Cleaning business coach

A lot of people have a cleaning business. Not many of them are successful.

Forget the million-dollar promises. Whether you're starting a cleaning business or growing one, let's do it with real, doable steps, built around the life you actually want.

Get the free templatesSee the real path

For everyday cleaning business owners who are growing

Lauren Kern, cleaning business coach and founder of Brightside Cleaning NWA
Lauren KernCleaning business owner & coach

Let's be real

Gurus sell courses on building a million-dollar cleaning business. Most cleaning businesses never hit six figures.

So let's skip the hype and focus on what actually gets you there first: tangible, everyday steps that work for real cleaning businesses.

The real path

Your first six figures, one step at a time.

No secret formula. Just the steps that move a growing cleaning business forward, in the order that actually matters.

  1. 01

    Price for profit

    Know your costs, then set prices that pay you and your team. Underpricing is the fastest road to burnout.

  2. 02

    Build recurring revenue

    Weekly and biweekly clients make your income predictable. Steady beats busy, every time.

  3. 03

    Know your numbers

    Track revenue, labor cost, and profit every week, so you make decisions with confidence instead of guesses.

    Get the free KPI tracker
  4. 04

    Get help with the cleaning

    Bring on your first 1099 subcontractor or W2 employee, so your business doesn't depend on your body holding up.

    1099 or W2?
  5. 05

    Automate the busywork

    Let software handle scheduling, reminders, and payments, so you get your evenings back.

    Try Jobber free for 30 days

Built around your life

Build your business around your life. Not the other way around.

Too many cleaning business owners burn out, physically and emotionally, chasing the industry's standard definition of success: more crews, more revenue, more hours.

But success is personal. Maybe it's picking your kids up from school. Maybe it's never scrubbing another shower. Maybe it's a steady income without the 60-hour weeks.

Decide what you want your life to look like first. Then build the business that supports it.

Who this is for

Everyday cleaning business owners who are growing.

You don't need a million-dollar business to be successful. You need one that pays you well, runs smoothly, and leaves room for your life.

01

Running on empty

You're cleaning all day and answering texts all night. You love your business, but it's wearing you down.

02

Busy, but not profitable

Your calendar is full, but your bank account doesn't show it. You're ready to price and plan with confidence.

03

Ready for help

You're thinking about your first hire, 1099 or W2, and want to do it right without losing quality.

04

Other service owners

Lawn care, organizing, pressure washing. Different service, same goal: a business that fits your life.

Building your team

1099 or W2? There's a right fit for you.

Both models can get you out of the cleaning. They come with different costs, rules, and levels of control. I'll walk you through both.

Model one

1099 subcontractors

Independent cleaners who run their own business and take jobs from yours.

  • Lower overhead, no payroll taxes
  • Easier to start lean and grow as you book
  • Needs a solid subcontractor agreement
  • Less control over how and when the work is done
Model two

W2 employees

A team you hire, train, schedule, and pay through payroll.

  • Full control over training, schedules, and standards
  • Stronger loyalty and a consistent client experience
  • Payroll taxes, workers' comp, and more paperwork
  • Easier to build managers who run things for you

Worker classification rules vary by state. Talk with a CPA or attorney before you choose a model.

Free templates

Start here. Two free templates for your cleaning business.

Pop in your email and you'll get instant access to make your own copy. You'll also get my occasional notes on what's working in my business right now.

Free template · 01No. 1

The subcontractor agreement

Subcontractor agreement template

The starting point I use for bringing on 1099 cleaners, so expectations are clear before the first job.

  • Scope of work, pay, and payment terms
  • Quality standards, re-cleans, and client communication
  • Non-solicitation, insurance, and ending the agreement

A template, not legal advice. Have a local attorney review it for your state.

Free template · 02No. 2

The KPI tracker

KPI tracker template

The numbers I watch every week, so you always know how your business is really doing.

  • Revenue, jobs completed, and average job value
  • Labor cost percentage and profit per job
  • Client retention, re-clean rate, and lead conversion

Automate your business

Let the software do the busywork.

You can't build a business you love if you're chasing payments and texting schedules at 10pm. Jobber takes that off your plate, and with my link you can try it free for 30 days.

The tool I run Brightside on

Jobber

Try it free for 30 days

Start a 30-day free trial with my referral link and set up the same automations I use every day before you pay a thing.

Start your free 30-day trial
  • 01

    Payment on file

    Clients' cards are saved securely, so you never chase a check again.

  • 02

    Auto payments

    Clients are charged automatically after each visit. Paid without lifting a finger.

  • 03

    Automatic scheduling

    Recurring jobs land on your team's calendar on their own, week after week.

  • 04

    Branded estimates

    Polished quotes with your logo that clients can approve online.

  • 05

    Client notes

    Gate codes, pets, and preferences, all in one place for every cleaner.

  • 06

    Reminders and follow-ups

    Visit reminders and follow-ups go out for you, so clients stay in the loop.

Heads up: this is a referral link. If you sign up through it, I may earn a credit from Jobber at no extra cost to you.

What you can expect

Growth that fits your life.

Whether it's a free template, an email, or a course down the road, here's what you'll always get from me.

i.

Your definition of success

We start with your goals, not the industry's. Your business should serve your life.

ii.

Real, tangible steps

Things you can do this week, not someday. Small wins add up to a business that works.

iii.

No guru promises

No million-dollars-in-a-year pitches. Just honest numbers and steady, realistic growth.

iv.

Growth without burnout

Grow without wearing out your body, your family, or your love for the work.

Lauren Kern, founder of Brightside Cleaning NWA

About Lauren

Hi, I'm Lauren. I'm in it with you.

My husband and I got our start at Dairy Queen. At just 19, he became the area's highest-performing general manager. I followed right behind him and worked my way up to assistant manager, then decided to put my skills to work somewhere new.

Together we took what we'd learned to Club Car Wash, then poured all of that experience into a business of our own. It started as Maid by Lauren and has grown into Brightside Cleaning NWA.

  1. Dairy Queen
  2. Club Car Wash
  3. Maid by Lauren
  4. Brightside Cleaning NWA

I'm not a guru. I'm a cleaning business owner sharing what works as I learn it, so your path is a little easier.

Lauren

Follow along

What built Brightside

Branding

A polished brand earns trust before a client ever meets you, and lets you charge what you're worth.

Low overhead

Lean costs keep more profit in the business and make slow months a lot less scary.

Tech savvy

Automations handle scheduling, payments, and follow-ups, so the business doesn't run on memory.

Agile

Small and nimble means we can test, adjust, and fix what isn't working, fast.

2023Founded
95%Recurring revenue from residential clients

From the journal

Real talk, written down.

Practical articles on starting, pricing, and growing a cleaning business that fits your life. See all articles →

Common questions

Growing a cleaning business? Start with these.

Honest answers to the questions cleaning business owners ask most.

Do I need a million-dollar cleaning business to be successful?

No. Most cleaning businesses never reach six figures, so a million isn't the right first goal for most owners. Focus on pricing for profit, building recurring clients, and knowing your numbers. A business that pays you well and fits your life is a successful business.

How do I start a cleaning business?

Start small and legal: pick a business name, register it with your state, get general liability insurance, and set your prices before you book anyone. Then land your first few clients through friends, neighbors, and local Facebook groups. Focus on recurring clients from day one, because steady repeat work is what makes a cleaning business stable.

How much should I charge for house cleaning?

Price from your costs, not from what the cheapest company in town charges. Add up labor, supplies, insurance, software, and the profit you want, then work back to a price per visit. My free KPI tracker helps you see your labor cost and profit per job so you know your prices are working.

How do I avoid burnout as a cleaning business owner?

Decide what you want your life to look like first, then build around it. Price so you don't have to overwork, get help with the physical cleaning sooner than you think, and automate the admin so your evenings are yours. Burnout usually comes from chasing someone else's definition of success.

Should I hire 1099 subcontractors or W2 employees?

Both can work. 1099 subcontractors usually mean lower overhead and an easier start, but less control over how the work is done. W2 employees give you full control over training and standards, with payroll taxes and more paperwork. Classification rules vary by state, so check with a CPA or attorney before you decide.

How do I get my first cleaning clients?

Start with people who already know you, then ask every happy client for a referral and a review. Local Facebook groups, Nextdoor, and a Google Business Profile bring in steady leads. Recurring clients are worth far more than one-time cleans, so offer weekly and biweekly service first.

What software do I need for a cleaning business?

You need one place to quote, schedule, invoice, and get paid. I run my business on Jobber. It saves client payment info, sends branded estimates, schedules recurring jobs, and runs auto payments. You can try it free for 30 days with my referral link.

Notes from the business side

Mindset, motivation, and real tools.

Short, honest emails for cleaning business owners who are growing: tangible steps, mindset shifts, and tools that make it easier. No fluff, no hype.