Filthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast

In 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? Check out the full episode write-up on our blog.

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 work and checklists

[13:19] - Business guidelines and policies

[17:51] - Employee documentation and protection

[20:12] - Final tips and wrap-up

 

Mentioned in this Episode:

 

ZenMaid for GPS tracking and scheduling: https://get.zenmaid.com/

Sign Request ($8/month for e-signatures): https://signrequest.com/

Cleaning Tech Bootcamp: https://rescuemymaidservice.com/cleaning-tech-bootcamp-affidctbzm/

SereneClean's consulting: 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: https://www.zenmaid.com/magazine/filthy-rich-cleaners-podcast-episode-08/

Meet 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 company culture

[13:19] - Managing multilingual teams

[17:51] - Employee incentives and recognition

[24:30] - Evolving Airbnb cleaning services

[35:15] - Vetting vacation rental clients

[42:20] - Finding and retaining quality employees

Mentioned in this Episode:

Clean Tu Casa

Meetup.com for networking

 

Try ZenMaid free for 14 days: https://get.zenmaid.com/

Rather read than listen? Check out the full episode write-up on our blog.

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:

 

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/

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:

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/

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:

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/

 

Dive into the story of how Cheryl Hajjar Added $75k to Annual Revenue With One Maid Service Tool: https://www.zenmaid.com/magazine/cheryl-hajjar-case-study-zenmaid/

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:

 

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 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:

 

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/

 

Find out how Simone Angell was able to build a six-figure home services business with ZenMaid: https://www.zenmaid.com/magazine/simone-angell-zenmaid-story/

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/