In this episode of the Five Door Media Podcast Blog, we sat down with Christopher Maurer, Co-Founder and CRO of Model Rocket Technologies, to unpack how artificial intelligence (AI), automation, and smarter systems can help cleaning and home-service companies scale without adding chaos.

Maurer’s message is simple but powerful: AI isn’t about replacing people. It’s about giving business owners the tools to make better decisions, protect margins, and serve customers faster using the team and resources they already have.

If you’re a cleaning business owner who wants to grow sustainably (not just bigger, but better), here’s what you can take from our conversation.

If you’re running a cleaning company - whether you offer house cleaning, commercial janitorial services, power washing, or window cleaning - you’ve probably asked this at some point:

“What does it really cost to run Google Ads?”

And like most things in marketing, the honest answer is: it depends. Some folks say you can run ads with just a few hundred bucks. Others say you’ll need thousands to see real results. So what’s the truth?

In this blog, we’ll break down the actual components of running Google Ads as a cleaning company so you can make informed decisions, set a realistic budget, and avoid surprises.

If you’ve ever wondered whether software and AI can actually make your brand feel more human, not less, this episode was built for you. In our latest Five Door Media Podcast, we sat down with Michelle Jeppesen, Director of Business Development at SendJim, to unpack how today’s smartest home service operators are scaling trust, retention, and referrals using multi-touch marketing, personalized automation, and practical AI.

Automation isn’t a shortcut for connection - it’s the system that makes connection reliable.

Hiring a marketing agency is a little like dating. At first, they say all the right things. They promise they’ll always be there for you, they brag about how many other people adore them, and you’re thinking: “Wow, where have you been all my life?”

And then, six months later, you’re staring at your credit card bill wondering if you’ve been catfished.

Look, there are plenty of great agencies out there. But there are also some red flags you should know about. Here are seven that cleaning and pressure washing companies run into the most.

Welcome back to another episode of the Five Door Media Podcast. This season, we’re diving headfirst into one of the biggest shifts the cleaning industry has ever seen: the rise of AI, automation, and software that make companies run faster, leaner, and smarter.

Our guest this week, Roland Ligtenberg, isn’t just talking about that future, he’s helping build it. As Co-Founder and SVP of Growth & Innovation at Housecall Pro, Roland has spent the last decade helping home service pros simplify their operations and scale their businesses through technology that actually works.

From AI “team members” to data-driven coaching and recurring service plans, Roland shares how the pros who lean into automation now will outpace everyone else tomorrow.

If you’ve ever searched for “house cleaning near me” or “maid service in [your city]” and didn’t see your company listed, you’re not alone.

Most cleaning businesses struggle to appear on the first page of Google, and if you’re not on page one, most potential customers won’t find you.

The good news is that SEO (Search Engine Optimization) can help level the playing field. With the right local strategy, even small cleaning companies can compete with big-name franchises.

This guide covers the proven SEO strategies that help cleaning companies rank in their local markets.

Today, we’re diving into a powerful conversation with Holly Moore, founder of Maids and Moore and creator of The Cleaning Software.

Holly has a rare perspective: she built one of the nation’s largest residential cleaning companies, scaling it to more than 150 cleaners and $10 million in revenue, and then turned her operational know-how into a software platform designed specifically for residential cleaning businesses. In our conversation, she shared how automation, AI, and smart integrations are reshaping the industry, and what every cleaning business owner needs to know to stay ahead.

You’re running ads, your website is live, and leads are coming in — but they’re not turning into paying customers. If you’ve ever felt like your digital marketing is driving traffic but not revenue, you’re not alone.

In the home service world, especially cleaning, this is one of the most common frustrations we hear: "I’m getting leads, but they’re not converting."

And here’s the hard truth: If your leads aren’t converting, it usually means one (or more) of five things in your marketing and sales process is broken.

At Five Door Media, we call this the 5 Door System, and in this blog, we’re going to focus on Door 3: Targeting, Door 4: Engagement, and Door 5: Sales — because that’s where lead conversion lives or dies.

In a recent episode of the Five Door Media Podcast, we sat down with Omar Santana, CEO of Automaid, a software platform that helps cleaning companies streamline scheduling, dispatching, payments, and customer experience. Omar has worked with thousands of service businesses across the country and has a front-row seat to how technology is transforming the industry.

This conversation is packed with insights for any cleaning business owner looking to simplify operations and scale with clarity instead of chaos.

If you’ve ever run ads on Google or Facebook for your cleaning business, you’ve probably noticed: costs can change, sometimes fast.

It can feel random — but it’s not.

Ad spend changes based on real, trackable factors. And if you understand what drives those changes, you can make smarter decisions with your budget and avoid unpleasant surprises.

In this guide, we’ll break down the top reasons ad costs go up or down, and what you can do about it as a cleaning company.

If you run a cleaning company and feel overwhelmed by software, AI, and the never-ending promise of tech that "does it all," this episode is your lifeline. Libby DeLucien, cleaning industry powerhouse and software founder, knows the real-world challenges of running a home service business, and she’s on the front lines helping owners implement technology that actually works.

If you run a cleaning or pressure washing business, you already know the hustle. You’re scheduling crews, dealing with equipment that always seems to break mid-job, and trying to keep bleach from ruining yet another pair of sneakers.

And then, somewhere between payroll and clogged vacuums, someone reminds you: “You really should be doing SEO, running Facebook ads, and posting on social media.”

That’s when the question hits: Should I just hire a marketing agency?

Let’s walk through the pros and cons.

This season, we're sitting down with Curt Kempton, founder of ResponsiBid, a quoting and sales automation software that’s changing the way cleaning companies operate. Curt didn’t start as a software engineer. He started as a window cleaner. And it’s that boots-on-the-ground perspective that makes his insights so valuable. In this conversation, we unpack what he’s seeing across the home service industry, how AI is being adopted (and misused), and what separates companies that scale with tech from those that stall.

If you're a cleaning business owner trying to grow your client list, you've likely asked:

"Should I invest in Google Ads or Facebook Ads?"
"Which one brings in more paying customers and delivers the best return on my investment?"

The short answer is that both platforms can work, but they serve different purposes and support different business goals. This article will help you understand how each works and when to use them.

Welcome back to the Five Door Media blog, where we dive into lessons from our podcast conversations with leaders across the home service industry.

In this episode, we sat down with Martha Woodward, co-founder of QualityDriven Software, a platform built to help cleaning and service businesses track employee performance, reduce churn, and foster accountability. Martha’s story is equal parts grit and insight. She didn’t just study culture - she lived it, leading a cleaning business through chaotic beginnings, rebuilding after hard lessons, and eventually creating systems that gave her team clarity and her company stability.

If you’re a cleaning business owner, you’ve probably asked yourself this exact question: "Why does digital marketing cost what it costs? And exactly what makes it go up or down?"
In this blog, we’ll break down the top factors that can increase – or decrease – the cost of your digital marketing investment as a cleaning company. Our goal is to demystify this topic and help you feel more confident in evaluating quotes, proposals and performance.

Welcome back to the Five Door Media blog, where we unpack insights from our podcast conversations to help home service leaders thrive.

In this episode, we sat down with Lacie Nash, co-founder and CEO of Clean Squad, a near seven-figure residential and commercial cleaning company in Metro Detroit. Lacie’s story is as real as it gets: she and her business partner rebuilt Clean Squad from scratch during COVID after losing their entire team. With only $2,000, grit, and relentless consistency, they grew back stronger by prioritizing culture, trust, and leadership over shortcuts.

Many cleaning company owners try to handle their marketing on their own - after all, who knows the business better than you? Unfortunately, what starts as a cost-saving decision often turns into a hidden drain on time, energy, and profit.

In this blog, we’ll break down the hidden risks of DIY marketing for cleaning companies, why so many owners find themselves stuck in the same cycle, and how to know when it’s time to bring in professional help.

Welcome back to the Five Door Media blog, where we dig into the insights from our podcast guests to help home service leaders build healthier, stronger businesses.

In this episode, we sat down with Brandon Faust, co-founder and Executive Director of Wayfinders and partner at Switchback Leadership Development, to hear how he helps leaders and teams build a culture that’s simple, scalable, and sustainable. He showed us that the best cultures don’t need a 20-page handbook. They need simplicity, consistency, and a few key habits that everyone can understand and live out.

By all accounts, building a website should be easier than scrubbing baseboards. I mean, you’re not on your knees with a Magic Eraser. You’re just dragging boxes on a screen. How hard can it be?

Turns out, kind of hard.

At Five Door Media, cleaning companies often ask us: “Which is the best website builder for my business?” Let’s break it down — Wix, Squarespace, and WordPress — the three most common platforms.