The Business of Cleaning

In this month's episode of The Business of Cleaning we talk with Nate Lucht, owner of Spotless Enterprise Corp, who shares his journey from various unfulfilling jobs to founding a successful cleaning business. Nate highlights the significance of employee relationships, retaining 90% of his employees, and the importance of mindset, systems, and documentation. Nate's philosophy centers on serving employees and clients, foster...

Dr. Ian Charlery, owner of A One Cleaning Services in the Cayman Islands, discusses his leadership journey, emphasizing empathy, accountability, and innovation. He transitioned to the cleaning industry after years of working as a police officer. Dr. Charlery highlights the importance of clear communication, continuous training, and employee support. He also shares his experience representing the Cayman Islands in the FIA Motorsport...

Wendy Dietzler, Senior Director of Events & Education for Trade Press Incorporated, emphasizes the importance of Building Service Contractors attending the Clean Buildings Conference on Tuesday, March 25th, and Wednesday, March 26th, in Baltimore, Maryland.

The Clean Buildings Conference (CBC) and NFMT events unite building service contractors, in-house cleaning professionals, and facility managers, offering valuable networki...

Bill Dunn spent decades in the wine and spirits business where he successfully recruited, hired, trained, and mentored future leaders. But his goal was to one day own his own company. Approaching his 50’s he took a gamble by pulling all his resources together and purchasing CNS Cleaning in 2021. CNS Cleaning now has over 1,000 monthly accounts and has tripled revenue since acquisition. Dunn emphasizes the importance of employee car...

Ed Nichols, President of The ISSA Show North America discusses why this show is the premier trade show for the commercial cleaning industry, attracting over 600 exhibitors from 23 countries and nearly 13,000 professionals annually. This event acts as an industry barometer, displaying the latest products, innovations, and educational opportunities, and consistently aims to exceed expectations for both attendees and exhibitors.

Netwo...

Daryl Hicks, an expert in infection prevention and control, discusses the importance of thorough cleaning and disinfection, especially during flu and COVID-19 seasons. He is nationally recognized as a subject matter expert in infection prevention and control as it relates to cleaning. He has written and published numerous articles in professional and healthcare related journals as part of his commitment to providing a cleaner, ...

In 2002, Chris Mondragon immigrated to the United States from Mexico, seeking to earn money for his family and his college education. Recognizing the necessity of becoming a resident to access better opportunities, Chris undertook various jobs, including working as a chef, construction worker, car salesman, and ultimately, entering the cleaning industry. Despite facing numerous challenges, Chris has successfully built a cleaning c...

Jason Davis found himself trapped in the monotonous routine of his dream job in banking, enduring the daily grind of 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. The toll of this predictable work schedule eventually convinced him that it wasn't the right path for him. One day, on impulse, he walked away from his banking career without a plan. Encouraged by his wife, he connected with the cleaners at her workplace, which sparked the idea of starting Fo...

In the mid-1980s, Don Aslett made a pivotal stop at the Edison Museum en route to a Boy Scout jamboree, where he conceived the vision of establishing a museum dedicated to cleanliness. He envisioned a space that would pay homage to the past, present, and future of the cleaning industry, with a particular emphasis on showcasing classic equipment. This idea began to take shape when Don acquired 250 premium pre-electric vacuums in 20...

Joel Craddock's first experience in the commercial cleaning industry came from his church, where he made $0.25 an hour. The job taught him hard work and responsibility from a young age. If he woke up, he knew that his job expected him to be at work. While in college, Joel worked his way up to an operations manager position for one of the biggest commercial cleaning companies in the Rochester, New York area. In this role he had ...

In 2001, Steven Harper made the decision to leave the corporate world after working for several fortune 500 companies. He chose to start his own commercial cleaning company, Spectrum Building Services of America. His goal was to build a company where he could leave his mark, instill his core values, and achieve personal and professional balance. While working in the corporate world, he endured 60 to 70-hour work weeks and did not t...

Mark's industry expertise is unique. He provides an in-depth breakdown of cross-selling and upselling in this episode, discussing how cleaners can better serve their customers. He stated that "people don’t realize they’re leaving money on the table with current customers." He dives into scaling a business and emphasizes the importance of having a developed plan before considering scaling. In fact, according to Mark, ...