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Welcome to The Profitable Cleaner Podcast, the #1 podcast in the Cleaning & Facility Maintenance Industry.
The mission of this podcast is simple; to impact Cleaning businesses of all kinds by bringing you captivating interviews, expert insights, and actionable strategies that will elevate your business to new heights.
Bringing you the discussions and knowledge you WANT and the stories and inspiration you need.
We talk about Sales, Technology, Marketing, Operations, Strategy, Leadership, Mindset, Health, GOD and so much more…..
All to unleash the best version of YOU & turn you into a Profitable Owner.
Now, are you ready to Profit?
221 Episodes
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Balancing leadership, family, and chaos isn’t about perfection — it’s about presence, action, and authenticity. In Episode 205 of The Profitable Cleaner Podcast, we sit down with Amy, COO of Marrow, wife, and mom of four, to unpack the lessons she’s learned from rafting rivers, running companies, and raising a family. From guiding whitewater rapids to managing multiple businesses, Amy has mastered the art of chaos management — and her principle of “hesitation is devastation” applies as much t...
Running a cleaning company is messy. Complexity creeps into sales, hiring, operations, and leadership. The real challenge? Simplifying. In this episode of The Profitable Cleaner, we sit down with Daniel Nice - a developer, entrepreneur, and leader who has spent his career turning complex ideas into simple, actionable systems. From shipping apps at Warner Music Group to guiding startups through acquisition, Daniel has seen what separates businesses that scale from those that stall. Now, he bri...
If you’re a cleaning or facility maintenance CEO chasing multi-million-dollar contracts, you already know the pain: RFPs are time-consuming, confusing, and often stacked against you. In this episode of The Profitable Cleaner, sales leader Nathan (Nate) Pavelka (CBRE Network Advisory Services) breaks down a smarter way to approach RFPs and complex sales cycles. With 20+ years in enterprise sales, Nate has helped Fortune 1000 companies uncover 7–8 figure savings and close deals others thought i...
If you're a commercial cleaning or janitorial business owner struggling with cash flow - or just tired of waiting 60+ days to get paid - this episode is your wake-up call. Your hosts Mark Anderson, Sharon Cowan CBSE, and Ed Selkow break down real strategies to improve your cash position, avoid the most dangerous traps, and put cash back into your control. From smart invoicing and early billing to reducing unnecessary expenses and understanding the dangers of factoring, this is the financial ...
Lizzy Brodie’s story is one of true reinvention. From facing felony drug charges in her early 20s to becoming a respected entrepreneur, community builder, and mother. This episode dives into the raw, unfiltered journey of Lizzy Brodie, one of Denver’s premier events, marketing, and promotions consultants, and the creator of the Hustlers Brunch. We explore how grit, hip-hop, and hustle became her foundation for success, how she leveraged her past into purpose, and why her Hustlers Brunch...
If you’ve ever asked, “Where did all my profit go?” — this episode is for you. Mark Anderson, Sharon Cowan CBSE, and Ed Selkow break down the cash flow traps that cripple growing cleaning companies. From AR buckets and vendor terms to the 1.5 rule for new accounts, you’ll learn how to manage your money before it manages you. 💸 Because being profitable on paper means nothing if you can’t make payroll. 🔑 What You’ll Learn: ✅ Profit on your P&L is not cash in the bank. ✅ What the 1.5 ...
In Episode 202, we sit down with Domingo Cruz, President of the Englewood Chamber of Commerce and Founder of Rooted 303, a community-driven nonprofit helping people reclaim their lives from addiction, mental health struggles, and generational challenges. Domingo shares his powerful personal story—growing up in deep poverty and addiction, and how a life-changing mentorship moment with a 14-year-old kid shifted the entire trajectory of his life. From corporate America to faith to launching Root...
Launching a new contract or starting your cleaning business? This episode is a MUST. Your hosts Mark Anderson, Sharon Cowan CBSE, and Ed Selkow break down real-world startup systems that can either make you profitable fast—or bury you in losses. Whether you're bidding your first building or onboarding a 50,000 sq ft facility, the principles in this episode are universal. From staffing and supply planning to the critical “first night checklist,” you'll hear the brutal lessons and genius strate...
💡 Negotiation isn’t just for boardrooms - it’s a daily skill that can change your business and your life. In Episode 201 of The Profitable Cleaner, we sit down with Heather DeSiena - a strategic sales leader, keynote speaker, and corporate trainer with 13+ years of experience in cybersecurity, leadership, and coaching. From her early days as a news anchor to becoming a sought-after negotiation expert, Heather shares how to navigate high-stakes deals, avoid burnout, and build a career with int...
This is our 200th episode. And in this solo episode, host James Harper reflects on the 10 most powerful lessons learned from interviewing the top leaders in the janitorial industry. Whether you’ve listened to one episode or all 200, this is the one to revisit if you want clarity, direction, and real wisdom. From faith-driven leadership to knowing your numbers, James breaks down the mindset, habits, and strategies of the most successful cleaning company owners he’s met. This episode is p...
If you've ever lost a contract, underbid a job, or made a costly mistake in your cleaning business — this episode is for you. In Episode #12 of Polishing Profits, industry veterans Mark Anderson, Sharon Cowan CBSE, and Ed Selkow reveal their most painful failures and exactly how they turned those lessons into long-term success. From ruined French doors to $1.5M in debt — nothing is off-limits. 🔑 What You’ll Learn: ✅How to bounce back after losing a major contract✅How to turn a cleaning disa...
This episode is all about what actually works when it comes to sales in the commercial cleaning industry. Host James Harper just spent a full week on the ground with a $18M cleaning company as they launched a new market - and what he saw changed the game. From how they book walkthroughs to how they do cold walk-ins and follow-up, this episode breaks down a proven playbook that you can start using today—even if you're just getting started. 🎙 In This Episode, You’ll Learn: ✅ Why “starting fro...
Lets talk about “Guerrilla Management”: How to Think Differently and Win in Business In this eye-opening episode, your hosts Mark Anderson, Sharon Cowan CBSE, and Ed Selkow, dive into the mindset behind Guerrilla Management — the art of solving business problems by stepping outside traditional systems and building smarter, more flexible teams. From empowering front-line supervisors to pivoting your org structure, you’ll hear real stories of unconventional decision-making that led to higher pr...
What does it really take to scale a cleaning business past $20M—and keep evolving while you do it? In this episode of The Profitable Cleaner Podcast, we sit down with Ricky Regalado—founder of Rozalado Services, Route, and Cleaning & Cocktails—to unpack the mindset, systems, and strategy that got him here. From the early days cleaning franchise accounts with no license, to building a 650+ person team across 30+ states, Ricky shares the hard truths about reinvention, leadership, and scalin...
Restaurant Cleaning: Hidden Profits or Guaranteed Headaches? Your hosts Mark Anderson, Sharon Cowan CBSE, and Ed Selkow tackle one of the most controversial topics in commercial cleaning: Should you take on restaurant cleaning contracts? In this episode of Polishing Profits, the team shares real stories and hard lessons from decades cleaning everything from greasy spoons to 5-star hotel kitchens. You’ll discover: ✅ Why restaurants are the easiest accounts to land—and the hardest to ...
This week, we’re flipping the script. In this unique episode of The Profitable Cleaner Podcast, James Harper isn’t hosting—he’s the guest. Originally recorded on Dan and Lexi Schindler’s show, The Cleaning Hustle Podcast, we’re bringing you this candid conversation because it’s packed with lessons you need to hear. From the truth about “cheap labor” VAs to how to create a culture of loyalty, performance, and trust across borders—this conversation is a masterclass in building virtual teams the...
Your hosts Mark Anderson, Sharon Cowan CBSE, and Ed Selkow dive into operational efficiency and process improvement in this episode of Polishing Profits. If you think standard operating procedures (SOPs) are only for big companies, think again. Whether you’re a solo operator or managing 100 people, clear, documented workflows are the backbone of quality, consistency, and growth. From onboarding and training to inspections and customer follow-ups, SOPs are what keep your company out of the hor...
Success in business isn’t just about tactics—it’s about perspective, resilience, and the mindset you build when everything is on the line. In this episode, James sits down with Danny Keels—janitorial sales leader, Army veteran, and seasoned entrepreneur—to unpack an incredible journey from combat zones in Somalia to closing multi-million dollar contracts in the cleaning industry. Danny shares: The life-changing lessons he learned serving in SomaliaHow military discipline shaped his approach t...
Most entrepreneurs measure themselves by how much they earn, what they own, or how much they invest. But what happens when your biggest investment goes bad—and you lose almost everything? In this episode, James sits down with Ben Kennedy—a successful personal injury attorney, father, cancer survivor, and business owner—to talk about the mindset it takes to build a fulfilling life that goes beyond dollars. Ben shares powerful lessons on: Losing nearly $100K to fraud (and why he doesn’t let it ...
Your hosts Mark Anderson, Sharon Cowan CBSE, and Ed Selkow tackle one of the hardest parts of scaling a cleaning company: finding and developing the right manager who truly has your back. Whether you’re doing $700K or crossing $3 million in revenue, you’ll eventually hit the wall where your existing team just can’t take you to the next level. This episode breaks down when to bring in outside leadership, what it really costs, and how to avoid the expensive mistakes so many owners make. 🧠 Wha...
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