Member Profile: Susan Duncan

Your Name: Susan Duncan

Name of your business: Two Ladies & a Bucket

When did you open your business? 2005

What services do you offer? Residential cleaning (regularly-scheduled cleanings every 1, 2, or 4 weeks) as-requested cleanings, move-in/move-out cleaning, gift certificates for residential cleaning; rental cleanings; office cleanings; renovation cleanings and construction cleanings.

Why did you start the business? To be able to work during the daytime and support myself.

How many people are in your company? 18

What has been the biggest surprise, good or bad, since you started? The broad spectrum of employees from amazingly awesome to amazingly nightmarish.

What is the toughest part of running your business? Maintaining balance with employees; knowing when to allow for the extra things for clients and when to say NO! And dealing with some of the employees dysfunctional lives.

What is the best part of running your business? The rewarding challenges of accomplishments we're achieved. We've grown 47% in one year. We are not a company that is in debt. We are a thriving company and am proud to provide our services.

Is there anything that you would have done differently? I wouldn't hire out of desperation.

What is the most important thing you will be adding, doing, changing in the next year for your business? I've added an assistant. Possibly adding a Quality Control Person to go behind and check work. And changing my managerial skills to improve upon the desperateness that seems to plague this business. Implement a better training program.

Where do you see your business in 2 years, 5 years, and 10 years? I hope to grow to 25 employees within 5 years. I hope to keep generating and retaining clients and providing a viable cleaning company to our area.

What advice could you give others and please don't hold back! Don't hire out of desperate. Do background checks and drug testing if need be. Have a good group of people around you in your personal life. Don't be their friend. The public are needy. Don't have to please them all. Balance in your business is important. There is plenty of work. Weight very closely if its worth taking on a client's extra cleaning or needs if its really worth it. Balance when dealing with your employees. Balance!

How do you use MyHouseCleaningBiz.com to help you with your business? We use the resources to help us to improve our operations.

School - high school, college, technical school: High school; technical school and some college.

What are some of your prior jobs or businesses? Legal Secretary and Paralegal over 25 years.

Is there a specific person or event in your life that made you decide to go into business for yourself? I couldn't find another paralegal position; and needed to generate income and so I started to clean houses.

Web Site: http://twoandabucket.com

Email Address: [email protected]

Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/2LadiesBucket