As the owner of a thriving cleaning company, I know firsthand the challenges of managing growth and ensuring we have the right team in place to deliver exceptional service. It’s a constant balancing act – trying to keep up with increasing demand while maintaining the high standards our clients expect.
But let me tell you, that day when you realize you simply can’t do it all on your own anymore? That’s a pivotal moment. It’s a turning point where you have to make some tough decisions and get real about the next steps for your business.
The Solopreneur Trap
I’ve been in your shoes, trying to juggle it all as a one-woman show. At first, it feels manageable – you’re the expert, you know your processes inside out, and you can pretty much do everything yourself. “How hard can it be to add a few more clients? I’ve got this!” you tell yourself.
But soon enough, the workload starts piling up. You’re working around the clock, cutting corners just to keep up, and feeling the strain in every part of your life. That’s the solopreneur trap – you’ve created a complicated job for yourself, and there’s no easy way out.
I remember those exhausting weekends, packing up my van at 6 am, racing to the first job site, then collapsing into bed at 3 am after the last cleanup. Trying to do everything myself – the cleaning, the admin, the marketing, the logistics. I was spread so thin, my business was starting to suffer. Mistakes were happening, clients were getting frustrated, and I was burning out fast.
The Mindset Shift
The turning point for me came when I realized that in order to grow, I had to let go. I had to stop seeing my business as “my baby” that I had to protect and control. I had to shift from being a solopreneur to an entrepreneur.
This was a huge mental hurdle for me. I had to overcome my belief that no one could do the job as well as I could. I had to stop hoarding all the “important” tasks for myself and trust that I could find capable people to take things off my plate.
Once I started envisioning what my business could look like with a real team in place, everything changed. I pictured a thriving 20-person operation, with specialists in every area – a production manager, a warehouse supervisor, a marketing director. I could focus on the high-level strategy and client relationships, while my team handled the day-to-day.
It was a bold, ambitious vision. But it gave me the energy and motivation I needed to start making it a reality.
Laying the Groundwork
The first step was getting out of my garage and into a proper office/warehouse space. I knew I couldn’t keep running the business from my kitchen table and my cramped little shed. I needed room to grow.
Sure, it was a terrifying financial commitment at the time. But signing that 5-year lease was a signal to myself and the world that I was serious about scaling up. No more excuses, no more spinning my wheels. It was time to build something bigger.
Next, I started systematizing everything. I documented our workflows, created training manuals, and built the infrastructure so I could eventually hand off tasks to a team. It was tedious work, but I knew it would pay off down the line.
And then came the scariest part – actually hiring people. I had to overcome my fears of delegating and relinquishing control. What if they didn’t do things exactly the way I liked? What if they made mistakes? What if they just didn’t care as much as I did?
But I pushed past those doubts and started bringing on part-time help, slowly but surely. I outsourced the jobs I knew I wasn’t the best at, like accounting and photography. And I hired casual staff to take over the more mundane tasks – receiving deliveries, packing inventory, even some of the cleaning itself.
It was a gradual process, but each new hire gave me a little more breathing room. Suddenly, I wasn’t the one scrambling to set up every event or answering every client email. My team was taking the load off, freeing me up to focus on growth and strategy.
Scaling Up with Confidence
Fast-forward a few years, and Sage Designs is now a thriving 20-person operation. We produce over 200 events annually, with a rock-solid team handling everything from logistics to floral design. I get to spend my time on the high-level stuff I love – meeting with clients, overseeing creative direction, and plotting our next expansion.
Was it easy? Absolutely not. There were plenty of growing pains and setbacks along the way. I had to learn how to effectively manage a team, delegate tasks, and let go of my perfectionist tendencies. But looking back, I can say with certainty that hiring that first employee was the best decision I ever made for my business.
So if you’re at that crossroads, where the workload is becoming unsustainable and you know you need to bring on more hands, don’t hesitate. Start small if you have to – a part-time cleaner here, a virtual assistant there. But get the ball rolling. Because the sooner you can shift from being a solopreneur to an entrepreneur, the faster your business will be able to reach new heights.
Finding the Right Fit
Of course, hiring the right people is crucial. I’ve definitely had my fair share of trial and error when it comes to building the perfect team.
The key is to look for self-starters who share your passion for delivering exceptional service. They don’t necessarily need extensive cleaning experience – attitude and work ethic are far more important.
I also found it helpful to outline clear roles and responsibilities from the start. That way, everyone knows exactly what’s expected of them, and they can take ownership of their tasks without constantly needing my input.
And don’t be afraid to get creative with compensation. In addition to competitive wages, I offer things like flexible schedules, performance-based bonuses, and opportunities for advancement. This helps me attract and retain top talent in a competitive labor market.
Adam Cleaning has been a great resource for finding reliable, skilled cleaners in my area. Their rigorous screening process and ongoing training programs give me confidence that the people I bring on board will be a perfect fit for my business.
Embracing the Entrepreneurial Mindset
Looking back, I realize that transforming my mindset was the most crucial part of this whole journey. Letting go of the solopreneur mentality and embracing the entrepreneurial approach has unlocked so much potential for my business.
Sure, it was scary at first. Handing off tasks, delegating responsibilities, and trusting my team to get things done without me micromanaging every step. But once I made that mental shift, everything else started falling into place.
Now, I get to focus on the big picture – strategizing about growth, dreaming up new service offerings, and delighting our clients with one-of-a-kind events. And my team? They’re thriving, taking real ownership of their roles and continuously finding ways to improve our operations.
It’s an exhilarating feeling, I have to say. To know that Sage Designs can keep growing and evolving, even when I’m not the one doing the physical work. That’s the power of building an entrepreneurial mindset and assembling the right team to support your vision.
So if you’re at that crossroads in your cleaning business, don’t be afraid to take the leap. Hire that first employee, invest in systems and training, and start envisioning what your company could look like with a talented team behind it. The rewards on the other side are more than worth it.
