Filthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast

Are you trying to offer every cleaning service under the sun? In this solo episode, Stephanie shares why she's officially breaking up with vacation rental cleanings after discovering they represent only 4% of revenue but cause significantly more stress and operational challenges.
Learn why mastering one or two services before expanding is crucial for success, how to recognize when a service isn't aligned with your business model, and why sometimes the best business decision is to say "no" to opportunities that distract from your core strengths.
Key Takeaways:
Why spreading yourself too thin across multiple services hurts quality and profitability
How to identify when a service isn't worth the administrative burden
The importance of mastering your core services before expanding
Why "getting deeper" with clients doesn't always mean adding more services
How to determine what's truly causing revenue problems in your business
When and how to gracefully cut services that no longer serve your business
Mentioned in this Episode:
ZenMaid's digital checklist feature
Episode with Libby on organization services [LINK]
Episode #2 with Simone Angell on specialized house management [LINK]
Try ZenMaid free for 14 days!
Rather read than listen? Check out the full episode write-up on our blog. [https://www.zenmaid.com/magazine/filthy-rich-cleaners-podcast-episode-24/]

Ready to get a fire lit under you? Liz Trotter shares her journey from managing a struggling dry cleaning business to becoming a successful cleaning company owner, and how mindset was the key difference between failure and thriving.
 
Liz shares the story of her brother's remarkable transformation from decades of homelessness to becoming a multi-millionaire. Learn the powerful "TIDY" method for handling conflict, and uncover the five daily practices that can completely transform your cleaning business and life.
 
Key Takeaways:
Why your mindset is the primary bottleneck in your business
How to use past trauma and difficulties as fuel instead of weight
The four-word formula for defusing any customer conflict
Why price increases rarely get the pushback you fear
Five daily practices for creating business success
The power of celebration in building momentum
Mentioned in this Episode:
ZenMaid Software: Loved by 3,000+ Maid Service Owners
Alex & Layla Hermosy's YouTube: Youtubeyoutube.com/@AlexandLayla
Atomic Habits by James Clear: Jamesclear Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones
Core Profit Builders: Home Core Profit Builders 1
Not Another Cleaning Group: Facebook
Try ZenMaid free for 14 days!Rather read than listen? Check out the full episode write-up on our blog.

Stephanie shares two recent personal encounters that left her feeling unsafe, and connects these experiences to the vulnerable positions cleaning staff face daily—an issue too often ignored in our industry.
 
From isolated workers in clients' homes to uncomfortable encounters with customers, learn why having a clear safety protocol isn't just a nice-to-have—it's essential. Stephanie breaks down the exact steps Serene Clean takes to protect staff and how to respond when a cleaner signals they're in danger.
 
Key Takeaways:
How to establish safety protocols that actually protect your team
Why situational awareness training is critical for all cleaners
Step-by-step response plan for when a cleaner feels unsafe
How to use the new ZenMaid SOS button effectively
Communication tactics to help extract cleaners from dangerous situations
Mentioned in this Episode:
7 Must-Know Cleaner Safety Tips: https://www.zenmaid.com/magazine/cleaning-business-safety-tips/
How to Keep Your Cleaners Safe Video Training: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKNv3RA90aU&t=608s
ZenMaid SOS Button feature: https://get.zenmaid.com/
Staff Safety Reminder template: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yUvXO_ggbvv1L36h2_WsGUQ6Q8agGxJv/view?usp=sharing
 
Try ZenMaid free for 14 days!
Rather read than listen? Check out the full episode write-up on our blog.

Wondering how to get your foot in the door with commercial cleaning clients? Mark Lineberry from My Clean Pivot joins Stephanie to share his journey of growing a commercial cleaning company from $600,000 to $1.8 million in just two years - without websites, emails, or any digital marketing.
 
Mark gets real about cold calling, networking, and how to convince building managers to give you a shot even with zero experience. He also shares embarrassing walk-through mistakes (like insulting a prospect's floor work!) and practical pricing strategies that won't leave you guessing or underbidding.
 
Key Takeaways:
How to target specific niches and position yourself as an expert
Walk-through strategies that turn prospects into clients
Pricing methods for janitorial and specialty floor care services
Hiring and retention tactics that build a reliable team
Smart ways to enter the commercial market without previous experience
 
Mentioned in this Episode:
My Clean Pivot: https://mycleanpivot.com
ISSA Training: https://www.issaonline.com/
CMI Programs: https://learning.issa.com/product_bundles
Mark's free resource hub at mycleanpivot.com/filthy-rich-cleaners
 
Try ZenMaid free for 14 days!
Rather read than listen? Check out the full episode write-up on our blog.

Stephanie rips back the curtain on a financial nightmare that kept her up at night during her cleaning business's slowest month. When her revenue numbers weren't matching expectations, digging into the real reason WHY the numbers were down helped her team solve the problem. In this episode, she shares what to look for when your revenue is down. (It's probably not the reason you thought it would be.)
 
 
Key Takeaways:
How to identify when fear is clouding your business judgment
Why tracking call-outs and attendance is crucial for understanding revenue fluctuations
The danger of jumping to solutions before fully understanding the problem
How to use AI tools as a free "business coach" when you don't have a mentor
Why January and February are typically unprofitable for cleaning businesses
The importance of building financial buffers for seasonal downturns
Mentioned in this Episode:
ZenMaid scheduling software
ZenMaid Mastermind Facebook group
Try ZenMaid free for 14 days: https://get.zenmaid.com/
Rather read than listen? Check out the full episode write-up on our blog.

In this powerful episode, host Stephanie Pipkin sits down with Carolyn Arellano, owner of Spotless Cleaning and The Cleaning Business Mentor, for a raw conversation about the mental toughness required to build a successful cleaning business.
 
Learn how Carolyn transformed from an anxiety-ridden college graduate with crushing debt to a thriving entrepreneur, and learn why the right mindset is your most valuable asset when building your cleaning empire. Both owners share vulnerable stories about their early struggles and the lessons that shaped their success.
Key Takeaways:
How to develop business confidence when you're starting with zero experience
Why having a mentor can save you years of costly mistakes (and how to find the right one)
The emotional rollercoaster of entrepreneurship and how to handle stressful situations
Why your business won't grow if you keep reacting emotionally to every challenge
How to maintain focus when constant distractions are literally part of your job
The importance of persistence when you're tempted to quit
Mentioned in this Episode:
ZenMaid Mastermind Facebook Group
The Cleaning Business Mentor
Spotless Cleaning Service
"Think and Grow Rich" book
Melissa Maker's cleaning business resources
 
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-19/

Stephanie answers your most pressing concerns pulled straight from listener comments, social media, and the ZenMaid Mastermind.
 
From her take on drug testing staff to creative childcare solutions for your team, get practical ideas for handling call-outs in a solo cleaner model, managing hourly rates when estimates go wrong, and building a business that's approaching $1.5 million in annual revenue after nearly 6 years.
 
Key Takeaways:
How Serene Clean provides childcare support
The right way to handle pricing when cleanings take longer than expected
Why Stephanie doesn't drug test cleaning technicians (and why you might choose differently)
Creative strategies for handling call-outs with a solo cleaner model
Budget-friendly alternatives to hiring expensive coaches when you're just starting out
The importance of weekly team meetings for building company culture
Mentioned in this Episode:
ZenMaid Mastermind Facebook Group
ChatGPT
Checker background check service ($12.50 per check)
Department of Justice background checks (Wisconsin, $7 per check)
Cleaning for a Reason program
Try ZenMaid free for 14 days: https://get.zenmaid.com/
Rather read than listen? Check out the full episode write-up on our blog.

What happens when your entire cleaning staff quits at once? In this compelling episode, Stephanie interviews Michelle from Sparkling Homes Cleaning, who rebuilt her $50,000/month business from ashes after a mass employee walkout.
 
Discover how Michelle turned disaster into opportunity by streamlining her hiring process, creating a family-like team culture, and building a thriving business with loyal staff who've stayed for years since the walkout of 2021.
 
Key Takeaways:
 
How to rebuild after losing nearly your entire cleaning staff at once
Transforming your hiring process to attract quality "A-player" team members
Creating genuine bonds that turn employees into loyal family
Why cleaning business "forest fires" can clear the path for stronger growth
Strategic approaches for handling client relationships during staffing crises
Building a workplace culture that inspires long-term loyalty
 
Mentioned in this Episode:
 
Sparkling Homes Cleaning (Minnesota)
ZenMaid Software
 
Try ZenMaid free for 14 days: https://get.zenmaid.com/
Rather read than listen? Check out the full episode write-up on our blog.

Is your cleaning business one OSHA violation away from financial disaster? In this eye-opening episode, Stephanie reveals why business ownership means constantly defending against threats — including her own company's unexpected legal battle.
 
Learn the costly insurance gaps many cleaning businesses overlook, why your cleaners' unauthorized product use could trigger $20,000 OSHA fines, and how a surprising discrimination lawsuit targeting cleaning companies could affect you (even if you're doing everything right).
 
Key Takeaways:
Essential insurance coverage every cleaning business needs (and the gaps most owners miss)
Why proper vehicle insurance documentation from employees is non-negotiable
OSHA compliance requirements for cleaning products that could save you thousands
How job listing wording could lead to discrimination lawsuits (even if you don't discriminate)
Practical steps to protect your business from common legal and financial threats
Mentioned in this Episode:
Safety Data Sheets (SDS) requirements
OSHA compliance for cleaning businesses
Cleaning Business Insurance Guide
ZenMaid Software
Try ZenMaid free for 14 days: https://get.zenmaid.com/
Rather read than listen? Check out the full episode write-up on our blog.

Want to know how to build a cleaning team that stays for 6-9 years? Meet Maria Dorian, who grew her Austin cleaning company to 36 staff and 320+ clients before selling it. Now running a successful VA company from Spain, she shares her proven approach to hiring, training, and building an unshakeable company culture.
 
From her rigorous 191-question training test (requiring 93% to pass) to mastering the art of the working interview, discover battle-tested strategies for building a high-performing cleaning team that sticks around - with three staff members even following her to new ventures.
 
Key Takeaways:
 
The PAID UC core values system for hiring and culture
How her intensive training program filters out unmotivated candidates
Working interview secrets that reveal true character
How to win unemployment claims (she won 16 out of 17!)
Creating a culture so strong, policies develop naturally
Tips for documenting everything properly from day one
 
Mentioned in this Episode:
ZenMaid Software
Task Away VA
The Four Disciplines of Execution (book)
ZenMaid Facebook Mastermind group
Try ZenMaid free for 14 days: https://get.zenmaid.com/
Rather read than listen? Check out the full episode write-up on our blog.