In this episode of the Next Level Clean Podcast, Ben shares the origin story of how he accidentally got into window cleaning, started his first business, made a lot of rookie mistakes, and eventually learned why systems, tools, pricing, marketing, and community matter so much.

Join the BluLadder Pro Network:

https://www.skool.com/bluladder-7517/about?ref=0b2199f510a046c7993523587d80bcb2

Ben starts with his early years doing construction work with his dad, flipping storage units during the recession, hanging Christmas lights, and eventually stumbling into window cleaning as a service he could offer year-round.

This episode covers the real, messy beginning: cheap tools, bad towels, callbacks, low pricing, coupon deals, early lead sources, moving to New York, restarting from zero, discovering systems, and learning the value of community.

If you are starting a window cleaning business, pressure washing business, or home service company, this episode is a reminder that you do not need to know everything on day one. But you do need to keep learning, keep improving, and surround yourself with people who can help you avoid unnecessary mistakes.

Topics covered:

• How Ben first got into window cleaning

• Early hustles during the recession

• Christmas lights as a stepping stone into windows

• First jobs and rookie mistakes

• Finding real tools and better supplies

• Learning from Window Cleaning Resource

• Using coupon deals as a lead magnet

• Pricing lessons learned the hard way

• Moving to New York and starting over

• Why CRM systems and business systems matter

• Why community helps business owners grow faster

• What the BluLadder Pro Network is being built to become

Free BluLadder Pro Apps & Business Tools:

https://bluladder.com/pro/apps

Try Jobber — the CRM Ben uses to run BluLadder:

https://go.getjobber.com/bluladder

Window Cleaning Supplies Ben Recommends:

https://windowcleaner.com/BM

If this episode helps you, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another window cleaner or service business owner who is trying to figure things out.

Chapters:

00:00 Origin Story Overview

01:32 Early Hustles And Recession

04:27 Christmas Lights To Windows

06:51 First Jobs And Rookie Mistakes

09:26 Finding Real Tools And Leads

11:59 Coupon Deal Marketing Hack

13:37 Pricing Lessons And Partnerships

14:52 Moving To New York Reset

20:40 Blue Ladder And Systems Mindset

21:54 Why Community Matters

22:46 Inside The Skool Network

26:38 Future Resources And Closing

Most business owners think the answer is to stay busy.

Book more jobs. Work longer hours. Fill every opening on the calendar.

But what if that's actually the thing holding you back?

In this episode of the Next Level Podcast, Ben shares a lesson that was reinforced after a hectic day of losing his truck keys and realizing how little margin he had built into his schedule.

We discuss:

• Why every business needs margin

• How to avoid burnout during busy seasons

• Rain-day scheduling strategies for service businesses

• Building flex days into your calendar

• Creating space for marketing, planning, and growth

• Seasonal business rhythms and annual planning

• Why protecting your time is one of the highest ROI activities you can do

Whether you're a window cleaner, pressure washer, landscaper, contractor, or entrepreneur in any industry, this episode will challenge the idea that staying busy is always a good thing.

The goal isn't to fill every available hour.

The goal is to build a business that gives you the freedom to think, plan, grow, and serve at a higher level.

🔗 Join the BluLadder Pro Network:

https://www.skool.com/bluladder-7517/about?ref=0b2199f510a046c7993523587d80bcb2

Inside you'll find business discussions, planning resources, marketing ideas, free tools, and a community of growth-minded service professionals.

🔗 Free Business Tools:

https://bluladder.com/pro/apps

If you enjoyed the episode, consider subscribing, leaving a review, and sharing it with another business owner who needs a little more margin in their life.

#NextLevelPodcast #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #BusinessGrowth #Leadership #TimeManagement #ServiceBusiness #BluLadder

Yard signs still work—and in this episode, we break down exactly why.

I sat down with Mel from UZ Marketing to talk about how home service businesses can use yard signs to generate consistent leads through smart placement, simple design, and multi-touch marketing.

We also cover a practical QR code referral strategy that can turn one job into multiple customers in the same neighborhood.

If you’re relying only on digital ads, this episode will show you a more controllable, predictable way to grow.

Resources:

Get yard signs here:
https://uzmarketing.com/?afmc=2lq

Start using Jobber:
https://go.getjobber.com/bluladder

What does it take to start a window cleaning business in a new market today?

In this episode, Ben talks with Matt about launching a home service business from scratch — covering sales channels, commercial accounts, water fed pole systems, pricing strategy, and how private equity is reshaping the industry.

Whether you want to stay small, grow a team, or eventually sell, this episode gives you real-world perspective from someone in the trenches.

Episode 3 is for the one-truck operator who’s busy… but still feels capped.
Before you think about hiring, scaling, or adding more trucks, you need systems that make your business run with less friction and less stress—whether you stay solo forever or grow later.

In this episode, Ben breaks down the five core systems a one-truck home service business needs:

• Marketing that reliably brings in new customers (door hangers, EDDM, paid ads, and what to watch out for)
• Onboarding so missed calls don’t become missed revenue (AI answering, call services, and call routing)
• Quoting & scheduling that doesn’t depend on you being available 24/7 (ResponsiBid + Jobber workflows)
• Follow-up & retention so you stop losing money to “out of sight, out of mind”
• Service execution that’s consistent and trainable (communication, routines, and setting expectations)

The goal isn’t “bigger faster.” It’s stronger, healthier, and more peaceful—with systems that hold up when life gets chaotic, seasons change, and demand increases.

Resources mentioned:

• BluLadder Pro portal: https://bluladder.com/pro
• Free tools & apps: https://bluladder.com/pro/apps
• Join the BluLadder Pro Network (Skool): skool.com/bluladder-7517
• Jobber (20% off): https://go.getjobber.com/bluladder
• Call tracking (CallRail): https://partners.callrail.com/f1twk4kv0gu3
• Automated postcards + follow-up (SendJim): https://www.sendjim.io/referral-code1603142547366?grsf=orb4fj

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
  

• Next Level Revenue Growth Planner:
  https://nextlevelgrowthplanner.lovable.app
• SendJim – Targeted Postcards & Automated Follow-Ups:
  https://www.sendjim.io/referral-code1603142547366?grsf=orb4fj

• 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.

Welcome to Episode 001 of the Next Level Clean Podcast—the foundation episode for everything we build from here. This show is for window cleaners, pressure washers, gutter cleaners, and exterior cleaning pros who want more than random hustle… you want a business that can survive, scale, and actually last.

In this first episode, I’m talking about what it really takes to start something new: counting the cost, getting clear on the end goal, building a real plan, and then taking the first step (even if it’s messy).

We also dig into biblical wisdom on planning and patience:

Luke 14:28–30 — “count the cost” before building

Habakkuk 2:2–3 — “write the vision… though it tarry, wait for it”

I also introduce a tool I built for pros: The Next Level Growth Planner (helps you map revenue goals and marketing plans based on real numbers and capacity).

Join the community (Skool):
https://www.skool.com/bluladder-7517/about?ref=0b2199f510a046c7993523587d80bcb2

Next Level Growth Planner (upgraded version available exclusively in Skool group):
https://bluladder.com/pro/apps/revenue-planning

If you’ve got questions or episode ideas you want me to cover, drop them in the comments—future episodes will be shaped by real problems from real operators.

Hashtags
#WindowCleaning #PressureWashing #ExteriorCleaning #SmallBusiness #ServiceBusiness #Entrepreneurship #BusinessSystems #GoalSetting #NextLevelClean #ChristianBusiness