Member Profile: Teresa Flanagan

Your Name: Teresa Flanagan

Name of your business:  Whiteglove Cleaning Service

When did you open your business: 1999

What services does your business offer: We specialize in residential cleaning. So many companies "do it all", try to be all things. We felt like we would stand out by not. Although over the years, we have!

Why did you start the business: Didnt really mean too. I was off work for health reasons. I am a brittle epileptic. I was nursing, a high stress field. The two didn't go together. When my doctor wouldn't let me work anymore, I needed something to do, I wasn't about to just sit and watch TV at 30 something! I had good friends that were a little elderly and in need of cleaning help. I bartered with them for a lawnmower and inspiration struck.

How many people are in your company:  There are two of us right now. In 2006, we expanded and got up to 4 part time employees. However, the stress from the growing pains, was bringing back all the reasons I left my former career. So, we downsized. Now it's me and my daughter/partner. If we start to get beyond a size that's comfortable to manage with the two of us, I will turn people down. Thanks to some things I learned during our expansion phase, we still were able to increase our bottom line, after the downsize.

Where is your office located and what is it like: My office is in my bedroom, which is cluttered beyond belief!

What is the toughest part of running your business: I can't work alone or drive. Those two factors constantly cause issues. Those in fact were adding to the growing pains that caused us to downsize. Having to budget for two instead of one at all times, since no matter what I was doing, someone had to be with me.

What is the best part of running your business: Regaining some independence lost. My business is the one place where I am in charge and I call the shots.

Is there anything that you would have done differently: I would have gotten licensed sooner than I did. I started out as a trunkslammer, since I didn't really mean to start a business. I didn't know better. Once I decided to make money doing this, I should have taken the responsibility to learn more about what I was doing earlier on.

Explain what is next on the horizon for you and your business: We are playing with the idea of expanding again..slower this time since we are seasoned. This is not something we can jump into lightly.

What advice could you give others and please don't hold back!  Never think you know it all, you cease to learn when you do that. I had been in business for 7 yrs when I found The Janitorial Store. I learned so much from its members and Steve and Jean.

Always be open to new ideas, but..use your head too. Listen, then think things through, before you act.

How do you use MyHouseCleaningBiz.com to help you with your business:  I love giving back. I love talking and sharing with peers. I learned so much at a time when I needed help the most, I am grateful for the opportunity to return the favor. I remember when we were expanding and feeling like I was over my head, even after having been in business for as long as I had, the immense relief at finding a place to come to for answers.

Now some personal info about you:

School - high school, college, technical school: Troup High School, Tyler JR College

What are some of your prior jobs or businesses: Licensed vocational nurse.

Is there a specific person or event in your life that made you decide to go into business for yourself: As I said was my friend and his lawnmower. He really did encourage me. Assuring me that I could make money doing something I was good at.

Your website info:  whiteglovecleaningserviceinfo.com

Your Social Network links (LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, etc):

Stacie set me up on linkedin, but I am never on it.