Cleaning Business Life

Hosted by Shannon Miller & Jamie Runco

Business Entrepreneurship EducationInterviews guests

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Episodes

248

Latest episode

Oct 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Cleaning Business Life is the podcast for cleaning business owners who want to build a profitable company without sacrificing their entire life to do it. Hosted by industry leaders Shannon Miller and Jamie Runco, the show brings real-world conversations about pricing, hiring, leadership, systems, boundaries, profitability, and sustainable growth. With more than 240 episodes rooted in actual cleaning-industry experience, you’ll hear the lessons, mistakes, hard decisions, and strategies that business owners rarely talk about publicly. Whether you’re starting your cleaning company, stuck inside the daily operations, or ready to grow into the CEO role, you’ll find honest guidance to help you charge more, earn more, and stress less. No hype. No surface-level advice. Just real cleaning-business conversations from women who have built the businesses themselves. Want more help building a profitable cleaning business? Join Shannon’s email list for practical strategies, resources, and program updates: https://klean-freaks-university.newzenler.com/f/welcome-to-klean-freaks-university-1 Want to get a hold of us? Please email us at cleaningbusinesslife@gmail.com

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60 recent

October 23, 202621 min

LIVE REPLAY | What Does It Really Cost to Get a Cleaning Client?

This podcast is powered by Klean Freaks University.com — where real cleaners build real empires. From mop buckets to million-dollar systems, we teach you how to clean smarter, lead stronger, and scale faster. Your phone is ringing and quotes are going out—but how many inquiries are turning into paying cleaning clients? In this Facebook Live replay, we talk about client acquisition costs and why you need to track the money and time it takes to bring someone onto your schedule. We cover: • Asking every lead how they heard about your business • Tracking which marketing sources produce bookings • Responding quickly to quote requests • Following up instead of sending a price and hoping • Asking for the sale without immediately offering a discount • Encouraging reviews and rewarding referrals • Turning one-time cleanings into recurring service I also share personal experiences from our community cleaning efforts and talk about setting goals for the fourth quarter and 2027. Whether you work solo or manage a team, understanding how you get clients helps you make better decisions about where to spend your time and money. Join The Business of Cleaning Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/themaidsnetwork APPLY FOR THE SCHOLARSHIP HERE: https://kleanfreaksuniversity.com/scholarship/ Recorded live October 7, 2026. Support the show Thanks for tuning in to Cleaning Business Life — the podcast for cleaning business owners who want to build a profitable, sustainable company without burning out . Hosted by Shannon Miller and Jamie Runco, each episode pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to start, grow, and scale a cleaning business — covering pricing, systems, leadership, boundaries, and the real conversations most people avoid. 🎧 New episodes 2x weekly 📚 Resources, show notes, and programs: https://kleanfreaksuniversity.com Because in life — and in business — clean is just the beginning. — Shannon & Jamie

October 22, 202620 min

LIVE REPLAY | Is Your Cleaning Tech Ready to Work Solo? 3 Things to Check

This podcast is powered by Klean Freaks University.com — where real cleaners build real empires. From mop buckets to million-dollar systems, we teach you how to clean smarter, lead stronger, and scale faster. Following another cleaner around for a few days doesn’t automatically mean your new hire is ready to work alone. In this Facebook Live replay, we talk about how to assess whether your cleaning tech can deliver consistent results without someone guiding every step—and what can happen when you send them out before they’re ready. I share three things to check before handing over that responsibility: • Can they complete the cleaning without constant reminders? • Can they inspect their own work and catch what they missed? • Do they know when to stop and contact the office? We also discuss training checklists, final walkthroughs, communicating with clients about training in their homes, and handling complaints when a new cleaner misses the mark. Plus, we cover how to teach your team to respond when a client asks for “just one more thing”—like cleaning the refrigerator—without agreeing to extra work for free. I also celebrate the first Cleaning Business Life episode passing 5,000 downloads and share updates on the Structure, Scale, and Profit Cleaning Business Academy scholarship and my upcoming in-person Train the Trainer event. What tells you a cleaning tech is ready to work independently? Join the conversation inside The Business of Cleaning Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/themaidsnetwork APPLY FOR THE SCHOLARSHIP HERE: https://kleanfreaksuniversity.com/scholarship/ Recorded live October 21, 2026. Support the show Thanks for tuning in to Cleaning Business Life — the podcast for cleaning business owners who want to build a profitable, sustainable company without burning out . Hosted by Shannon Miller and Jamie Runco, each episode pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to start, grow, and scale a cleaning business — covering pricing, systems, leadership, boundaries, and the real conversations most people avoid. 🎧 New episodes 2x weekly 📚 Resources, show notes, and programs: https://kleanfreaksuniversity.com Because in life — and in business — clean is just the beginning. — Shannon & Jamie

October 22, 202631 min

Cleaning Business Q&A: Cancellations, Marketing & Team Burnout | Live Replay

This podcast is powered by Klean Freaks University.com — where real cleaners build real empires. From mop buckets to million-dollar systems, we teach you how to clean smarter, lead stronger, and scale faster. What’s the one thing in your cleaning business you keep letting slide? In this replay of my October 14 Facebook Live, I admit one of mine: following up on commercial cleaning quotes. From there, we get into your questions about marketing, last-minute cancellations, and cleaning teams that are stretched too thin. We discuss why consistent marketing matters, how to use AI while keeping your own voice, and why having a cancellation policy only helps when you actually enforce it. We also talk about team workloads, solo cleaners versus teams, and how pay, scheduling, and company culture can affect whether people want to stay. If you’ve ever said, “I just want to do the job and get paid,” this conversation is for you. Plus, I share updates on the Structure, Scale, and Profit Cleaning Business Academy scholarship and plans for an in-person Train the Trainer event. Join The Business of Cleaning Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/themaidsnetwork APPLY FOR THE SCHOLARSHIP HERE: https://kleanfreaksuniversity.com/scholarship/ Enjoyed this conversation? Follow Cleaning Business Life and share this episode with another cleaning business owner. Recorded live October 14, 2026. Scholarship and event announcements reflect information shared on that date. Support the show Thanks for tuning in to Cleaning Business Life — the podcast for cleaning business owners who want to build a profitable, sustainable company without burning out . Hosted by Shannon Miller and Jamie Runco, each episode pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to start, grow, and scale a cleaning business — covering pricing, systems, leadership, boundaries, and the real conversations most people avoid. 🎧 New episodes 2x weekly 📚 Resources, show notes, and programs: https://kleanfreaksuniversity.com Because in life — and in business — clean is just the beginning. — Shannon & Jamie

October 21, 2026Episode 23753 min

EP 237 | Five-Star Results Require a Five-Star Operation

This podcast is powered by Klean Freaks University.com — where real cleaners build real empires. From mop buckets to million-dollar systems, we teach you how to clean smarter, lead stronger, and scale faster. Your clients expect five-star results. But is your cleaning business set up to deliver them consistently? In this episode, I’m looking at what happens behind the scenes: pricing, scheduling, training, equipment, communication, and the experience you create for both your clients and your team. Then I’ll walk you through a five-star audit to help you decide what needs attention first. Want more real talk and practical help for your cleaning business? Join the Klean Freaks University email list: https://klean-freaks-university.newzenler.com/f/welcome-to-klean-freaks-university-1 Support the show Thanks for tuning in to Cleaning Business Life — the podcast for cleaning business owners who want to build a profitable, sustainable company without burning out . Hosted by Shannon Miller and Jamie Runco, each episode pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to start, grow, and scale a cleaning business — covering pricing, systems, leadership, boundaries, and the real conversations most people avoid. 🎧 New episodes 2x weekly 📚 Resources, show notes, and programs: https://kleanfreaksuniversity.com Because in life — and in business — clean is just the beginning. — Shannon & Jamie

October 17, 2026Episode 23622 min

EP 236 | I Think It Walked Right Through Me: The Haunted History of Gurley Street Grill

This podcast is powered by Klean Freaks University.com — where real cleaners build real empires. From mop buckets to million-dollar systems, we teach you how to clean smarter, lead stronger, and scale faster. Something happened to me upstairs at the historic Gurley Street Grill in downtown Prescott, Arizona—and I have never forgotten how it felt. While helping with a catered event in the upstairs kitchen and bar area, equipment seemed to turn on by itself, objects were not where I remembered leaving them, and I felt what seemed like a person walk directly through my body. It wasn’t my only strange experience there. The upstairs bathroom has always carried an unsettling feeling, and on one occasion, the water turned on without me touching the faucet. In this haunted-history episode of Cleaning Business Life, we explore: • The history of the Mulvenon Building • The Great Prescott Fire of 1900 • The charred bricks reportedly reused during reconstruction • The upstairs rooms once rented “by the hour or by the day” • The local legend that the building once housed a brothel • My personal experiences inside the upstairs rooms • Why cleaners may notice things in buildings that other people miss I cannot prove that the Gurley Street Grill is haunted—or that its upstairs rooms officially operated as a brothel. But I can tell you what happened to me. And I still wonder: Did everyone who entered those upstairs rooms eventually leave? If you have experienced something you could not explain while cleaning a home or business, share your story in the comments. Subscribe to Cleaning Business Life for more haunted Prescott history, real cleaning-business stories, and practical conversations about building a business—and a life—you actually want to participate in. #GurleyStreetGrill #HauntedPrescott #PrescottArizona #GhostStories #HauntedHistory #CleaningBusinessLife Support the show Thanks for tuning in to Cleaning Business Life — the podcast for cleaning business owners who want to build a profitable, sustainable company without burning out . Hosted by Shannon Miller and Jamie Runco, each episode pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to start, grow, and scale a cleaning business — covering pricing, systems, leadership, boundaries, and the real conversations most people avoid. 🎧 New episodes 2x weekly 📚 Resources, show notes, and programs: https://kleanfreaksuniversity.com Because in life — and in business — clean is just the beginning. — Shannon & Jamie

October 14, 2026Episode 23536 min

EP 235 | Would You Like Fries With That? Why Cleaning Companies Need to Start Asking for the Add-On

This podcast is powered by Klean Freaks University.com — where real cleaners build real empires. From mop buckets to million-dollar systems, we teach you how to clean smarter, lead stronger, and scale faster. Cleaning companies love to say they offer add-on services—but are you actually asking customers to buy them? In this episode of Cleaning Business Life, Shannon breaks down the difference between passively listing add-ons and actively incorporating them into your sales process. From ovens, refrigerators, windows, and baseboards to laundry, organization, pantry cleaning, and seasonal services, add-ons can give customers better options while creating higher-ticket, more profitable appointments. You’ll learn: • How to build add-ons into your sales process • Why your existing clients are a valuable revenue asset • How solo cleaners and larger teams can offer upgrades • When to complete an add-on immediately—or schedule it later • How to incentivize cleaning technicians without pressuring customers • Why add-ons must be priced for labor, overhead, and profit • How to increase revenue without constantly acquiring new clients Your customers cannot purchase services they don’t know about. Stop waiting for them to ask—and start asking, “Would you like fries with that?” Ready to better understand your pricing and profit? Get the Pricing Blueprint Masterclass here: https://klean-freaks-university.newzenler.com/courses/pricing-blue-print-master-class/buy Support the show Thanks for tuning in to Cleaning Business Life — the podcast for cleaning business owners who want to build a profitable, sustainable company without burning out . Hosted by Shannon Miller and Jamie Runco, each episode pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to start, grow, and scale a cleaning business — covering pricing, systems, leadership, boundaries, and the real conversations most people avoid. 🎧 New episodes 2x weekly 📚 Resources, show notes, and programs: https://kleanfreaksuniversity.com Because in life — and in business — clean is just the beginning. — Shannon & Jamie

October 10, 202645 min

EP 234 | Shiny Object Syndrome Is Killing Your Cleaning Business

This podcast is powered by Klean Freaks University.com — where real cleaners build real empires. From mop buckets to million-dollar systems, we teach you how to clean smarter, lead stronger, and scale faster. Shiny object syndrome may be quietly keeping your cleaning business from growing. A new course, software program, service, marketing strategy, or “million-dollar idea” can feel exciting—but constantly changing direction often leaves you with unfinished projects, wasted money, and very little measurable progress. In this episode, Shannon and Jamie discuss how cleaning business owners can recognize the difference between a genuine opportunity and another distraction. They also explore why new ideas feel more exciting than finishing what you’ve already started, when it makes sense to pivot, and why focus and consistency are essential for long-term growth. You probably don’t need another brilliant idea. You may simply need to finish what you started and give your current strategy enough time to work. Support the show Thanks for tuning in to Cleaning Business Life — the podcast for cleaning business owners who want to build a profitable, sustainable company without burning out . Hosted by Shannon Miller and Jamie Runco, each episode pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to start, grow, and scale a cleaning business — covering pricing, systems, leadership, boundaries, and the real conversations most people avoid. 🎧 New episodes 2x weekly 📚 Resources, show notes, and programs: https://kleanfreaksuniversity.com Because in life — and in business — clean is just the beginning. — Shannon & Jamie

October 7, 202656 min

EP 233 | Business Is Hard—Build One That Can Handle It

This podcast is powered by Klean Freaks University.com — where real cleaners build real empires. From mop buckets to million-dollar systems, we teach you how to clean smarter, lead stronger, and scale faster. Being a cleaning business owner is hard—but the kind of hard changes as your business grows. In this episode, Shannon and Jamie have an honest conversation about the difficult decisions, uncomfortable conversations, financial pressure, staffing problems, and personal responsibility that come with building a cleaning company. They discuss transitioning out of the field, hiring and managing employees, protecting your cash flow, setting boundaries, creating policies from painful lessons, and learning not to treat every uncomfortable situation like an emergency. The goal isn’t to create a business where nothing hard ever happens. The goal is to build one that doesn’t collapse every time something hard happens. The problems may not disappear, but with stronger systems, better boundaries, and experience, you become the business owner who knows how to handle them. Support the show Thanks for tuning in to Cleaning Business Life — the podcast for cleaning business owners who want to build a profitable, sustainable company without burning out . Hosted by Shannon Miller and Jamie Runco, each episode pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to start, grow, and scale a cleaning business — covering pricing, systems, leadership, boundaries, and the real conversations most people avoid. 🎧 New episodes 2x weekly 📚 Resources, show notes, and programs: https://kleanfreaksuniversity.com Because in life — and in business — clean is just the beginning. — Shannon & Jamie

October 3, 202619 min

EP. 232 | Buried Behind Whiskey Row: Prescott’s Lost Chinatown and Double-Decker Brothel

This podcast is powered by Klean Freaks University.com — where real cleaners build real empires. From mop buckets to million-dollar systems, we teach you how to clean smarter, lead stronger, and scale faster. Behind Prescott’s famous Whiskey Row was another side of town—one respectable society preferred not to talk about. Along South Granite Street stood Prescott’s red-light district, its only known two-story brothel, and a thriving Chinese community whose labor helped keep the frontier town running. Then the Great Fire of 1900 swept through the district, destroying buildings and burying much of its history beneath the ground. In this special haunted-history episode of Cleaning Business Life, Shannon explores the women who lived and worked inside the Double-Decker Brothel, the children who may have called it home, and the remarkable artifacts archaeologists later recovered from its trash-filled privy—including Victorian pottery, beauty products, patent medicines, and part of a porcelain doll. She also shares the story of Prescott’s Chinese residents, the laundries and businesses they built despite open discrimination, and the community members who fought flying embers with wet blankets and brooms to save their Joss House during the fire. More than a century later, construction of the Granite Street parking garage uncovered what Prescott had nearly allowed to disappear. This is the story of what was buried behind Whiskey Row—and the people whose town depended upon them, even while pushing them to its margins. Apply for the scholarship here: https://kleanfreaksuniversity.com/scholarship/ Support the show Thanks for tuning in to Cleaning Business Life — the podcast for cleaning business owners who want to build a profitable, sustainable company without burning out . Hosted by Shannon Miller and Jamie Runco, each episode pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to start, grow, and scale a cleaning business — covering pricing, systems, leadership, boundaries, and the real conversations most people avoid. 🎧 New episodes 2x weekly 📚 Resources, show notes, and programs: https://kleanfreaksuniversity.com Because in life — and in business — clean is just the beginning. — Shannon & Jamie

September 30, 2026Episode 23139 min

EP 231 | She Thought Her Cleaning Business Was Making Twice as Much

This podcast is powered by Klean Freaks University.com — where real cleaners build real empires. From mop buckets to million-dollar systems, we teach you how to clean smarter, lead stronger, and scale faster. Jamie thought her cleaning business was making twice as much as it actually was. When duplicated income was discovered in her books, it was a difficult financial wake-up call—but learning the truth gave Jamie the information she needed to transform her business. In this episode, Jamie shares how working with Erica Paynter helped her clean up her bookkeeping, double her actual revenue within a year, implement Profit First, and create a financial operating system she can finally understand and trust. Jamie and Erica discuss separating taxes, payroll, operating expenses, profit, and owner’s pay; knowing when the business can afford to hire; and using Jobber, QuickBooks, Gusto, and Relay to build systems that work together. This conversation is about more than bookkeeping. It’s about the confidence that comes from understanding your real numbers and making decisions based on facts instead of financial emergencies. Learn more about Erica Paynter and the bookkeeping, advisory services, and financial resources available through CleanCo CEO: https://cleancoceo.com Be sure to tell Erica that Jamie and the Cleaning Business Life podcast sent you! Support the show Thanks for tuning in to Cleaning Business Life — the podcast for cleaning business owners who want to build a profitable, sustainable company without burning out . Hosted by Shannon Miller and Jamie Runco, each episode pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to start, grow, and scale a cleaning business — covering pricing, systems, leadership, boundaries, and the real conversations most people avoid. 🎧 New episodes 2x weekly 📚 Resources, show notes, and programs: https://kleanfreaksuniversity.com Because in life — and in business — clean is just the beginning. — Shannon & Jamie