What does it really look like to start a home service business from scratch—especially in a brand-new city?
In this episode of the Next Level Clean Podcast, Ben sits down with Darius (Rinse Exterior Cleaning) to talk through the realities of starting over, learning a new trade, and building momentum when results are slow and discouragement creeps in.
Darius recently moved to a new area and began his journey into gutter and window cleaning—without a truck, without a big budget, and without a built-in customer base. This conversation unpacks the actual struggles early-stage service business owners face, and the long-term thinking required to build something sustainable.
In this episode, we cover:
- Starting a service business without the “perfect setup”
- Transitioning careers later in life
- Gutter cleaning vs. window cleaning as entry points
- Learning the trade while marketing at the same time
- Working for free (strategically) to gain experience and exposure
- Marketing in strict HOA neighborhoods
- Door hangers vs. postcards vs. EDDM
- Why marketing matters more than tools
- Vehicle branding, A-frame signs, and visibility
- Dealing with discouragement when jobs are slow
- Faith, patience, and trusting the process
This episode is especially helpful if:
- You’re just getting started in window cleaning or pressure washing
- You’ve moved to a new market and feel “invisible”
- You’re trying to grow without burning bridges
- You want to build a business the right way, not the loud way
🧠 Tools & Resources Mentioned
- Next Level Revenue Growth Planner:
https://nextlevelgrowthplanner.lovable.app - SendJim – Targeted Postcards & Automated Follow-Ups:
https://www.sendjim.io/referral-code1603142547366?grsf=orb4fj
🤝 Join the Community
- BluLadder Pro (Skool):
https://www.skool.com/bluladder-7517/about?ref=0b2199f510a046c7993523587d80bcb2
If you’re building slow, building thoughtfully, and building for the long haul—this episode is for you.
Clarity beats hustle. Vision beats noise. Consistency beats shortcuts.