424: She Started a Cleaning Business as a Side Hustle, Now It’s a Million Dollar Business
Sep 4, 2024
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Join Jhanilka Hartzog, a podcaster and owner of Founders Cleaning Business University, alongside her husband Anthony, a certified side hustler. They share their inspiring journey of transforming side hustles into a million-dollar cleaning business while tackling over $100K in debt. Discover their innovative marketing strategies, the importance of hiring practices, and how they've helped students achieve $13.5M in sales. They also discuss balancing family life with entrepreneurship and their venture into real estate for financial security.
Jhanilka and her husband successfully paid off $114,000 in debt through diverse side hustles while maintaining their full-time jobs.
Their cleaning business flourished by employing a contractor model that focused on rigorous vetting and relationship-building with cleaning professionals.
The couple transitioned their knowledge into a successful online course, 'Cleaning Business University,' empowering students to generate over $13 million in revenue.
Deep dives
Journey to Financial Freedom
Janilka Hartzog and her husband embarked on their side hustle journey with a clear focus on paying off their substantial debt of $114,000 over 23 months. Inspired by financial advice from podcasts and Dave Ramsey's teachings, they employed a variety of creative side hustles, including renting their cars and caring for pets, while also launching a contractor-based cleaning business. This strategic approach not only alleviated their debt burdens but also set the groundwork for their entrepreneurial aspirations. Their determination to attain financial freedom became the cornerstone of their journey into entrepreneurship.
Building a Successful Cleaning Business
Janilka and her husband founded their cleaning business without doing the actual cleaning themselves, operating under a contractor model that allowed them to scale effectively. They implemented a rigorous vetting process for contractors to ensure quality service, which included interviews, background checks, and training. Initially hesitant, they found great success by leveraging existing cleaning professionals, allowing them to focus on business operations and marketing. This model not only provided them with flexibility but also enabled them to build strong relationships with their contractors, further enhancing their business reputation.
The Power of Marketing and Sales
To establish their cleaning business, Janilka emphasizes the importance of strategic marketing and effective sales techniques. They utilized online platforms and set up a comprehensive website where potential clients could book services easily, complete with transparent pricing information. Their early experiments with marketing, including flyers and online ads, ultimately taught them that consistent lead outreach was essential for growth. They achieved substantial monthly revenues through targeted marketing efforts, showcasing the impact proper promotion can have on a service-based business.
Educational Empowerment Through Courses
Recognizing the knowledge they had gained, Janilka and her husband began offering a course titled 'Cleaning Business University' to teach others how to replicate their business model. This course has empowered thousands of students to become successful entrepreneurs, collectively generating over $13 million in revenue. They designed the course based on their hands-on experiences and insights, catering specifically to individuals seeking to start their own cleaning businesses. The couple's community-driven approach ensures that students receive ongoing support and encouragement, reinforcing the program's effectiveness.
Balancing Entrepreneurial and Personal Life
With the birth of their second child, Janelka has navigated the challenges of balancing her expanding entrepreneurial ventures with family responsibilities. She emphasizes the importance of boundaries in both her personal and professional life to maintain a healthy work-life balance. The couple's experiences shed light on the emotional journey of entrepreneurship, where confidence and risk management play pivotal roles. As they adapt to new phases of life, Janilka plans to focus on personal branding and exploring opportunities for growth, demonstrating the power of adaptability in entrepreneurship.
This week in the guest chair we have Jhanilka Hartzog, podcaster and owner of Founders Cleaning Business University. Together, she and her husband Anthony are certified side hustlers who turned their hustle into a thriving cleaning business—all without cleaning homes themselves.
In this episode she shares:
How she and her husband paid off over $100K of debt by holding multiple side hustles on top of their 9-5s
How they built an online course that has earned her students $13.5M in sales
Where she re-invests her money to continue building financial security for her family
If you’re looking for a community of supportive side hustlers who are all working to take our businesses to the next level, join us here: http://sidehustlepro.co/facebook
