Shows
Filthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#101: How Victor's Residential-First Model Achieved 600+ 5-Star ReviewsWhat happens when a college grad with zero cleaning experience decides to launch a residential cleaning company in one of the most competitive markets in the USA? You get Mighty Maids — now one of the highest-rated cleaning companies in San Diego!
In this episode, Stephanie sits down with owner Victor Migos, who built his business from the ground up after being inspired by watching his mom clean homes to support their family. Eight years later, he’s running 19 employees, two service areas, and a residential-first model that consistently delivers 5-star experiences.
Victor breaks down how he hires...
2025-12-231h 02Filthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#100: The Official 2025 Naughty and Nice ListIt's our 100th episode! 🥳 Oh, and it's also the holidays! So, we thought there'd be no better way to celebrate both things than by ringing in Episode 100 with a full breakdown of Serene Clean’s 2025 Naughty and Nice List 🎅
Lawsuits, staffing meltdowns, wild client situations, turnover chaos, and more — 2025 was a chaotic year for Serene Clean, and Stephanie gives a full rundown based on the year's memorable events. She walks through the biggest lessons, the hardest hits, the surprising victories, and the systems that saved Serene Clean from spiraling, all while wearing her Santa suit and sipping wine (and also ha...
2025-12-181h 01Filthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#99: The “Be Your Customer” Marketing Strategy (and Why It Works), with Katie PearseWhat if we told you that the easiest way to improve your marketing...is to stop trying to market to everyone 🤔 In this episode, Stephanie sits down with Katie Pearse of Glisten Academy, a nearly 20-year cleaning industry veteran who’s built multiple commercial and residential operations across Canada and the US.
Katie shares how her company exploded from a weekend side hustle into a multi-city business, and why the best marketing strategy is to sell to the version of you who would hire your own company. They get into the real psychology of residential clients and how checkl...
2025-12-161h 12Filthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#98: Stop Letting Fear Run Your Cleaning BusinessFear of growth is one of the most universal problems for business owners — and it shows up everywhere. "If I hire, everything will fall apart!" "I want more clients, but it might make things more chaotic." Sound familiar?
In this episode, Stephanie breaks down the patterns she saw in four consulting calls last week — owners stuck because of fear, lack of systems, burnout, people-pleasing, and a complete misunderstanding of what real growth actually requires. She shares the exact concepts she taught these owners, so you can apply them too.
📌 What You’ll Learn
— Why fear of growth appear...
2025-12-1151 minFilthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#97: Why Your Systems Determine Your Success (Not Your Experience)Most new cleaning business owners think they need years of experience and a spotless (hah, get it?) strategy before they can grow. But Chelsea Withers, Owner of Mindful Methods Cleaning, proves all of that wrong. A stay-at-home mom battling postpartum depression, she started cleaning out of necessity. With no industry background, she still built a fast-growing company by focusing on deeply systemized operations in two years.
In this episode, Stephanie and Chelsea talk about how your prior experience matters far less than the systems you build, the way you think, and your ability to take action before you f...
2025-12-091h 10Filthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#96: Yes, Your Team Needs Weekly Meetings (and Here's Why)Lots of service-based businesses skip team meetings because they feel “unnecessary” or like wasted labor hours. Stephanie did too until she realized the silent damage it was causing, including teams that didn't mesh well together, inconsistent quality, scattered communication, and a culture that never fully gelled 😬
In this episode, she breaks down the exact system Serene Clean has used for years to keep 40+ cleaners aligned and informed, even with multiple locations and Stephanie as a remote owner.
📌 What You’ll Learn
— When to start holding meetings (hint: earlier than you think)
— How to run meetings for...
2025-12-0441 minFilthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#95: You Need to Think Like a CEO, Not a CleanerDespite what you might assume, cleaning business owners aren’t held back by pricing, marketing, hiring, or retention. They’re actually held back by their mindset. Survival mode. Chaos mode. “I’ll do it myself” mode. And for many, it never stops, even years into their business.
In this episode, Stephanie sits down with Amar Ghose, CEO of ZenMaid software and former maid service owner, to break down the exact mindset differences between owners who stay stuck in the field forever and owners who build a business that runs without them. They talk about all things control issues, daily habit...
2025-12-021h 07Filthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#94: Solo or Team Cleaning? Choosing What’s Right for Your BusinessSolo or team cleaning? Should you have a company car or should cleaners use their own? Is it better to look for experienced cleaners instead of people with no cleaning background? Decisions, decisions
In this episode, Stephanie digs into three of the biggest operational decisions cleaning business owners have to make — and why there’s no single “right” answer. She shares why she runs Serene Clean almost entirely with solo cleaners, why she’ll probably never own a fleet of wrapped company cars, and how she hires for attitude over experience (and never regrets it).
📌 What You’ll L...
2025-11-2738 minFilthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#93: Couch-Surfing to CEO: Building a Million-Dollar Cleaning Company, with Misael AvalosMost people want to grow their business, but few are willing to become the person required to do it. In this episode of Filthy Rich Cleaners, Misael Avalos talks about how he built his company, TimeMaid Cleaning in Arizona, from nothing after a rock-bottom moment changed everything.
They talk about the identity shifts, habits, and core values required to scale a cleaning business, and how Misael went from sleeping on his mom’s couch to cleaning seven days a week, handling every client himself, networking nonstop, and ultimately retiring his mother after 45 years in the field.
📌 What Yo...
2025-11-251h 06Filthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#92: How to Set Your Pricing, Staff Pay, and PackagesCleaning business owners who choose their pricing model and pay structure on gut instinct tend to pay for it later 😬 That's why in this episode, Stephanie breaks down all the major decisions you must make as a cleaning business owner in terms of how to charge clients and pay cleaners. She talks about the pros and cons of charging hourly, flat rate, by square foot, or using a hybrid model, as well as whether to pay cleaners hourly, via a percentage, or per job.
📌 What You’ll Learn:
— The truth about hourly pricing (and why Serene Clean still uses it at...
2025-11-2048 minFilthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#91: The Biggest Mistakes Cleaning Owners Make and How to Stop Them, with Cheryl HajjarEven the grittiest, hardest-working owners get burned by fuzzy pricing, weak boundaries, bad hires, and saying “I’ll figure it out later" 😅 In this follow-up episode with Cheryl Hajjar, Founder of Sisters Who Scale, Stephanie and Cheryl talk through the most common (and expensive) mistakes cleaning business owners make. In fact, these mistakes are ones both of them learned the hard way and now consult cleaning business owners on!
📌 What You’ll Learn :
— Why “I’ll do anything while I’m here” destroys margins and confuses clients
— The pricing math that keeps wages under control without underpaying your team
— W2 vs 1099 in real...
2025-11-181h 11Filthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#90: How to Spot & Fix Bottlenecks in Your BusinessEven 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 yo...
2025-11-1327 minFilthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#89: How Paige Built a 15-Person Cleaning Team (Plus Her Secrets to Retention)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
...
2025-11-111h 09Filthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#88: How to Delegate Without Losing Control of Your Cleaning BusinessEvery 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...
2025-11-0651 minFilthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#87: How Coaching (and Chaos) Transformed a Cleaning Business, with Jamie RuncoJamie 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:
—...
2025-11-0438 minFilthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#86: Our Spiciest Takes About the Cleaning IndustryBOO! 👻 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...
2025-10-301h 17Filthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#85: How to Get Quality Cleaning Leads, with Sean ParryIn 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
— Whe...
2025-10-2859 minFilthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#84: How Handwritten Letters Built a Thriving Cleaning Business, with Lucy SpencerNot 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, l...
2025-10-231h 04Filthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#83: Creating a Culture of Accountability in Your BusinessIf 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 answ...
2025-10-2136 minFilthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#82: How to Make Your Cleaning Business Stand Out Online 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 platf...
2025-10-1651 minFilthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#81: Staying Calm When Your Business Is in CrisisEven 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...
2025-10-1446 minFilthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#80: When a Longtime Client Gets Weird (Handling an Awkward Cancellation)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 commen...
2025-10-0933 minFilthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#79: Bidding 170,000 Sq Ft and Beating Imposter Syndrome, with Amanda StovallWhat 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 prof...
2025-10-071h 32Filthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#78: How to Stand Out Against Cheap CompetitorsEver 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 strat...
2025-10-0237 minFilthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#77: Lessons from Scaling a Veteran-Owned Cleaning Brand to $55K/Month, with Ibrahin & Jessica RoblesWhat 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...
2025-09-301h 21Filthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#76: Don’t Do These Things Yet! Timing is EverythingIt’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...
2025-09-2553 minFilthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#75: Lessons from Building a 140-Employee Cleaning Company, with Sharon L. CowanWhat 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...
2025-09-231h 15Filthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#74: The 7 Signs Your Cleaner Is About to QuitAll 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 grea...
2025-09-1827 minFilthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#73: From Burnout to Balance — Lessons from 16 Years of Cleaning Business OwnershipWhen 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...
2025-09-1652 minFilthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#72: Roasting Myself and Exposing My Biggest Business Owner MistakesYou 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:
2025-09-1141 minFilthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#71: Deep-Dive into Scaling with Independent ContractorsIndependent 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...
2025-09-091h 16Filthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#70: When and Why You’re Most Likely to Lose CustomersEven the best cleaning companies lose clients — it's part of the business, whether we like it or not. But when clients choose to drop often follows a predictable pattern. Things like your client's favorite cleaner quitting or you needing to increase the prices of your services can all contribute to what we call client "danger zones," and there are critical moments in your business where client relationships are the most fragile.
In this episode of Filthy Rich Cleaners, Stephanie breaks down the top danger zones where cleaning clients are most likely to leave, as well as how yo...
2025-09-0451 minFilthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#69: Fired Over Makeup to $10K Months — Amanda Stovall’s JourneyAmanda Stovall was fired from a restaurant job for refusing to wear makeup, and used that experience as a spark for her entrepreneurship. Today, Amanda runs Stovall’s Cleaning Services in Missouri and hit her first $10K month! She's built strong systems and laid the foundation for long-term growth.
In this episode, Stephanie and Amanda dive into Amanda’s journey from being a dispatcher and server to a cleaning business owner, including the tough lessons she’s learned about hiring, pricing, and trusting herself. They talk about team walkouts, the sales psychology that changed Amanda's close rates, and mo...
2025-09-021h 04Filthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#68: The 3 Traits That Built My Cleaning BusinessAny small business owner (regardless of the industry they're in) will attest that this job is one of the hardest but most rewarding out there. You pour your heart and soul into your business and learn so much about yourself along the way.
In this fiery solo episode, Stephanie talks about the three traits that have allowed her to build Serene Clean into the 7-figure business it is today: grit, vision, and leadership. She shares the story of (cluelessly 😅) walking into her first commercial walkthrough at 23, leading a million-dollar government contract, navigating betrayals and setbacks, and figuring things out...
2025-08-2838 minFilthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#67: Real Talk on Marketing, Experimentation, and Growing SmartWould you rather send out a 20% off coupon twice in one day, or go viral for a typo that says “we’ll clean your crack”?
In this episode, Stephanie sits down with Ryan Williams, ZenMaid's Head of Marketing, to share real marketing mishaps (including $30k ad spend mistakes and sending emails with the wrong dates twice) and talk through how cleaners can stop overthinking marketing. They cover marketing via email vs. text messaging, whether discounts cheapen your brand, how to spot shady marketing agencies, and why focusing on what already works is smarter than chasing every shiny object...
2025-08-2653 minFilthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#66: The KPIs You Need to Track Your Cleaning BusinessWhat KPIs actually matter when you're running a cleaning business? There are a million different numbers you can track, so it's important that you spend your precious time on the ones that actually matter. Are you really short on leads, or do you just need to close better? Are clients dropping off because of price, quality, or something totally outside your control? Without tracking, you’ll never know.
In this solo episode, Stephanie shares how she tracks sales, marketing, and client KPIs at Serene Clean, as well as the exact numbers that keep her business growing past $1M...
2025-08-2146 minFilthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#65: Would You Rather (Cleaning Business Owner Edition), with Stephanie, Amar, and MariaIn this very special (and chaotic) episode of Filthy Rich Cleaners, we bring you poolside in Barcelona, Spain at our annual ZenMaid company retreat! 🇪🇸
Filthy Rich Cleaners host Stephanie Pipkin sits down with Amar Ghose, Founder and CEO of ZenMaid, and Maria Dorian, Founder of TaskAway VA and Co-Founder of Quality Driven Software, to play a fun game of Would You Rather, talk about their crazy cleaning business experiences, and more. From meth head cleaners to clients who like to micromanage you to hiring reliable, trustworthy staff, this episode covers it all! 🫣
📌 What We Talk About:
— If it's better t...
2025-08-191h 06Filthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#64: Managing Inventory and Supplies in Your Cleaning BusinessLearning how to manage inventory is one of the hardest parts of opening a cleaning business. It's difficult to forecast how much of each item you'll need, when you should anticipate running out, where to store your items, whether the client should supply certain things, and more — it can feel like a logistical nightmare. We've been there, and that's why this episode of Filthy Rich Cleaners focuses on effectively managing inventory and supplies.
In this solo episode, Stephanie shares how Serene Clean handles inventory and supply management, and what has and hasn't worked for her team in th...
2025-08-1445 minFilthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#63: Taking a Heartfelt Approach to Cleaning, with Kimberley CrockettCan you wear your heart on your sleeve and run a business at the same time? The answer is no, but that doesn't mean you can't still lead with compassion and care for your employees and clients
In this episode of Filthy Rich Cleaners, Stephanie chats with Kimberley Crockett, the owner of Clean Keepers in Athens, Georgia. Kimberley shares how she started her cleaning business at the beginning of COVID — Spring 2020 — when the restaurant she bartended at full-time shut down. She had previously cleaned as a small side hustle and needed a new plan, and, amazingly, it took o...
2025-08-121h 03Filthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#62: The Truth About Running Your Cleaning Biz with Independent ContractorsDo you know any cleaning business owners who skip the mop completely and don't actually clean anything themselves? Many times, people start out as cleaners and work their way up, or open their own business entirely, but there are some people who start out with the intention of never personally doing any cleaning. This is when they turn to independent contractors (ICs) instead of full-time employees. On paper, it sounds great — flexible staffing, no payroll taxes, and no scrubbing toilets yourself. But what’s the reality of running your business this way, and can you actually do this for the...
2025-08-0735 minFilthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#61: “Clarity is Kindness” — The Right Way to Give FeedbackHonest feedback can be hard to give — and it's often even harder to receive. In this Filthy Rich Cleaners episode, Stephanie is joined by leadership expert and author Mike Robbins to talk about how to lead with empathy and create an honest, emotionally safe work environment, especially in an industry with high turnover like cleaning. He and Stephanie discuss the right way to go about level-setting with your team and share instances of mistakes and learnings. They also share tips to encourage an open dialogue and promote a culture of honesty within the business, even when it's easier to hi...
2025-08-051h 01Filthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#60: When Misaligned Expectations Lead to Angry Client EmailsEven cleaning businesses with raving reviews and A–Z checklists still face nightmare scenarios. Think after-hours emails, upset clients, confused employees, and "Oh no, what the hell do we do now?" conversations.
In this episode, our host Stephanie shares a recent (and horrific) scenario after a cleaning at an existing client's new property. Emotions were high with the client's upcoming family visit and personal challenges, and Stephanie's team had to make it right. Hear how her team navigated the chaos without burning bridges or backing down, as well as how they used it as a learning lesson moving fo...
2025-07-3139 minFilthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#59: Why This Healthcare Worker Ditched Her "Real Job" for Cleaning (And Never Looked Back)Think you need a business degree to excel in the cleaning industry? Hannah Sutton proves otherwise. After 16 years in healthcare, she found her calling at Serene Clean - and now trains the next generation of cleaning professionals. Discover how proper training systems, quality control, and company culture can transform your cleaning business from chaos to excellence.
What You'll Learn:
Why healthcare professionals are naturally drawn to cleaning businesses
The specific green and red flags to watch for when training new cleaners
How to build training systems that ensure consistency across your team
Quality assurance strategies that prevent complaints...
2025-07-291h 26Filthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#58: The Numbers That Actually Matter for Your Cleaning BusinessThink tracking KPIs is overwhelming? Stephanie breaks down exactly which metrics will transform your cleaning business from guesswork to data-driven success. From basic profit tracking to advanced client lifetime value calculations, discover the specific numbers that separate thriving cleaning companies from those flying blind.
What You'll Learn:
Why weekly P&L tracking is your business security blanket
The magic 40-45% payroll percentage that keeps you profitable
How to spot supply theft and misuse through simple tracking
Client lifetime value calculations that reveal retention problems
Revenue breakdown strategies that pinpoint exactly where money is lost
The cleaner utilization rate...
2025-07-2453 minFilthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#57: From Immigration Consultant to Cleaning Empire BuilderWhat happens when an immigration consultant discovers the cleaning industry is the perfect pathway to the American Dream? In this episode, Stephanie sits down with Julie Lesage, who specializes in helping international investors start cleaning businesses through E2 visas. From her own pandemic pivot to cleaning full-time to building an affiliate network across the US, Julie shares the unique challenges and opportunities of launching cleaning companies for newcomers to America.
What You'll Learn:
Why cleaning businesses are ideal for E2 investor visas
How to manage W-2 employees remotely before owners arrive in the US
The cultural differences that...
2025-07-2257 minFilthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#56: Fear of Being Misunderstood vs. Standing on BusinessWhat happens when your biggest fear as a leader is being misunderstood? In this solo episode, Stephanie gets real about the constant push and pull between wanting to be understood and needing to make confident decisions as a business owner. Fresh back from Barcelona with the ZenMaid team (and some serious luggage drama), she dives deep into why explaining the "why" behind your decisions is crucial for buy-in, but over-explaining can make you look weak and defensive. From mop bucket mutinies to price increase psychology, Stephanie shares how to communicate with confidence while accepting that some people will misinterpret...
2025-07-1735 minFilthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#55: Double Your Bookings with Katie & Stephanie’s Cleaning Funnel FixesMost cleaning business owners know their funnel could be better, but where do you even start?
In this episode, Katie Jenks of Serene Clean joins Stephanie Pipkin to unpack the real-world funnel transformation that helped Serene Clean fill its calendar fast. From low-converting forms to forgettable follow-ups, Stephanie shares the exact changes she made with Katie’s help to plug the leaks, and the numbers to prove it worked.
They break down every part of the funnel: website tweaks, lead magnets, automations, metrics, and mindset. This isn’t theory, it’s the behind-the-scenes of a cleanin...
2025-07-151h 12Filthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#54: Stop the Turnover Spiral: How Stephanie Built a Drama-Free Dream TeamHiring doesn’t have to be painful or regretful.
In this episode, ZenMaid’s Stephanie Pipkin shares the exact hiring system she built to train and retain a 7-figure cleaning team without complaints, micromanagement, or drama. You’ll hear the hard lessons behind her transition from solo cleaner to true CEO, and how she rebuilt her business with freedom, boundaries, and a culture that runs itself.
This isn’t theory. It’s the actual step-by-step hiring process Stephanie used to go from overwhelmed to in control, and she’s handing it over to you.
If you’re...
2025-07-101h 06Filthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#53: From Accidental Startup to Remote Empire: Juan Chaparro on Culture, W-2s & PipeHireMost cleaning businesses struggle with hiring. But what if your biggest bottleneck wasn’t finding people, it was how you were filtering them?
In this episode, Stephanie sits down with industry veteran Juan Chaparro, founder of Gmaids and creator of PipeHire, to unpack how he and his wife Karen accidentally started a cleaning company at age 20, scaled it remotely from Colombia and Miami, and built a thriving culture using only W-2 employees.
Juan reveals the hiring disaster that forced him to invent PipeHire, how their business runs with zero office visits, and the core values th...
2025-07-0843 minFilthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#52: Audit Your Cleaning Biz & Stop Overpaying: How to Save $10K+ a YearEvery cleaning business has expenses that quietly eat into profits. Insurance policies you set and forget. Training steps that slip over time. Processes that used to work but don’t anymore.
In this episode, Stephanie shares how she uncovered over $10,000 in annual savings by auditing Serene Clean’s insurance and why taking a hard look at all your costs and policies is essential. She also explains how her team improves training and policies when complaints come in, making sure small problems don’t grow into big ones.
Key Takeaways:
How Stephanie saved over $10,000 a year on insurance
Why “set it an...
2025-07-0329 minFilthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#51: How One Cleaning Tech Employee Becomes IrreplaceableEver wonder what it takes to go from cleaning tech to essential operations leader in your cleaning business? In this candid episode, Stephanie sits down with April West Serene Clean’s payroll administrator, accounts manager, and longtime right hand.
They share honest stories about extreme cleans (the Cat House! the Chicken House!), the reality of managing call-outs, building sustainable company culture, and learning to set boundaries with clients. April reflects on joining Serene Clean as a part-time technician with triplets at home and growing into her critical role today, all while keeping a sense of humor about the in...
2025-07-011h 10Filthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#50: What I Wish I Had in Place *Before* My First Nightmare ClientEvery cleaner has a nightmare client story... The client who left surprises in the toilet. The one who flipped out over late fees. The one who thought hiring you meant cleaning up fleas.
In this episode, Stephanie walks through Serene Clean’s 10-page client guideline document — and the real stories behind each policy. Learn what to include, how to roll it out, and why you’ll sleep better once it’s signed.
Key Takeaways:
Why client guidelines are non-negotiable for cleaning businesses
What to include in your policy (and how to get it signed without hassle)
How to set expect...
2025-06-2649 minFilthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#48: 8 Website Mistakes That Are Costing You Leads (And How to Fix Them Fast)Your website should be doing two things: getting you more leads and helping pre-sell your services to those leads. But if you're making one of these 8 mistakes, it might be doing neither.
In this tactical solo episode, Stephanie walks through the biggest website errors she sees on consulting calls — and the exact fixes you can make to turn your site into a lead-generating machine.
Key Takeaways:
The biggest call-to-action mistake most cleaning websites make
How to write an About section that builds trust and pre-sells clients
The number one way to use reviews (and the type that...
2025-06-1924 minFilthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#47: An Interview With One of Stephanie's Amazing Cleaning TechsAshley spent 14 years in the healthcare industry — until burnout, COVID, and caregiving for her dad pushed her to look for something more flexible. She applied for a cleaning job. Serene Clean said no. Then she applied again. And again. Four years later, she’s one of the company’s most beloved cleaning techs.
In this heartfelt episode, Stephanie sits down with Ashley to reflect on her journey from job applicant to core team member — and what Serene Clean’s culture, flexibility, and purpose-driven work have meant to her life. If you want to know what makes employees stay (and thrive...
2025-06-1749 minFilthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#45: She Cleaned to Survive — Now She’s Booked Out. Zaila’s Story Will Blow You AwayWhat drives someone to launch a cleaning business as a teenager — and grow it into a thriving, booked-out service while pregnant and raising a family?
In this episode, Stephanie interviews Zaila Filler, a young cleaning business owner from Indiana who started out scrubbing Airbnbs to escape a tough home life. They cover the wild reality of starting from scratch, training staff while dilated in the hospital, and why pricing and policies can make or break your early growth.
Expect honest talk, hilarious stories, and some hard-won lessons on staffing, systems, and scaling.
Key Takeaways:
Why your...
2025-06-101h 39Filthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#44: A Full Breakdown of My Company's Rates, Wages, and Revenue — From Day 1 to $121K MonthsStephanie takes you behind the scenes of Serene Clean’s growth — from charging $30/hour and paying $12/hour, all the way to $55/hour and six figures in monthly revenue.
You’ll hear exactly what the business was charging, paying, and earning at every stage — plus when benefits were added, how price increases impacted hiring, and what finally pushed Stephanie to offer health insurance. It’s an honest, detailed timeline packed with practical insights for every cleaning business owner.
Key Takeaways:
The exact rates Serene Clean charged at every growth stage
How Stephanie set employee wages based on a 40% labor...
2025-06-0538 minFilthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#43: How My First Employee Became the Heart of the Cleaning CompanyStephanie sits down with Crystal Davidson — Serene Clean’s very first employee — to talk about what it was really like in the early days. From working out of Stephanie’s apartment to helping build a million-dollar company, Crystal has seen (and survived) it all.
They cover what made her leave a stable healthcare career for a part-time cleaning job, how her role evolved over time, and what it actually takes to build a loyal leadership team in an industry known for high turnover. It’s an honest, behind-the-scenes look at how trust, flexibility, and shared values can shape a workplace...
2025-06-031h 22Filthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#42: The Secret to Hiring Cleaners Faster (and Smarter) with Group InterviewsIn this solo episode, Stephanie shares one of the top three strategies that helped Serene Clean grow to 30+ employees across three locations: group interviews. After years of trial and error (and far too many no-shows), she walks you through exactly how—and why—to set up a group interview system that saves time, filters out bad fits, and keeps your cleaning business hiring-ready at all times.
Whether you’re a solo cleaner doing it all or managing a full team, this is the hiring framework Stephanie swears by—and you’ll get her full step-by-step breakdown.
Key Takeaway...
2025-05-2855 minFilthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#41: What Running a Maid Service Taught ZenMaid’s CEO About LeadershipIn this episode, Stephanie sits down with ZenMaid's CEO, Amar Ghose, to talk about everything from his days running a maid service to building a software company that’s now 11 years strong.
They cover the early chaos, what Amar would do differently if he ran a cleaning business again, and how he stayed calm and led his team through a recent health scare. It's an honest, insightful, and sometimes hilarious look at the real behind-the-scenes of ZenMaid.
Key Takeaways:
How Amar scaled his maid service to 8 cleaners in 14 months (then shut it down)
The surprising hiring stra...
2025-05-271h 32Filthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#40: Live Coaching Call: She's Ready to Grow... But Hiring is Holding Her BackAnastasia, owner of Essence of Clean, turned a part-time side gig into a six-figure cleaning business with her husband—despite moving states and starting over more than once. Now based in Washington and working just four days a week, they’ve built a business that gives them freedom, stability, and time with their family.
In this coaching session, Anastasia opens up about battling self-doubt, navigating others’ judgment, and preparing to hire her first employees after a previous bad experience. If you're on the fence about hiring or want to hear what it really takes to scale your cleaning busines...
2025-05-2258 minFilthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#39: From $15 Intern to $84M CEO: Executive Coaching Lessons for Cleaning Business OwnersStephanie sits down with Ayman Al-Abdullah, former CEO of AppSumo and executive coach to 7–9 figure founders (including ZenMaid’s own Amar Ghose). They dive into what it takes to evolve from a founder to a true CEO — and how even cleaning business owners can start thinking like executives.
You’ll learn how to overcome growth plateaus, why Ayman believes every CEO should aim to be the “laziest” person in the business, and how to finally solve your hiring headaches (without throwing more money at the problem). Plus: what to do when you’re stuck at $1.4M and unsure which direction...
2025-05-2047 minFilthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#38: How to Create a Trustworthy Cleaning Brand (Even if You've Messed Up)Your brand isn’t built when you say the right things. It’s built in the messy moments when no one’s watching... and when the consequences catch up. In this episode, Stephanie unpacks a controversial cleaning industry trend (yep, naked cleaning) and uses it as a jumping-off point to talk about integrity, consistency, and long-term brand building.
Whether you're navigating pricing mistakes, hiring growing pains, or just trying to look more professional online — your reputation is made one choice at a time. You don’t need perfection. But you do need consistency.
Key Takeaways:
Why one off-brand choice can tank 364 gre...
2025-05-1522 minFilthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#36: My First 10 Hires: The Hilarious (and Horrifying) Truth About Finding Good Cleaners"I get to the house... she had filled out the checklist and said she did everything, but she didn't clean a f***ing thing." Stephanie shares the raw, unfiltered stories of her first 10 hires, from the employee who never showed up to the one who asked her to commit fraud!
This episode is a must-watch for anyone struggling with hiring or wondering if they'll ever find good staff. Through disaster stories and surprising successes, Stephanie proves that building a great team IS possible - even when it feels impossible.
Key Takeaways:
Why you might cry after your first hire (and wh...
2025-05-0830 minFilthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#35: Live Coaching Call: Navigating Your First Few Months in Business with Gentry HunterFour months into her cleaning business venture, former teacher and social worker Gentry Hunter sits down with Stephanie for a live coaching call. Together, they explore the REAL challenges of launching 2.0 Cleaning in Austin, Texas.
Tune into this conversation to hear both practical advice and emotional support as Stephanie helps Gentry navigate common stumbling blocks of early entrepreneurship. They discuss everything from handling difficult client situations to determining proper labor rates for profitability - wisdom any cleaning business owner can apply.
Key Takeaways:
Why using your personality as your brand is crucial for new cleaning businesses
How to price residential an...
2025-05-061h 24Filthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#33: She Didn’t Plan to Start a Cleaning Business… And Then It Took OffFrom a neighbor’s Facebook post to managing a team of 20+, Brenna Sledge didn’t plan to start a cleaning company... but the impact she’s had since launching Busy Bees Cleaning in 2020 is no accident.
In this episode, Stephanie sits down with Brenna to talk about what it really means to run a purpose-driven cleaning business. They dive into community impact, vacation rental partnerships, hiring with heart, pricing lessons the hard way, and how to build a cleaning culture rooted in service — not shame.
If you’ve ever felt like your cleaning business could be something mo...
2025-04-291h 16Filthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#32: The Client Isn’t Always Right — Why We Fired a “Good” AccountJust because a client is “nice” doesn’t mean they’re a good fit. In this solo episode, Stephanie walks through the decision to let go of a long-standing commercial account that had become more trouble than it was worth — and breaks down the true cost of keeping bad fits on your roster.
From communication chaos to scope creep to straight-up budget misalignment, this is a crash course in understanding opportunity cost in your cleaning business. If you’ve been afraid to fire a client or set stronger boundaries, this episode will give you the push (and proof) you need.
Key Takeaways...
2025-04-2425 minFilthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#31: She Left Wall Street and Built a Thriving Cleaning Business (Here’s How)From finance exec to cleaning CEO, Helen of Cool Peaches Cleaning shares how she built a growing maid service using Google reviews, local networking, and a whole lot of heart. In this episode, Stephanie and Helen Leyzerovich talk client acquisition, staffing struggles, pricing mistakes, and why your intake form matters more than you think.
Helen doesn’t sugarcoat the early growing pains (including what not to do with pricing), and Stephanie shares real-time advice on standing out in a saturated market. If you’re a new cleaning business owner — or looking to scale without losing your sanity — this one’s for...
2025-04-221h 11Filthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#30: The Exact Lead Management System I Use in My Cleaning Business#30: The Exact Lead Management System I Use in My Cleaning Business
Description:
Tired of juggling cleaning leads across text, email, Facebook messages, and phone calls? I was too. In this episode, I (Stephanie) tackle the common mistake of scattered client communications that's costing cleaning business owners time, money, and professionalism.
Learn how to create a centralized lead management system that captures all inquiries, enables effective follow-up, and presents a polished image to potential clients - even if you're still cleaning in the field yourself.
Key Takeaways:
Why scattered communications make you look unprofessional (and lose money)
How...
2025-04-1721 minFilthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#29: How She Merged With Her Competitor and Built a Cleaning Empire TogetherWhat happens when two cleaning business owners decide to join forces? In this conversation, Stephanie speaks with Dayane from Washe Cleaning Services, who shares her remarkable journey from arriving in the US from Brazil without speaking English to building a cleaning empire approaching seven figures.
Dayane shares how she and her friend—who each had their own separate cleaning businesses—were already informally sharing staff before deciding to formalize their partnership. Their strategic merger allowed them to handle operational challenges more effectively than hiring additional managers, and helped them create a great staff retention rate in an industry know...
2025-04-151h 01Filthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#28: How Much Does a 7-Figure Business Owner Take Home? + More Juicy Q&A'sEver wonder how much money cleaning business owners actually take home? In this Q&A episode, Stephanie reveals exactly how much she's personally earned from her cleaning company over six years—down to the penny—and why it's more than most people think.
Plus, get practical answers to your burning questions about everything from the $500 insurance claim that saved thousands to pricing strategies that won't scare off clients. Learn why Stephanie pays herself from day one (despite contrary advice) and the real-world trade-offs between time freedom and higher profits.
Key Takeaways:
The exact revenue numbers...
2025-04-1032 minFilthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#26: The Client Retention Strategy Your Competitors Don't Want You to KnowEver wonder why some cleaning businesses keep clients for years while others struggle with constant turnover? In this episode, Stephanie breaks down Serene Clean's "celebration systems" - their secret weapon for keeping clients happy, staff loyal, and social media buzzing.
She walks you through exactly how they use ZenMaid to track client anniversaries, send personalized video messages, and deliver branded gifts that clients rave about. You'll learn why those "too extra" appreciation moments (like custom employee songs!) are building a workplace culture that keeps cleaners from jumping ship - even when competitors offer more money.
Key Takeaways:
The exact client an...
2025-04-0327 minFilthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#25: How Kate Croukamp Built a 7-Figure Product Line in Her Cleaning BusinessMeet Kate Croukamp, owner of Clean Like a Pro Cleaning Services in Australia, who transformed her parents' small carpet cleaning business into a thriving enterprise.
Kate's cleaning content unexpectedly created a whole new revenue stream, with her cleaning product line hitting seven figures in its first year. In this episode, you'll learn practical strategies for pricing confidently, how they built their product line, and how to create boundaries that attract clients who respect your worth.
Key Takeaways:
Why deposits and upfront payments eliminate no-shows and payment headaches
The perfect team structure for labor-intensive move-out cleans
How to avoid burnout by lim...
2025-04-011h 34Filthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#24: Why I'm Cutting a $56k Service from My Cleaning BusinessAre you trying to offer every cleaning service under the sun? In this solo episode, Stephanie shares why she's officially breaking up with vacation rental cleanings after discovering they represent only 4% of revenue but cause significantly more stress and operational challenges.
Learn why mastering one or two services before expanding is crucial for success, how to recognize when a service isn't aligned with your business model, and why sometimes the best business decision is to say "no" to opportunities that distract from your core strengths.
Key Takeaways:
Why spreading yourself too thin across multiple...
2025-03-2715 minFilthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#23: Stop Making Excuses: How to Overcome Your Mental Barriers to Success with Liz TrotterReady to get a fire lit under you? Liz Trotter shares her journey from managing a struggling dry cleaning business to becoming a successful cleaning company owner, and how mindset was the key difference between failure and thriving.
Liz shares the story of her brother's remarkable transformation from decades of homelessness to becoming a multi-millionaire. Learn the powerful "TIDY" method for handling conflict, and uncover the five daily practices that can completely transform your cleaning business and life.
Key Takeaways:
Why your mindset is the primary bottleneck in your business
How to use past trauma and difficulties as fuel instead of...
2025-03-2549 minFilthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#22: The Cleaning Industry's Dirty Little Secret: Why Your Cleaner's Safety Can't WaitStephanie shares two recent personal encounters that left her feeling unsafe, and connects these experiences to the vulnerable positions cleaning staff face daily—an issue too often ignored in our industry.
From isolated workers in clients' homes to uncomfortable encounters with customers, learn why having a clear safety protocol isn't just a nice-to-have—it's essential. Stephanie breaks down the exact steps Serene Clean takes to protect staff and how to respond when a cleaner signals they're in danger.
Key Takeaways:
How to establish safety protocols that actually protect your team
Why situational awareness training is critical for all cleaners
Step-by-step respon...
2025-03-2030 minFilthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#20: What to Do When Your Revenue Is Down (Hint: Don't Panic)Stephanie rips back the curtain on a financial nightmare that kept her up at night during her cleaning business's slowest month. When her revenue numbers weren't matching expectations, digging into the real reason WHY the numbers were down helped her team solve the problem. In this episode, she shares what to look for when your revenue is down. (It's probably not the reason you thought it would be.)
Key Takeaways:
How to identify when fear is clouding your business judgment
Why tracking call-outs and attendance is crucial for understanding revenue fluctuations
The danger of jumping to solutions before fully understanding th...
2025-03-1342 minFilthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#19: How to Ride the Emotional Rollercoaster of Cleaning Business Ownership with Carolyn ArellanoIn this powerful episode, host Stephanie Pipkin sits down with Carolyn Arellano, owner of Spotless Cleaning and The Cleaning Business Mentor, for a raw conversation about the mental toughness required to build a successful cleaning business.
Learn how Carolyn transformed from an anxiety-ridden college graduate with crushing debt to a thriving entrepreneur, and learn why the right mindset is your most valuable asset when building your cleaning empire. Both owners share vulnerable stories about their early struggles and the lessons that shaped their success.
Key Takeaways:
How to develop business confidence when you're starting with zero experience
Why h...
2025-03-111h 10Filthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#18: Answering Your Burning Questions (Childcare, Drug Testing, Call-Outs & More!)Stephanie answers your most pressing concerns pulled straight from listener comments, social media, and the ZenMaid Mastermind.
From her take on drug testing staff to creative childcare solutions for your team, get practical ideas for handling call-outs in a solo cleaner model, managing hourly rates when estimates go wrong, and building a business that's approaching $1.5 million in annual revenue after nearly 6 years.
Key Takeaways:
How Serene Clean provides childcare support
The right way to handle pricing when cleanings take longer than expected
Why Stephanie doesn't drug test cleaning technicians (and why you might choose differently)
Creative strategies for handling call-outs wi...
2025-03-0633 minFilthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#17: "They ALL Quit in One Day!" How She Rebuilt Her Cleaning Business After a Mass WalkoutWhat happens when your entire cleaning staff quits at once? In this compelling episode, Stephanie interviews Michelle from Sparkling Homes Cleaning, who rebuilt her $50,000/month business from ashes after a mass employee walkout.
Discover how Michelle turned disaster into opportunity by streamlining her hiring process, creating a family-like team culture, and building a thriving business with loyal staff who've stayed for years since the walkout of 2021.
Key Takeaways:
How to rebuild after losing nearly your entire cleaning staff at once
Transforming your hiring process to attract quality "A-player" team members
Creating genuine bonds that turn employees into loyal family
Why cle...
2025-03-041h 01Filthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#16: How to Avoid Legal Nightmares in Your Cleaning BusinessIs your cleaning business one OSHA violation away from financial disaster? In this eye-opening episode, Stephanie reveals why business ownership means constantly defending against threats — including her own company's unexpected legal battle.
Learn the costly insurance gaps many cleaning businesses overlook, why your cleaners' unauthorized product use could trigger $20,000 OSHA fines, and how a surprising discrimination lawsuit targeting cleaning companies could affect you (even if you're doing everything right).
Key Takeaways:
Essential insurance coverage every cleaning business needs (and the gaps most owners miss)
Why proper vehicle insurance documentation from employees is non-negotiable
OSHA compliance requirements for cleaning products that coul...
2025-02-2722 minFilthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#15: Tired of Cleaners Quitting? This Owner Kept Her Staff for 9 YearsWant to know how to build a cleaning team that stays for 6-9 years? Meet Maria Dorian, who grew her Austin cleaning company to 36 staff and 320+ clients before selling it. Now running a successful VA company from Spain, she shares her proven approach to hiring, training, and building an unshakeable company culture.
From her rigorous 191-question training test (requiring 93% to pass) to mastering the art of the working interview, discover battle-tested strategies for building a high-performing cleaning team that sticks around - with three staff members even following her to new ventures.
Key Takeaways:
The PAID UC core values system for...
2025-02-251h 09Filthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#14: The $20,000 Mistake That Taught Me to Trust My Gut in BusinessTired of clients trying to haggle your prices or push your boundaries? In this candid episode, Stephanie shares three recent examples of when and how to stand firm in your cleaning business decisions.
From turning down a $2,000/month client over a suspicious contract demand to learning a $20,000 lesson about saying "no" to accounts outside your service area, discover why protecting your business boundaries is crucial for long-term success.
Key Takeaways:
Why you shouldn't cave to discount demands (even for "guaranteed" contracts)
Red flags to watch for in commercial cleaning contracts
The true cost of...
2025-02-2032 minFilthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#13: Why Libby DeLucien Slowed Down Her $2M Organizing CompanyAfter Hurricane Ian wiped out 400 customers in a single day, Libby DeLucien discovered something unexpected: slowing down was exactly what her business needed. In this candid episode, she shares how losing nearly a quarter of her company led to powerful lessons about sustainable growth and the importance of understanding your business "season."
Get ready for straight talk about rebuilding after disaster, why most companies try to grow too fast, and how to build something that can weather any storm. Whether you're pushing for growth or questioning your next move, this conversation will change how you think about success.
Key Takeaways:
Un...
2025-02-181h 10Filthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#11: Turning a Local Cleaning Business into a National Franchise with Neel ParekhFrom his corporate finance desk, Neel Parekh built a cleaning business on the side, quit his 9-5, scaled it to $2M, and then turned it into a nationwide franchise serving both residential and Airbnb clients across America.
Whether you're stuck in what Neel calls the "$300K-750K death zone" or wondering if franchising is right for you, learn why some cleaning business owners are converting their existing operations into franchise locations - and if you should too.
Key Takeaways:
Building a $2M residential and Airbnb cleaning business
Why some cleaning companies get stuck between $300-750K
Converting existing b...
2025-02-111h 01Filthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#10: Mistakes New Cleaning Business Owners MakeEven excellent cleaning companies fail because of these three common mistakes. In this episode, Stephanie shares the costly errors she sees cleaning business owners make "all the time" - mistakes that force you to work harder and spend more money than necessary to attract clients.
Learn exactly what to do instead, from smarter scheduling strategies to leveraging free cleanings, and discover why Google reviews should be your top priority from day one.
What You'll Learn In This Episode:
How to take control of your scheduling process
The right way to ask about client availability
Why Google reviews beat Facebook reviews
Ho...
2025-02-0623 minFilthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#9: From Rock Bottom to Rising Star: Inside Tenacity Clean with Katrina Johnson & TamekaIn this powerful episode, host Stephanie Pipkin welcomes Katrina Johnson and Tameka from Tenacity Clean for an intimate conversation about building a cleaning empire from the ground up. Their story takes us from bankruptcy to building a thriving cleaning business and coaching academy. Hear their raw insights about losing $180K in accounts, managing partnerships, and maintaining resilience through tough seasons.
Mentioned in this Episode:
Tenacity Academy (https://www.tenacityacademy.com/)
ZenMaid (https://get.zenmaid.com/)
Cleaning For A Reason (https://cleaningforareason.org/)
Upcoming Workshop in Savannah (January 25)
March 29 Operations Workshop (link)
Try ZenMaid free for 14 days!
Rather read than listen? Chec...
2025-02-041h 40Filthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#8: EXPENSIVE Mistakes New Cleaning Business Owners Make (And How to Avoid Them)Initial cleans taking twice as long as expected? No signed agreements in place? Client expectations spiraling out of control?? In this episode, we dive into three critical mistakes that can derail your cleaning business and the exact systems you need to prevent them.
Learn how to calculate clean times, what checklists protect your profit margins, and the essential policies every cleaning business needs. Whether you're just starting out or looking to tighten up your operations, you'll get practical solutions to problems every cleaning business faces.
Key Moments:
[00:00] - Intro
[02:15] - Understanding initial cleans and production rates
[08:46] - Standard scope of wo...
2025-01-3022 minFilthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#7: Building a Multicultural Cleaning Company (+ Airbnb Cleaning Tips) with Vanessa HigginsMeet Vanessa Higgins, who transformed her corporate marketing career into a thriving cleaning company in Atlanta. From building an inclusive company culture to managing a successful Airbnb cleaning division, Vanessa shares practical insights on running a modern cleaning business.
Learn how she creates winning employee incentive programs, manages a multilingual team, and built a sustainable Airbnb cleaning service. Whether you're transitioning from corporate or looking to scale your existing cleaning business, you'll get actionable strategies from someone who's been there.
Key Moments:
[00:00] - Introduction and Atlanta snow story
[02:15] - Transitioning from corporate marketing
[06:42] - Building strong...
2025-01-281h 05Filthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#6: Running a Cleaning Company from 7,000 Miles Away with Chris SchwabMeet 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 Ha...
2025-01-201h 11
Filthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#2: Building a Luxury Home Assistant Business with Simone AngellMeet 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 s...
2025-01-201h 10Filthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#3: The Secret Sauce to Growing from $10K to $40K Monthly RevenueWant 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 m...
2025-01-2019 minFilthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#4: Wild Client Stories and How to Survive the Hard Days with Cheryl HajjarFrom 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 p...
2025-01-201h 08Filthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast#5: Why a Cleaning Business is NOT Passive Income (And That's Okay!)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 tr...
2025-01-2020 min
The ZenMaid PodcastEpisode #49 - Live Q&A: Why hiring part-time cleaners makes sense with Stephanie PipkinIn this episode, Stephanie Pipkin, the owner and founder of Serene Clean, answers your maid service questions LIVE, with topics ranging from training new cleaners to employee hiring to the benefits of bidding commercial clients.
How do I bid commercial accounts? (07:48)
Where and how do I start offering health insurance? (16:37)
When do I hire employees and when can I hire 1099? (29:29)
What tasks do I designate office staff? (42:59)
How do I use ZenMaid booking forms to automate my leads? (57:03)
Mentioned in this episode:
Rescue My Maid Service's cleaner training program: https://rescuemymaidservice.com/cleaning-tech-bootcamp-affidctbzm/
A helpful resource about hiring e...
2024-08-1559 minThe ZenMaid PodcastEpisode #48 - How to Find an SEO Agency for Your Maid ServiceJoin Amar Ghose, CEO of ZenMaid, and Ryan Williams, Head of Demand Generation of ZenMaid, for an in-depth discussion on finding the right search engine optimization (SEO) agency for cleaning businesses. Ryan has worked with many marketing agencies and is glad to share more insights about his experience.
Ryan recently published an article about this in the ZenMaid blog. You can read the full article here: https://www.zenmaid.com/magazine/how-to-hire-maid-service-seo/
In this episode, they talk about:
1. Why cleaning companies should invest in SEO
2. How to find the right SEO agency
3...
2024-04-1523 minThe ZenMaid PodcastEpisode #47 - Success story: How Kate Sloan reinvented her life with the help of ZenMaidIn 2009, Kate was 40, fresh from a divorce, and in desperate need of a way to support herself and her sons. So, she turned to what she knew. “I knew how to clean and take care of people.”
This is Kate Sloan's story of how she founded and grew her cleaning business, Chicka Chicka Broom, from a side hustle for extra cash to a million dollar maid service. Kate shares her story with ZenMaid.
Highlights you don't want to miss:
0:22 - how her story started with a move back to her hom...
2022-03-1027 minThe ZenMaid PodcastEpisode #37 - Proven Hiring Process to Find & Keep Great Cleaning Employees with Liz TrotterPeople don't stay with jobs the way they used to back in the day and according to the newest research, people change jobs approximately every two and a half to three years. So what can you do to find, hire and keep great cleaning employees?
Cleaning industry expert Liz Trotter provides an in-depth look at her hiring process.
In this video she outlines and explains each of these phases in the hiring and onboarding process for a new cleaning employee:
Assessment
Accepting
Affirming
Activation
Acclimation
Accomplishments
Adoption
...
2020-05-161h 06The ZenMaid PodcastEpisode #36 - The Foolproof Framework to Marketing Your Maid Service - with Ginger WhitsonIn this video from the 2019 Maid Summit, Maid Service expert Ginger Whitson explains lifecycle marketing and how you can use it to attract leads and convert sales to retain for your cleaning business.
She will answer all of your questions in this talk, including: where do I start? what's the best way to market? how much should I be spending on marketing?
In this presentation you will learn the 3-Stage framework including:
- how this system will help your Maid Service get great reviews and recurring cleaning clients
- one of the biggest...
2020-05-0950 minThe ZenMaid PodcastEpisode #35 - The Foolproof System to Hire Great Cleaners for Your Maid Service - Pam WashingtonFor those of you who know you need to hire cleaning employees, this video is for you.
In this video, Maid Service and Hiring expert Pam Washington tells you:
- why your excuses about not finding good hires or that you can't charge enough money to hire cleaners is a lie you are telling yourself
- her easy to implement hiring system that you will save you time and money
- why you shouldn't be hiring for skill and what you should be hiring for instead
- all the details you need to...
2020-05-0243 minThe ZenMaid PodcastEpisode #15 - 5 Areas Of Your Cleaning Business Made Easier Today - with Courtney WiselyMaid Service Expert, Courtney Wisely has built a successful Maid Service and has learned a thing or two along the way!
In this talk, she breaks down the things she's learned to help grow a successful business, the mistakes she made along the way and what you can do to make your life easier, today! Courtney is the founder of Rescue My Maid Service and the Chief Strategy Officer at ZenMaid.
Read the blog post at: www.zenmaid.com/magazine/5-areas-of-your-cleaning-business-made-easier-today/
This awesome talk was just one of 44 expert talks shown in the...
2019-12-0600 min