The Profitable Cleaner
Welcome to The Profitable Cleaner Podcast, the #1 podcast in the Cleaning & Facility Maintenance Industry.
The mission of this podcast is simple; to impact Cleaning businesses of all kinds by bringing you captivating interviews, expert insights, and actionable strategies that will elevate your business to new heights.
Bringing you the discussions and knowledge you WANT and the stories and inspiration you need.
We talk about Sales, Technology, Marketing, Operations, Strategy, Leadership, Mindset, Health, GOD and so much more…..
All to unleash the best version of YOU & turn you into a Profitable Owner.
Now, are you ready to Profit?
The Profitable Cleaner
How Janitorial Companies Can Fix Cash Flow & Grow with Confidence| Polishing Profits Ep. 15
If you're a commercial cleaning or janitorial business owner struggling with cash flow - or just tired of waiting 60+ days to get paid - this episode is your wake-up call.
Your hosts Mark Anderson, Sharon Cowan CBSE, and Ed Selkow break down real strategies to improve your cash position, avoid the most dangerous traps, and put cash back into your control. From smart invoicing and early billing to reducing unnecessary expenses and understanding the dangers of factoring, this is the financial reality check your company needs.
🔑 What You’ll Learn:
- ✅ Why cash flow ≠revenue and profit ≠cash
- âś… Invoicing strategies to get paid faster (and without pushback)
- ✅ How to avoid becoming your client’s bank
- âś… Managing costs vs. expenses (and spotting red flags on your P&L)
- âś… Real talk on factoring, credit cards, and financial discipline
- âś… How to accelerate receivables and build stability in your cleaning business
🧠This Episode Is For:
- Janitorial business owners struggling with cash flow gaps
- Business owners managing $500K–$5M in annual revenue
- Entrepreneurs tired of chasing invoices and falling behind on payroll
- Anyone trying to grow profitably without digging a debt hole
đź•’ Episode Highlights:
01:33 – The cash flow nightmare scenario
04:35 – How to invoice ahead (and why it works)
08:41 – The “ghost 60” payroll trap
11:09 – Should you offer early payment incentives?
13:10 – The “Due Upon Receipt” tactic
15:56 – Cutting controllable costs in your cleaning business
18:16 – Why most cleaning businesses fail (and how to avoid it)
20:11 – The risks of factoring and credit cards
🧠Resources:
- ➡️ Catch up on previous episodes of Polishing Profits here: The Profitable Cleaner Network
đź”— Where to Find Your Hosts
- Sharon Cowan, CBSE – LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram
- Mark Anderson – LinkedIn
- Ed Selkow – Facebook
About Polishing Profits
Polishing Profits is hosted by three of the most respected leaders in the janitorial industry—Mark Anderson, Sharon Cowan, and Ed Selkow. With over 140 years of combined experience, they’ve built and scaled cleaning companies, coached hundreds of owners, and helped countless teams grow stronger.
Every episode delivers real stories, actionable strategies, and tools to build a cleaning business that thrives.
Produced by The Profitable Cleaner Network