​


It’s 7:56 am and my alarm wakes me up from a peaceful slumber. I roll over to hit the dismiss button excited about getting up and starting my day. I work from home, I am working for myself, and I start working at a time most convenient for me (…as I am no morning person).


​

• 8: 15 am - I start my morning with a date will Mr. Billy Blanks for 20-30 minutes of a kick-ass, heart pumping, taebo workout.
• 8:45 am – I head to the bathroom to wipe my face with a cold rag and sip some ice cold water from my thermal mug.
• 8:55 am – Then ready to be revitalized I make my descension into the kitchen to brew my mandatory, predictable, morning cup of coffee, heavy on the cream and sugar.

​I step foot in my kitchen and notice an innocent piece of paper left on the counter…ok, no problem, I’ll pick it up…
Then I see crumbs on the stove…ok, let me get the 409 and wipe it down…
Finally, I get to the sink and there are at least 4 dishes left in the sink, when I know darn well the kitchen was cleaned when I left the same location only a mere 6 hours prior. WTF!!!

One of the most annoying occurrences that has the power to absolutely send Andrea Moore into a frenzied, high pitched, dissertation about the ills of leaving a dirty kitchen, is LEAVING A DIRTY KITCHEN. Furthermore, what is even more frustrating is when asked to identify the culprit of such actions I am always presented with the same chorus of denials from the same perpetuators. “I didn’t have cereal”, the 15 year old explains. “I told them to clean that mess up before they went to bed”, dad chimes in. “It wasn’t my night”, the little one protests in her defense. And even, “I’m the elder. I been cleaning my whole life. Yall should be cleaning for me”, the old…I mean “elder” one speaks from her fixed position in front of the TV screen. So what happens, mom does it again of course.

For so many primary homemakers (single moms, stay at home wives/husbands, nannies, caregivers, etc.) this scenario can be replayed in their homes over and over again. Moreover, often times the violators don’t see their actions as violations or “big deals” as my family loves to label their transgressions. However, it may not be a big deal to pick up a paper towel off the floor, sweep up a few crumbs, or throw a load of laundry in the machine. However, this means that it’s not a big deal for ANYONE in the house to do those minor things without being asked!

Subsequently, to all the MEN, WOMEN and CHILDREN  out there that may have heard a stream of expletives emit from their primary homemakers lips due to a dirty room, husbands that have that would rather throw clothes beside the hamper than actually in it, and/or guests that are told to “feel at home” but act more as hotel guests, STOP THAT ISH! Unless you are tipping you don’t have no darn maids.

​Nevertheless, I LOVE being a mother and homemaker. Furthermore, if the dishes are dirty before I start cooking there is a 90% chance that I will just start washing them, without saying a word to anyone. However, just because someone does not argue, scream and yell a request doesn’t mean they don’t feel ignored, undervalued and unappreciated. Therefore, if you are guilty of walking past that crumb on the table, see the 3 dirty dishes in the sink and move on, or see your homemaker multi-tasking but still ask “what’s for dinner”, try this step….Do it your damn self!
 
                                                                                                                                  By: Andrea Moore

Well let me start by posing this question, can any company make you rich?? To which my reply would undoubtedly be, Yes! However, since we are specifically discussing the cleaning industry let’s focus on how a cleaning company can make you rich. Moreover, there are many steps to becoming rich that have been suggested by many experts within the business world, to which I have seen some work and some that do not.
Subsequently, here goes my 5 top strategies that I think are good steps to perform if one wishes to become rich within the cleaning industry.

1. Define Your Level Of “Being Rich” – Would you like to make enough money so you will not have to work a second job, or are you trying to increase your part time revenue to supplement your current source of income? Do you want to own a large facilities management firm, or a small, local janitorial company? The idea is that you don’t have to create a fortune 500 company to reach your personal level of success. Everyone is different. Therefore, develop an amount of cleaning revenue that you would like to attain each week. Then strive to reach that goal. As you attain small milestones that may lead to larger victories and more cleaning revenue.
2. Invest in an Effective Cleaning Marketing and Advertising Campaign – The old saying goes “if a tree falls in the woods and no one is there to hear, does it make a sound?”. Well, this stands true for your janitorial company as well. If you have an awesome product or service but no one knows about it, you are just wasting your time. Subsequently, marketing should be your first steps. Start with free business listings, then move on to paid social media ads. On the contrary, if websites, social media posting, flyers, and postcards are not your strong suit hire someone to do it for you. Although marketing and advertising expenses may take up more than 30 – 40% of your annual budget, that investment may contribute to 80 – 90% of your cleaning revenue. Subsequently, the more you invest in quality leads, ads, and traffic to your website the greater potential to make it rich in your cleaning business.
3. Listen to the Experts….the Cleaning Experts That Is  – When I first started my cleaning company I purchased many books on how to start a cleaning company. I paid for websites to send me leads, I purchased a lot of flyers and went door to door passing them out until my feet grew permanent calluses. I spent all of my budget on items that “business” consultants informed me that I should focus. However, this strategy just cost me more time and money and derived very little results. Subsequently, I stopped listening to business experts and started listening to people in the industry. Prior to social media it was harder to talk to actual janitors, cleaning companies and actual cleaners about their best practices and cleaning tips. However, today you can join cleaning groups on Facebook or Twitter, there are meet-up groups for cleaners, and there are even webpages devoted to growing your cleaning revenue. The exchange of ideas from actual cleaners within the industry is invaluable as you can hear from successful janitorial companies, ask questions, and receive critical feedback that can help grow your own company.
4. If You Can See It You Can Achieve It – Before you can be rich you have to see yourself rich. When I first started my cleaning company my husband and I both lost our jobs, we were in risk of losing our home, and we had depleted all of our savings and $8,000 401K. Nevertheless, it never stopped me from dreaming of having my 6 bedroom mansion with my pool and 2-3 car garage. I imagined going to work everyday in my home office, employing several hundred workers at our headquarters, and looking to create other opportunities for low wage workers in the name of ASAC Janitorial services.  Therefore, whenever I went out to speak with companies or just went out in general, I always looked my best. I made sure my clothes were well pressed and my vehicle was clean; basically I tried my best to look at close to 1 million bucks as possible. Even back then I dressed the part of what I wanted, and not what I had. Subsequently, although I am not quite at 500 employees, I have defined and met my level of success often. However, as you reach one level that only encourages you to go after another. Then before you know it you are wealthier and more successful than you ever thought possible!
5. Never Give Up! – You probably won’t be rich quick. I say probably because yes, there are those 1 in 1 million chances that tomorrow you will build a website, attract thousands of customers, and become an overnight success. On the contrary, for the rest of the 99% of entrepreneurs success does not come quick. Warren Buffet attained his wealth in his 50s. Elon Musk discussed being fired from what is now PayPal before starting his own company. Even Colonel Sanders saw his original gas station business deplete overnight due to the invention of the highway. Therefore, I say to you, don’t give up. Maybe you will not become rich overnight, it may take a few years. However, if you can see it, invest in it, and continue to pursue it no matter what, I have every certainty that you will become rich in cleaning!!! 

Written By: Andrea Moore​