Filthy Rich Cleaners: The Cleaning Business Podcast

Anastasia, owner of Essence of Clean, turned a part-time side gig into a six-figure cleaning business with her husband—despite moving states and starting over more than once. Now based in Washington and working just four days a week, they’ve built a business that gives them freedom, stability, and time with their family.
 
In this coaching session, Anastasia opens up about battling self-doubt, navigating others’ judgment, and preparing to hire her first employees after a previous bad experience. If you're on the fence about hiring or want to hear what it really takes to scale your cleaning business, you’ll want to tune in.
 
Key Takeaways:
How Anastasia and her husband built a business that earns more than his teaching career
The detailed prep work she’s done before hiring her first employees
Strategies for overcoming self-doubt and judgment about cleaning as a profession
Website and marketing adjustments to capture more leads and reduce price shopping
Why starting with individual cleaners may be smarter than jumping straight to teams
 
Mentioned in this Episode:
Google Business Profile
Nextdoor
 
💻 Try ZenMaid free for 14 days
 
Rather read than listen? Visit the full transcript [https://www.zenmaid.com/magazine/live-coaching-call-shes-ready-to-grow-but-hiring-is-holding-her-back/]

Stephanie sits down with Ayman Al-Abdullah, former CEO of AppSumo and executive coach to 7–9 figure founders (including ZenMaid’s own Amar Ghose). They dive into what it takes to evolve from a founder to a true CEO — and how even cleaning business owners can start thinking like executives.
 
You’ll learn how to overcome growth plateaus, why Ayman believes every CEO should aim to be the “laziest” person in the business, and how to finally solve your hiring headaches (without throwing more money at the problem). Plus: what to do when you’re stuck at $1.4M and unsure which direction to scale.
 
Key Takeaways:
The difference between a founder and a CEO — and when you need to switch roles
How Ayman scaled AppSumo from $3M to $84M (starting with a $15/hour intern)
How to solve staffing bottlenecks without burning out
Why your cleaning techs — not your clients — are your real customers
How to avoid “CEO seagull syndrome” and finally stay focused
 
Mentioned in this Episode:
ZenMaid Software
ZenMaid Facebook Mastermind group
Ayman on Twitter (X)
 
Try ZenMaid free for 14 days
 
Rather read than listen? Check out the full episode write-up on our blog.

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:
Why one off-brand choice can tank 364 great ones
How inconsistency shows up in ways you might not notice
The checklist of things clients remember — and talk about
Real talk on tattoos, topless cleaners, and tabling events
How to make your brand “spectacular” in your city
Mentioned in this Episode:
ZenMaid Software
ZenMaid Facebook Mastermind group
Try ZenMaid free for 14 days
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:
The four business fundamentals every cleaning company owner needs to master
How Ken optimized his solo cleaning business to work just 2 days per week while maintaining profits
Why "knowing your numbers" is critical
The truth about commercial vs. residential cleaning: which is harder to get and easier to keep
How to price your services to attract high-value clients and increase perceived value
Mentioned in this Episode:
The Go-Giver (book by Bob Burg)
Smart Cleaning School podcast
E-Myth Revisited (book by Michael Gerber)
Josh Melton (Six Figure Cleaner)
Try ZenMaid free for 14 days!
 
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:
Why you might cry after your first hire (and why you shouldn't give up)
The dangers of becoming "friends" with your employees instead of their leader
How to handle staff who want to test boundaries (including outrageous requests)
Why group interviews are essential for new cleaning business owners
The mindset shift needed to grow beyond being a solo cleaner
Mentioned in this Episode:
ZenMaid Software
ZenMaid Facebook Mastermind group
ChatGPT
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:
Why using your personality as your brand is crucial for new cleaning businesses
How to price residential and commercial cleanings correctly (and why most new owners charge too little)
Strategies for handling difficult employee situations
When to avoid certain types of commercial clients (like dentist offices)
Effective marketing ideas for small cleaning companies with limited budgets
Mentioned in this Episode:
ZenMaid Software
Google Local Service Ads (LSA)
Fiverr
2.0 Cleaning Instagram
2.0 Cleaning Facebook
💻 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:
ZenMaid Software
Alex & Leila Hormozi
Facebook Marketplace
eBay
Stripe
Square
QuickBooks

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.
 
Key Takeaways:
How Brenna built a thriving business by accident during the pandemic
The do’s and don’ts of cleaning for vacation rental companies
How to set healthy boundaries with clients (even when they ask you to fish things out of a lake)
What it looks like to hire and lead with empathy
How giving back — locally and globally — can become part of your business model
Why shame has no place in the homes we clean
 
Mentioned in this Episode:
Busy Bees Cleaning Co. (Nashville, TN)
ZenMaid Software
Cleaning for a Reason
Kalos Dwellings
Try ZenMaid free for 14 days

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.
 
Key Takeaways:
What “opportunity cost” really means for your cleaning business
The invisible costs of hanging onto the wrong clients
How to know when it’s time to drop an account
Why nice people can still be bad clients
How to weigh short-term discomfort against long-term growth
The difference between an ideal client and a tolerable one
Mentioned in this Episode:
ZenMaid Software
Serene Clean
Try ZenMaid free for 14 days

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.
 
Key Takeaways:
How Helen used real estate investing skills to fast-track her cleaning business
Why BNI groups can be a lead generation goldmine
The pros and cons of using independent contractors vs. W2 employees
What most new owners get wrong about pricing — and how to fix it
Why client communication (even over video!) builds customer loyalty
When it’s time to raise prices — and how to do it without losing sleep
 
Mentioned in this Episode:
ZenMaid Software
Google Local Service Ads
BNI (Business Network International)
Cool Peaches Cleaning
Try ZenMaid free for 14 days