How to grow a business while hiring reliable employees and managing life as a parent?
I'm a 26 year old entrepreneur, I've owned and operated my residential cleaning company for almost 5 years now. I have learned a lot over the past couple of years and feel like I'm heading in a good direction, but I need to keep steering the company down the right path to true growth. I am a new mom, and will be adopting 2 more children. After having my daughter, I began to let my dream fade, as I didn't have enough fire to keep my dream going and thriving. As we begin to expand more, how do I juggle the rollercoaster of life and trying to stay on the same mindset of having and setting that goals when it feels like things are not really going in the direction I had hoped a year ago? Finding consistent workers who are reliable and willing to work have been somewhat of a struggle, due to the group of people we hire. Most are moms who have children to take care of and it affects their work life a lot, I'm even finding myself in that position. I have always been a more hands on owner who is physically doing the work and solo cleaned in the beginning, so handing over what felt like my "baby" was a hard adjustment, I felt that I micro-managed and it really shot me in the foot. I have a good team of cleaners at the moment, but am needing to hire more reliable cleaners, as well as, book more work. I am afraid of booking work and not having cleaners available. Should I just go for it? Given where I am in life now, I have to be able to focus on the business parts of things rather than the actual work.You down with PPE? Yeah, you know me!
Google AI explains it as "Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) refers to any clothing or equipment worn to minimize exposure to hazards in the workplace and protect the wearer's health and safety. PPE is considered the last line of defense when other controls cannot eliminate or reduce the hazard adequately." I've always viewed personal protective equipment (PPE) as my primary shield for staying safe and healthy on the job. With machinery that can spin at speeds up to 10,000 RPM, it’s essential to prioritize my protection. What about you? What PPE do you typically use in your work? For me, I rely on: Ear protection: Since most of our tools operate at high decibel levels, it’s crucial to safeguard my hearing. I personally prefer foam earplugs over earmuffs for comfort. Eye protection: When handling equipment like line trimmers, mowers, chainsaws, and blowers, debris can go flying everywhere. I want to ensure my eyes stay safe from any potential hazards. Safety boots: I opt for high-rise boots with steel or composite toes and plates to protect my feet. Long pants: These are important for shielding my legs from rocks and other materials that can become projectiles. Sun hat: Keeping my head and shoulders covered helps shield me from the sun's rays while I work. Remember, taking these precautions not only keeps us safe but also helps us enjoy our work without worry! One more important type of PPE—at least in my view—is knowledge! It’s really vital to have as many staff members trained in First Aid as possible.Roll Call! Meet & introduce yourself to other Cleaning and Property Maintenance pros
If you’ve ever thought, “How are other businesses like mine handling this?” you’re in the right place! This space is for Cleaning and Property Maintenance industry pros to connect, compare notes, and talk shop with others who understand the day-to-day realities of running your type of business. 👋 Introduce Yourself Drop a comment and tell us: Your name Business name Industry Years in business Location (City/State/Province) Let us know if you’re joining us for LIVE networking on March 17 (more details below) The more context you share, the better connections you’ll make. 🙌 Pro tip: Search your city or state in the forum to easily find other pros in your area. 📅 Want to connect LIVE? We’re running a pilot to host virtual weekly LIVE Industry Networking starting on March 17, running until April 7. If you’d be interested in joining for the first or following sessions (don’t need to commit to all but you're welcome to join!), make sure to let us know in the comments. 🤝 Culture of this space Think of this forum board like a room full of peers who understand your world. Share what’s working. Ask real questions. Talk through challenges. The goal is to power your success and raise the standard of home service industries together. 💬 Looking for conversation starters? This space works best when conversations are industry-specific and experience-based. You might jump in with something like: “How are other [industry] pros pricing this service right now?” “Is anyone else seeing this shift in their market?” “What’s been working for you when it comes to ____?" 🤔 Why are industries grouped together? We’ve intentionally clustered similar industries to keep conversations active and relevant. These groupings reflect shared business models, operational challenges, and pricing conversations so you can learn from peers who “get it,” even if they’re not in your exact trade. If your question applies to all home service businesses, feel free to post in our broader forum boards. Pro tip: Check out the industry tags to get even more specific Looking forward to seeing this space come to life. 🚀
