Member Profile: Marybeth Forbes
| Name | Marybeth Forbes |
| Name of your business: | Forbes Clean and Care |
| When did you open your business? | February 2016 |
| What services do you offer? | Currently Residential Cleaning Services, Weekly, Bi-Weekly, Spring Clean, Move-In, Move-Out. Plan to expand business eventually into elder care and other services. |
| Why did you start the business? | I was laid of from a lifelong career in the financial industry. The industry has changed and no longer appeals to me. I decided I wanted to open my own business in the service sector. But I didn't want to be working nights and weekends. (Not that I don't do that but it's on my own schedule). So restaurants were out. |
| How many people are in your company? | Right now just me, but plan to hire. |
| What has been the biggest surprise, good or bad, since you started? | How long it would take me to bring on a customer, from the first meeting to signing on the dotted line. People have a really hard time firing their current cleaner even if they don't like them. This is good for the business in terms of general retention of customers, but makes cleaners lax in their service. |
| What is the toughest part of running your business? | The labor is very tough on the body. Bending and lifting is difficult on my back. |
| What is the best part of running your business? | My customers. Believe it or not I really enjoy the time spent in their houses when they are home. Most are very open and warm. I feel like I'm part of their family. |
| Is there anything that you would have done differently? | Planned on more time to get the business started. |
| What is the most important thing you will be adding, doing, changing in the next year for your business? | Spending more time at community events so I can meet potential customers. I spent a lot of time on social media thinking that was the best way to spend my time, but it may not have been. |
| Where do you see your business in 2 years, 5 years, and 10 years? | 2 years I expect to have a fully operational cleaning business with several teams and hopefully a team leader. 5 years expanding into other areas. 10 years... not so sure. |
| What advice could you give others and please don't hold back! | Your customer is your most important asset. Listen to them. Don't get upset if they criticize something you do. Learn from it. |
| How do you use MyHouseCleaningBiz.com to help you with your business? | I really look to other peoples experience in business startup. I am surprised at how much is involved. There are some things I hadn't thought of in starting the business, even though I spoke to some experts. I've found that information in this group. |
| School - high school, college, technical school: | College, Finance |
| What are some of your prior jobs or businesses? | Global Equity Trader, Mid-Sized investment firm |
| Is there a specific person or event in your life that made you decide to go into business for yourself? | no |
| Web Site: | http://forbescleanandcare.com |
| Email Address: | marybeth@forbescleanandcare. |
| Your Social Network links (LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, etc): |
https://www.facebook.com/Forbes-Clean-and-Care-LLC-182839132079737/ https://www.pinterest.com/marybeth_forbes/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/marybethforbes https://www.forbescleanandcare.com/home.html |
