#62: The Truth About Running Your Cleaning Biz with Independent Contractors

Do you know any cleaning business owners who skip the mop completely and don't actually clean anything themselves? Many times, people start out as cleaners and work their way up, or open their own business entirely, but there are some people who start out with the intention of never personally doing any cleaning. This is when they turn to independent contractors (ICs) instead of full-time employees. On paper, it sounds great — flexible staffing, no payroll taxes, and no scrubbing toilets yourself. But what’s the reality of running your business this way, and can you actually do this for the long haul?

In this solo episode, Stephanie talks about the real challenges (and, more importantly, risks) of starting and growing a cleaning business without cleaning yourself and relying on ICs. She shares the three operational areas where IC-run companies often struggle most — training, quality control, and communication — and offers practical, logical, and legal (!) tips to keep your business running smoothly.

📌 What You’ll Learn:

— The biggest legal and operational challenges of running your cleaning business with independent contractors

— Why ICs can be great (speed and availability) but risky (insurance, liabilities, etc.)

— How to ensure training and quality control when you can’t “train” ICs yourself

— Ways to build in fill-in coverage for last-minute cancellations

— How to stay reliable so clients see the value in your company's pricing

— Communication systems that work when you can’t be on-call 24/7

Resources Mentioned:

— Maid Summit (Free Training Event): https://www.maidsummit.com

— ZenMaid Scheduling Software: https://get.zenmaid.com/

— ZenMaid Mastermind Facebook Group (free): https://www.facebook.com/groups/zenmaidmastermind

💡 Try ZenMaid free for 14 days: Get.ZenMaid.com

📞 Book a Consulting Call with Stephanie: https://serene-clean.com/consulting-services/

🎙 Listen to the Podcast:

🎧 Spotify: [Link]

🎧 Apple Podcasts: [Link]

📖 Read the full transcript: [Link]