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:

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

"I went from a 5-6 day week solo business making $60K profit to the SAME profit working just 2 days a week." Former GE engineer Ken Carfagno shares the optimization strategies that transformed his cleaning business and allowed him to live the life he really wanted.

 

This episode is packed with practical wisdom on building a cleaning business that actually works for YOU instead of trapping you in a cycle of overwhelm. Learn why Ken abandoned his prestigious engineering career, how he built multiple successful cleaning businesses, and the exact framework he uses to help other cleaning business owners find freedom.

Key Takeaways:

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

"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:

Mentioned in this Episode:

Try ZenMaid free for 14 days!

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

Four 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:

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💻 Try ZenMaid free for 14 days

 

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

From oversharing with staff to launching a service that totally flopped (spoiler: carpet cleaning), Stephanie gets honest about the mistakes that cost her time, money, and peace of mind.

In this solo episode, she breaks down three big business regrets—plus the lessons she’s learned that will save you from making the same missteps.

If you’ve ever felt torn between “staying in your lane” and trying something new, or worried about setting boundaries with clients and staff, this one’s for you.

Key Takeaways:

✔️ Why gossiping (even casually) can backfire in a small business

✔️ The costly mistake of offering a service you’re not equipped to handle

✔️ How a few unpaid invoices changed her payment policy forever

✔️ Why focusing on what’s working beats chasing new ideas

Resources mentioned in this episode:

From 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 more, this episode will light that fire.

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Just 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.

 

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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 you.

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#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:

Mentioned in this Episode:

Try ZenMaid free for 14 days!

Rather read than listen? Check out thehttps://www.zenmaid.com/magazine/filthy-rich-cleaners-podcast-episode-30/

What 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 known for high turnover.

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