The Cleaning Journey

Misael Avalos
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

The Cleaning Journey Podcast is the go-to show for cleaning business owners and service entrepreneurs who want to grow, scale, and build freedom. Hosted by Misa Avalos, who built his cleaning company from scratch into a 7-figure business, this podcast shares real stories and proven strategies to help you succeed. Each episode features cleaning industry experts, business owners, and leaders who open up about their biggest wins, struggles, and lessons learned. You'll hear practical advice on: ✅ Hiring and training teams that last ✅ Building systems and processes that scale ✅ Leadership and company culture that retains A-players ✅ Getting more leads, sales, and recurring clients ✅ Understanding your numbers and profits Whether you're just starting your cleaning business or ready to scale past $20K+ months, this podcast gives you the mindset, tools, and inspiration to work on your business, not just in it. Subscribe today and start your journey to a profitable, stress-free cleaning business you can be proud of.

  1. 3d ago

    She Started With Nothing. Now Her Cleaning Company Does $100K+/Month

    Kimberly Zorrilla came to the United States from Venezuela with a background as an attorney, little money, and no English. She started cleaning out of necessity. Today, nearly 10 years later, she has built a cleaning company generating more than $100,000 per month with a team of roughly 30 people—and she's now focused on building the systems, leadership, and infrastructure that can take the company into its next chapter. In this episode of The Cleaning Journey, Misael sits down with Kimberly to talk about what it actually took to build the business from the ground up. They discuss:   • Working 90+ hour weeks in the early years  • Making her first hire just six months into the business  • Creating a culture where cleaning is treated as a real career  • Hiring, training, accountability, and protecting your standards  • The mistakes Kimberly made with finances early on  • Why business owners need to understand what they delegate  • Faith, family, rest, and learning when to stop hustling  • Building systems that can support the next level of growth  • Preparing a company to eventually operate without the owner  • Why the systems that get you to $500K won't necessarily get you to $1M  • Kimberly's advice for anyone starting from zero Kimberly's story is a reminder that building something meaningful takes time. There is no perfect start. There is no shortcut around learning, making mistakes, developing as a leader, and continuing to evolve as the business grows. If you're building a cleaning company—or starting over and wondering whether you can actually do it—this conversation is for you.   Learn More About Kimberly & Kiros Cleaning Experts Follow Kimberly's journey and learn more about Kiros Cleaning Experts: 🌐 kiroscleaningexperts.com 📸 Instagram: @kiroscleaningexperts 📘 Facebook: Kiros Cleaning Experts Subscribe to The Cleaning Journey for more conversations with cleaning business owners, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders who are building businesses that last. If you're serious about building systems that remove you as the bottleneck, you need the right tools. We recommend Jobber to manage scheduling, quoting, invoicing, and client communication all in one place.   Start your 2-week free trial and get 20% off for 6 months here: https://go.getjobber.com/misael For YouTube and Spotify: 🎥Subscribe: @misaavalos For more cleaning tips videos! 📲 Instagram: @cleaningjourney 📲 Instagram: @misa.avalos Jobber: https://go.getjobber.com/misael   🎙️Spotify: The Cleaning Journey Podcast On Spotify 📞1-on-1 Call (45-FREE Minutes to talk about your business, CRAZYY, I know): 👇 https://scheduler.zoom.us/misael-avalos/free-discovery-call   Want to be in the podcast? Please fill out this form, and we will contact you. Your journey matters! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1kSJKn_kbH4JP8i53hpNEP6tQJqeXArlqqvtt1LJgUPQ/edit

  2. Sep 30

    Want to Last in the Cleaning Business? Listen to This.

    What can 46 years in the cleaning industry teach you about building a business that actually lasts? In this episode of The Cleaning Journey, Misa sits down with Kevin Kluth, who started doing janitorial work at just 18 years old in 1980. What began with a few office-cleaning accounts eventually grew into carpet cleaning, specialized rug washing, a team of employees, and more than four decades of lessons about business, leadership, training, and growth. Kevin shares why one of his biggest lessons was learning to stop doing everything himself, how he trained employees to serve clients without him, and why cleaning business owners should build a company that could eventually operate — or even be sold — without depending entirely on the owner. They also get into:   • How Kevin landed his first cleaning accounts through referrals  • Why he transitioned from janitorial work into carpet cleaning  • Why he chose rug washing over restoration work  • The slow-season promotion he's used for more than a decade  • Why hiring a bookkeeper or accountant is worth the money  • How to train technicians you can actually trust  • Why owners who stay on every job need to charge accordingly  • The importance of professional training and certification  • Why social media isn't a replacement for real education  • Building systems that allow the business to run without you  • Creating a company someone would actually want to buy  • Why there are nearly unlimited niches inside the cleaning industry  • What Kevin would tell an owner who's only one or two years into the journey  After more than four decades in the industry, Kevin's message is simple: keep learning, surround yourself with people who are better than you at what they do, build systems, and don't spend your entire career trapped inside the technician role. If you're building a cleaning business and wondering what it takes to stay in the game for the long haul, this episode is for you. Subscribe to The Cleaning Journey for more conversations with cleaning business owners and industry leaders sharing the real lessons behind building, growing, and leading a cleaning company.   #CleaningBusiness #Entrepreneurship #CarpetCleaning #BusinessGrowth #TheCleaningJourney If you're serious about building systems that remove you as the bottleneck, you need the right tools. We recommend Jobber to manage scheduling, quoting, invoicing, and client communication all in one place. Start your 2-week free trial and get 20% off for 6 months here: https://go.getjobber.com/misael   For YouTube and Spotify: 🎥Subscribe: @misaavalos For more cleaning tips videos! 📲 Instagram: @cleaningjourney 📲 Instagram: @misa.avalos Jobber: https://go.getjobber.com/misael   🎙️Spotify: The Cleaning Journey Podcast On Spotify 📞1-on-1 Call (45-FREE Minutes to talk about your business, CRAZYY, I know): 👇 https://scheduler.zoom.us/misael-avalos/free-discovery-call   Want to be in the podcast? Please fill out this form, and we will contact you. Your journey matters! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1kSJKn_kbH4JP8i53hpNEP6tQJqeXArlqqvtt1LJgUPQ/edit

  3. Sep 23

    Stop Selling Cleaning. Start Selling the Value. | Eddie Dauti

    What if your clients stopped seeing cleaning as another expense—and started seeing it as an investment in their business?   In this episode of The Cleaning Journey, Misael sits down with Eddie Dauti, founder and owner of Accurate ProClean, a commercial cleaning and facility maintenance company celebrating 20 years in business.   Before entering the cleaning industry, Eddie worked as an executive chef, where his attention to cleanliness, organization, and detail ultimately opened the door to an entirely new career.   It started when a longtime restaurant customer asked Eddie to clean an office. Eddie initially declined—he had no experience in the cleaning industry—but eventually took the opportunity. One office led to another, referrals started coming in, and Eddie found himself cleaning after long shifts in the kitchen.   In June 2006, he officially founded Accurate ProClean.   Today, Accurate ProClean provides janitorial services, floor care, carpet cleaning, post-construction cleanup, and specialty cleaning for commercial facilities throughout New Jersey, including schools, office buildings, healthcare facilities, and other businesses.   Eddie and Misael dive into what those 20 years have taught him about selling value instead of price, educating customers, maintaining high standards, and building relationships that last.   In this episode: • Why cleaning should be positioned as an investment—not an expense • Eddie's journey from executive chef to cleaning business owner • How to educate clients instead of competing on price • Why going cheap eventually leads to cutting corners • Using demonstrations and before-and-after photos to prove value • How strategic upselling can grow commercial accounts • Why the right product, equipment, and knowledge matter • Knowing when it's better to walk away from a job • How confidence grows through experience and education • The importance of building partnerships instead of being "just another contractor"   Twenty years later, Eddie's philosophy remains simple: do quality work, build strong relationships, and let the results speak for themselves.   Or, as Eddie puts it:   "We don't cut corners. We clean them."   Connect with Accurate ProClean: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/accurateproclean Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/accurateproclean   Subscribe to The Cleaning Journey for more conversations with cleaning business owners and industry leaders about building stronger, more profitable businesses.   #TheCleaningJourney #CleaningBusiness #CommercialCleaning #FacilityMaintenance #Entrepreneurship   If you're serious about building systems that remove you as the bottleneck, you need the right tools. We recommend Jobber to manage scheduling, quoting, invoicing, and client communication all in one place.   Start your 2-week free trial and get 20% off for 6 months here: https://go.getjobber.com/misael   For YouTube and Spotify: 🎥Subscribe: @misaavalos For more cleaning tips videos! 📲 Instagram: @cleaningjourney 📲 Instagram: @misa.avalos Jobber: https://go.getjobber.com/misael   🎙️Spotify: The Cleaning Journey Podcast On Spotify 📞1-on-1 Call (45-FREE Minutes to talk about your business, CRAZYY, I know): 👇 https://scheduler.zoom.us/misael-avalos/free-discovery-call   Want to be in the podcast? Please fill out this form, and we will contact you. Your journey matters! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1kSJKn_kbH4JP8i53hpNEP6tQJqeXArlqqvtt1LJgUPQ/edit

  4. Sep 15

    Sales Is King: How Cleaning Companies Actually Grow

    In Part 2 of our conversation with Greg Sack of Pinch, we shift the focus directly to what it takes to grow and scale a commercial cleaning business. Misa and Greg dig into a question many cleaning business owners eventually face: If you're already great at cleaning, why not just go sell commercial accounts yourself? Greg explains where Pinch can fit into that equation—but the conversation quickly becomes much bigger than Pinch. They talk about the leads cleaning business owners fail to follow up with, why sales can't stop once you're busy, and what separates companies that simply clean from companies that are actually built to grow. In this episode: • Why cleaning companies leave sales opportunities on the table • How consistent follow-up creates commercial opportunities • Why commercial cleaning companies lose good accounts • Why communication is critical to client retention • What Greg looks for before trusting a company with a major account • How subcontracting can become a growth strategy • Why Greg believes "sales is king" • The difference between a business owner and a business operator • Why nobody needs to do the job exactly as well as you • Building processes that allow your team to succeed without you • How to finally get yourself out of the field and focus on growth Greg's message to owners who feel stuck doing everything themselves is simple: if you want a scalable business, eventually the business has to become about the process—not about you. 🎙️ This is Part 2 of Greg Sack's conversation on The Cleaning Journey Podcast. Connect with Greg Sack & Pinch: 🌐 https://www.pinch.cleaning/ 📸 https://www.instagram.com/pinch.cleaning/ 📘 https://www.facebook.com/pinchjob   Subscribe to The Cleaning Journey for more conversations about building, scaling, and leading a successful cleaning business. #TheCleaningJourney #CleaningBusiness #CommercialCleaning #CleaningBusinessOwner #BusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurship If you're serious about building systems that remove you as the bottleneck, you need the right tools. We recommend Jobber to manage scheduling, quoting, invoicing, and client communication all in one place. Start your 2-week free trial and get 20% off for 6 months here: https://go.getjobber.com/misael For YouTube and Spotify: 🎥Subscribe: @misaavalos For more cleaning tips videos! 📲 Instagram: @cleaningjourney 📲 Instagram: @misa.avalos Jobber: https://go.getjobber.com/misael   🎙️Spotify: The Cleaning Journey Podcast On Spotify 📞1-on-1 Call (45-FREE Minutes to talk about your business, CRAZYY, I know): 👇 https://scheduler.zoom.us/misael-avalos/free-discovery-call Want to be in the podcast? Please fill out this form, and we will contact you. Your journey matters! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1kSJKn_kbH4JP8i53hpNEP6tQJqeXArlqqvtt1LJgUPQ/edit

  5. Sep 2

    The Hidden Challenges of Commercial Cleaning | Greg Sack

    Commercial cleaning can be a huge opportunity—but behind the contracts are challenges most cleaning business owners don't see coming. In Part 1 of our conversation with Greg Sack of Pinch, Greg shares how he went from building and selling an international logistics company to FedEx to helping build a technology platform connecting cleaning companies with commercial opportunities across the country. Greg breaks down what Pinch learned after moving from residential cleaning into multifamily, student housing, single-family rental, build-to-rent, and commercial cleaning—and why the transition into commercial work isn't always as simple as winning the contract.   We talk about:   • Why Pinch pivoted from residential to commercial cleaning • The challenges of vendor credentialing and insurance • Why "Net 30" doesn't always mean getting paid in 30 days • What happens when staffing and scheduling fall apart • The importance of before-and-after documentation • How technology can protect cleaning companies from costly disputes • Why communication problems can cost you an account • The role customer success plays in keeping commercial clients • What cleaning companies need to understand before taking on larger opportunities   Greg also shares real stories from multifamily and student housing projects that show just how quickly a profitable cleaning opportunity can turn into an operational headache without the right systems in place.   If you're trying to grow into commercial cleaning—or already managing commercial accounts—this episode offers a look at what happens behind the scenes when you start operating at scale.   Subscribe to The Cleaning Journey for conversations about building, scaling, and leading a successful cleaning business.   #CommercialCleaning #CleaningBusiness #CleaningBusinessOwner #JanitorialBusiness #Entrepreneurship #BusinessGrowth   If you're serious about building systems that remove you as the bottleneck, you need the right tools. We recommend Jobber to manage scheduling, quoting, invoicing, and client communication all in one place.   Start your 2-week free trial and get 20% off for 6 months here: https://go.getjobber.com/misael   For YouTube and Spotify: 🎥Subscribe: @misaavalos For more cleaning tips videos! 📲 Instagram: @cleaningjourney 📲 Instagram: @misa.avalos Jobber: https://go.getjobber.com/misael   🎙️Spotify: The Cleaning Journey Podcast On Spotify 📞1-on-1 Call (45-FREE Minutes to talk about your business, CRAZYY, I know): 👇 https://scheduler.zoom.us/misael-avalos/free-discovery-call   Want to be in the podcast? Please fill out this form, and we will contact you. Your journey matters! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1kSJKn_kbH4JP8i53hpNEP6tQJqeXArlqqvtt1LJgUPQ/edit

  6. Aug 26

    Why Better Training Means Less Turnover & Better Quality

    How do you train cleaning employees in a way that creates consistent results without expecting perfection? In Part 2 of RJ Patel's return to The Cleaning Journey Podcast, RJ and Misael Avalos move beyond individual cleaning techniques and dig into the systems behind building a well-trained cleaning team. RJ shares how his own training process has developed over the years, why training should evolve with employee feedback, and how cleaning business owners can create standards that protect quality without setting their teams up to fail. One of the biggest ideas in this episode is RJ's 92% standard and 8% forgiveness philosophy. Rather than expecting every employee to perform exactly like the owner, cleaning companies need clearly defined standards, realistic expectations, and processes that allow employees to succeed consistently. They also discuss employee turnover, efficiency versus quality, equipment and processes, protecting your company's reputation, and why every cleaner you send into a customer's home represents your brand. And for the cleaning business owner preparing to hire their very first employee, RJ's advice is simple: Train them. If you want to scale your cleaning company, improve quality control, build a stronger team, and create a repeatable employee training system, Part 2 is packed with practical lessons you can apply to your business. 🎙️ This is Part 2 of our conversation with RJ Patel. Be sure to listen to Part 1 for the full discussion on cleaning for health, proper cleaning processes, cross-contamination, and why better employee training starts with teaching the "why." #CleaningBusiness #CleaningBusinessOwner #CleaningTraining #EmployeeTraining #CleaningCompany #CleaningBusinessGrowth #CleaningIndustry #BusinessSystems #TheCleaningJourney

  7. Aug 19

    The #1 Training Mistake Cleaning Business Owners Make | RJ Patel

    What if one of the biggest problems in your cleaning business isn't your employees—but how they're being trained? RJ Patel returns to The Cleaning Journey Podcast for a deep dive into the value of professional training and the difference between simply cleaning for appearance and cleaning for health. In Part 1, RJ and Misael Avalos discuss how cleaning business owners can create stronger standards by teaching employees not only how to clean, but why each process matters. RJ breaks down practical training principles for bathrooms, kitchens, floors, and dust removal while explaining the importance of proper tools, microfiber systems, PPE, product usage, and preventing cross-contamination. They also discuss how detailed training can help cleaning companies reduce risk, protect customers' homes, improve customer retention, strengthen their reputation, and reduce employee frustration and turnover. One of the biggest lessons from this conversation: you can't hold your cleaners accountable to a standard you haven't properly taught them. Instead of being the manager who simply points out mistakes, become the manager who coaches. If you own or manage a residential or commercial cleaning company and want more consistent quality, stronger employees, and systems that can eventually help your business scale, this episode is for you. This is Part 1 of our conversation with RJ Patel. Part 2 continues with building a repeatable training system, setting realistic quality standards, involving your employees in the process, and protecting the reputation of your cleaning business. #CleaningBusiness #CleaningCompany #CleaningBusinessOwner #EmployeeTraining #ResidentialCleaning #CleaningForHealth   If you're serious about building systems that remove you as the bottleneck, you need the right tools. We recommend Jobber to manage scheduling, quoting, invoicing, and client communication all in one place.   Start your 2-week free trial and get 20% off for 6 months here: https://go.getjobber.com/misael   For YouTube and Spotify: 🎥Subscribe: @misaavalos For more cleaning tips videos! 📲 Instagram: @cleaningjourney 📲 Instagram: @misa.avalos Jobber: https://go.getjobber.com/misael   🎙️Spotify: The Cleaning Journey Podcast On Spotify 📞1-on-1 Call (45-FREE Minutes to talk about your business, CRAZYY, I know): 👇 https://scheduler.zoom.us/misael-avalos/free-discovery-call   Want to be in the podcast? Please fill out this form, and we will contact you. Your journey matters! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/10RsS2J2CzQjW8ttbljx2LfebK9sMtmSz9AG0ipMAlx8/edit

  8. Aug 12

    You Can't Scale a Business That Depends on You

    What happens when your cleaning business can't operate without you? In Part 2 of The Cleaning Journey's conversation with Adam Povlitz of Anago Cleaning Systems, Misael and Adam discuss how cleaning business owners can transition from doing everything themselves to building a company powered by systems, processes, delegation, and accountable people. Adam explains why one of the most important steps in scaling a cleaning company is documenting how work gets done. And that doesn't mean creating massive, complicated operating manuals. Sometimes an effective SOP is simply a checklist that defines the steps required to complete a task correctly. When your team understands what needs to happen, who owns it, when it's due, and what completion looks like, you can begin replacing micromanagement with accountability. Adam also shares a simple exercise from his own experience: writing down everything in the business he no longer wanted to do. As that list grew, a pattern emerged. Those responsibilities weren't random—they were beginning to describe a position the company needed. That realization eventually helped Adam identify the need for operational leadership and delegate responsibilities that didn't align with where he could create the most value. Misael and Adam also explore a bigger question every cleaning business owner should consider: What are you actually building? If every customer relationship, operational decision, cleaning job, scheduling issue, and problem depends on the owner, stepping away becomes nearly impossible. It can also make the company significantly less valuable to someone else. Building repeatable systems allows a cleaning company to become something bigger than its founder. In this episode, you'll learn about creating simple SOPs and checklists, identifying what to delegate, deciding what your next hire should look like, setting deadlines and milestones, improving accountability, reducing micromanagement, and building a company capable of operating without constant owner involvement. Adam also discusses why owners can become so consumed by today's problems that they never have enough energy left to solve the underlying issues creating those problems in the first place. As the old janitorial saying goes: you're too busy mopping the floor to turn off the faucet. For cleaning business owners who want to scale, build stronger teams, create more freedom, and ultimately build a more valuable company, Part 2 offers a practical look at what it takes to move from operator to business owner. 🎧 Listen to The Cleaning Journey wherever you get your podcasts. 📺 Watch the full conversation on YouTube. In This Episode Adam and Misael discuss: Building systems that allow a cleaning company to scale Creating SOPs without overcomplicating them Using checklists to define successful outcomes Delegating tasks and responsibilities Identifying your next important hire Escaping the micromanagement trap Creating accountability without constantly checking on employees Setting deadlines, goals, and milestones Working on the business instead of only working in it Building a company that can function without the owner Creating long-term enterprise value Preparing a cleaning business to eventually be sold Leadership and operational lessons from Adam's experience with Anago Cleaning Systems Hosted by Misael Avalos If you're serious about building systems that remove you as the bottleneck, you need the right tools. We recommend Jobber to manage scheduling, quoting, invoicing, and client communication all in one place.   Start your 2-week free trial and get 20% off for 6 months here: https://go.getjobber.com/misael   For YouTube and Spotify: 🎥Subscribe: @misaavalos For more cleaning tips videos! 📲 Instagram: @cleaningjourney 📲 Instagram: @misa.avalos Jobber: https://go.getjobber.com/misael   🎙️Spotify: The Cleaning Journey Podcast On Spotify 📞1-on-1 Call (45-FREE Minutes to talk about your business, CRAZYY, I know): 👇 https://scheduler.zoom.us/misael-avalos/free-discovery-call   Want to be in the podcast? Please fill out this form, and we will contact you. Your journey matters! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/10RsS2J2CzQjW8ttbljx2LfebK9sMtmSz9AG0ipMAlx8/edit

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About

The Cleaning Journey Podcast is the go-to show for cleaning business owners and service entrepreneurs who want to grow, scale, and build freedom. Hosted by Misa Avalos, who built his cleaning company from scratch into a 7-figure business, this podcast shares real stories and proven strategies to help you succeed. Each episode features cleaning industry experts, business owners, and leaders who open up about their biggest wins, struggles, and lessons learned. You'll hear practical advice on: ✅ Hiring and training teams that last ✅ Building systems and processes that scale ✅ Leadership and company culture that retains A-players ✅ Getting more leads, sales, and recurring clients ✅ Understanding your numbers and profits Whether you're just starting your cleaning business or ready to scale past $20K+ months, this podcast gives you the mindset, tools, and inspiration to work on your business, not just in it. Subscribe today and start your journey to a profitable, stress-free cleaning business you can be proud of.

Information

  • Creator
    Misael Avalos
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    51
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025
  • Show Website
    The Cleaning Journey

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