Episode 1286 – How James Built a Cleaning Biz That Works Without Him
In this episode, Mike Campion chats with James Castek, a cleaning business owner who went from side hustle to scaling success in under a year. James shares how he launched his janitorial business, grew it to over $15K/month, and built a team of rockstar cleaners — all without ever picking up a mop himself. They dive into hiring tips, finding the right clients, and what it really takes to grow your cleaning company the smart way. If you’re stuck doing it all and craving freedom, this episode is your roadmap. Learn how to stop working in your cleaning business and start leading it like a pro. Perfect for cleaning company owners ready to level up!
A Cleaning Business Born from Love (and an Office Gig)
James Castek didn’t grow up dreaming about running a cleaning business. Nope! He and his wife just started cleaning offices on weekends to save up for a wedding ring. (Yep, seriously romantic!) That small side hustle planted the seed for something way bigger — and years later, James decided to go all in and launch a janitorial company of his own. His wife? Not exactly on board at first. But hey, fast forward to today, and they’re running a growing business together.
From Ministry to Mops
Before cleaning, James worked in sales and even spent seven years in full-time Christian ministry. But deep down, he wanted to build something of his own. After one “meh” business idea didn’t work out, he saw the power of recurring revenue in the house cleaning world. No mop in hand, no bleach smell on his shirt — James jumped in as the business owner, not the cleaner. His big goal? Grow a cleaning company that didn’t require him to be knee-deep in the daily mess.
Big Start, Bigger Problems
With help from a coaching program, James hit $10K/month by month 3, and $17K not long after. Sounds dreamy, right? But behind the scenes, it was chaos: all one-time cleans, high cleaner turnover, and James stuck doing admin, hiring, and scheduling 24/7. The business looked good on paper but felt like a job. And worst of all, it wasn’t making enough profit to support his family. Something had to change.
Building a Team That Actually Cares
James found his groove by changing how he hired cleaning staff. No more resumes and random interviews — he started running fun group interviews and focused on hiring people who shared the company’s values. Even cooler? His team now does most of the hiring themselves! While James still helps out, he finally gets to focus on sales and strategy — not scrambling for cleaners every week. It’s no longer a light-switch business… it’s a well-oiled cleaning machine.
Real Growth, Real Life
So, what’s changed? James is working less, enjoying more, and bringing in steady recurring revenue. The stress is lower, the team is stronger, and customers are happier. He didn’t just build a business — he built a life that works. And for anyone out there stuck at $10K/month or juggling too much, James proves that the right hiring system and a coaching mindset can flip the script.