From Side Gigs to a Thriving Commercial Cleaning Business: A Three-Year Journey of Growth and Success
Embarking on an entrepreneurial venture can be both exhilarating and challenging, especially when balancing it alongside a full-time career. This is a story of how a small side business transformed into a significant enterprise, demonstrating that with dedication, strategic action, and perseverance, remarkable growth is achievable.
Background and Beginning
After graduating college in 2014, I quickly entered a white-collar analyst role. Despite the stability, I found the monotony stifling and was eager to explore entrepreneurial opportunities. Like many aspiring founders, I sought inspiration through various channels, including active engagement with entrepreneurial communities online.
In 2016, I identified an opportunity to acquire three small commercial cleaning contracts from a seller. The operations for these contracts were scheduled during nighttime hours, allowing me to manage them without disrupting my daytime job. At the time, these contracts generated approximately $7,000 per month collectively.
Early Years and Learning Curve
Initially, from 2016 to 2019, my focus on the business was limited due to other commitments. I experimented with different marketing strategies, often investing more money than necessary, and faced numerous setbacks. Through persistent trial and error, I managed to add a few more clients, gradually increasing monthly revenue by around $2,000, reaching a total of $9,000 per month. This milestone prompted me to resign from my corporate role, planning to seek another corporate position if needed. However, I opted to dedicate six months exclusively to the cleaning business to accelerate its growth.
Growth and Expansion
Over the subsequent three years, the business expanded significantly. Today, it offers a comprehensive range of services, including recurring commercial cleaning, carpet cleaning, floor stripping and waxing, window cleaning, and construction site cleaning. Additionally, we resell consumable products to 55 clients across 60 facilities. This month, our invoicing is projected to reach $138,000, with a consistent growth rate of $6,000 to $8,000 in recurring revenue each month.
Key Factors Contributing to Success
This growth story is rooted in several core principles:
- A Dedicated Team: Our employees are the backbone of our operations, ensuring quality and reliability.
- Proactive Action: Taking deliberate steps rather than hesitating has been crucial.
- Calculated Risks: Embracing risks—many of which did not pan out—helped us learn and adapt.
- Hard Work and Persistence: Continuous effort and resilience have been vital in overcoming obstacles and sustaining growth.
Reflections and Inspirations
As an introvert, I initially felt discouraged from starting a business, often comparing myself to highly extroverted entrepreneurs shared in stories online. I want to highlight that success is not exclusive to extroverts and that introverted founders can thrive by leveraging their unique strengths. Sharing this perspective might inspire others in similar situations to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams.
Recent Developments
Since sharing this journey with communities such as SweatyStartup, where we announced invoicing $112,000 in May 2022, our business has continued to grow. We’ve secured new contracts, including a $21,000/month client and a $6,000/month project, contributing to our current high-volume month of $138,000 in invoicing.
Conclusion
This journey demonstrates that even small side ventures, with dedication and strategic effort, can evolve into substantial, sustainable businesses. Whether operating in the niche of commercial cleaning or any other industry, commitment, resilience, and a willingness to take risks are often the keys to long-term success.
