In this first episode of our 3-part series “Simplify Planning & Boost Results,” hosts Mark Anderson, Sharon Cowan, CBSE, and Ed Selkow break down how to create a realistic business plan that helps janitorial companies grow with clarity.

No 50-page plans. No MBA jargon. Just a practical planning framework anyone can use — whether you’re running a $500K or $10M operation.

From goal-setting to budgeting, team capacity to execution, this episode walks you through a simple yet powerful wheel you can use to plan each quarter (and actually stick to it).

💥 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• ✅ The 4 essential questions every owner should ask before planning
• ✅ Why most service companies avoid planning — and how to overcome it
• ✅ A visual framework (The Planning Wheel) you can apply to sales, marketing, ops & more
• ✅ What to track monthly, quarterly, and annually to stay on course
• ✅ Real stories of 7-figure companies winging it (and paying the price)
• ✅ How to apply the K.I.S.S. method (Keep, Improve, Stop, Start) to every area of your business
• ✅ The difference between activity and clarity — and how to bridge the gap

📌 This Episode Is For:

• Janitorial business owners who feel stuck or overwhelmed by planning
• Operators looking for a consistent growth framework
• Leaders preparing for their next quarter or annual reset
• Anyone who wants to grow with less guesswork and more structure

🧭 Episode Breakdown:

 (01:00) – Why most owners avoid planning (and what to do instead)
 (03:00) – Real stories of large companies with zero strategic direction
 (05:30) – How to use simple software or frameworks to plan effectively
 (07:00) – The only 4 questions you need for effective planning
 (09:00) – Intro to the Planning Wheel: sales, marketing, ops, finance
 (11:30) – Why people and money are your two most important resources
 (13:30) – How long it takes to build a plan (it’s not as bad as you think)
 (16:00) – Why your marketing and sales planning MUST come first
 (18:00) – When a walkaround with business cards is actually a plan

🔗 Where to Find Your Hosts

• Sharon Cowan, CBSE – LinkedIn
  • Sharon's Facebook 
  • Sharon's Instagram 
• Mark Anderson – LinkedIn
• Ed Selkow – Janitorial consultant & industry veteran
• CleaningProphets.com – Where this collaboration began
  
  
  

🎙️ About Polishing Profits

 Polishing Profits is hosted by three of the most respected and experienced leaders in the janitorial industry: Mark Anderson, Sharon Cowan, and Ed Selkow.

With over 140 years of combined experience, they’ve built and scaled commercial cleaning companies, coached hundreds of owners, and helped countless teams go from stuck to thriving.

Each episode brings you real stories, real strategies, and practical tools to build a cleaning business that actually works.

Produced by The Profitable Cleaner Network

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