Cleaning equipment
Hello we clean homes businesses and farms stalls kennels we clean up after horses goats chickens several different cleaning methods depending on the customer we have a unique need when it comes to cleaning equipment not the typical cleaning equipment our main employee is autistic and we want to expand to hire more people on the spectrum of course we would have to vet completely how would you decide if certain employees can or cannot use specialized cleaning equipment? For the most part rakes But we also need a small back hoe that will only be used by specific people in the business would we be in trouble for discrimination? How would we protected
Personal Phone Number Vs. Business Phone Number?
As I continue growing my cleaning business, I’ve been thinking more about whether it’s better to use my personal phone number or set up a separate business line. Right now, I handle most communication directly, which makes things simple—but I’m starting to see how it can blur boundaries between work and personal life, especially with calls and messages coming in at all hours. I’m curious how others have handled this as they’ve grown. Do you use your personal number for your business, or did you switch to a dedicated business line? If you made the switch, at what point did it feel necessary? Have you noticed a difference in professionalism or client trust with a business number? What systems or apps do you recommend for managing calls, texts, and voicemails efficiently? How do you set boundaries with clients regarding response times or after-hours communication? For those managing a team, how do you handle incoming calls—do you delegate or keep it centralized? I want to make sure I’m building systems that will grow with my business while still staying responsive and professional. Would love to hear what’s worked (and what hasn’t) for you!
The $10,000 Flush: Why Your "Flushable" Wipes are Killing Your Septic System
We see it every week. A homeowner calls us out for a backup, swearing they’ve done everything right. They don't put grease down the drain, they don't use the garbage disposal, and they even use those expensive "septic-safe" additives they found at the big-box store. Then we open the tank. What do we find? A "mat" of flushable wipes that looks like a wet wool sweater and a system that is literally choking to death. At First Turn Grading & Septic, we’re tired of seeing good people waste thousands of dollars because of clever marketing. It’s time to set the record straight. The "Flushable" Lie Manufacturers can call a wipe "flushable" simply because it disappears when you pull the handle. That doesn't mean it breaks down. Unlike toilet paper, which is designed to dissolve in seconds, these wipes are reinforced with plastic or synthetic fibers. In a septic tank, they don't disintegrate. They float, they clog your inlet pipe, and eventually, they make their way into your drain field. Once they’re in the drain field, you aren't looking at a simple pumping job anymore—you're looking at a full system replacement. Stop "Seeding" Your Tank with Junk We’ve heard it all: "Flush a dead mouse," "Add a packet of yeast," or "Use this monthly chemical booster." Here is the truth: Your body provides all the bacteria your septic tank needs. Most additives actually do more harm than good by breaking down solids too much, suspended them in the liquid, and allowing them to flow into your drain field pipes where they cause permanent clogs. The Only Three Things You Should Flush If it isn't one of these three things, it belongs in the trash can: **bleep** Poop Paper (Toilet paper only!) Let’s Settle This in the Comments: We know some of you swear by your additives or "flushable" wipes. Have you ever had a tech tell you your tank was "clean" while using them? Or have you been the victim of a "flushable wipe" backup? Drop a comment below—tell us your worst septic horror story or tell us why we’re wrong about the wipes! We respond to every single one.
Forecasting in Jobber Feels Impossible — What Are Other Companies Doing?
Has anyone figured out a solid way to forecast monthly, quarterly, and yearly revenue inside Jobber? Ever since switching to Jobber, we’ve felt completely in the dark when it comes to forecasting and planning. We base a lot of our company goals around projected monthly, quarterly, and yearly revenue, but the reporting tools seem heavily focused on completed work only — not future scheduled work. We’ve tried: Pulling Visits reports (not very accurate for forecasting revenue) Separating recurring vs one-off work (also not very accurate) Looking through Insights/dashboard reports But we still can’t get a clear picture of: Forecasted revenue Upcoming scheduled revenue Total jobs scheduled for future months/quarters Number of jobs completed vs upcoming How many jobs we’re actually doing each month Ideally, we’d love to see: Revenue projections based on scheduled visits/jobs Monthly/quarterly/yearly forecasting Scheduled vs unscheduled work totals Job counts by month A future-facing reporting dashboard Right now it feels like all the reports only show historical/completed numbers, which makes planning really frustrating. What are other companies doing for forecasting inside Jobber? Are you using a workaround, exporting reports to spreadsheets, integrating with another software, or using a marketplace app? Would really appreciate hearing how others are handling this because we can’t be the only company struggling with this.
Do you know your actual effective hourly rate per client — once travel time is included?
Hi everyone — I'm a developer, not a cleaning business owner, so I'll be upfront about that. I'm doing early research before building anything. I've been spending time in this community and something keeps catching my eye. There are a lot of conversations about pricing, undercharging, and knowing your numbers — but the specific gap I keep noticing is this: Jobber shows you revenue per job, but it doesn't tell you your real effective hourly rate per client once you factor in drive time and how long a job actually ran versus what you quoted. For a residential cleaning business with recurring clients, that seems like it could matter a lot. The client who pays $200 but takes 45 minutes to drive to might look identical in Jobber to a client who pays $180 and is 5 minutes away. My question, specifically for cleaning business owners using Jobber: is this actually a problem you run into? Are you tracking profitability per client in any way right now — spreadsheet, gut feel, something else? And if you're not tracking it, is that because it's genuinely not a priority, or because there's no easy way to do it inside Jobber? Not selling anything — I haven't built anything yet. I'd genuinely love to have a 15-minute conversation with a few people who manage recurring residential clients in Jobber. Happy to share what I learn with anyone who's interested. Drop a comment or DM me.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.
