Episode 1318 – The Pricing Mistake Killing Your Cleaning Company
Most cleaning business owners are working hard but still feel broke — sound familiar? In this episode, Mike Campion reveals the real reason why: bad pricing. He breaks down the myth that growth leads to profit and shares his game-changing 45/25/30 rule to fix it. You’ll learn how a small price bump can triple your profits and why trying to sell your way out of bad math never works. Plus, hear real success stories from owners who stopped guessing and started pricing like pros. If you’re ready to stop cleaning for free and finally pay yourself what you deserve, this episode is your roadmap.
Why Most Cleaning Companies Stay Broke
Let’s be real — a lot of cleaning company owners are working their butts off but still barely scraping by. They might be pulling in $20k, $50k, even $100k a month, but at the end of the day, there’s not much left in the bank. The problem? It’s not that they need more customers. It’s that they’re pricing their services like a hobby, not a business. Mike Campion calls this “financial suicide” — and he’s not wrong.
The Big Lie: Profit Comes With Growth
Many owners believe that if they just get bigger, the profits will magically appear. But growth without profit is a trap. Expenses like marketing, insurance, and training grow with your business, and most folks forget to account for all that. Mike shares stories of real business owners making over six figures a month but taking home less than when they were half that size. Growth without profit just leads to more stress, not more money.
The Math That Changes Everything
Here’s the kicker: small price increases can have huge impacts. Mike breaks down how raising a $1,000 job to $1,200 — just a 20% bump — can triple your profit. Triple! Most owners are scared to raise prices, but the truth is, you lose fewer clients than you think — and usually the ones you lose were the ones giving you the most headaches anyway.
The 45/25/30 Rule: Your Profit GPS
Mike lays out a simple formula that takes the guesswork out of pricing: 45% of revenue goes to labor and supplies, 25% to overhead, and the final 30% is your profit. It’s called the 45/25/30 Rule, and it works whether you’re cleaning offices in Nebraska or homes in New York. One owner went from rollercoaster profits to consistently earning $15k a month just by following this rule. It’s like having a GPS for your business — no more getting lost.
Price Like a Pro or Stay Broke
Bottom line? You’re not broke because you need more customers. You’re broke because you’re pricing like an amateur. It’s time to ditch the emotion, stop guessing, and use math. Mike even offers a free pricing calculator to help you apply the rule to your own jobs. When you price like a pro, you can pay your team well, reinvest in your business, and finally take home what you deserve.