Episode 1297 – The Real Story Behind Henry’s Business Leap
In this powerful replay, Mike Campion sits down with Henry Johnson of Squeak & Soulz Floor Care Solutions to talk about how he turned his floor-cleaning skills into a full-blown business. Henry shares how he left his job at Georgia Tech and went all-in on entrepreneurship — no safety net, just hustle. Mike dives into why subcontracting can be a trap and breaks down the 50/30/20 rule every cleaning company owner needs to know. If you’re tired of doing all the work and still feeling stuck, this episode is for you. Get ready to shift your mindset from floor tech to business owner. This one’s packed with truth bombs and real talk!
From Floor Tech to Boss: Henry’s Big Leap
Henry Johnson grew up in the world of clean floors. His dad was a floor tech, and by age seven, Henry was already learning the ropes. Years later, he left his job at Georgia Tech and jumped all in to start Squeak & Soulz Floor Care Solutions in Atlanta. No backup plan. No part-time hustle. Just hustle, period. And it worked — fast. He landed contracts, grew his reputation, and quickly had more work than he could handle.
More Work, Same Pay? No Thanks!
But here’s the kicker: even with all the work, Henry realized he wasn’t building freedom. He swapped one boss for a bunch of subcontractors who were taking a cut. So while he was technically his own boss, he still wasn’t in charge of his time — or his money. Mike Campion laid it out: if you’re just cleaning floors for someone else’s client, you’re not running a business. You’re just self-employed. And self-employed folks don’t get to take real vacations.
The 50/30/20 Rule to Make Real Profit
To scale and stop cleaning floors himself, Henry needed a real business model. Mike introduced him to the magic formula: 50% of money goes to labor and supplies, 30% to overhead, and 20% is pure profit. Subcontractors ruin that math by taking their own cut, leaving you with crumbs. If you want to grow, you’ve got to get your own clients, price jobs right, and stop thinking like a technician.
The Real Shift: Stop Being a Floor Guy
One of the biggest mindset shifts? Stop thinking of yourself as a “floor guy.” Think of yourself as a business owner who happens to offer floor services. Big difference. Mike said owning a floor business isn’t about stripping and waxing all day — it’s about understanding numbers, learning to market, and building a team. That’s what makes a business work without you doing all the work.
Want Recurring Revenue? Go Janitorial
Finally, Mike dropped a golden nugget: one-time floor jobs are fine, but recurring janitorial contracts are better. You sell once, and the checks keep coming. Make janitorial your base, and add floor work as a bonus. That way, you stick around longer, offer more value, and build real relationships. That’s how you build a business that lasts — and maybe even one you can sell.