Ron Papke’s journey from addiction and homelessness to building a thriving cleaning restoration business is nothing short of inspiring. With just $2,500 and a few lawn mowers, he laid the foundation for what would grow into a million-dollar company specializing in water restoration, mold remediation, air duct cleaning, and more.

What makes Ron’s success stand out is his mastery of organic marketing—achieving massive growth without relying on hefty advertising budgets.

His company’s leap from $500,000 to its first million in revenue came largely from a simple yet powerful strategy: customer yard signs. By placing signs at every job site and leaving them up until a client objected (which almost never happened), he created an unstoppable local presence.

The proof? His business boasts over 700 Google reviews, while his nearest competitor has just 40.

Beyond marketing, Ron’s business approach is full of game-changing strategies. His innovative “scheduling close” technique shifts the focus from price to value by first asking if customers qualify for special discounts (like first responders, teachers, and veterans) before offering time-sensitive pricing incentives. He also requires a $50 deposit on every job, which not only reduces last-minute cancellations but reinforces his company’s professionalism.

Ron is a firm believer that strong communication skills are key to success—so much so that he recommends every business owner join Toastmasters. Not only does it refine public speaking, but it also serves as a powerful networking tool with management-level professionals. He also leans heavily into video marketing, stating, “People trust videos on a whole other level.” His email campaigns are equally strategic, with segmented messaging that tracks engagement to fine-tune follow-ups.

Perhaps one of Ron’s most impactful business practices is how he nurtures relationships with referral sources. Whether it’s insurance agents or property managers, he keeps his business top of mind through thoughtful, memorable gestures—homemade jerky, bottles of liquor that double as constant reminders of his brand, and seasonal gifts that create natural touchpoints throughout the year.

Want to revolutionize your cleaning business? Connect with Ron on Facebook to learn more about his strategies or join his private group for exclusive insights on building a thriving cleaning empire.

This version keeps the energy high, refines the flow, and makes Ron’s strategies even more compelling.

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It can be crowed when trying to figure out who you are going to learn from

Erica Paynter is the brains behind My Virtual Bookkeeper, a bookkeeping firm for cleaning companies, and the creator of Clean Co. Cash Flow Academy and the Clean Co. Collective. She’s on a mission to help cleaning business owners make sense of their numbers without boring them to tears! Erica’s all about turning messy books into profit-packed powerhouses.

support@myvbk.com

Up your cleaning game, join over 6000 Cleaning Business Owners most of whom are located here in the United States.

Support the show

Questions? Feel free to reach out!

Shannon Miller: cleaningbusinesslife@gmail.com

Join my FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1583362158497744
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIjMz_-9YyiFvNVIgb61iYg

See Shannon's latest courses: www.KleanFreaksUnversity.com

Every cleaning business owner eventually faces the dreaded moment when they must decide whether to keep struggling with a difficult employee or let them go.

This raw, candid conversation dives deep into the realities of employee termination, offering practical wisdom for those agonizing over toxic workplace situations. We have all worked in a toxic environment at one point in our working careers.

We also share the precise warning signs that indicate it's time to part ways with staff members – from the employee who consistently gives "underpaid vibes" complaints to those who damage client relationships through poor communication. The unmistakable red flag?

There is also a reference to Dan Kennedy, ad copy guru, he has a famous saying for when it's time to part ways with a client's that mis behave.

"When you find yourself waking up three mornings in a row thinking about an employee problem. As the saying goes, if they're consuming that much mental space and you're not sleeping together, it's time for them to go."

The cornerstone of successful termination is proper documentation. We walk through exactly what this means: starting with verbal warnings (which you must document in your calendar), followed by written documentation, and finally termination if behaviors don't improve. Without this crucial paper trail, you're vulnerable to unemployment claims that can significantly increase your tax burden.

Beyond the legal considerations, we explore the human elements of termination – conducting the conversation in a public place rather than your home office, ensuring you have a witness present, providing final payment properly documented as "last and final pay," and maintaining the employee's dignity throughout the process. Your approach during these difficult moments not only protects your business legally but preserves your reputation in the community.

Listen for crucial distinctions between handling W-2 employees versus 1099 contractors, state-specific employment laws you must know, and strategies for preventing problem employees from contaminating your entire team culture. Managing staff effectively isn't just about finding great cleaners – it's about creating systems that protect your business when relationships don't work out.

This is not the book that mentions the Dan S Kennedy quote, but it is an interesting topic: https://amzn.to/4ld7Owg or here: https://amzn.to/4iKZp1c

Send us a text

It can be crowed when trying to figure out who you are going to learn from

Erica Paynter is the brains behind My Virtual Bookkeeper, a bookkeeping firm for cleaning companies, and the creator of Clean Co. Cash Flow Academy and the Clean Co. Collective. She’s on a mission to help cleaning business owners make sense of their numbers without boring them to tears! Erica’s all about turning messy books into profit-packed powerhouses.

support@myvbk.com

Up your cleaning game, join over 6000 Cleaning Business Owners most of whom are located here in the United States.

Support the show

Questions? Feel free to reach out!

Shannon Miller: cleaningbusinesslife@gmail.com

Join my FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1583362158497744
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIjMz_-9YyiFvNVIgb61iYg

See Shannon's latest courses: www.KleanFreaksUnversity.com

Why Every Cleaning Business Owner Needs a Virtual Assistant (feat. Sidekick Sarah Baker)

Feeling overwhelmed by your endless to-do list? You’re not alone. In this episode of Cleaning Business Life, we sit down with Sarah "Sidekick Sarah" Baker, a virtual assistant who specializes in helping cleaning business owners reclaim their time and scale their operations.

Sarah pulls back the curtain on what a VA actually does—from handling social media, email marketing, and website updates to tackling administrative tasks that drain your time. She explains why outsourcing non-Income Producing Activities (non-IPAs) is the key to unlocking growth in your business.

Why hire a stateside VA like Sarah? Unlike offshore assistants working opposite hours, Sarah prioritizes real-time communication, cultural understanding, and rock-solid organization. She shares her proven systems—from trusty paper planners to digital workflows—to ensure nothing falls through the cracks.

Wondering what to delegate first? Sarah suggests starting with tasks that always get pushed to the bottom of your list. Many of her clients began with social media management and were amazed at how much more she could take off their plates.

“Hiring a VA isn’t just an expense—it’s an investment in your business growth and mental health.” If you’re ready to stop drowning in admin work and start focusing on revenue-generating activities, this episode is for you!

📌 Connect with Sidekick Sarah:
🔗 Website: https://www.sidekicksarah.com/
🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarah.ganderbaker

🔖 Tags: #CleaningBusiness #VirtualAssistant #SmallBusinessGrowth #Outsourcing #Delegation #CleaningCompanySuccess #WorkSmarterNotHarder #CleaningBusinessLife #SideKickSarah

Send us a text

It can be crowed when trying to figure out who you are going to learn from

Erica Paynter is the brains behind My Virtual Bookkeeper, a bookkeeping firm for cleaning companies, and the creator of Clean Co. Cash Flow Academy and the Clean Co. Collective. She’s on a mission to help cleaning business owners make sense of their numbers without boring them to tears! Erica’s all about turning messy books into profit-packed powerhouses.

support@myvbk.com

Up your cleaning game, join over 6000 Cleaning Business Owners most of whom are located here in the United States.

Support the show

Questions? Feel free to reach out!

Shannon Miller: cleaningbusinesslife@gmail.com

Join my FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1583362158497744
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIjMz_-9YyiFvNVIgb61iYg

See Shannon's latest courses: www.KleanFreaksUnversity.com

🎙 Episode: When Your Cleaning Guarantee Gets Tested—How to Handle Re-cleans Like a Pro

Your cleaning guarantee just got called out—now what?

In this no-nonsense episode of Cleaning Business Life, we dive deep into one of the trickiest situations every cleaning business owner eventually faces: a client invoking your 24 or 48-hour re-clean guarantee.

When your part-time team isn't available to fix the issue quickly, what’s your next move?

We’re pulling back the curtain on the uncomfortable but crucial truth—you’re ultimately responsible for making it right, even if that means grabbing your supplies and handling the re-clean yourself.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• The exact protocol for navigating client complaints and quality concerns.
• How to communicate effectively with both your clients and your cleaning technicians during a service failure.
• Why personally showing up can turn a negative review risk into a customer loyalty win.
• The right way to document and address performance issues with your team—without damaging morale.
• How recleans reveal hidden cracks in your operations and how to use these situations to strengthen your business.

Think it’s too costly to handle recleans personally? We’ll prove why the price of fixing it now is far less than the cost of losing a valued client.

If you’re ready to take ownership, protect your reputation, and build stronger client relationships, this episode is a must-listen.

🎧 Tune in now and learn how your response to problems defines your business more than your service ever will.

#shannonmiller

#jamierunco

#kleanfreaksuniversity

#24hourguarantee

#recleans

Send us a text

It can be crowed when trying to figure out who you are going to learn from

Up your cleaning game, join over 6000 Cleaning Business Owners most of whom are located here in the United States.

Support the show

Questions? Feel free to reach out!

Shannon Miller: cleaningbusinesslife@gmail.com

Join my FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1583362158497744
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIjMz_-9YyiFvNVIgb61iYg

See Shannon's latest courses: www.KleanFreaksUnversity.com

Are you still stuck juggling paper calendars or making endless calls to confirm jobs? It’s time to break free from the chaos and streamline your cleaning business like a true pro. In this episode of Cleaning Business Life, Shannon and Jamie reveal the exact tool that turned their operations into smooth-running machines—and even helped one of them grow by a jaw-dropping 536% in just 12 months!

We're talking about Jobber, the all-in-one scheduling and business management software that’s been a total game-changer. Imagine automating client reminders, optimizing routes, creating polished quotes (with property photos!), managing team schedules, and processing payments—all from one sleek, easy-to-use platform. That’s what Jobber delivers—and then some.

In this episode, you’ll get the inside scoop on how Shannon and Jamie use Jobber daily to cut back their hours while scaling their profits. They break down which features are non-negotiable depending on where you are in your business journey and how to make smart decisions about when to upgrade.

After trying countless other scheduling platforms, they keep coming back to Jobber for one simple reason: it works. The system is reliable, constantly improving, and backed by a customer support team that actually cares about your success.

If you’re serious about growing your cleaning business without burning out, this episode is a must-listen. And when you're ready to make the switch, grab our special affiliate link below for exclusive perks:

👉 [Try it for FREE-https://share.getjobber.com/mzhfwVu] 👈

Ready to reclaim your time, increase your revenue, and impress your clients? Tune in now and discover how Jobber can help you get there faster.

Send us a text

It can be crowed when trying to figure out who you are going to learn from

Erica Paynter is the brains behind My Virtual Bookkeeper, a bookkeeping firm for cleaning companies, and the creator of Clean Co. Cash Flow Academy and the Clean Co. Collective. She’s on a mission to help cleaning business owners make sense of their numbers without boring them to tears! Erica’s all about turning messy books into profit-packed powerhouses.

support@myvbk.com

Up your cleaning game, join over 6000 Cleaning Business Owners most of whom are located here in the United States.

Support the show

Questions? Feel free to reach out!

Shannon Miller: cleaningbusinesslife@gmail.com

Join my FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1583362158497744
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIjMz_-9YyiFvNVIgb61iYg

See Shannon's latest courses: www.KleanFreaksUnversity.com

What if you could harness the power of AI to completely transform your business operations? Join us for an exhilarating conversation with Ricky Funk, a trailblazing entrepreneur whose journey from tech enthusiast to cleaning business mogul showcases the magic of adaptability and forward-thinking.

Ricky's experiences underscore the potential of remote work and the essential nature of networking, providing invaluable insights for anyone looking to break geographical barriers in business. His fascinating story, including the pivotal role of events like the ISSA trade show in shaping his career, is an inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs eager to merge passion with technology.

Expect a deep dive into the rapidly evolving world of coaching and mentoring, where Ricky and I dissect the current landscape, highlighting the intricacies of finding genuine mentorship.

We uncover the innovative methods businesses are adopting, such as remote walkthroughs, to stay ahead in the cleaning industry. With the ever-changing Google algorithms affecting visibility, particularly in rural areas, we discuss strategies to maintain a strong online presence.

Ricky offers his unique insights into managing geographically distant clients, making a compelling case for understanding local logistics as a cornerstone of business success.

Get ready to explore the future with Ricky’s groundbreaking vision of integrating advanced business data platforms with AI technologies. Imagine a world where you can "talk to your business," receiving tailored advice through a platform connecting ChatGPT to your business data. This episode unravels the potential of virtual reality in remote work, the critical importance of correct worker classification, and the exciting possibilities of niche business strategies focused on AI.

Join us as we navigate the exciting intersection of technology, business operations, and networking, delivering insights that could shape the future of your entrepreneurial journey.

Send us a text

It can be crowed when trying to figure out who you are going to learn from

Erica Paynter is the brains behind My Virtual Bookkeeper, a bookkeeping firm for cleaning companies, and the creator of Clean Co. Cash Flow Academy and the Clean Co. Collective. She’s on a mission to help cleaning business owners make sense of their numbers without boring them to tears! Erica’s all about turning messy books into profit-packed powerhouses.

support@myvbk.com

Up your cleaning game, join over 6000 Cleaning Business Owners most of whom are located here in the United States.

Support the show

Questions? Feel free to reach out!

Shannon Miller: cleaningbusinesslife@gmail.com

Join my FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1583362158497744
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIjMz_-9YyiFvNVIgb61iYg

See Shannon's latest courses: www.KleanFreaksUnversity.com

What happens when the software platform running your entire business suddenly crashes and stays down for weeks? For cleaning business owners using Booking Koala, this nightmare scenario became reality in what can only be described as a customer service catastrophe.

We pull back the curtain on this ongoing crisis that has left service-based businesses unable to book clients, process payments, or maintain their websites for over two weeks. The true failure, however, isn't just technical – it's the stunning lack of communication, empathy, and accountability from the company during a critical moment.

The conversation goes beyond just critiquing one platform's mistakes. We explore essential business survival skills including having contingency plans, knowing how to "pivot" when systems fail, and maintaining old-school backup methods that don't rely on technology. Many businesses found themselves completely paralyzed because they had no alternative systems in place – a dangerous vulnerability in our technology-dependent world.

Customer service emerges as the real differentiator between businesses that thrive and those that collapse under pressure. We discuss practical approaches to handling customer complaints, the importance of taking ownership even when problems aren't directly your fault, and why accessibility (yes, having an actual phone number people can call!) still matters tremendously.

This episode serves as both a cautionary tale and a masterclass in crisis management. Whether you're running a cleaning business, a software company, or any service-oriented enterprise, these lessons in transparent communication and customer-first problem solving can mean the difference between weathering a storm or becoming another business failure statistic.

Listen now to ensure your business never falls into these devastating customer service traps!

Join my email list and get a free mini course: https://klean-freaks-university.newzenler.com/f/welcome-to-klean-freaks-university-1

Send us a text

It can be crowed when trying to figure out who you are going to learn from

Up your cleaning game, join over 6000 Cleaning Business Owners most of whom are located here in the United States.

Support the show

Questions? Feel free to reach out!

Shannon Miller: cleaningbusinesslife@gmail.com

Join my FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1583362158497744
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIjMz_-9YyiFvNVIgb61iYg

See Shannon's latest courses: www.KleanFreaksUnversity.com

Note: I misspoke, the victim's name was not released at the time of the recording of this podcast!

If you are a victim of sexual assult, here is a national 800 hotline: https://rainn.org/about-national-sexual-assault-telephone-hotline

Or Call 800-656-4673 (HOPE)

A shocking case from Louisville, Kentucky serves as a critical safety wake-up call for cleaning professionals and service providers everywhere. When a 73-year-old man allegedly assaulted a house cleaner he hired through Nextdoor, posting a $250,000 cash bond after his arrest, we knew this story demanded immediate attention.

Safety protocols aren't just recommendations—they're essential lifelines in an industry where workers regularly enter strangers' homes. Your gut instinct exists for a reason, and that sixth sense deserves your full respect. Those goosebumps, that feeling something's "off"—these are evolutionary protection mechanisms alerting you to potential danger before your conscious mind processes it. People emit energy before harmful actions, and developing sensitivity to these warning signals could save your life.

Practical safety measures must become non-negotiable habits. Implement location-sharing through apps like Life360, establish check-in protocols with trusted contacts, collect comprehensive client information, require signed agreements, and consider payment upfront. For business owners with teams, your responsibility extends to protecting your employees through tracking systems and clear safety guidelines. Remember the power of "no"—you have every right to refuse service to anyone who raises red flags, regardless of potential income loss.

As we track this case through the justice system (with a possible follow-up episode after the March 31st court appearance), let it strengthen your resolve to prioritize safety. The cleaning industry presents unique vulnerabilities, but with proper protocols, awareness, and boundary-setting, you can significantly reduce risks. Your life and wellbeing are worth far more than any cleaning job or client relationship. What safety measures will you implement or strengthen today?

Story of Man who held his house cleaner in container:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3909644/South-Carolina-s-serial-killer-Man-kept-woman-chained-metal-container-killed-boyfriend-shows-cops-TWO-graves-farm-confesses-13-year-old-quadruple-murder.html

https://www.wdrb.com/news/crime-reports/73-year-old-louisville-man-accused-of-raping-woman-hired-to-clean-his-house/article_e75c9e52-5b15-4554-9b2a-c15

Send us a text

It can be crowed when trying to figure out who you are going to learn from

Up your cleaning game, join over 6000 Cleaning Business Owners most of whom are located here in the United States.

Support the show

Questions? Feel free to reach out!

Shannon Miller: cleaningbusinesslife@gmail.com

Join my FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1583362158497744
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIjMz_-9YyiFvNVIgb61iYg

See Shannon's latest courses: www.KleanFreaksUnversity.com