We recently connected with Nate Wolfe and have shared our conversation below.

Nate, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

I’ve been back and forth between construction and hospitality for the entirety of my life, and the skills I learned from both arenas helped shape my specific skill set that I would need as the business owner that I am today. I recognized a need for post-construction job site cleanups, maintenance and exterior care for new construction projects, and exterior cleaning in general for commercial and residential sites as well.

My main motivation for getting started was the freedom to make my own schedule. I’m super conscious of my time and I value how it’s spent, so staying schedule-oriented and making sure I keep myself productive is the biggest benefit to operating my own business. I also enjoy the responsibility of being the owner — if the business fails, it’s on me. and on the flip side of that coin, if it succeeds, it’s also on me! That challenge keeps me motivated, for sure.

Nate, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I provide exterior/interior cleaning services for commercial and residential properties in the upstate, including gutter & roof cleaning/maintenance, deck and fence staining, chimney sweep services, and commercial site cleanups. I offer free estimates and consultations, can usually provide services within 72 hours, and I give 10% off for veterans and seniors too! I’m most proud of the fact that I’m able to perform most of the services myself — not only because I want to be sure they’re done correctly, but I love staying active and working outside!

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

After years of working for a general contractor, I realized I wanted more control over my schedule and the projects I took on. I enjoyed the hands-on nature of the work, but I saw an opportunity to specialize in an area that many contractors overlooked—roof and gutter cleaning. While working on various sites, I noticed how neglected these essential maintenance tasks often were, despite their importance in preventing costly repairs. This insight sparked the idea to start my own exterior cleaning business, allowing me to fill a niche while building something of my own. I knew it would be a challenge to transition from being an employee to running my own company, but the prospect of creating a service-focused, trade-based business excited me. With a clear vision and a commitment to delivering quality work, I made the leap and haven’t looked back since.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

When I launched my exterior cleaning business, the first month was filled with challenges—equipment failures, a slow trickle of clients, and the constant fear of financial instability. And then one afternoon, I looked in the mirror and reminded myself why I made the pivot in the first place. Determined not to let setbacks define me, I used my savings to upgrade my tools and spent evenings networking to drum up more business. Within weeks, word-of-mouth referrals started pouring in, and I landed a contract with a property management company that transformed my client base. That moment taught me that resilience wasn’t just about enduring hardships—it was about adapting, pushing forward, and trusting the process.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.topnotchcleaningsolutionsupstate.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564111202947
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathan-wolfe-gsp-sc/