Filthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast (ZenMaid)

Tired of seeing cleaning businesses marketed as an "easy passive income stream"? In this episode, Stephanie busts the myth that you can build a successful cleaning company without getting your hands dirty.   With real talk from someone who built a $1.4M company from scratch, learn why knowing how to clean yourself is crucial, why quality control matters more than fancy marketing, and why rushing to hire managers too early can sink your profits.   Key Moments: 0:00 - The passive income myth 5:30 - Why owners should know how to clean 12:45 - The problem with rushing to hire managers 18:20 - Quality control and training challenges 25:10 - Employee vs. IC debate 32:15 - How Serene Clean maintains a 0.7% complaint rate 42:30 - When business actually becomes more passive   Mentioned in this Episode:

• Cleaning Tech Bootcamp (Courtney Wisely): https://rescuemymaidservice.com/cleaning-tech-bootcamp-affidctbzm/
• ZenMaid Software: https://get.zenmaid.com/
• Serene Clean's training system: https://serene-clean.com/consulting-services/

 

Try ZenMaid free for 14 days: https://get.zenmaid.com/   Rather read than listen? Check out the full episode write-up on our blog at https://www.zenmaid.com/magazine/filthy-rich-cleaners-podcast-episode-5/

Meet Stephanie Pipkin, your host and owner of Serene Clean. In this first episode, she tells the story of how she started her cleaning business at age 22 with just a flyer and a hope to make some side income. Today, at 28, her company makes $1.4M in revenue, and she runs it from Savannah, Georgia while her team operates in Wisconsin. Stephanie gets real about all the ups and downs - from her first employee ghosting her (and crying about it) to managing hundreds of cleaners at a military base during the Afghan refugee crisis. She talks about what it's really like to run a cleaning business, including dealing with problem employees, building a solid team, and creating a company culture she's proud of.   Key Moments: 0:00 - Who's Stephanie and what's Serene Clean? 2:13 - Life before cleaning (waitressing and office work) 6:42 - How a YouTube video changed everything 11:00 - First employees - the good, bad, and ghosted 24:30 - Making it through COVID 32:59 - The huge Fort McCoy project 39:57 - Why she's starting this podcast 46:04 - What actually works when starting out 52:17 - How the business runs today   Mentioned in this Episode: Profit First Clean My Space YouTube Channel ZenMaid Software QuickBooks   Want to make your cleaning business run smoother? Try ZenMaid free for 14 days at https://app.zenmaid.com/sign-up Rather read than listen? Check out the full episode write-up on our blog at https://www.zenmaid.com/magazine/filthy-rich-cleaners-podcast-episode-1/

Meet Simone Angell, who turned her dream of helping busy moms into a booming luxury housekeeping company. As a single mom of five, she started House Mom Home Services in January 2020 - right when COVID hit. Instead of letting that stop her, she used it to her advantage and built something amazing.   Today, her team doesn't just clean houses - they run entire households, from folding laundry to meal prep to organizing. In this juicy conversation, Simone spills all her secrets - like why she fires clients who don't fit (even wealthy ones), how she handles people who try to steal her staff, and the exact systems she uses to keep quality sky-high. If you've ever dreamed of building a premium cleaning service that charges premium prices, this episode is pure gold.   Key Moments: 0:00 - Introduction & House Mom's origin story 4:15 - Navigating business growth during COVID 8:30 - Creating a family-friendly workplace culture 15:45 - Building a luxury service model 22:10 - Managing client expectations and communication 35:20 - Handling challenging situations professionally 42:50 - Training and quality control systems 49:30 - Future growth plans and expansion strategy   Mentioned in this Episode:

• House Mom Home Services: https://www.housemum.com/
• Google Docs: https://docs.google.com/document/
• ZenMaid Software Try ZenMaid free for 14 days: https://get.zenmaid.com/

  Rather read than listen? Check out the full episode write-up on our blog at https://www.zenmaid.com/magazine/filthy-rich-cleaners-podcast-episode-2/

From starting with "just a mop and a caddy" as a single mom to running multiple successful service businesses, Cheryl shares her incredible journey building Made Bright in Boston. In this candid conversation, she spills the real talk about client theft accusations, difficult customers taking down Christmas trees during cleanings, and how she and her husband turned a $25,000 power washing investment into a thriving second business.   Whether you're dreaming of starting a cleaning business or already in the trenches, Cheryl's honest stories about employee drama, client expectations, and work-life balance will make you feel less alone - and give you practical tips for growing your own empire.   Key Moments: 0:00 - Cheryl's journey from single mom to business owner 8:45 - Managing expectations with first-time cleaning clients 15:30 - Horror stories: theft accusations and problem customers 28:15 - Adding power washing services and scaling up 35:40 - Finding balance as an entrepreneur 42:20 - Tips for husband-wife business partnerships 48:15 - Building a supportive company culture for working moms 55:30 - The future of the cleaning industry   Mentioned in this Episode:

• Sisters Who Scale Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sisterswhoscale/
• Drop the Mop and Scale Program: https://www.sisterswhoscale.com/store
• E-Myth Revisited (Michael Gerber): https://bit.ly/4g3DBvU
• Extreme Ownership (Jocko Willink): https://bit.ly/4g7ouBB
• ZenMaid Software: https://get.zenmaid.com/

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Try ZenMaid free for 14 days: https://get.zenmaid.com/   Rather read than listen? Check out the full episode write-up on our blog at https://www.zenmaid.com/magazine/filthy-rich-cleaners-podcast-episode-4/

Want to know how Stephanie grew her cleaning business from $10,000 to $37,000 monthly revenue in less than a year - during COVID? In this episode, she spills all her growth secrets, including the exact strategies that helped Serene Clean make these massive jumps in revenue.   She breaks down the three key ingredients that skyrocketed her business: getting killer social proof (including a clever $5 trick to get more Google reviews), landing commercial accounts that are worth 20 residential clients, and a group interview hack that saves tons of time in hiring. Whether you're stuck at $10K or dreaming of hitting your first $20K month, this episode is packed with actionable tips you can use right now.   Key Moments: 0:00 - The importance of weekly team meetings 4:15 - Serene Clean's growth journey by the numbers 8:30 - Why Google reviews matter more than Facebook 12:45 - The secret to getting video testimonials 18:20 - Why commercial accounts are game-changers 25:10 - Group interviews: the hiring solution you need 32:15 - Building a constant candidate pipeline   Mentioned in this Episode:

• ZenMaid Mastermind Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/zenmaidmastermind/
• Google My Business: https://www.google.com/intl/en_us/business/
• Indeed: https://www.indeed.com/
• Vista Print (for review cards): https://www.vistaprint.com/

  Try ZenMaid free for 14 day: https://get.zenmaid.com/   Rather read than listen? Check out the full episode write-up on our blog at https://www.zenmaid.com/magazine/filthy-rich-cleaners-podcast-episode-3/

Meet Chris Schwab, who runs a thriving cleaning business in DC... while living in Japan! Chris shares his unique approach to finding balance and peace while running a fully remote cleaning business.   From his morning meditation practice to his practical systems for managing a cleaning business remotely, Chris reveals how he built a successful company he can run from anywhere. He shares his unique approach to finding balance as a business owner and the exact tools and mindset he uses to make it all work.   Key Moments: 0:00 - Introduction & Chris's background 6:42 - Starting the DC cleaning company with $600 10:15 - The Halloween disaster that changed everything 13:30 - First experiment with virtual assistants 24:30 - Balancing action with stillness 32:15 - Three tools for running a balanced business 42:20 - Managing stress as a business owner 48:15 - Chris's daily routine and planning system   Mentioned in this Episode:

• Full Focus Planner (Michael Hyatt)
• The 4-Hour Work Week (Tim Ferriss)

  Try ZenMaid free for 14 days: https://get.zenmaid.com/ Rather read than listen? Check out the full episode write-up on our blog at https://www.zenmaid.com/magazine/filthy-rich-cleaners-podcast-episode-6/