{"id":5876,"date":"2022-02-23T11:36:10","date_gmt":"2022-02-23T11:36:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zenmaid.com\/magazine\/?p=5876"},"modified":"2024-02-12T09:43:25","modified_gmt":"2024-02-12T09:43:25","slug":"struggling-single-mom-to-million-dollar-business-owner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zenmaid.com\/magazine\/struggling-single-mom-to-million-dollar-business-owner\/","title":{"rendered":"[Case Study] From struggling single mom to million-dollar business owner"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 id=\"heading-1\" class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\" id=\"success-story-how-kate-sloan-reinvented-her-life-with-the-help-of-zenmaid\"><em><strong>Success story: How Kate Sloan reinvented her life with the help of ZenMaid<\/strong><\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"How Kate Sloan built a million dollar cleaning business with ZenMaid\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/I-kNqXAPxqQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Kate Sloan needed a plan \u2014 quick.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2009, Kate was 40, fresh from a divorce, and in desperate need of a way to support herself and her sons. So, she turned to what she knew.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI was a housewife,\u201d Kate says. \u201cI knew how to clean and take care of people.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kate posted flyers for her house cleaning services and landed a few jobs. To make ends meet, she made pizzas at a gas station. She also pursued her longtime interest in photography and enrolled in classes.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And then the cleaning jobs rolled in.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhen I started making an income just by cleaning, I thought, why am I even bothering going to school?\u201d Kate says.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the beginning, Kate took every job that came her way. She calls it \u201cgangster cleaning.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Eventually, she earned enough to hire a couple of employees and quickly learned that starting a business was the simple part. Sustaining and growing it would be the real test of her skills and commitment.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"heading-2\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"challenges\"><strong>CHALLENGES<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"growing-pains\"><strong>Growing pains<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When she wasn\u2019t cleaning, Kate handled booking, scheduling, and recording keeping \u2014 everything \u2014 on paper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Index cards<\/strong> contained client information and notes. When Kate or her cleaners went to a home, they\u2019d bring along the client\u2019s index card for reference about preferences and requirements.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>A large desk calendar<\/strong> served as a dashboard for bookings, employee schedules, and messages. Its margins were a catchall for notes and reminders.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If someone was interested in booking a cleaning:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The lead would call Kate\u2019s personal cell phone<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Kate would visit the home for a walkthrough<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Kate would go back to the office, work up an estimate, and email it to the lead<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If the lead booked a cleaning, Kate would log their information on an index card and add them to the schedule on the paper calendar.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>She didn\u2019t have a system for keeping information about leads who didn\u2019t book, so she couldn\u2019t send them marketing materials.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt was always a challenge if I forgot to write anything down, or if I forgot where I wrote it,\u201d Kate says. \u201cAnd then rescheduling was a challenge because I would have to erase it and it would turn into a great big mess.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sometimes, she\u2019d forget to return calls. And once \u2014 in a mishap that can only be funny years later \u2014 her crew accidentally cleaned the wrong house.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI felt messy, unorganized, and overwhelmed,\u201d Kate says.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/xMXn9_yEis4P8jdkGtiRx6bGOQ5ClgJU5lcs95uDWqZqgrM4OIGsij5mEOPm9ztUHivhi6WrGe4BlnXlZCv0zl0x-RkFERK0OlYskzrqY7XzTLhrpm5qpkzSDXlL16BKTV_yBiAN\" alt=\"\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>How Kate used to keep track of her appointments!<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><strong>Learning as you go<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To boost her business knowledge, Kate scoured the internet for information about how to run a maid service. That\u2019s how she discovered scheduling.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI didn&#8217;t even know there was such a thing as scheduling software for maid owners,\u201d she says.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Her web searches eventually led her to ZenMaid.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kate knew that if she wanted to serve more clients, or have more free time, she had to move admin tasks from paper to software \u2014 but it wasn\u2019t an easy switch to make.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:100%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\"><div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full is-resized\"><img alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zenmaid.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/zenmaid-logo-cut-out.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-10811\" width=\"104\" height=\"104\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.zenmaid.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/zenmaid-logo-cut-out.png 900w, https:\/\/www.zenmaid.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/zenmaid-logo-cut-out-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.zenmaid.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/zenmaid-logo-cut-out-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.zenmaid.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/zenmaid-logo-cut-out-768x768.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 104px) 100vw, 104px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><strong>See how much time ZenMaid can save you. <\/strong><br><strong>Start your free 14-day trial now. <\/strong><\/strong><br><strong><strong><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/app.zenmaid.com\/sign-up\" target=\"_blank\">Learn more here<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The battle against impostor syndrome<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For Kate, there were two barriers to switching to ZenMaid: mindset and commitment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although her maid service was earning money, she didn\u2019t consider herself a business owner.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe thing that was holding me back was confidence,\u201d Kate says.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>An investment in software \u2014 or any kind of help \u2014 meant going all in on Chicka Chicka Broom.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSo I asked myself, \u2018Are you going to make a go at this? Are you going to be a <em>real <\/em>business owner?\u2019\u201d Kate recalls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Her answer: <strong>YES.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>\u201cIt was basically do or die for me,<br>If I&#8217;m going to jump in, I&#8217;m gonna jump in with everything I&#8217;ve got.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<cite>Kate Sloan, Chicka Chicka Broom<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"heading-3\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"results\"><strong>RESULTS<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Automations make life simpler<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Today, the index cards and paper calendar are history. Instead, Kate and her growing team use ZenMaid to streamline key tasks.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-style-default is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>\u201cWe call ZenMaid our bible,\u201d <\/strong><\/p>\n<cite>Kate Sloan, Chicka Chicka Broom<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s a breakdown of how Chicka Chicka Broom uses ZenMaid:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Quoting and booking:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A lead fills out the ZenMaid quote form on the Chicka Chicka Broom website.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Kate\u2019s team reviews the information and emails the lead a quote. (Bonus: ZenMaid adds this information to the customer relationship management (CRM) software with an automation set up with Zapier.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If the lead books a cleaning, the team uses ZenMaid to add the job to the schedule.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>ZenMaid automatically texts or emails the new client appointment reminders and follow up messages.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>ZenMaid manages rescheduled or canceled appointments seamlessly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Information about leads who don\u2019t book cleanings is saved and automatically added to the marketing funnel.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The cleaning staff uses ZenMaid daily to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Read detailed client notes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>See up-to-date schedules and work orders<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Communicate with each other and the office staff<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Clock in and clock out<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Now that most admin tasks are automated, Kate estimates she saves at least 60 hours a week. That\u2019s time she can invest in other parts of her business and enjoy time away from work.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>\u201cWithout ZenMaid, I would have absolutely zero freedom in my life \u2013 and I would have literal chaos,\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<cite>Kate Sloan, Chicka Chicka Broom<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>A thriving business <\/strong>\u2014<strong> and businesswoman<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kate is a long way from the \u201cgangster cleaning\u201d days. In fact, Kate doesn\u2019t clean anymore and considers herself a true business owner.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"heading-4\" class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-text-color has-background\" style=\"color:#007b7b;background-color:#d4eaea\"><strong>ZenMaid now offers a 100% free plan. Unlimited time.<\/strong><br><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/get.zenmaid.com\/free-maid-service-software\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Learn more here<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s how Chicka Chicka Broom has grown since setting up ZenMaid:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>23 employees (as of Spring 2022)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>From 50 to 306 clients (and counting)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>$1 million dollars in 4 months (end of 2021)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI spent many years as a solo cleaner kind of lost,\u201d Kate says. \u201cI was a housewife. I knew nothing about business. ZenMaid is one of the first things that helped me on my journey.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And the monthly investment? No longer a concern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI don&#8217;t even know how much I pay ZenMaid a month now \u2014 and I don&#8217;t care because I can\u2019t run my business without it,\u201d Kate says.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although Kate still works most days, she has the freedom to set her own schedule, making room for fun like days off, an afternoon massage, and road trips with her new husband and dogs.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"427\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zenmaid.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Kate-Sloan-quote-1-1024x427.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5931\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.zenmaid.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Kate-Sloan-quote-1-1024x427.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.zenmaid.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Kate-Sloan-quote-1-300x125.png 300w, https:\/\/www.zenmaid.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Kate-Sloan-quote-1-768x320.png 768w, https:\/\/www.zenmaid.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Kate-Sloan-quote-1.png 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Paying it forward<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kate marvels at how far she\u2019s come since she posted her first flyer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI never intended to be a business woman. I just intended to support myself and my family,\u201d Kate says.&nbsp; \u201cAnd then I just started to dream and then it got fun.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The fun includes helping her employees thrive and support their families.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI get so fulfilled from helping my employees pay their rent, buy cars, buy houses,\u201d Kate says.&nbsp; \u201cI have a real heart for young parents who are trying to make it work in this world.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And that energy creates a loyal staff. Most of Kate\u2019s employees stay at least a year, with some staying as long as five.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThey&#8217;re always telling me how much they appreciate working here, too,\u201d Kate says. \u201cI just love it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns has-background is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\" style=\"background-color:#bfebe8\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"background-color:#bfebe8;flex-basis:100%\">\n<h2 id=\"heading-5\" class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">ZenMaid + Taskaway: a business-saving combination<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap has-text-align-left has-black-color has-text-color\">When Chicka Chicka Broom owner Kate Sloan remarried, she was determined to go on a two-week honeymoon. So, Kate turned to <a href=\"https:\/\/taskawayva.com\/\">Task Away<\/a> for a virtual assistant (VA) to help support the office while she was away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-black-color has-text-color\">Task Away not only had a VA ready to jump in, she was already trained in ZenMaid, which Chicka Chicka Broom relies on to run operations.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-black-color has-text-color\">All of TaskAway\u2019s VAs are trained in ZenMaid by owner Maria Dorian, whose expertise comes from being part of ZenMaid\u2019s customer success team, where she helps maid service owners get the most out of their ZenMaid account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-black-color has-text-color\">Kate enjoyed her honeymoon and her VA, Julissa, became such an essential part of the company she became office manager.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-black-color has-text-color\">When Julissa had to take a sudden and extended leave of absence, Kate turned to TaskAway again for help.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-black-color has-text-color\">\u201cI&#8217;m crying because I don&#8217;t know what I would\u2019ve done without that resource,\u201d Kate says.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-black-color has-text-color\">\u201cIf I had to train somebody in ZenMaid, it would\u2019ve been really hard and time consuming. It&#8217;s so much easier that the VAs at Task Away are trained in ZenMaid. They go hand in hand.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-black-color has-text-color\">To find out more about hiring a VA for your maid service, get in touch with Maria: <a href=\"mailto:maria@taskawayva.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">maria@taskawayva.com<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:100%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\"><div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full is-resized\"><img alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zenmaid.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/zenmaid-logo-cut-out.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-10811\" width=\"104\" height=\"104\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.zenmaid.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/zenmaid-logo-cut-out.png 900w, https:\/\/www.zenmaid.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/zenmaid-logo-cut-out-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.zenmaid.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/zenmaid-logo-cut-out-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.zenmaid.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/zenmaid-logo-cut-out-768x768.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 104px) 100vw, 104px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><strong>See how much time ZenMaid can save you. <\/strong><br><strong>Start your free 14-day trial now. <\/strong><\/strong><br><strong><strong><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/app.zenmaid.com\/sign-up\" target=\"_blank\">Learn more here<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Success story: How Kate Sloan reinvented her life with the help of ZenMaid Kate Sloan needed a plan \u2014 quick.&nbsp; In 2009, Kate was 40, fresh from a divorce, and in desperate need of a way to support herself and her sons. So, she turned to what she knew.&nbsp; \u201cI was a housewife,\u201d Kate says. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":12024,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[64],"tags":[83,30,57,28,36,32],"class_list":{"0":"post-5876","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-case-study","8":"tag-case-study","9":"tag-cleaning-business-growth","10":"tag-grow-your-business","11":"tag-grow-your-maid-service","12":"tag-maid-service-software","13":"tag-processes"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zenmaid.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5876","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zenmaid.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zenmaid.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zenmaid.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zenmaid.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5876"}],"version-history":[{"count":37,"href":"https:\/\/www.zenmaid.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5876\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12232,"href":"https:\/\/www.zenmaid.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5876\/revisions\/12232"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zenmaid.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12024"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zenmaid.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5876"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zenmaid.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5876"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zenmaid.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5876"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}