We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Darian Jarrett a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Darian, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today One deeply underappreciated facet of entrepreneurship is the kind of crazy stuff we have to deal with as business owners. Sometimes it’s crazy positive sometimes it’s crazy negative, but crazy experiences unite entrepreneurs regardless of industry. Can you share a crazy story with our readers?

For years, my wife and I lived a steady life in Little Rock, Arkansas. We’d built up our cleaning business to a point where it was manageable. I was still doing most of the cleaning myself, but it worked. It was comfortable.

Then came our fifth wedding anniversary. We decided to celebrate with dinner in Northwest Arkansas, thinking it would be an exciting night. Instead, it was the opposite. The food was great, but the whole experience just felt off. My wife, who usually keeps things together no matter what, had what I can only describe as a meltdown right there at the table. She looked at me, frustrated but hopeful, and asked, “What do you think about moving to a different state? Maybe we could have a different kind of experience.”

That question caught me off guard. Moving? I’d never really thought about it. I mean, how would we even make that work with the business? I’d gotten so used to doing things a certain way—my way—that the idea of uprooting everything seemed impossible. But as the night went on, we started talking it through, throwing out ideas, and imagining what life might look like somewhere else.

Eventually, we landed on Florida. We’d always loved visiting Florida—whether it was the beaches or Disney, we never had a bad time there. But living there? Running a business there? That was something we’d never considered. Still, the idea stuck.

A couple of months later, in February, we decided to test the waters. We planned a week-long trip to Florida, just to see if this crazy idea could actually work. While my wife and kids enjoyed the trip, I hit the streets with flyers and business cards in hand, going door-to-door to see if there was even a market for our services.

One day during that trip, I walked into a clinic and spoke with the office manager. She told me they might be looking for a new cleaner and mentioned that two new clinics were opening soon. It wasn’t a guarantee, but it gave me hope.

That moment was all I needed to start thinking, Maybe this is actually possible.

In March, I flew back to Florida to follow up with her. That trip changed everything. I landed the contract, and with that, we made the decision. We sold what we could, packed up the house, and moved to Jacksonville.

It wasn’t easy, and I had no idea what to expect, but we made it work. Fast forward to now, and we’ve got multiple contracts, a nine-person team, and a thriving business. I’m no longer doing all the cleaning myself, which honestly feels like a dream.

Looking back, it all started with that one underwhelming dinner. My wife’s question forced me to think bigger and take a risk I’d been too scared to even consider. Now, here we are—living as Floridians, enjoying life, and running a business that’s grown far beyond what we had in Arkansas. Sometimes, all it takes is one uncomfortable moment to spark a life-changing decision.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m an entrepreneur and the owner of a Capital City Professional Cleaning Services, as well as a YouTube creator focused on teaching others how to start and succeed in the cleaning industry. My journey into this field began when I was just 13 years old, working in my parents’ janitorial service. I grew up learning the ins and outs of the business—everything from proper cleaning techniques to understanding the importance of reliability and client satisfaction. After school and football practice, I’d head out to clean buildings in the evenings, which taught me discipline, responsibility, and the value of hard work at a young age.

In 2019, I decided to start my own cleaning business, leveraging years of hands-on experience. When the pandemic hit, I was laid off from my job and I took it as an opportunity to go all in and fully commit to my business. It was a challenging time for many, but I saw a chance to create a business that provides essential services and supports the safety and cleanliness of commercial spaces.

My business focuses on delivering exceptional commercial cleaning services, especially for medical offices and clinics. We help our clients maintain professional, spotless environments so they can focus on what they do best!

What sets me apart is my deep experience, passion for the industry, and dedication to helping others succeed. Through my YouTube channel, I teach aspiring entrepreneurs how to start, grow, and scale their cleaning businesses. I may not have all the answers but I just share what’s worked for me along with practical strategies, motivational content, and real-life lessons to inspire others to take action.

I’m most proud of how far I’ve come—from cleaning alongside my parents as a teenager to building my own business and helping others do the same. I’m enjoying the journey!

For potential clients, I want them to know my business is built on professionalism, reliability, and a commitment to excellence. For the readers, I want to show them that no matter where you start, with the right mindset and work ethic, success is possible. My mission is to inspire and empower others to take action in faith, if there’s something you feel called to do— you can do it!.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

The most influential resource that impacted my management and entrepreneurial thinking is *The E-Myth Revisited* by Michael E. Gerber. This book changed how I viewed my role in my business, emphasizing the importance of working *on* the business instead of being trapped working *in* it. It introduced me to the concept of building systems and processes that allow a business to thrive independently of the owner’s direct involvement. That shift in mindset was pivotal for me, especially when I realized I couldn’t grow my cleaning business alone.

At one point, the workload became too heavy for me to manage on my own. While my wife and a family member helped, they had their own responsibilities, and I was often cleaning until 3 a.m. That’s when I knew I needed to hire a team. It was a challenging step because, like many small business owners, I was afraid to let go of control. But leveraging the lessons from the book, I realized that creating systems and duplicating my efforts through others was the only way to scale and avoid burnout.

Another concept that shaped my philosophy was Myron Golden’s “Four Levels of Value.” It helped me understand how to transition from being the technician (doing all the cleaning myself) to managing a team (unification) and eventually focusing on leadership and innovation (entrepreneurship).

To put these principles into practice, I took specific steps, including creating a job posting on Indeed.com, screening candidates, and establishing a clear onboarding process. I developed systems for training and quality control, which allowed me to transition into a management role, overseeing a team of five. In some cases, like in my Little Rock, Arkansas, operations, I subcontract the work entirely, allowing me to manage remotely while focusing on growing the business.

These resources and experiences helped me evolve as both a leader and an entrepreneur, showing me how to work smarter, build a team, and create a scalable business model.

Has your business ever had a near-death moment? Would you mind sharing the story?

When we expanded our business to Florida, we encountered a significant challenge: managing cash flow. One of our largest clients had extended payment terms, tying up a substantial portion of our revenue for an extended period. In our Arkansas business, we were accustomed to receiving payment within a few weeks. Mainly because we had a bunch of smaller accounts that would process the invoice quicker. So we would work the full 30 days then send an invoice at the end of the month. Well when we got to Florida— we’d work 30 days and then wouldn’t get paid until 30 days after the invoice was sent. We definitely learned our lesson the hard way.

The extended payment terms put a strain on our ability to pay our team and subcontractors, particularly as we were a young business with limited financial reserves. To overcome this challenge going forward, we took several steps. First, we worked closely with our clients to streamline payment processes, going from paper checks to online payments. This reduces processing time. Second, we established a dedicated financial reserve to act as a safety net during unexpected delays or shortfalls. Finally, we actively sought to diversify our income streams by expanding our client base and exploring new revenue opportunities like post construction cleaning and other specialty services.
Through these efforts, we were able to navigate the challenges of managing cash flow and ensure the long-term sustainability of our growing business.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.theprocleaningllc.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theprocleaningteam?igsh=MTc3bmhmaXE5OXB0Yw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/B9z1G8w3RbX7tzE4/?mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Youtube: https://www.facebook.com/share/B9z1G8w3RbX7tzE4/?mibextid=LQQJ4d