Profit Cleaners: Grow Your Cleaning Company and Redefine Profit

Hosted by Brandon Schoen | Brandon Condrey

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Episodes

202

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Welcome to the Profit Cleaners Podcast, the only place where you can learn from the top 1% of cleaning business owners. Focused on redefining profit, each episode is designed to give you practical tips and advice so that you can grow your own business, whether you’re just getting started or have been in the industry for decades. Discover the most intelligent ways to make more profit per customer, increase customer retention, improve your work culture, and create sustainable systems that actually give you more time back. Roll up your sleeves and get to work with your hosts Brandon Schoen and Brandon Condrey, owners of one of the most successful cleaning businesses in the Southwest.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

August 14, 202629 min

Your First Clean Is a Sales Call: Why the Customer Experience Doesn’t End With the Clean

Winning a new customer doesn’t end when the first cleaning is booked. In this episode of The Profit Cleaners Podcast, the Brandons discuss how losing customers after their first or second clean can quietly make your entire customer acquisition process less efficient. They explain why cleaning business owners should look closely at their retention data, identify where customers are dropping off, and determine whether the first-clean experience may be contributing to unnecessary churn. They also share practical ways to create a stronger customer experience, including handwritten notes, thoughtful leave-behinds, proactive follow-up, and small details that keep your company top of mind between visits. More importantly, they explain why the way you respond when something goes wrong can have just as much impact as getting everything right in the first place. Through real stories from their cleaning businesses, the Brandons show how honest communication, accountability, and a willingness to make things right helped them preserve customer relationships even after mistakes were made. A broken item doesn’t necessarily have to mean a lost customer. How your company responds can determine whether that mistake becomes a cancellation or a story the customer tells their neighbors for all the right reasons. If you are successfully bringing new customers through the door but struggling to keep them, this episode will help you rethink the first clean as more than a service appointment. It’s an opportunity to build trust, demonstrate value, and create an experience customers want to continue. Listen now! Download the “We Broke Something” leave-behind to help your team communicate clearly with customers when something gets damaged during a clean. Click here: profitcleaners.com/leavebehind Highlights: (01:23) Why the first clean should be treated as an audition for recurring business. (03:16) How losing customers early can make customer acquisition significantly more expensive. (05:13) Why customer retention and lifetime value matter to the long-term health of your business. (07:06) How to use your business data to identify first-clean and early customer churn. (10:25) Simple ways to make the first-clean experience more personal and memorable. (12:11) How thoughtful leave-behinds can keep your cleaning company top of mind. (14:12) How to respond professionally when a customer is unhappy with a clean. (15:39) Why proactive follow-up can uncover concerns before they become cancellations. (18:36) How honest communication after breaking a customer's item strengthened the relationship. (21:38) Why taking responsibility for a costly mistake helped preserve a long-term customer. (24:09) How going above and beyond to correct a problem can become part of your referral story. (25:51) Why every customer interaction should be handled with your reputation in mind. (26:59) Why customers are ultimately buying more than a clean. Links/Resources Mentioned: Profit Cleaners Website Watch the FREE Masterclass: https://profitcleaners.com/masterclass ) Join the FREE Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/profitcleaners/ Visit profitcleaners.com/cleanerclean to stay updated on everything coming next from Profit Cleaners. profitcleaners.com/cleanerclean Download the “We Broke Something” leave-behind: profitcleaners.com/leavebehind Download the “We Broke Something” leave-behind: profitcleaners.com/leavebehind

July 31, 202626 min

The $10,300 Ghost: Why Cleaning Hiring Is Broken in 2026 and How to Fix It.

In this episode of The Profit Cleaners Podcast, Brandon Schoen and Brandon Condrey tackle one of the most expensive problems hiding inside cleaning businesses: employee turnover. While many owners assume they are dealing with a labor shortage, the Brandons explain why the bigger issue may actually be retention and why constantly replacing cleaners can quietly drain thousands of dollars from a business. They break down the true cost of losing a cleaner, including recruiting expenses, training, lost productivity, owner time, and revenue lost when routes cannot operate at full capacity. Using a hypothetical $10,300 cost per lost employee, they show how a cleaning company with 20 employees and 200% annual turnover could be looking at roughly $412,000 a year in turnover-related costs. Suddenly, that employee who disappeared after a week is a very expensive ghost. The Brandons also explore the changing labor market, including rising service-industry wages, increased competition for workers, and why cleaning businesses need to prepare for higher labor costs. They discuss the importance of responding quickly to applicants, offering more predictable schedules, using technology to simplify day-to-day work, and creating an employee experience that makes great cleaners actually want to stay. Finally, they explain why better retention goes far beyond hiring. Strong culture, ongoing training, reliable systems, employee recognition, and consistent leadership can turn your existing team into one of your best recruiting tools. Instead of endlessly pouring new hires into a leaky bucket, the goal is to fix the leaks, understand the numbers, and build a business where both employees and customers want to stick around. Listen now! Highlights: (01:42) Why cleaning businesses are facing a retention crisis, not just a labor shortage. (04:12) The hidden $10,300 cost of losing and replacing a cleaner. (07:58) How rising wages and a shrinking labor pool are affecting cleaning businesses. (12:13) Why responding quickly to job applicants can improve hiring success. (14:24) How predictable schedules and better systems can help retain employees. (16:08) Why a strong company culture plays an important role in employee retention. (18:32) The importance of tracking hiring, training, and turnover costs. (19:33) Why ongoing training helps build stronger, more committed teams. (22:10) How happy employees can become one of your best recruiting tools. (23:42) How auditing your hiring process can uncover costly gaps and improve retention. Links/Resources Mentioned: Profit Cleaners Website Watch the FREE Masterclass: https://profitcleaners.com/masterclass ) Join the FREE Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/profitcleaners/ Visit profitcleaners.com/cleanerclean to stay updated on everything coming next from Profit Cleaners. profitcleaners.com/cleanerclean

July 24, 202624 min

Las Cruces Revamp Update

In this episode of The Profit Cleaners Podcast, Brandon Schoen and Brandon Condrey share a candid one-year update on their Las Cruces expansion, offering an honest look at the challenges, setbacks, and lessons that came with launching a second location. While the opportunity showed early promise, unexpected operational and marketing obstacles forced them to rethink their approach and rebuild from the ground up. The Brandons discuss how a suspended Google Business Profile significantly impacted customer acquisition, the complexities of managing a business remotely, and the importance of establishing reliable systems and leadership before expanding into a new market. They also explain how seemingly minor administrative issues, including business verification and address discrepancies, created larger operational challenges than anticipated. Throughout the conversation, they reflect on the risks of pursuing multiple growth initiatives simultaneously and why they ultimately decided to pause their franchising plans to focus on strengthening their existing operations. By improving financial visibility, refining key performance indicators, and making more data-driven decisions, they have developed a clearer strategy for sustainable growth. Whether you are considering opening a second location or looking to improve the performance of your current business, this episode provides practical insights on resilience, operational discipline, and why long-term success is built through consistent execution rather than rapid expansion. Listen now! Highlights: (00:50) Brandon and Brandon provide a one-year update on the Las Cruces expansion and discuss the realities of launching a second cleaning business location. (03:34) How a suspended Google Business Profile disrupted customer acquisition and the lessons they learned while rebuilding their online presence. (05:43) The operational challenges of managing a remote location, hiring local leadership, and maintaining consistency across multiple markets. (10:32) Why they chose to pause their franchising plans and refocus on strengthening existing operations before pursuing further expansion. (13:28) How improved financial reporting, KPI tracking, and operational data are helping them make more informed business decisions. (17:58) Why they decided to continue investing in the Las Cruces location instead of walking away, and how a few strategic improvements can restore profitability. (20:23) The importance of resilience, continuous improvement, and maintaining long-term focus when navigating setbacks in business. Links/Resources Mentioned: Profit Cleaners Website Watch the FREE Masterclass: https://profitcleaners.com/masterclass ) Join the FREE Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/profitcleaners/ Visit profitcleaners.com/cleanerclean to stay updated on everything coming next from Profit Cleaners. profitcleaners.com/cleanerclean Learn more about Noctave AI: noctave.ai

July 11, 202619 min

Rev Calc (Revenue Calculator): Discover How Much Revenue Is Slipping Through the Cracks in Your Cleaning Business

Every missed call is more than a missed opportunity—it could be the start of a long-term customer relationship that never happens. In this episode, Brandon Schoen breaks down one of the most overlooked profit leaks in the cleaning industry: unanswered phone calls. After reviewing the call logs from his own multi-million-dollar cleaning company, he uncovered a startling amount of lost revenue that had been quietly slipping away year after year. Brandon walks through the simple math behind calculating your own hidden revenue loss, explains why missed calls cost far more than a single cleaning appointment, and shares why fixing your revenue capture process can often generate bigger returns than spending more on marketing. He also introduces a free calculator designed to help cleaning business owners estimate how much revenue they're losing—and discusses practical options for capturing more leads without adding unnecessary complexity to their business. Use the free Revenue Calculator at https://calculator.noctave.ai/ to estimate your hidden revenue leak, then explore the full training to learn practical strategies for capturing more calls, booking more jobs, and growing your cleaning business without simply spending more on marketing. Listen now! Highlights: 00:00 – Why a Single Missed Call Could Cost Thousands in Future Revenue 02:04 – The $130,000 Revenue Leak Hidden Inside a Successful Cleaning Business 04:56 – The Simple Formula to Calculate Your Own Missed Revenue 07:43 – Why the First Cleaning Isn't the Real Value of a New Customer 09:02 – A Free Calculator That Reveals Your Hidden Revenue Leak in Seconds 11:40 – Why Most Cleaning Companies Don't Have a Lead Problem 12:57 – Four Ways to Stop Losing Customers After They Call 15:35 – How AI Can Capture Calls, Book Jobs, and Support Your Office Team 16:57 – Why Recovering Existing Opportunities Is Easier Than Finding New Ones 18:15 – The Cost of Ignoring Missed Calls as Your Business Grows Links/Resources Mentioned: Profit Cleaners Website Watch the FREE Masterclass: https://profitcleaners.com/masterclass ) Join the FREE Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/profitcleaners/ Visit profitcleaners.com/cleanerclean to stay updated on everything coming next from Profit Cleaners. profitcleaners.com/cleanerclean Register for the free live training — Tuesday July 7th at noon Mountain: profitcleaners.com/voiceai Learn more about Noctave AI: noctave.ai

July 6, 20267 min

Webinar Is Tomorrow — Here's Exactly What I'm Going to Show You

Tomorrow is the day. Brandon Schoen is going live Tuesday July 7th at noon Mountain for a free training he has been building toward for almost a year. In this quick episode he breaks down exactly what he is going to cover, who it is for, and why his mentor Tony Cruz is joining live with something that has never been offered before. This one is short. If you own a cleaning business — just listen and then go register. See you tomorrow. Register here — it takes 30 seconds: profitcleaners.com/voiceai Highlights: (00:29) Why one missed phone call could be the silent revenue leak costing your cleaning business thousands. (01:53) Why most cleaning businesses don't actually have a lead problem—they have a follow-up problem. (02:28) Real data from a $5 million cleaning business showing how Voice AI is increasing bookings and capturing lost revenue. (03:10) Meet Tony Cruz—the Voice AI pioneer who's been using this technology long before most business owners knew it existed. (04:28) How combining paid ads with Voice AI can dramatically improve conversions instead of wasting marketing dollars. (05:47) Who should (and shouldn't) attend the webinar—and how to know if your business is leaving money on the table. (06:28) What to expect during the live training, including an exclusive bonus available only to attendees Links/Resources Mentioned: Profit Cleaners Website Watch the FREE Masterclass: https://profitcleaners.com/masterclass ) Join the FREE Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/profitcleaners/ Visit profitcleaners.com/cleanerclean to stay updated on everything coming next from Profit Cleaners. profitcleaners.com/cleanerclean Register for the free live training — Tuesday July 7th at noon Mountain: profitcleaners.com/voiceai Learn more about Noctave AI: noctave.ai

July 5, 202613 min

Behind the Scenes — Tony Cruz Teaching Voice AI to Our Mastermind (Exclusive Clip)

This week we are pulling back the curtain. Inside our Noctave AI Cohort 1 mastermind we brought in a very special guest — Tony Cruz, a cleaning business owner of 15-plus years and one of the most knowledgeable people in the home services industry on the topic of voice AI. In this episode, Brandon introduces Tony and then plays an exclusive behind-the-scenes clip from our live Zoom training where Tony shares his story, his background, and his perspective on where the cleaning industry is headed. This is the first 10 minutes of a much longer session Tony led for our paid cohort members. We wanted to give our podcast audience a taste of who Tony is and what he brings to the conversation before he joins us live on July 7th. Tony Cruz will be joining Brandon live on the July 7th webinar with a special bonus offer for Cohort 2 that he will only reveal on the call. Register for the free live training — Tuesday July 7th at noon Mountain: profitcleaners.com/voiceai Highlights: 00:00 – Introduction 00:28 – Meet Tony Cruz: The Cleaning Business Owner Behind the AI Success Stories 06:21 – The Biggest Mistake That Nearly Cost a Family Cleaning Business 07:48 – The Mindset Shift That Changes How You Sell Premium Cleaning Services 08:36 – Why Cold Audiences Don't Care About Your Awards or Reviews 09:14 – The Real Reason Customers Will Pay More for Your Cleaning Service 10:50 – How Paid Ads and AI Work Better Together 11:52 – Where to Learn More About Implementing AI in Your Business Links/Resources Mentioned: Profit Cleaners Website Watch the FREE Masterclass: https://profitcleaners.com/masterclass ) Join the FREE Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/profitcleaners/ Visit profitcleaners.com/cleanerclean to stay updated on everything coming next from Profit Cleaners. profitcleaners.com/cleanerclean Register for the free live training — Tuesday, July 7th at noon Mountain: profitcleaners.com/voiceai Learn more about Noctave AI: noctave.ai

July 2, 202630 min

The $136,000 Mistake I Almost Didn't Catch

Most cleaning business owners have no idea how much revenue is leaking out of their business every single week. Not from bad marketing. Not from bad service. Just from missed calls. In this episode Brandon Schoen — co-founder of Sandia Green Clean, one of the largest residential cleaning companies in New Mexico — walks through the exact call report discovery that changed how he thinks about his business forever. He breaks down the math live, shows you how to calculate your own number in five minutes, and shares what he built to fix it. If you own a cleaning business and your phones go unanswered at night or on weekends — this episode is for you. Brandon is also hosting a free live training on Tuesday July 7th at noon Mountain to walk through this in real time. Details at the end of the episode and in the show notes. Register for the free live training — Tuesday July 7th at noon Mountain: profitcleaners.com/voiceai Learn more about Noctave AI: noctave.ai Highlights: 00:00 – Introduction 02:00 – The Missed Opportunity You Didn't Know Was Costing You 04:45 – How to Calculate Your Hidden Revenue Leak 08:40 – Why More Marketing Isn't the Answer 10:00 – Why Hiring More Phone Reps Didn't Solve the Problem 11:15 – The AI Solution That Answers Every Missed Call 15:30 - Short Demo of Noctave AI 20:00 – How Noctiv AI Helps Recover Lost Revenue 21:30 – Combining AI With Paid Ads for Better Conversions 24:15 – Live Demo, Webinar, and Next Steps Links/Resources Mentioned: Profit Cleaners Website Watch the FREE Masterclass: https://profitcleaners.com/masterclass ) Join the FREE Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/profitcleaners/ Visit profitcleaners.com/cleanerclean to stay updated on everything coming next from Profit Cleaners. profitcleaners.com/cleanerclean Register for the free live training — Tuesday July 7th at noon Mountain: profitcleaners.com/voiceai Learn more about Noctave AI: noctave.ai

June 29, 202614 min

Why 55% of Cleaning Businesses Raised Prices (And How You Can Too)

In this episode of The Profit Cleaners Podcast, Brandon Schoen and Brandon Condrey examine one of the most important business decisions cleaning company owners face: when and how to raise prices . As operating costs continue to increase across the industry, they explain why strategic price adjustments are often necessary to maintain profitability while continuing to deliver exceptional service. Drawing from their own recent experience, the Brandons discuss implementing multiple price increases within a short period, including how rising fuel costs influenced their pricing strategy. They share the lessons they learned, why most customers responded positively, and how building trust through consistent value makes pricing conversations significantly easier. They also explore current trends shaping the residential cleaning industry, including growing consumer demand, changing perceptions of professional cleaning services, and why more households now view recurring cleaning as an investment in time savings, mental well-being, and overall quality of life. They also discuss practical ways cleaning businesses can differentiate themselves by emphasizing convenience, efficiency, and customer experience rather than competing solely on price. Finally, the Brandons provide an update on the evolution of their own pricing philosophy, explaining why they are moving away from competitor-based pricing in favor of a gross margin approach. They discuss the importance of understanding business financials, making data-driven decisions, and continually refining systems to build a more profitable and sustainable cleaning company. Listen now! 👉 Visit profitcleaners.com/cleanerclean to learn more about the Cleaner Clean platform, access educational resources, and discover practical strategies for building a stronger, more profitable cleaning business. Highlights: (00:56) An overview of current cleaning industry trends and why more than half of cleaning businesses have recently increased their prices. (03:10) How consistently delivering value strengthens customer trust and minimizes cancellations during price adjustments. (04:26) Key industry statistics on consumer demand, average pricing, and the continued growth of residential cleaning services. (05:54) How emphasizing speed, convenience, and efficiency can create a competitive advantage beyond price alone. (09:21) The importance of transparency, value-based messaging, and customer communication when adjusting pricing. (11:18) An update on the next phase of Profit Cleaners and the transition toward a more strategic pricing model. (13:01) The value of continuous learning, system improvement, and financial awareness in building a business designed for long-term success. Links/Resources Mentioned: Profit Cleaners Website Watch the FREE Masterclass: https://profitcleaners.com/masterclass ) Join the FREE Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/profitcleaners/ Visit profitcleaners.com/cleanerclean to stay updated on everything coming next from Profit Cleaners. profitcleaners.com/cleanerclean

June 27, 202621 min

We Almost Went Corporate (And Why We Didn't)

In this episode of The Profit Cleaners Podcast, Brandon Schoen and Brandon Condrey share the story behind one of the biggest business decisions they've ever made. After spending the past year developing a franchise model—including significant investments in legal work, systems, and planning—they ultimately chose to walk away from the opportunity in favor of a direction that better aligns with their mission and values. The Brandons discuss the realities of the franchise model, the unexpected challenges they encountered, and why they concluded that it no longer reflected the entrepreneurial freedom they have always encouraged within the Profit Cleaners community. Rather than creating a business with higher barriers to entry, they explain why they are recommitting to helping independent cleaning business owners build successful, scalable companies. They also introduce the next chapter of Profit Cleaners, centered around practical AI solutions and modern business systems. You'll hear how they're leveraging artificial intelligence to uncover operational insights, improve efficiency, automate decision-making, and simplify business management using real-world cleaning company data. They also provide a preview of the new educational platform, updated coaching resources, and AI-powered tools currently in development. This episode offers an inside look at the lessons learned from a major strategic pivot and why the future of Profit Cleaners is focused on providing accessible tools, practical education, and innovative technology to help cleaning business owners grow with confidence. Listen now! 👉 Visit profitcleaners.com/cleanerclean to stay informed about upcoming AI tools, educational resources, beta opportunities, and future Profit Cleaners updates. Highlights: (01:45) Why the Brandons stepped away from the podcast and what they had been building over the past year. (04:05) The realities of developing a franchise model and the key reasons they decided not to move forward. (06:13) Why returning to their entrepreneurial roots felt like the right decision for both their business and the Profit Cleaners community. (08:46) The challenges of high franchise startup costs and why accessibility became a priority. (10:17) An introduction to the next phase of Profit Cleaners, including AI tools, updated education, and community initiatives. (10:57) How AI-driven operational insights helped improve business efficiency and optimize team capacity. (13:29) Their renewed commitment to supporting independent cleaning business owners through practical solutions and innovation. (16:17) The vision for an AI-powered platform that delivers actionable business insights using real operational data. (17:56) How integrating payroll, CRM, GPS, and operational data can simplify business management and improve decision-making. (19:56) Introducing the Cleaner Clean platform and how to stay informed about upcoming product releases and opportunities. Links/Resources Mentioned: Profit Cleaners Website Watch the FREE Masterclass: https://profitcleaners.com/masterclass ) Join the FREE Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/profitcleaners/ Visit profitcleaners.com/cleanerclean to stay updated on everything coming next from Profit Cleaners. profitcleaners.com/cleanerclean

March 21, 202631 min

The Cleaning Business Owner’s Guide to AI

Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming the way businesses operate—and for cleaning business owners, the question is no longer if you should adopt AI, but how to implement it effectively. In this episode of the Profit Cleaners Podcast, Brandon Schoen presents The Cleaning Business Owners’ Guide to AI, drawing from McKinsey’s State of AI research and translating it into actionable insights for local service businesses. He explores a critical gap in today’s market: while the majority of organizations are already using AI, only a small percentage have successfully scaled it to drive meaningful results. This gap presents a unique opportunity for early adopters to gain a significant competitive advantage. Throughout the episode, Brandon explains how AI can be leveraged as a form of digital labor—enhancing productivity, streamlining operations, and improving customer experience—without replacing the human element that drives service quality. He also introduces a strategic framework for AI adoption, outlining the progression from basic automation to full business transformation, and emphasizes the importance of rethinking workflows rather than simply adding AI tools to existing processes. If you’re looking to stay competitive, increase efficiency, and position your business for long-term growth, this episode provides a clear and practical starting point. Listen now! Get the AI Toolkit for Cleaning Business Owners: https://profitcleaners.com/ai Highlights: (01:26) Overview of McKinsey’s State of AI report and its relevance to cleaning businesses. (03:05) The gap between AI adoption and measurable business results. (04:29) How leading companies are redesigning workflows using AI. (06:36) Understanding AI as a form of labor that enhances team productivity. (07:47) Why the next 12–18 months present a critical window of opportunity. (09:11) Untapped potential of AI in local service industries. (13:07) Risks of delaying AI adoption in a rapidly evolving market. (16:42) The three levels of AI adoption: automation, enhancement, and transformation. (18:41) Introduction to agentic AI and its future impact. (21:52) Effective vs. ineffective approaches to implementing AI. (23:16) Future trends: AI agents, advanced models, and industry-specific tools. (25:53) The widening gap between AI adopters and non-adopters. (28:44) Strategic choices: ignore, experiment, or fully commit to AI. (30:43) Final takeaway: AI as a tool for leverage, not replacement. Links/Resources Mentioned: Profit Cleaners Website Join the FREE Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/profitcleaners/ Get the AI Toolkit for Cleaning Business Owners: https://profitcleaners.com/ai