From Side Gig to Thriving Business: A Journey of Growth and Persistence
Three years ago, I made a pivotal decision that transformed my professional life. I left a stable white-collar position to dedicate myself entirely to a small commercial cleaning business I had started as a side venture. At that time, the business was generating approximately $9,000 per month in recurring revenue. Today, that same business is on track to invoice $138,000 this month, with a steady growth rate of $6,000 to $8,000 per month. I want to share this journey, the lessons learned, and invite questions in the spirit of transparency and learning.
A Humble Beginning
After graduating college in 2014, I entered the corporate world as an analyst. Yet, I quickly found the work unfulfilling and yearned for a more entrepreneurial pursuit. During this time, I explored various business ideas while maintaining my job and frequently engaged with entrepreneurial communities on Reddit. These online discussions fueled my curiosity and inspired me to seek opportunities outside the traditional career path.
Seizing an Opportunity
In 2016, I purchased three small commercial cleaning contracts from an individual looking to exit. The operations were scheduled at night, allowing me to work around my daytime job without conflict. Initially, these contracts grossed about $7,000 per month collectively.
Early Growth and Learning
Between 2016 and 2019, I invested little time into the business, experimenting with various marketing strategiesΓÇömany of which were costly and ineffective. Despite the challenges, I managed to gradually increase monthly revenue by about $2,000, reaching a total of $9,000. This milestone prompted me to leave my corporate role, initially planning to find another job if necessary. However, I committed six months to focus solely on expanding the cleaning business, aiming to see what potential I could unlock.
Scaling Success
Fast forward three years, and the business now offers diverse services including recurring commercial cleaning, carpet cleaning, floor stripping and waxing, window cleaning, and construction site cleanup. Additionally, we resell consumable products to 55 clients across 60 facilities. This expansion has driven our current monthly invoicing to an impressive $138,000, with consistent growth of $6,000 to $8,000 each month.
Keys to Our Achievement
The journey from side gig to thriving enterprise has been rooted in several core principles:
- Exceptional Team Members: Our dedicated employees are
One Comment
This is an inspiring journey demonstrating the power of persistence, strategic thinking, and operational focus. Transitioning from a side gig to a thriving multi-service business within three years is no small feat—and it highlights the importance of reinvesting in your team and expanding service offerings to meet diverse client needs.
A couple of insights that might add value:
1. **Scaling sustainably:** As you’ve expanded, ensuring consistent quality and maintaining client trust are vital. Are you implementing any systems or training protocols to keep service standards high as your team grows?
2. **Leveraging customer relationships:** Reselling consumable products and offering various services shows a keen eye for recurring revenue. Building strong relationships can lead to upselling opportunities and long-term loyalty, which seems to be a key part of your growth.
3. **Digital marketing and branding:** Since your business expanded significantly, have you explored or optimized digital marketing strategies like local SEO, reviews, or referral programs? These can be powerful levers for continued growth in service industries.
Congratulations on your success! Looking forward to hearing more about how you’ve managed operational challenges along the way.