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

Savannah, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

I’ve worked a lot of odd jobs before starting Etter Cleaning Service. And most of them were pretty hectic and underpaid. So my dream for Etter Cleaning Service is to provide jobs that pay a live-able wage and have a decent work-life balance. For the cleaning industry specifically, I also wanted to provide a consistent experience for the clients. I worked at a large cleaning company before I started Etter Cleaning Service, and the quality of the work was all over the place. In Etter Cleaning Service, I have created a lot of policies (with the help of my partner, Carla!) for training, quality control, and management systems for future growth that will keep the quality top priority. In creating a solid work environment for the employees, I plan to foster a system where there is no need to rush the cleaning. Because of this, the clients’ needs for consistency and thorough cleaning will be fulfilled.

Savannah, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I got into the cleaning industry when I received a job at a residential cleaning company in Kentucky during the pandemic. I had been focusing on music until that point, but didn’t see a way forward, financially, with the rate inflation was going. After experiencing first-hand all the problems that were plaguing that particular cleaning company, I took a huge leap of faith and started cleaning on my own with the goal of hiring my own employees down the road. I felt that I could solve some of the issues if I were able to run things differently.

After a decision to move back to my hometown area, my partner (Carla) and I started Etter Cleaning Service anew in Lee’s Summit last December. Her ideas and commitment to excellence have helped greatly in solidifying the foundation of our values! Her input has been invaluable.

Around the middle of the summer, Carla made the decision to pursue a different career and go back to school. So the need to hire was becoming pretty apparent. I’m happy to say that I have hired my first employee who started several weeks ago! I’m so excited to have taken this first step toward growth. It’s so gratifying to see all of our hard work starting to pay off.

There’s still a long way to go and a lot of policies to fine-tune as I hire more employees. But I’m ready for the challenges and excited for the future of Etter Cleaning Service!

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

Initially, I used my second pandemic check to buy all the supplies and equipment that I would need. Since then, I’ve used the money coming in to organically grow the business. I usually only take enough to pay my bills, and then reinvest the rest into the business. Sometimes it’s been a little hard, especially after moving to Missouri. But I’m extremely glad not to have the pressure of debt weighing on me as I expand and hire.

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

Carla and I met on Bumble in Kentucky. It was crazy because she was also a classically trained musician and had previously had a job as a house cleaner. I knew immediately that I wanted to talk to her. We started dating and joked frequently about going into business together for Etter Cleaning Service. So when we decided to move back to my hometown, we also decided to go into business together. It was a growing experience for both of us because it solidified my drive to own and run a business. And it made Carla realize that the business owner life wasn’t for her. I’m grateful to have had her help in the beginning and I know she’ll always be there for advice since she knows the ins and outs of the business. But I’m also super proud of her for realizing what she really wants out of a career and going for it full force! Even though our careers are diverging now, she’s such an inspiration to me.

Contact Info:

• Website: Ettercleaningservice.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/ettercleaningservice?igshid=NzZlODBkYWE4Ng==
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ettercleaningservice?mibextid=LQQJ4d