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
Why Cash Flow Will Make or Break Your Cleaning Business | Polishing Profits Ep. 14
If you’ve ever asked, “Where did all my profit go?” — this episode is for you.
Mark Anderson, Sharon Cowan CBSE, and Ed Selkow break down the cash flow traps that cripple growing cleaning companies. From AR buckets and vendor terms to the 1.5 rule for new accounts, you’ll learn how to manage your money before it manages you.
💸 Because being profitable on paper means nothing if you can’t make payroll.
🔑 What You’ll Learn:
- ✅ Profit on your P&L is not cash in the bank.
- ✅ What the 1.5 Rule is and how it saves growing businesses
- ✅ The four money buckets every owner must know to avoid bankruptcy
- ✅ How large contracts will destroy your business when you are short on cash in the bank
- ✅ Practical stories and tools to forecast, plan, and stay profitable
🧠 This Episode Is For:
- Janitorial business owners who want to avoid financial stress
- Cleaning entrepreneurs scaling up to larger accounts
- Operators unsure how to manage cash vs. revenue
- Anyone struggling with payroll timing and cash shortages
🕒 Episode Highlights:
- 01:35 – Cash flow vs. revenue vs. profit
- 04:15 – Understanding accounts receivable & payable
- 06:54 – What is the 1.5 Rule for safe growth?
- 10:28 – Why large accounts can bankrupt unprepared companies
- 13:21 – Weekly AR checks and why they matter
- 17:42 – Real-life cash flow mistakes (and lessons)
- 22:07 – The ultimate rule: Don’t Run Out Of Cash
🧠 Resources:
- ➡️ Catch up on previous episodes of Polishing Profits here: The Profitable Cleaner Network
🔗 Where to Find Your Hosts
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