (Train Now) — SOP documentation & onboarding: https://trainual.com/newhome — ZenMaid Scheduling Software: https://get.zenmaid.com — ZenMaid Mastermind Facebook Group (Free): https://www.facebook.com/groups/zenmaidmastermind — Book: Buy Back Your Time by Dan Martell — Book: The Ultimate Sales Machine by Chet Holmes   👉 Try ZenMaid free for 14 days: https://get.zenmaid.com 📞 Book a Consulting Call with Stephanie: https://serene-clean.com/consulting-services/   🎙️ Listen to the Podcast: 🎧 Spotify: (link) 🎧 Apple Podcasts: (link) 📖 Read the full transcript: https://www.zenmaid.com/magazine/how-to-delegate-without-losing-control-of-your-cleaning-business/

Jamie Runco prayed for a new direction in life, and four years later, she’s running a thriving residential and commercial cleaning business in rural California. In this episode, FRC Host Stephanie Pipkin sits with Jamie to talk about how she went from cleaning church floors to leading a full team, hiring her first coach, and scaling to six figures (and beyond). They share what it’s like to build a business when failure isn’t an option, including learning payroll and OSHA laws the hard way, navigating maternity leave, hiring friends, and managing panic-fueled creativity.   📌 What You’ll Learn: — How Jamie turned a $25/hour solo hustle into a multi-employee cleaning company — Why mentorship and accountability can accelerate your business growth — The biggest legal and financial mistakes new cleaning business owners make — How to handle employee laws, OSHA requirements, and California’s strict labor rules — Why “panic moments” can actually fuel your creativity and growth — The importance of building community reputation in small towns — How to structure pricing and policies that protect your time and your team — Why hiring friends can go very wrong — and how to recover when it does   Resources Mentioned: — Shannon Miller (Coach & Mentor): https://kleanfreaksuniversity.com/ — ZenMaid Mastermind Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/zenmaidmastermind   👉 Try ZenMaid free for 14 days: https://get.zenmaid.com 📞 Book a Consulting Call with Stephanie: https://serene-clean.com/consulting-services/   📖 Read the full transcript: https://www.zenmaid.com/magazine/how-coaching-and-chaos-transformed-a-cleaning-business-with-jamie-runco/

BOO! 👻 Did we scare you? Maybe not, but hopefully these hot takes will 🌶️ In this special Halloween edition of Filthy Rich Cleaners, Stephanie is serving up her spiciest opinions about the cleaning industry. She talks about controversial opinions around business policies, walkthroughs, pricing transparency, team cleans, the habits that make or break a company, and more! This episode isn’t for the faint of heart (or for people who still think cleaning is “unskilled labor”).   👻 What You’ll Learn: — Why charging by the square foot almost always backfires — The real reason Serene Clean refuses homes with smoke damage — Why you should stop hiding client info from your cleaners — How to handle commercial accounts without being taken advantage of — Why “automated scheduling” is a myth — Why no prices on your website is a power move — The bold reason Stephanie stopped answering her phones — Why she doesn’t hire family members or want experienced cleaners — How to handle drama-free teams and build loyalty — The case for being real, funny, and a little unhinged with your staff — Why cleaning checklists, software, and paying yourself from day one are non-negotiable   Resources Mentioned: — ZenMaid Scheduling Software: https://get.zenmaid.com — OpenPhone (business phone system) + affiliate link https://www.openphone.com/perks/zenmaid?utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=partnerstack&utm_content=community_experts&utm_campaign=c92107ec7cc9&pscd=get.openphone.com&ps_partner_key=YzkyMTA3ZWM3Y2M5&fbclid=IwY2xjawMr03ZleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETBleUtsVnZtUjlJa2h5ZWpwAR7Gp8p4NVVF-Y8WODTTXb-NJi57ltYrsQs-pyFmuaRR4gMrj6TGYWpL1zlA_Q_aem_Ey2JG_AkBSk_SI8w5kDOBA&ps_xid=iGpmmTBqEJNW4d&gsxid=iGpmmTBqEJNW4d&gspk=YzkyMTA3ZWM3Y2M5 — Gusto (Payroll Software): https://gusto.com — QuickBooks Online: https://quickbooks.intuit.com — Mailchimp: https://mailchimp.com — Zapier: https://zapier.com — Filthy Rich Cleaners Ep. 33 (with Brenna Sledge) on vacation rentals: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Z2eZQv4-no — Profit First (Book by Mike Michalowicz)   👉 Try ZenMaid free for 14 days: https://get.zenmaid.com 📞 Book a Consulting Call with Stephanie: https://serene-clean.com/consulting-services/   🎧 Listen to the Podcast: 📖 Read the Full Transcript: https://www.zenmaid.com/magazine/our-spiciest-takes-about-the-cleaning-industry/

In this episode of Filthy Rich Cleaners, Stephanie sits down with marketing expert Sean Parry, aka “the king of automation,” to talk about what actually brings clients to your cleaning business. Sean talks about methods to dominate your local market through Google reviews, SEO, and Local Service Ads (LSAs), and why most owners are wasting time chasing leads that were never going to convert 😢   📌 What You’ll Learn: — Why Google will always be the most powerful lead source for cleaning businesses — The difference between quality leads and cheap window shoppers — How to set up your Google Business Profile the right way — When (and why) to add SEO, Google Ads, and LSAs — How to follow up fast and close more leads — even while you’re still in the field — Why shiny object syndrome (TikTok ads, anyone?) kills your growth — How tracking your numbers can completely change your business trajectory — Sean’s simple framework for growing to $10k–$20k/month with just Google   Resources Mentioned: — Project83 (Sean’s Marketing Agency): https://www.project83.co/ — Sean Parry's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@sean_parry — ZenMaid Scheduling Software: https://get.zenmaid.com — ZenMaid Mastermind Facebook Group (Free to join): https://www.facebook.com/groups/zenmaidmastermind   👉 Try ZenMaid free for 14 days: https://get.zenmaid.com 📞 Book a Consulting Call with Stephanie: https://serene-clean.com/consulting-services/   🎙️ Listen to the Podcast: 📖 Read the full transcript: https://www.zenmaid.com/magazine/google-local-services-ads-for-cleaning-businesses-2026-guide-with-real-screenshots/

Not every successful cleaning company starts with Facebook ads or a huge budget. In Lucy Spencer's case, it started with $10 and a stack of handwritten letters 💌   In this episode, Stephanie sits down with Lucy, who owns River Girl Cleaning in Boston, Massachusetts. Lucy shares how she built her business from the ground up, starting with nothing but grit, family, community, and the belief that “there’s enough for everyone.” Together, they discuss the art of keeping clients for decades, why human connection always wins, and how going back to basics can cut through the digital noise and bring in real, loyal customers.   📌 What You’ll Learn: — How Lucy started River Girl Cleaning with $10 and a letter-writing campaign — Why working with family (not for them) can be a business superpower — The timeless marketing trick that still brings Lucy new clients today — What to do when fear of confrontation holds you back as a leader — How to fire clients (or employees) with tact and confidence — Why “there’s a client for everyone” is a business strategy   Resources Mentioned: — River Girl Cleaning: https://www.rivergirlcleaning.com — ZenMaid Scheduling Software: https://get.zenmaid.com — ZenMaid Mastermind Facebook Group (free): https://www.facebook.com/groups/zenmaidmastermind   👉 Try ZenMaid free for 14 days: https://get.zenmaid.com 📞 Book a Consulting Call with Stephanie: https://serene-clean.com/consulting-services/   🎙️ Listen to the Podcast: 📖 Read the full transcript: https://www.zenmaid.com/magazine/how-handwritten-letters-built-a-thriving-cleaning-business-with-lucy-spencer/

If money talks, raises scream! Raises cannot be based on “vibes” and gut feelings, or else you'll watch cleaner performance plateau. However, when you give your team full control of their own raises and make clarity and accountability the standard, you'll see quality skyrocket. In this solo episode, Stephanie shares how Serene Clean completely transformed their culture by putting the responsibility for raises in the hands of their cleaners. She also opens up about how “clarity is kindness” in leadership, including rewriting policies, setting quality standards, automating Slack responses, and overall empowering her team to find their own answers. 📌 What You’ll Learn: — How to tie raises directly to performance (and why it works) — The 3 key metrics Serene Clean uses for raises: quality, attendance, and policy compliance — Why vague expectations kill accountability (and how to fix it) — How to coach struggling cleaners without enabling them — What “clarity as kindness” really looks like in practice — How to prevent complacency in hourly or percentage pay systems — How automation (like Slack bots) can teach better communication habits — Creating a “culture of excellence” that people want to live up to 📎 Resources Mentioned: — Breakdown of raises and wages full episode:   — ZenMaid Mastermind Facebook Group (Free to Join): https://www.facebook.com/groups/zenmaidmastermind 👉 Try ZenMaid free for 14 days: https://get.zenmaid.com📞 Book a Consulting Call with Stephanie: https://serene-clean.com/consulting-services/ 📖 Read the full transcript: https://www.zenmaid.com/magazine/creating-a-culture-of-accountability-in-your-business/

 We get it — it's hard to stand out online, especially when cheap competition is flooding your market. In this Filthy Rich Cleaners episode, Stephanie breaks down how to make your cleaning business shine on social media without burning yourself out or wasting time on platforms that don’t actually convert. Facebook, TikTok, Google My Business, and more! You’ll learn exactly where to focus your energy, how to avoid “generic” posts that make it look like you're leading amateur hour, and why consistency beats creativity every single time. 📌 What You’ll Learn: — Why Facebook is still the #1 platform for residential cleaning leads — How to build brand trust with simple, repeatable content — The fatal mistake cleaning owners make when outsourcing their social media — How to create before-and-after posts that actually convert — Why showing your team’s faces (not stock photos) builds loyalty and sales — The easiest way to systematize social posting without hiring a full team Resources Mentioned:— ZenMaid Mastermind Facebook Group (free to join): https://www.facebook.com/groups/zenmaidmastermind— "How to market your cleaning business for free" article: https://www.zenmaid.com/magazine/market-your-cleaning-business-for-free/— ZenMaid Scheduling Software: https://get.zenmaid.com/ZenMaid Socials:— 📱 TikTok (for cleaning business memes and educational content): https://www.tiktok.com/@get.zenmaid— 📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/get.zenmaid/— 📱 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/get.zenmaid   Try ZenMaid free for 14 days: https://get.zenmaid.com Book a Consulting Call with Stephanie: https://serene-clean.com/consulting-services/  Listen to the Podcast: Read the full transcript: https://www.zenmaid.com/magazine/how-to-make-your-cleaning-business-stand-out-online/

Even the best-run cleaning businesses have those weeks when it seems like the bad news does. not. stop. As Murphy's Law says, "anything that can go wrong will go wrong."   In this FRC episode, Stephanie gets brutally honest about one of her toughest recent weeks: losing her biggest government contract overnight due to the federal government shutdown, multiple employee resignations, and new hires not working out. Instead of spiraling (even though it would be easy to 😅), she shares how she kept her team calm and made level-headed decisions under pressure. Hopefully, this episode will remind you that you’re not alone and that calm, strategic leadership matters when chaos hits.   📌 What You’ll Learn: — How the federal shutdown unexpectedly hit Stephanie's local cleaning business overnight — What to do when your largest account suddenly halts revenue — Managing cleaners’ hours, unemployment, and communication during downtime — The mindset shift that helps you stay calm when it feels like everything’s falling apart — How to ask your staff the right questions before you start rearranging schedules — What to do when multiple employees quit at once (and how to save a great one from leaving) — How to stay rational, not reactive, when business chaos hits — Why leadership composure sets the tone for your entire team   Resources Mentioned: — ZenMaid Mastermind Facebook Group (free to join): https://www.facebook.com/groups/zenmaidmastermind — ZenMaid Scheduling Software: https://get.zenmaid.com/ — ZenMaid Socials: — 📱 TikTok (for cleaning business memes and educational content): https://www.tiktok.com/@get.zenmaid — 📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/get.zenmaid/ — 📱 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/get.zenmaid    Try ZenMaid free for 14 days: https://get.zenmaid.com  Book a Consulting Call with Stephanie: https://serene-clean.com/consulting-services/   Read the full transcript: https://www.zenmaid.com/magazine/staying-calm-when-your-business-is-in-crisis/

The AUDACITY! 🙄 In this solo episode, Stephanie shares a first-ever situation from her cleaning company, Serene Clean: a long-time commercial client (a bank) tried to tie their cleaning contract to their business banking relationship. It started as a standard cancellation, but then turned weird — crossing into unprofessional and borderline unethical territory.  Stephanie talks through this experience as a lesson in standing firm, and then also goes into the realities of raising rates and letting go without guilt. If you've ever had a weird client experience like this, let us know! We'd love to hear it in the comments. 📌 What You’ll Learn: — How to professionally call out inappropriate or shady client language — When it’s time to walk away from long-term accounts — Why “letting go” can be a smart business decision — How to handle pricing increases for commercial clients — The role of opportunity cost in cleaning business growth — Why it’s okay to lose a client and how to turn that into a win Resources Mentioned:— ZenMaid Mastermind Facebook Group (free to join): https://www.facebook.com/groups/zenmaidmastermind— ZenMaid Scheduling Software: https://get.zenmaid.com/ 📞 Book a Consulting Call with Stephanie: https://serene-clean.com/consulting-services/  📖 Read the full transcript: https://www.zenmaid.com/magazine/when-a-longtime-client-gets-weird-handling-an-awkward-cancellation/

What happens when a “small-but-mighty” residential company is asked to quote a 170,000 sq ft, five-day-per-week church campus… and the client found you through Google reviews? In this episode, Stephanie welcomes back Amanda Stovall of Stovall’s Cleaning Service to unpack the exact mindset shifts, pricing choices, and operational guardrails she used to turn panic into a credible proposal and a realistic start plan. From flat-rate vs hourly to weekly invoicing, client “training,” and building a part-time bench, this is a play-by-play of stepping into commercial without losing your sanity. What You’ll Learn: How Google reviews and a living GBP profile drive enterprise-size inquiries Why you should not price big commercial by square foot, and how to scope instead Flat rate vs hourly for janitorial work, and how to handle weekly invoices and time-clock requests Red flags to catch early: when the client is managing your staff, deduction habits, and turnover signals Negotiating start timelines and “training the client” to your operating model Building a staffing plan with part-timers first, plus “always be hiring” for large accounts Simple finance moves to reduce anxiety: emergency fund habits and paying yourself consistently Tools and systems that sell your professionalism: CRMs, job notes, and clean internal comms Mindset frameworks to beat imposter syndrome: run your own race and the “cookie jar” wins you can pull from Resources Mentioned: ZenMaid Scheduling Software (with GPS check-ins): https://get.zenmaid.com/ ZenMaid Mastermind Facebook Group (free to join): https://www.facebook.com/groups/zenmaidmastermind  Try ZenMaid free for 14 days: https://get.zenmaid.com Book a Consulting Call with Stephanie: https://serene-clean.com/consulting-services/ Read the full transcript: https://www.zenmaid.com/magazine/bidding-170000-sq-ft-and-beating-imposter-syndrome-with-amanda-stovall/

Ever been ghosted? 👻 Us, too. Usually, leads ghost because of price, and nothing is more frustrating than when a potential client decides to go with the $80 “cheap” cleaner instead of you.   In this episode of Filthy Rich Cleaners, Stephanie breaks down why it’s not the client’s fault that they ended up choosing the cheaper option — it’s actually a problem with how you’re communicating your value. Using her juicy Honeycrisp apple analogy, Stephanie talks about how clients make decisions, why “better cleaning” isn’t enough, the steps you can take to stand out before they ever hire you, and strategies that Serene Clean uses to signal that they're the obvious choice over the bargain-bin cleaner.   🍎 What You’ll Learn: — Why competing on price is a losing game — How to showcase your value before the client hires you — The power of standardized checklists in selling your services — Small branding details (like email signatures & business emails) that demonstrate legitimacy and professionalism — Using ZenMaid’s scheduling & GPS tracking as a sales tool — How insurance, bonding, and background checks set you apart from solo cleaners — Follow-up strategies that win more clients   Resources Mentioned: — ZenMaid Scheduling Software (with GPS check-ins): https://get.zenmaid.com/ — ZenMaid Mastermind Facebook Group (free to join): https://www.facebook.com/groups/zenmaidmastermind   👉 Try ZenMaid free for 14 days: https://get.zenmaid.com 📞 Book a Consulting Call with Stephanie: https://serene-clean.com/consulting-services/   🎙 Listen to the Podcast: 📖 Read the full transcript: https://www.zenmaid.com/magazine/how-to-stand-out-against-cheap-competitors/

What does it take to grow from a solo $3K per month to roughly $55K per month while juggling five kids, sky-high turnover, and quality control? In this episode, Stephanie sits down with husband-and-wife duo Ibrahin Robles and Jessica Robles, the team behind a fast-growing, veteran-owned cleaning brand. They unpack how a recruiting background, a community-first identity, and tight training systems fueled rapid growth.Stephanie and the Robleses dive into the realities of hiring in an industry with brutal turnover, the step-by-step of building a pipeline, and the timing of key hires like a VA, office manager, and bookkeeper. They also cover brand pillars like using all-natural products and giving back with quarterly deep cleans for disabled veterans, plus smart boundaries for Airbnbs and the tech stack that keeps it all moving. What You’ll Learn: — How they went from ~$3K to ~$55K per month — Where to post, quick screens, ad budgets, and building pipelines — The hiring math of turnover — When to bring on help — Community-first branding that attracts loyal clients, including veteran initiatives and givebacks — Using a real CRM and automations to protect time without over-tooling too early — Clear role splits: Jessica on training, inspections, and quality; Ibrahin on ops, tech stack, and metrics — Airbnb strategy: custom onboarding, detailed checklists, and keeping it under 10% of revenue — The core metrics they watch weekly, like payroll-to-revenue ratio and complaint ratesResources Mentioned: — ZenMaid Scheduling Software: https://get.zenmaid.com — ZenMaid Mastermind Facebook Group (free): https://www.facebook.com/groups/zenmaidmastermindTry ZenMaid free for 14 days → https://get.zenmaid.com Book a Consulting Call with Stephanie: https://serene-clean.com/consulting-services/ Read the full transcript: https://www.zenmaid.com/magazine/lessons-from-scaling-a-veteran-owned-cleaning-brand-to-55k-month-with-ibrahin-jessica-robles/

It’s not always about what you do for your business, but when you do it. Timing mistakes can hurt your cleaning business more than you realize, and these decisions can drain cash faster than you can stop it.   In this FRC episode, Stephanie breaks down the biggest timing mistakes she and other owners have made, and what to do before you make those types of costly decisions. If you’ve ever been tempted to “go big” too soon, this conversation will hopefully save you money and sanity 🙏   📌 What You’ll Learn: — Why renting an office too early can drain your money — How overloading new hires ruins retention — The real risks of company cars (and why Serene Clean will never have a fleet) — How to plan vacations without letting your business burn down — The right and wrong ways to bring on admin staff or VAs — When investing in fancy software actually makes sense — Why you should focus your services before adding niches — The dangers of opening a second location before the first one runs smoothly   📌 Resources Mentioned: — ZenMaid Scheduling Software: https://get.zenmaid.com — ZenMaid Mastermind Facebook Group (Free): https://www.facebook.com/groups/zenmaidmastermind   Try ZenMaid free for 14 days → https://get.zenmaid.com   Book a consulting call with Stephanie → https://serene-clean.com/consulting-services/   🎙 Listen to the Podcast: 📖 Full transcript: https://www.zenmaid.com/magazine/dont-do-these-things-yet-timing-is-everything/

What does it take to scale from 6 employees to 140 — and eventually sell your business at its peak? In this episode, Stephanie sits down with industry veteran Sharon L. Cowan, President & CEO of Cleaning Business Consulting Group, who built one of the largest cleaning companies in her region, spanning both residential and commercial.   Stephanie and Sharon talk about Sharon's background and how she created a 140+ employee cleaning company. They talk about hard lessons learned over the years, peaks and highs, the risks of growing too fast without systems, and top advice for cleaning business owners.   📌 What You’ll Learn: — Early mistakes Sharon made in commercial bidding — Why residential is vital for cash flow but commercial builds long-term profit — The key structural differences between managing residential vs. commercial staff — Why delegating early is important for growth — How to protect your reputation when employees mess up (hint: theft stories included!) — Why culture matters more than perks — The “float system” Sharon used to guarantee reliability when employees called out — Which industries make the best commercial clients (and which ones to avoid) — Why follow-ups and personal touches are still the #1 differentiator in cleaning — The right time and wrong time to sell your cleaning business   Resources Mentioned: — ZenMaid Scheduling Software: https://get.zenmaid.com — ZenMaid Mastermind Facebook Group (free): https://www.facebook.com/groups/zenmaidmastermind   Try ZenMaid free for 14 days → https://get.zenmaid.com   📞 Book a Consulting Call with Stephanie: https://serene-clean.com/consulting-services/   🎙 Listen to the Podcast: 📖 Read the full transcript: https://www.zenmaid.com/magazine/lessons-from-building-a-140-employee-cleaning-company-with-sharon-l-cowan/

All companies have turnover — especially service-based ones like maid services and cleaning businesses. There are a million reasons someone can give as to why they're quitting, but most exits aren’t truly out of the blue. In this episode, Stephanie breaks down 7 common patterns or behaviors she and her managers see before a cleaner resigns, including backlash, frequent personal emergencies, coworker drama, lack of engagement in communication, and more. You'll hear real examples from Serene Clean, how Stephanie and her managers respond in the moment, and what adjustments (like hours, tasks, tools, expectations, etc.) can save a great hire — or confirm that it's time to go your separate ways.  What You’ll Learn:— The #1 early quitting signal: defensiveness to fair quality-check feedback— How repeated call-outs and “life on fire” stories in the first 90 days predict churn— The difference between healthy accountability and policy pushback tantrums— Why team drama means someone is quitting soon (and how to shut it down fast)— How physical strain from the job often leads to resignations— Practical adjustments and tools that help reduce employee churn— Signals of disengagement and what to do about it— Scripts and approaches to reduce escalation while keeping standards highResources Mentioned:— ZenMaid Scheduling Software: https://get.zenmaid.com/— ZenMaid Mastermind Facebook Group (free): https://www.facebook.com/groups/zenmaidmastermind Try ZenMaid free for 14 days: https://get.zenmaid.com/  Book a Consulting call with Stephanie: https://serene-clean.com/consulting-services/ Read the full transcript: https://www.zenmaid.com/magazine/the-7-signs-your-cleaner-is-about-to-quit/

When Molly Moran started her eco-friendly cleaning company in 2009, she thought the only way to be successful was to hustle herself into the ground. 16 (!!!) years later, she’s grown a thriving business, built a strong culture for both employees and clients, and learned a lot of lessons, including that saying “yes” to everything comes at a cost (this was a tough one to learn 😬).   In this FRC episode, Stephanie and Molly chat about the realities of scaling a cleaning company, from hiring mistakes, integrity issues, building systems, managing managers, and creating a culture that lasts even when you step away from the business. Molly also shares how she moved from burning the candle at both ends to leading her team as a “head coach,” focusing on growth, appreciation, and values-driven leadership.   📌 What You’ll Learn: — Why saying “yes” to every client request can break your business — The moment Molly decided to give up commercial night work (and how it literally saved her sanity) — How to build a company culture that survives when you’re not physically there to enforce it — The most expensive leadership mistake Molly ever made and how to avoid it — Why trusting your gut when hiring can save you $$$ — How to systematize appreciation and keep your team motivated long-term   Resources Mentioned: — Carrot (Employee Recognition Software): https://www.qarrots.com/ — Maid Summit (Free Training Event): https://www.maidsummit.com — ZenMaid Scheduling Software: https://get.zenmaid.com/ — ZenMaid Mastermind Facebook Group (free): https://www.facebook.com/groups/zenmaidmastermind   Try ZenMaid free for 14 days! Get.ZenMaid.com   Book a Consulting call with Stephanie: https://serene-clean.com/consulting-services/   🎙 Listen to the Podcast: 📖 Read the full transcript: [Link]

You don't need to step into a church to confess  In this honest self-roast episode, Stephanie exposes her worst habits, flaws, and blind spots that have slowed down Serene Clean’s success, per the opinions of herself and her own staff! She shares stories about when these traits have steered her wrong, like letting an employee live in her apartment with her, and talks about the messy side of being a business owner. This episode is 50% confession and 50% cautionary tale, and hopefully serves as a way for you to identify your own improvement areas. What You’ll Learn:— Why your personal flaws WILL show up in your cleaning business— The dangers of people-pleasing with staff and clients— How emotional reactivity creates bigger problems than it solves— Signs you’re burning yourself out with “Hurricane CEO” energy— Why inconsistency and exceptions destroy team trust— How delegation done right frees you from firefighter mode— Why hearing hard truths from your team is essential for growthResources Mentioned:— Maid Summit (Free Training Event): https://www.maidsummit.com— ZenMaid Scheduling Software: https://get.zenmaid.com/— ZenMaid Mastermind Facebook Group (free): https://www.facebook.com/groups/zenmaidmastermindTry ZenMaid free for 14 days! Get.ZenMaid.com Book a Consulting call with Stephanie: https://serene-clean.com/consulting-services/ Read the full transcript: https://www.zenmaid.com/magazine/roasting-myself-and-exposing-my-biggest-business-owner-mistakes/

Independent contractors are one of the hottest — and most confusing — topics in the cleaning industry. Are they legal? What are the risks? And why do so many owners run into trouble when they think they’re doing everything right? We've talked about this before in Episode 62, and today, we're doing a deep dive.In this episode, Stephanie brings Chris Schwab, remote cleaning business owner and founder of Local Business MBA, back on the podcast to talk more about the reality of running a cleaning business with independent contractors. Chris has operated a fully remote cleaning company for 10+ years and has coached hundreds of owners through this same challenge. They talk about the risks, benefits, and most important things to know about choosing ICs vs. employees. What You’ll Learn:— The IRS’s “Big 3 Tests” that define employees vs. independent contractors— Red flags that will get you misclassified (uniforms, checklists, scheduling)— Why quality control is the biggest roadblock to scaling with contractors— Insurance and liability protections you need in place if you run ICs— The gray area of hybrid models (and why most fail)— How to safely transition from contractors to employees if you need to— Creative ways to find independent contractors in smaller service areasResources Mentioned:— Chris Schwab’s Local Business MBA: https://localbusinessmba.com— Subscribe to Chris’s Newsletter (Cleaning Industry Insights): https://localbusinessmba.beehiiv.com/subscribe— ZenMaid Scheduling Software: https://get.zenmaid.com— Maid Summit (Free Training Event): https://www.maidsummit.com— ZenMaid Mastermind Facebook Group (Free): https://www.facebook.com/groups/zenmaidmastermind Read the full transcript: https://www.zenmaid.com/magazine/deep-dive-into-scaling-with-independent-contractors/