Tips and advice shared here, have helped us grow our own maid services.
With eight current and former cleaning business owners in our team, including our CEO and founder Amar, we know the maid service industry inside and out.
We partner with amazing leaders in the cleaning industry like Debbie Sardone,
Angela Brown, Courtney Wisely and Chris Schwab and more, to provide you with the latest industry insights.
We’ve built the easiest-to-use scheduling software, built specifically for maid service owners!
Check out ZenMaid
When Michelle Allegrezza started Sparkling Homes, she never imagined how quickly her small cleaning operation would transform into what it is today. What began as a modest solo venture has now blossomed into a thriving million-dollar business with 11 cleaning technicians and 3 dedicated assistants.
But Michelle’s impressive growth didn’t happen by accident. Her cleaning business success story highlights how the right systems, tools, and a healthy dose of determination can overcome the obstacles that keep so many cleaning business owners trapped in the daily grind that comes with ‘doing it all.’
Like a lot of us, Michelle started as a solo cleaner—handling everything from scrubbing toilets to scheduling and rearranging appointments. But there’s only so long your knees and back can handle that kind of work.
“After acting as a solo cleaner for a long time, I knew my body couldn’t take it anymore,” Michelle recalls.
She faced a crossroads familiar to many of you reading this: keep wearing down your body while limiting your business growth, or find a smarter way to operate. For Michelle, the decision was clear—it was time to build systems that would allow her to step back from the physical labor.
The Breaking Point: When Google Calendar No Longer Cuts It
Even though it’s what she wanted, Michelle’s fast growth created a whole new headache. Her makeshift scheduling system (you know the one: sticky notes everywhere and Google Calendar overload) just couldn’t keep up with her expanding client base.
“I was losing appointments and spending hours just trying to maintain our schedule,” she explains. “There was no room to think about growth when I was constantly playing catch-up.”
This scheduling chaos is something we see all the time. When your calendar system fails, it doesn’t just waste time—it actively blocks your growth like a stubborn bathtub clog.
After asking around and connecting with other cleaning business owners, Michelle discovered ZenMaid at a Speed Cleaning conference. Finally, scheduling software that actually understood what running a cleaning business is like!
“I knew that if I ever needed help with anything, the ZenMaid team would hold my hand. I wasn’t wrong—they’ve built more than just scheduling software, they’ve built a family.”
This support proved crucial as her business took off, growing to 42 recurring clients in just her first year, (which isn’t too uncommon when owners switch to ZenMaid).
It Was Time to Hire More Help
Michelle’s success with ZenMaid created a new challenge: managing all that growth. While the software streamlined her scheduling, the increased client load meant more admin work piling up.
A family medical emergency became the wake-up call she needed. “My mom was in the hospital, and I hated having to figure out if I could see my mom without losing clients.”
This personal crisis pushed Michelle to explore virtual assistant services with InoVA Local and Task Away VA. Like a lot of cleaning business owners, she initially struggled with letting go of control. But then…
“It was way easier than I expected,” she admits. “I was the one making it difficult because every owner feels their business is unique, but in reality, we all face the same challenges.”
Here’s Michelle Allegrezza with Maria Dorian, the Founder of TaskAway VA.
The Million-Dollar Milestone
Fast forward to today, and Michelle’s business has hit that impressive million-dollar revenue mark. Her team has grown to 11 cleaning technicians and 3 assistants, with remarkable staff retention.
“Our team truly is family,” Michelle shares proudly. “Everyone has been with us for a minimum of 8 months, with the majority hitting 2, 3, and 4-year anniversaries.”
This stability proved invaluable when Michelle needed to step away from the business for three surgeries last year, while also planning her wedding. Despite these personal challenges, the business didn’t just survive—it thrived.
“We have been smooth sailing for a while now,” she notes, quickly adding a “knock on wood!” (We cleaning folks know better than to tempt fate! 😉)
The ROI of Investing in Your Cleaning Business
Michelle initially hesitated to invest in business tools and services… sound familiar??
“It felt like a pretty expensive initial fee,” she acknowledges. “But I was looking at it as an investment and asset.”
That investment has paid off BIG TIME. By comparing notes with other successful owners like Courtney Wisely, Michelle realized she was right on track with industry leaders.
“I could not have grown so much without these systems in place,” she reflects. “Before ZenMaid it was a lot of time spent on scheduling with a paper planner, and before hiring virtual assistants, I had to do EVERYTHING!”
5 Parting Lessons from Michelle
Clearly, Michelle has learned a lot in her journey from solo cleaner to million-dollar business owner. Here are the five parting lessons we learned from our interview with Michelle that every cleaning service needs to hear:
Recognize your physical limitations. Cleaning is hard work. Your body has an expiration date for heavy cleaning. Building systems allows you to grow beyond what your back and knees can handle.
Invest in specialized tools. Generic business software just doesn’t cut it, and you end up paying for features you don’t actually need. Industry-specific tools like ZenMaid address the unique challenges of running a cleaning business.
Learn to delegate. Growth requires letting go. No, really—you can’t do it all forever. We promise it’s worth it.
Build for personal freedom. The right systems allow you to step away when life happens (and trust us, it will happen).
Join a supportive community. Connect with other owners who understand exactly what you’re dealing with. It makes the journey 1000% times easier.
Today, Michelle actively recommends ZenMaid to other cleaning business owners in Facebook groups, though she jokingly adds, “I don’t think I would recommend you to cleaning services locally though, because I want the edge in my community!”
Here’s the ZenMaid team having a sushi dinner in Las Vegas, 2019. Pictured (left to right): Natalie Salcedo, Courtney Wisely, Michelle Allegrezza, ZenMaid CTO Alex, Arun Dhevabakhtuni, Fran Cresswell-Ghose, Amar Ghose, and Chris King.
QUICK TIP FROM THE AUTHOR
Simplify and enjoy your scheduling with a scheduling software made for maid services
Have a beautiful calendar that's full but never stressful.
Make your cleaners happy and provide all the information they need at their fingertips.
Convert more website visitors into leads and get new cleanings in your inbox with high-converting booking forms.
Become part of a community of 8000+ cheering maid service owners just like you.
Start your FREE ZenMaid trial today and discover the freedom and clarity that ZenMaid can bring to your maid service! Start your FREE trial today
If you want to know how delegating work to a virtual assistant really works, check out InoVA Local at inovalocal.com
For more great articles, tips and advice from cleaning industry experts, check out these on ZenMaid Magazine:
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Frustrated with your scheduling? Try the easiest-to-use calendar app, made by and for maid service owners.
