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How and Why to Start an Office Cleaning Business

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In this post, the first of two pertaining to operating a business in the commercial cleaning industry, we provide high level steps that individuals should follow in order to open an office cleaning business, as well as certain personal considerations to reflect upon, such as the individual’s preferences and their unique personal goals. Every new business venture entails varying degrees of risk, and a potential business owner should assess their capabilities, capacity, and risk tolerance before making a decision.

In today’s economy, traditional employment options are being disrupted by a shift toward business ownership and entrepreneurial opportunities. Increasingly, people who would have remained content working jobs for large or small companies are taking matters into their own hands, and it is estimated that over 27 million Americans will be self-employed by 2020. On either a full or part time basis, businesses are being formed to provide the freedom and independence that come with business ownership, as well as the financial security afforded from owning one’s own business.

As the entrepreneurship trend continues and increases in scope, more and more people are electing to take advantage of the attractive characteristics associated with the janitorial services industry and are opening their own office cleaning businesses. Specifically, entrepreneurs are attracted to the cleaning industry’s low overhead model, recurring and reliable revenue streams, lower capital requirements in terms of launching, and the industry’s overarching stability. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the commercial cleaning services industry is expected to grow by 7% in the next 10 years, 2% above the national average, meaning the actual market size and its long term growth prospects make opening a professional cleaning business that much more interesting and exciting.

 

Why the Office Cleaning Industry?

Starting an office cleaning business has become increasingly popular due to several basic traits associated with the industry. First, owners of commercial janitorial services companies are able to customize the amount of resources, both in money and time, they wish to direct towards their business. While some office cleaning owners operate their businesses with the intent of directing 100% of their time towards running their business, others do so on a part time or even fractional basis. An office cleaning company can be a great side-hustle for a motivated individual looking to add some supplemental cash to their existing income. Whether you want to build a large, full-time business or simply make some additional money to supplement your existing income, a commercial cleaning business can be tailored to meet each person’s specific goals and lifestyle.

Many potential entrepreneurs are deterred from starting their own businesses because of barriers to entry such as high startup capital requirements, strong existing brand loyalty to established competitor companies, or vigorous legal restrictions imposed by governments (licensing fees, patents, etc.). Office cleaning alleviates these concerns. Unlike manufacturing or other capital-intensive businesses (if someone wanted to manufacture wrenches, they would need to invest in a factory, equipment and inventory before even selling a single wrench), starting a janitorial business requires relatively low startup capital and minimal ongoing overhead requirements. This reduced financial barrier to entry has made office cleaning businesses of great interest to entrepreneurs. Additionally, commercial cleaners can customize the volume of service they choose to provide, and that flexibility makes the professional cleaning business very attractive. For instance, a paralegal looking to make some extra cash to pay off student loans or credit card debt, or simply to have some additional spending money, could start their own cleaning business.

While possessing custodial or janitorial expertise and technical skills are of course important, relatively speaking, office cleaning requires less initial know-how than certain other industries such as becoming a plumber or an electrician. Recession resistance is another attractive trait of the cleaning industry – businesses will always need someone to clean. In fact, companies are more likely to reduce their in-house cleaning staff during a recession and outsource the labor to a professional cleaning company. With unrivaled flexibility and unwavering demand, commercial office cleaning is a time-tested and established profession for hard-working individuals looking to go into business on their own.

 

Opening Your Office Cleaning Business: Entity Creation

The first step to opening your commercial cleaning business relates to organizing your business. Many entrepreneurs elect to operate their businesses as individuals (sole proprietorships), while others incorporate using a number of different types of legal entities to do so. Limited Liability Companies, or LLCs, and S-Corps are examples of different types of entities a business owner might choose through which to operate their business. Each type of entity conveys varying tax advantages and disadvantages to the business owner. Because every individual’s personal financial situation is different, as are their business objectives, it is always wise to consult an accountant or tax adviser to determine what structure best suits the owner’s needs. Online resources like LegalZoom and Fundera offer some free insight into the pros and cons of different business structures.

 

Professional Cleaning Industry Startup Costs

Whatever organization structure one chooses, a certain amount of startup capital is required to launch a business in the office cleaning industry. Costs to start your personal business include initial administrative costs like paying for professional advice in terms of structure, filing fees and licenses. You will also need to purchase the proper supplies and equipment to meet your clients’ needs. Finally, your business will need funds for marketing and branding, as these are both critical aspects of running a business.

Commercial Cleaning Supplies

The owner of a cleaning business will need supplies and materials to get started. The level of investment depends on the individual business owner’s objectives and how they intend to market their janitorial business, but certain necessities exist. No matter what the business objectives are, savings need to be set aside to purchase cleaning chemicals and equipment. An office cleaning business of any size will typically require a neutral floor cleaning solution, a sanitary solution for disinfecting planes and horizontal surfaces, a chemical to clean, sanitize and disinfect commodes or restroom fixtures, as well as glass cleaner and other miscellaneous supplies. A list of well-regarded cleaning chemical lines can be found at the bottom of this piece.

Commercial Grade Equipment

On the equipment side, to provide the most basic office cleaning services, a company will need vacuums, brooms, mops, mop heads and mop bucket wringer combos, in addition to spray bottles and rags. While some equipment can be purchased once and replaced on a longer-term cadence – such as brooms, mop bucket and ringers – other equipment such as mop heads and rags must be replaced frequently so that soiled or dirty mop heads and rags aren’t used. Of course, maintaining equipment and washing dirty applicants will increase the usefulness of the equipment, and it is important to mentally prepare for the ongoing cost of purchasing additional supplies and equipment.

For more intensive commercial cleaning specifications or contracts, additional equipment may be called for which typically is far more expensive than basic materials. For instance, some cleaning contracts require ongoing upkeep of hard floors or carpets – typically referred to as a floor care program. Schools, for example, frequently use Vinyl Composition Tile (VCT) in hallways. The wear and tear from foot traffic may cause those floors to require a specialized program to maintain the look and protection of the floors. Specifically, the cleaning contract might need the cleaning service to buff, scrub and recoat and, eventually, strip and refinish the flooring. Intensive floor care programs call for equipment like high speed floor machines and slow speed scrubbers, as well as the chemicals required to perform that task. Again, whether or not a janitorial service requires these more expensive and specialized equipment and chemical stocks depends on the company’s aims and goals.
All of the supplies and equipment above can be easily purchased, though it is important that the business owner determines the amount of inventory, and therefore startup capital to allocate to supply purchases.

Marketing and Branding a Cleaning Business

The final aspect for an individual to consider when determining how much money to set aside for startup costs is branding and marketing spends. Will you create company uniforms with logos? Are you going to use a standard color to represent your company? Will you target customers the old fashion way of going door to door, or will you create and produce marketing materials such as fliers or pamphlets to get the word out about your cleaning company? Will you build a website and create customized email addresses, or forego that expenditure? All of these considerations are important to account for and have an impact on the amount of startup capital that will be required to open your cleaning business.

 

Conclusion

Individuals must consider numerous factors before opening for business, including the type of entity they want to start and the associated startup costs. Different structures will bear different costs, but all cleaning businesses must have essential supplies and equipment to begin servicing customers. Additionally, the owner of a cleaning company needs to decide who their customers will be and how they will target these customers.

Starting a business of any kind is risky and challenging, and any individual seeking to become a business owner should carefully consider the pros and cons of entrepreneurship as well as the risk associated with launching a business. However, with business ownership comes the potential for independence, financial security and a deep sense of accomplishment. Because starting a professional cleaning business requires less startup capital and ongoing overhead, is customizable based on the owner’s goals and objectives, and delivers a service that is recurring and relatively recession resistant, more and more individuals are opening office cleaning businesses.

 

Resources for Cleaning Businesses

There any many useful resources out there that the owner of a cleaning business can reference. The following are by no means an exhaustive list but are certainly a great starting point for the potential cleaning business owner. The International Sanitary Supply Association (ISSA) is a global trade organization of cleaning professionals, from cleaning supply manufacturers to distributors to cleaners themselves. ISSA is one of the leading resources for information, networking, education, commercial opportunities, and government advocacy for companies in the cleaning industry. If it’s cleaning supplies and equipment you are looking for, some great choices are Buckeye, Betco, Spartan, Bissell, and ProTeam.

Daycare Cleaning Service for your Facility

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The importance of daycare cleaning

It is known that young children are at a greater risk of exposure to toxins and germs than their adult counterparts. Common cold, the flu, coughs, sore throats and diarrhea are just a few of the illnesses that run rampant in daycare facilities. It is estimated that children in child care and school settings will have as many as 8 to 12 colds…each year. In addition, one of the most likely groups to get hepatitis A are children and workers in daycare centers. With this in mind, operations managers at daycare facilities must do all they can to maintain a safe and clean environment for the children in their care. Cleaning services for daycare facilities can be an answer for facility managers looking to ensure the most thorough clean.

 

Daycare cleaning procedures: Cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting

Cleaning comes first in child care facilities

The first step to creating a germ and toxin free daycare facility is to clean. Cleaning removes dirt and other grime from surfaces. All surfaces, including windows, carpets, glass, doorknobs, bathrooms and toys should be scrubbed, washed and rinsed. Dirt can prevent sanitizers and disinfectants from working properly, so it is critical that all dirt is removed in this step. A mild detergent and water solution is best; avoid cleaning detergents with lots of chemicals. Green cleaning solutions are the best; they have less effect on human health and the environment than non-green alternatives.

Sanitize areas in your daycare facility that are touched by many hands or come into contact with food

Choosing the correct daycare cleaning supplies is important to maintain a healthy facility. In order to properly sanitize, you will need an appropriate sanitizer. Sanitizing lowers the number of germs on surfaces and objects to a safe level. Sanitizing is done using products called antimicrobials.
Antimicrobials are agents that kill microorganisms or inhibit their growth. Antimicrobials are intended to kill germs, making them pesticides. Because they are pesticides, caution must be used when using sanitizers in a child care setting, as these pesticides can be harmful to humans. For example, phenol, found in many common sanitizers and disinfectants such as Lysol and Pine-Sol, can cause many problems such as heart damage, respiratory damage, and liver, kidneys and eye damage. Any product used to sanitize or disinfect must be registered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The most commonly used sanitizer and disinfectant used in daycare facilities is bleach. Bleach is a good sanitizer because it is readily available, relatively inexpensive, easy to use and has a short killing time. Sanitize all door knobs, railings, faucets, and eating utensils.

Disinfect areas in your childcare facility that come into contact with bodily fluids

Sanitizing is great, but disinfecting all areas in your facility that come into contact with any bodily fluids is key to keeping the children in your care healthy. Disinfecting kills germs on surfaces and objects. Areas to disinfect include diaper changing areas, toilets, mouthed toys, water fountains and any other surface contaminated with blood or other fluids. Again, bleach is the most commonly used disinfectant. To properly disinfect, apply a disinfecting solution to an area and allow it to air dry for a few minutes. If the area is going to be used right away after disinfection, rinse the surface with a solution of soap and water.

 

Why use a cleaning service at your daycare facility?

Cleaning can be strenuous, time consuming and difficult. That’s why professional janitorial services may be your best option for cleaning your child care facility. Professional cleaners know what it takes to properly clean, sanitize and disinfect facilities, making the children in your care safer. At Corvus Janitorial, we have a plethora of professionals with years of experience cleaning daycare facilities. For more information on the services we offer to child care facilities, click here.

Spring Cleaning Wisdom for your Office

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The weather is changing, the days are longer, moods are better. Suddenly there is more sunlight, exposing all of the dust on your desk, stains from winter-cold coffee stand out, and the floors just look dull! Sending out a spring cleaning office memo is great, but often not enough to make sure the job gets done. Take advice for cleaning on a smaller scale from those who clean on a larger scale. Corvus asked teammates from around the country to share their insights and spring cleaning office space tips to assist your organization’s efforts.

1. Teamwork makes the dirty-work, clean:

“It is something that must be done, why not make it fun?” remarks Jonathan Frias – Corvus of Denver Regional Director. “Whether it’s in our own regional office at Corvus of Denver or in a client facility, we often perform “Spring cleaning impact cleans” and pull additional crews in to knockout the job.  It is important to set aside an actual window so those responsible are held accountable and the spring cleaning gets done. Turn it into a treat, such as a happy hour at the end of the day, or a company wide donuts and coffee morning. The energy will be contagious, and this will ensure the cleaning actually happens”.

2. Declutter by keeping what you need at arm’s length:

Getting to the edges, ledgers and hard to reach spots for dusting and disinfecting is high on the list of spring cleaning tasks, noted Corvus of New Orleans Senior Account Rep, Reed Warren.  The old coffee cups must go, essentials only! Corvus recommends making organization a priority. Dedicate a corner or a drawer for the personal and sentimental items. The tools you use daily such as the pen, highlighter, stapler, etc. should be the most accessible. The clutter is distracting!

3. Give back:

Provide a few boxes for the Goodwill or donation boxes! This will encourage declutter of unnecessary items and turn a problem for you into a profit for someone else (submitted by Corvus of New Orleans).

4. Time to Care for Carpets:

During the long Midwest winter, client employees understandably quaff a disproportionately large amount of hot beverages to keep them warm and restored…problem is those liquids often end up staining carpets, traffic areas, and can get pressed into the floor by office chair wheels.  Corvus of St. Louis Director of Operations, Louis Kline, makes a habit of checking with all customers during the spring to schedule an array of carpet cleaning work – from bonnet cleaning, to high-traffic area hot water extraction, to dry method carpet cleaning, to complete extraction carpet cleaning.  “It’s a good time to knock out carpet cleaning because we’re finally comfortable that the weather is turning, and the work won’t have to be re-performed. Plus, most of our customers have been with us an average of five years, and it’s just become part of our routine to not only clean the carpets, but to ensure the client doesn’t have to spend on replacing that material as a result of lack of care”.

5. Dust busting:

Corvus of Jacksonville recommends replacing all air vents and filters from high and low intake and outtake ventilation systems.  Regardless of whether your battling Midwest winters or on the verge of confronting blistering Florida or Louisiana summer heat, facilities put their HVAC units into overdrive which in turn pushes dust, particles and dander through those hard working ducts.   And while high and low dusting and vacuuming of intake vents needs to be part of a regular cleaning schedule, the fact remains that filters and vents need replacing, decluttering and cleaning. The combination of high and low dusting and mechanical / filter changes greatly reduces distribution of dust particles and dander, which leads to a healthier, cleaner and more productive workplace.

Corvus is a firm believer that what you do on a small scale spreads to the larger scale. A clean workspace makes for a clean head-space. As a business owner, you lead by example and by education. Share these tips with your staff!

Contributors: Corvus of New Orleans, Corvus of Jacksonville, Corvus of Denver, Corvus of St. Louis, Jonathan Frias, Louis Kline

Q & A with New Orleans Regional Director

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Interview with Corvus of New Orleans Regional Director and 4th Generation Resident Tommy Petagna

 

Tommy, can you tell us a little about Corvus of New Orleans and its background?

Tommy: Absolutely. Well, I’m actually approaching my ten-year anniversary as the Regional Director of the New Orleans region, and while that may seem like a long time, the truth is those ten years have really flown by. It has been an honor and a thrill to do my part in growing our local New Orleans franchise base and to provide commercial cleaning services to businesses here in town.

 

Q: Are you originally from the New Orleans area?

I was born and raised here, and I am proud to be a part of the fourth generation of my family to call New Orleans home… so to be contributing and supporting entrepreneurial growth in an area I love so dearly has been more satisfying than I can adequately express.

 

Q: When you started out, did you inherit a base of accounts and franchisees?

Tommy: No, we started the operation from scratch; no accounts, no franchisees, no customers. That was tough, of course, but in building the operation and empowering franchisees and servicing customers, you really gain a sense of pride in terms of what we’re trying to achieve. Plus, it has allowed our regional support team to connect in a super relevant and powerful way with our entrepreneurs and franchisees.

 

Q: How so?

Being a business owner is rewarding, of course, but full of hardships and obstacles. Due to the fact that we built our business from the ground up, I think we can really relate to and provide superior support to our janitorial franchisees who embark on that same journey. A way to put it might be: we’re not just talking the talk, because we’ve walked the walk.

 

Q: And what is it that you’re trying to achieve?

Tommy: Our goal is to add value and make the lives of our stakeholders better. That sounds trite, maybe, but if our customer facilities are clean, hygienic and vibrant, those businesses or organizations – and their employees and customers – flourish. If the environment we help facilitate benefits the individuals who are a part of that organization, we’ve made a difference and that’s really our goal. Of course, we’re nothing without our vast network of franchised cleaning operators, and it’s our mission to help those valued partners grow and prosper.

 

Q: That’s a unique take on commercial cleaning!

Tommy: Maybe, but if you approach what you’re doing with passion and purpose, you can always make a difference.

 

Q: Can you talk about some of the hardships you’ve faced?

Anyone who has founded, and operated a business knows there are almost too many obstacles to mention. But what leaps out at me is when you’re unfairly characterized. If we fail a customer or franchisee, we absolutely want to take responsibility for our role, but often times, especially in the case of a less-than-successful franchisee, blame is assigned directly to us…and even in ways that are not close to being factually accurate.

That said, those situations have been few and far between in our decade of operation, and as a rule we focus on the positive partnerships and successes we’ve enjoyed with our commercial cleaning franchisees, customers, vendors and employees.

 

Q: Switching gears, can you tell us how you help structure the scope of service for client office cleaning services?

Tommy: The important thing to do is to listen, question and observe. What I mean is, often clients have a sense for how often they need cleaning and what type of cleaning specifications they need or want for their facility. And of course, you need to incorporate those factors into your quote, but all too often cleaning companies and janitorial services simply take orders and generate one size fits all bids as opposed to providing a consultative approach to designing a customized workplace cleaning regime. So, in addition to incorporating the client’s needs, by observing the facility and asking questions, we’ll propose additional service specifications or, alternatively, eliminate some which in turn reduces the cost of service, saving clients money.

 

Q: Can you give us some examples of observations you try to make or questions you pose?

Tommy: Sure. For instance, you always want to understand the hot spots in a facility. Is there a section of the building which causes more frustration in terms of cleaning than others…which might be due to actual materials (as in floor type) or traffic patterns? Are there departments or individual work spaces that need more attention? By finding these answers and addressing those issues through work specs, we can provide a better clean and alleviate the stress the point person of the facility may have otherwise endured.

 

Q: What do you mean by that last comment?

Tommy: In many instances, if not all, our points of contact for cleaning services have a variety of other duties and responsibilities. If the nightly cleaning service is failing, that consumes her or his time, which detracts from their other obligations. We remind ourselves that our contact for office cleaning “die a death of a thousand cuts”, if the number of those cuts by providing a reliable, highly effective workplace clean, we’ve made that contacts job a little easier…and that really does make his or her life better.

 

Q: What is important for prospective office cleaning clients to know about the process of hiring a cleaning company?

Tommy: I can answer that generally and also give specifics in terms of what we at Corvus of New Orleans do. Generally, clients should make sure their service is licensed, bonded and insured. That’s just critical and often overlooked. Second, clients need to know what the quality control process is for the firm and how the company communicates with the client. In the commercial cleaning business, things can and do go wrong. It doesn’t matter what company it is because any service dependent on humans can run into problems. The key is how the service fixes the problem, and that relates to communication, follow up, and, most importantly, relationships. So, you want to understand how QC and operational oversight work. Then of course you want to make sure the cleaning company has the tools and means to provide service from skill of the franchisee to commercial grade equipment to effective solutions for the right material type. The company needs to possess the ability and resources to get the office or workspace clean.

In terms of Corvus of New Orleans, in addition to what I just described, we emphasize that the service specifications are entirely customizable and editable. By that I mean that we work with the client to make sure the cleaning specifications for the office space match their janitorial needs and their budget. One size does not fit all and ensuring that clients know we can add, delete or edit our service offering to get them to the right place is critical. Also, we can always perform additional service during times of year when a firm simply needs more attention…and then ratchet back when that need subsides. Basically, we try to do whatever is necessary for clients to meet their office cleaning needs.

 

Q: You refer to office cleaning, but I assume you provide janitorial services to all types of facilities, correct?

Tommy: That’s exactly right. You end up defaulting to the term office cleaning or commercial cleaning or janitorial services, but really, we provide services that clean any type of facility, during or after hours of operations. We clean industrial plants, schools, day cares, places of worship, car dealerships, medical offices, multi-tenant offices, banks, you name it. The only facility type we don’t clean, however, are residential properties.

 

Q: Another change of gears, you mentioned that you are nothing without your Franchisees. Can you elaborate?

Tommy: Absolutely. Corvus uses a franchise model, so customers receive cleaning from any one of our extensive networks of small, owner operator franchise cleaning companies. Folks come to us to help them start, develop and grow their own small businesses; with our help, support and resources, of course. And, yes, we really exist to serve our franchisees and to help them succeed. That’s what I meant. I know we have one of the most outstanding and capable roster of franchisees in the industry. Of course, I am biased! But for ten years, I’ve watched the entrepreneurial spirit take hold and work here in New Orleans. Franchisees like Denice Lee, Latrice Dillion and Vernell Briscoe blow me away with their discipline, fortitude and vision… just to name a few. Yes, our franchisees are simply the heart and soul of our operation, and frankly, inspiring to our team…by the way, to be clear, those are three out of scores of other outstanding entrepreneurs which make up Corvus of New Orleans.

 
Corvus of New Orleans
2332 Severn Avenue
Suite 200
Metaire, LA 70001
504-304-8323
info@corvusjanitorial.com

Janitorial Franchise Advantages: A Stable Industry with Opportunities

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Cleaning services industry outlook

Janitors are a mainstay of American business operations, and for good reason. We all know the importance of having a janitor to ensure a sanitary and tolerable workplace. Because of this, the demand for janitorial services continues to be high. In 2018, the revenue of janitorial services in the U.S. reached 61 billion U.S. dollars. Job growth is also expected to rise by 10% in the next ten years. The median hourly wage for janitors and building cleaners was $12.02 in May 2017 and $24,998 per year. The industry has high levels of competition due to the many small cleaning companies in operation. Janitorial franchising in the cleaning industry offers unique advantages and opportunities for franchisees to leap frog these small companies for competitive contracts.

 

Franchises offer opportunity

In a competitive market, such as the market for cleaning services, association with a recognizable and respected brand can improve contract prospect acquisition drastically. This is where janitorial franchises offer the most advantage, and is what we provide at Corvus with our national footprint. We are a brand with over ten years of experience servicing clients, marketing, and sales. When you buy a franchise from Corvus, you are not only becoming an owner of a janitorial company. You are also gaining a network of experienced colleagues. They will provide you with client prospecting, sales and marketing that cannot be matched by a solo venture into the industry. At Corvus, we like to say that our franchisees are “on their own, but not alone”. Our franchisees know that if they ever need assistance, advice, or have any questions or concerns, Corvus’ leadership will be there in any way that we can.

 

A word from our Franchisees

“I would say the best thing about my experience owning a Corvus franchise is the flexibility I have to run my business the way I think is best to achieve my personal goals.”
-Annika,Corvus Cincinnati

“I never thought I would be able to own my own business. Now, I am able to spend time with my two sons while still providing them with everything they need!”
-Tamara, Corvus Raleigh-Durham

“I was fed up with working for the man, but there was no way I had the money to start my own business from scratch. Then, I discovered Corvus. I no longer work for the man and I couldn’t be happier.”
-Michael, Corvus Little Rock

A Cleaning Franchise Could Change Your Life

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Corvus Franchisee pointing to his award for franchisee of the month

Changing career paths to cleaning?

There are many reasons that people decide to change career paths. Do you dread going to the office everyday? Do you feel like you don’t make enough money? Or, perhaps you simply can’t stand answering to your boss everyday. The average person will change jobs about 12 to 15 times over their lifetime, so changing careers is not an outlandish thought at all. If a career change is something that interests you, buying a janitorial franchise may be something for you to consider.

 

What is a cleaning franchise?

A cleaning franchise provides entrepreneurs with marketing, sales, financing and support, empowering the franchise owner to focus on growing their cleaning business. Everyone has seen janitors at work, but what most people don’t realize is that there is a very high probability that these janitors own their own businesses. A janitorial franchise is bought by the franchisee. With their purchase, the franchisee receives a recognizable brand, financing, equipment, client contracts, and support. One of the hardest things about owning a cleaning company is obtaining clientele. At Corvus, we provide franchisees with a vast number of contracts upon purchase of a franchise.

 

Success of janitorial service Franchises

When you decide to become a franchisee in the janitorial services industry, you are becoming part of something that has proven time and time again to be a success. The cleaning services industry is expected to grow 6% through 2026. The demand for janitorial services remains high, even in times of economic turmoil. Cleaning is an integral part of every company, and many times cleaning services are taken care of out-of-house. A Corvus Franchisee is able to sit back and enjoy being their own boss while the marketing, prospecting, and contract acquisition is taken care of. Franchisees can find comfort in the strength of the cleaning services industry; as long as franchisees work hard, there will be money to be made.

If you are over your job or career, it may be time to look into becoming your own boss and buying a cleaning franchise. The world is yours, so take a step towards a more fulfilling life with Corvus; you won’t regret it. Corvus Janitorial humbly invites you to join our network of franchisees. For more information on franchise opportunities, call 1-888-894-5345 or visit the Corvus website for franchise opportunities.

Corvus Janitorial Services Celebrates Black History Month

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Corvus Janitorial Services celebrates African-American History month, also referred to as Black History Month, during the month of February. Initiated in 1926 by Mr. Carter Woodson and minister Jesse E. Moorland to acknowledge the tremendous contributions of the African American community to the United States, Black History month has become a permanent staple of the American dialogue and cultural landscape.

Throughout February, every Corvus Janitorial Services regional office will research, profile and exhibit impactful or ground-breaking entrepreneurs from the African American community; those who paved the way in terms of innovation, success and breaking of traditional barriers for subsequent entrepreneurs…of all backgrounds.

When queried, Andy Smith, Regional Director of Corvus of St. Louis, reported his regional office intends to profile three highly successful, yet starkly different African American Entrepreneurs. Notably, his regional support team and area franchisees elected to profile founders of Black Entertainment Television and owners of three national sports teams, Robert and Sheila Johnson (at one point a formidable husband and wife team); Oprah Winfrey; and Ms. C.J. Walker (1867 – 1919) who through her “walker Method” hair product is largely recognized as one of the first African American female entrepreneurs to become a millionaire – those hair care products still being sold through an affiliation with Sephora.

Corvus, its employees, franchisees and entrepreneurs will recognize and celebrate the achievements of past and current African American business owners and leaders who paved the way for entrepreneurialism in our country.

Corvus Janitorial Services – 773-276-2227
Corvus of St. Louis – 314-205-1945

How to Prevent Office Allergies

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Allergy prevention tips from Tommy Petagna of Corvus of New Orleans

What’s the need for allergy prevention in the office?

Allergies are an ailment that affect many in the American workforce. Allergic disease (including Asthma) is the sixth leading chronic disease in our country, affecting more than 30% of US adults, and in 2022 approximately 8% of adults in the United States had hay fever. According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, “Allergic rhinitis, often called hay fever, is a common condition that causes symptoms such as sneezing, stuffy nose, runny nose, watery eyes and itching of the nose, eyes or the roof of the mouth”. You may have hay fever and not even know it!

As many as 4 million workdays a year are lost due to hay fever, and people with asthma will miss approximately five workdays per year because of their disease. On average, Americans will spend about 90% of their lives indoors. With that being said, it is important that work facilities are properly maintained in order to ensure a productive, healthy work environment for employees. With a few simple steps, business owners and managers can improve allergy prevention in the office.

Allergy prevention tips

Check your office air filter regularly

Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems create a comfortable work environment, however they can be a source of air contaminants in the office if they are not properly maintained. Air filters can become dirty and clogged, which can lead to even more allergens entering the office than simply not having an air filtration system.

To avoid a dirty air filter, regular inspections should be done. Checking the air filter once a month is a good rule of thumb, but checks should be done more frequently during peak allergy season.

Go Green: Plants lead the way in dust allergy prevention

Phytoremediation is the use of live plants to clean soil, water, and, of course, the air of contaminates. According to researchers from the University of Technology, Sydney, “Potted plants can provide an efficient, self-regulating, low-cost, sustainable bioremediation system for indoor air pollution”.

Plants absorb air pollutants through their stomata and via microorganisms living in their soil. Only adding plants to your office will not be a sufficient method to make your office allergen free, but adding plants along with an air filtration system is a good strategy to office allergy prevention.

Steer clear of feather dusters – they do more to harm allergy prevention than to help

Feather dusters have been widely used since their inception in 1870. From maids, to moms, to janitors, the feather duster has been a go-to tool for cleaners across the board. Feather dusters may have been the cream of the crop for dusting in the 1800s. However, as times have changed, more effective dusting tools have come into circulation. If allergy prevention is a main concern, a feather duster, which oftentimes simply scatter dust off of surfaces and into the air, is not the way to go.

Dusty offices lead to dusty office allergies. Other cleaning supplies, such as microfiber clothes, electrostatic clothes, backpack vacuums, and extendable microfiber dusters will do a much better job of dust removal. Don’t be a victim of the appeal to tradition fallacy and continue to use feather dusters; they may actually increase the amount of dust in the air and will hinder allergy prevention in the office.

Vacuuming and carpet cleaning is key to allergy prevention

Everyone knows that regular carpet vacuuming is needed in an office setting, but the carpet is not the only surface that requires regular vacuuming. For example, cubicles often have carpeted walls, which can trap dust right near employees’ faces. These walls must be vacuumed regularly to prevent the inhalation of dust day in and day out. Any curtains, shades or draperies should also be vacuumed regularly. Furniture such as desks, chairs, and tables should be moved while vacuuming in order to ensure a complete clean.

For hard to reach and awkward areas, there are countless universal dusting attachments available for both regular and backpack vacuums. Carpet cleaning should be used in addition to vacuuming to rid carpets of allergens. When carpet cleaning, it is best to use low-moisture or dry carpet cleaning techniques. Traditional carpet shampooing leaves behind lots of moisture than can lead to the growth of mold and increase dust mites.

We can help you with office allergy prevention!

At Corvus Janitorial, we know the importance of maintaining an allergen-free facility. Our professionals have the skills, tools, and technical know-how to service your office with the highest quality possible. Let us help you with our professional cleaning services…contact us today for a free quote!

Tommy Petagna
Corvus Janitorial of New Orleans
2332 Severn Ave. Ste. 200
Metairie, LA 70001
tpetagna@corvusjanitorial.com
504-304-8323

3 Tips from Successful Corvus Janitorial Franchise Owners

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ALWAYS deal in kindness, courtesy and honesty.

When he started his cleaning business, Dudley Blake, the owner of a janitorial franchise business in Jacksonville, admitted he directed most of his time to the technical side of office cleaning. However, as his business grew, he directed more and more time to developing relationships with his clients, and in doing so paid special attention to committing himself to transparency, kindness and courtesy. “If I made a mistake in an account, or maybe if a client was a little tough on me with criticism, I started looking at every interaction and decision through the lens of courtesy and gratitude for the individual”, Dudley admitted. In doing so, Dudley forged strong, long term relationships with clients that have allowed him to grow his cleaning business several fold.

 

Stay optimistic

When you start a cleaning business…or any business…the entrepreneur needs loads of spirit, enthusiasm and optimism. Anthony Russell, janitorial franchise owner in Denver, provided prescient advice when he counseled other franchisees – rookies and veterans alike – that the key to success is staying positive, being optimistic and remaining mentally tough around those two points. In business, how you face disappointments has a huge impact on future success. Rather than dwelling on losing a client, Mr. Russell emphasized looking forward to getting that new client, keeping your existing offices clean and happy, and never allowing setbacks to keep you down for long.

 

Patience

Finally, and similar to our second bit of advice, business owners need patience – patience to develop their technical skills, customer service skills, their team, their own best practices, and the like. Both Mr. Russell and Mr. Blake admitted that like most business owners, they wanted to win and didn’t want to wait for it. Nevertheless, allowing time to bear out in order to refine their skills and strategies played a key role in the ongoing success of their cleaning businesses.

Restroom Odor Busting Techniques for Educational Facilities

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Corvus of Chicago Janitorial Franchisee Marquette Dewitt and Corvus of Chicago Director of Operations Mario Rodriguez collaborated to provide perspective and tips on some of the most challenging and important aspects of providing outsourced janitorial services to schools, daycares and education oriented facilities.

To address restroom odor, Start with the floor

No facility, regardless of its mission, wants any type of odor within their four walls and certainly not in the restroom areas. Yet as it relates to pre-schools, day care facilities, or schools at large, odors in restrooms can foul the feel of the entire institution, impacting students, and teachers, as well as prospective students and their families. According to Mario and Marquette, a major obstacle to ensuring an odorless restroom is connected to the technique used in addressing flooring in those areas.

Because of high traffic and the need for a strong material to manage traffic patterns and heavy use, most school restroom floors are comprised of ceramic tile and grout. The trouble is that waste, liquid and other odor generating materials seep into porous grout, taking up permanent residence. In such cases, typical damp mopping won’t do the trick, nor will wet mopping.

The key to reducing, if not eliminating, ongoing restroom odor has more to do with four essential cleaning techniques:

Time
Product
Agitation
Pick Up

What is meant by this?

Proper Cleaning Technique Matters

  1. “In order for a cleaning product to be effective, you’ve got to let it interact with the soiled area and material”, remarked Mr. Dewitt, “most people dunk their mops in their buckets, run the fibers over the area and call it a day…but that doesn’t really take care of sanitizing or killing the odor”. Instead, janitorial contractors need to apply the chemical – in an appropriately diluted manner – and let it sit, engaging the target, for 3 – 5 minutes. “With my accounts and my team, I’ll make and apply the diluted cleaning product to areas around toilets or commodes, then address trash, mirrors, dusting or surface areas, giving the chemical time to attack the soiled area”, Marquette said.
  2. It’s critical to use the proper cleaning chemicals when eliminating odors. According to Mario, “a typical floor cleaner or even specialty sanitizer won’t do the trick. That’s because, in most cases, urine is the culprit of odors in restrooms…and to be honest and frank, it’s usually the gent’s restroom that causes problems. ” Employing a product with an enzyme that consumes any type of “organic” material is the key to destroying odors produced by those materials. “We tend to use Spartan products like ‘Digester’ or ‘Nature’s Way’, as we’ve used the line for years and have a great relationship with our supplier, Seaway, but all the other major brands carry a similar type of product,” offered Mr. Rodriguez.
  3. “You have to get in there and deck brush the area,” stated Marquette. Manually agitating the area to ensure the enzyme mixes and consumes the organic matter is critical. In fact, without forcing the interaction, the product remains on the top surface of the soiled area, and does not seep into the porous areas. Especially as it relates to grout floor material, or any material with any degree of permeability, one has to agitate, which in turn can be done with a deck brush, smaller hand-held brush or a more robust slow speed floor machine.
  4. Clean Water and Chemicals for Clean Floors The last step to successfully eliminating odor is a thorough “pick up process”. Janitorial contractors have to change out mop water and chemicals, filling a new bucket with the clean solution. They must “pick up” and rinse water, mopping the area to absorb the chemicals and the now reduced organic material. “Ideally one can wet or “flood mop” then either use a wet-dry vac to pick up the soiled waste water or squeegee excess liquid into the drain which ought to be available in the restroom environment. With my franchise, that’s the method we use for picking up, but occasionally the time frame or window for cleaning won’t allow for that method”, offered Marquette.

 

While many other methods and techniques exist to help battle urine odors and restroom odors in general, those four keys will significantly help bust restroom odor! Time, Enzyme/Chemical, Agitation, Pick Up.
Thanks to Corvus of Chicago Janitorial Franchisee, Marquette Dewitt and Director of Operations, Mario Rodriguez!

Corvus of Chicago – 773-276-2227

Corvus of Denver Recognizes Veteran Franchisee Shedrice Banks

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This month, Corvus of Denver was thrilled to present Shedrice Banks, a Denver based unit Franchisee, with its I Will / We Will Citation of Excellence for outstanding, consistent, and quality delivery of service. In addition to his outstanding business track record of customer satisfaction, Shedrice personifies the Corvus Values and embodies the Corvus difference.

Dedicated to his craft, Mr. Banks takes a vast amount of pride in delivering quality, reliable service to his customers. On behalf of the entire Corvus team, our thanks to Shedrice for his leadership, dedication, perseverance and continued commitment to excellence. Resilient entrepreneurs are the key to a successful franchise business, and Mr. Banks exemplifies resilience. The Corvus team wouldn’t be the same if it weren’t for franchise owners like Shedrice Banks.

We are extremely grateful to Mr. Banks for his years of commitment to the Corvus team, his deeply seeded dedication to quality and his unparalleled work-ethic. Corvus would not be the same without Shedrice; he is an invaluable teammate.

Denver Office:

Local: (720) 287-2964
Corporate: (312) 477-8149
825 E. Speer Blvd. Ste. 100E
Denver, CO 80218

Corvus Recognizes Janitorial Services Franchise Owner, Joe Kasperski

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Joe KasperskiCorvus of St. Louis was thrilled to present Joe Kasperski , a St. Louis based Franchisee since April 1999, with its I Will / We Will Citation of Excellence for outstanding, consistent, and quality delivery of service. In addition to his businesses track record of customer satisfaction, Joe embodies Corvus’ Values and the Corvus Difference.

Regional Director and Senior Vice President Andy Smith says, “my team has the incredible pleasure of partnering with Joe, whose efforts, business acumen and integrity have not only resulted in commercial success, but have enriched and benefited our entire platform”. In acknowledgement of his accomplishments, Joe received several non-business oriented prizes, as well as a credit towards the upgrades of his equipment inventory. According to Joe, “The St. Louis regional support center has done an outstanding job of supporting my franchise, which in turn has provided additional, reliable business opportunities. I know they have my best interests at heart, which is very comforting when you’re an entrepreneur like I am”. On behalf of Corvus Janitorial Systems, our most sincere thanks to Joe.

St. Louis Office:
314-205-1945
16A Worthington Access Drive
Maryland Heights, MO 63043

Corvus Holdings and Corvus of Orlando Support OneOrlando Fund

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On behalf of its customers, franchisees, employees and the community at large, in support of the victims of the Pulse nightclub tragedy and their families, Corvus Holdings, parent company of Corvus Janitorial Systems, and Corvus of Orlando have donated $5,000 to the OneOrlando Fund, a project created by local organization Strengthen Orlando to assist those in need. In addition to its initial contribution, Corvus of Orlando will contribute 2% of all July janitorial contract revenue to OneOrlando.

“We send our heart-felt sympathies and prayers to those who were injured and to the families of those who were lost during this senseless tragedy,” said Brennen Randquist, Co-CEO of Corvus Holdings. Joe Moran, Corvus of Orlando Regional Director added, “We love this community, and want to do everything we can to support Orlando at large. Nothing can undo the pain and shock of this event, but hopefully this can provide even a bit of needed to relief to those who’ve been directly impacted”. To donate or to learn more about the OneOrlando Fund, please visit: www.oneorlando.org

About Corvus of Orlando

Corvus of Orlando has operated in the Orlando community since 2009, providing commercial cleaning and janitorial services to the business community. Its services range from specialty floor cleaning and maintenance to recurring janitorial services and maintenance arrangements.

One Orlando Alliance logo

Corvus of New Orleans Congratulates Unit Franchisee Ms. Denice Lee

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Corvus of New Orleans has the distinct honor of wishing unit franchisee Denice Lee a very happy birthday and applauding the success she has achieved as a Corvus entrepreneur. A long-time New Orleans native, Denice opened her franchise in 2012 with the goal of building the financial security and flexibility that the proven Corvus franchise model offers. Four years later, she has achieved just that. According to Tommy Petagna, Corvus of New Orleans’ Regional Director, “Of course, Denice’s service is outstanding, in terms of quality and consistency, but her success also comes from the level of professionalism and customer service she extends to clients. Denice doesn’t think of herself as a vendor; actually, she really sees herself as a part of her customer’s operational team…and that attitude translates into success”. Gracious as always, Denice complimented the Corvus local support team, “Tommy, Corey and the local New Orleans office have been the best partners I could ask for. The durability of commercial cleaning and janitorial services is fantastic, but the support I get from Corvus makes it that much better”. We wish Denice a very happy birthday. We are honored to be a partner in her success.

Visit Corvus or New Orleans’ page here.

Corvus of Louisville Thanks Regional Director Veteran Ryan Patrick for His Service

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Ryan Patrick of CorvusAs we draw closer to Memorial Day, Corvus of Louisville, Corvus Janitorial’s top performing regional territory, along with Corvus Janitorial Systems wishes to convey our most sincere appreciation, admiration and respect to U.S. Army Cavalry Scout and Bosnian veteran, Ryan Patrick; that territory’s Regional Director. Air Assault Qualified, Ryan gave our nation six years of service, and we wish to acknowledge and pay him our respect for his sacrifice.

Chad Weaver, Master Franchisee and Principal Partner of Corvus of Louisville, remarked, “I can’t overstate how grateful we are for Ryan’s contributions to our nation’s security and well-being. That alone makes Ryan worthy of praise, but so too is the fact that he has carried on and so successfully instilled values and qualities like integrity, team-work, and discipline into his civilian leadership role. Corvus of Louisville and the company at large is very fortunate to be on Ryan’s team”.

Thank you, Ryan, for your service to our nation and the outstanding seven years of leadership you’ve provided Corvus following the military. We look forward to another seven wonderful years from here.

Visit the Corvus of Louisville page here.