Anthony & Jhanilka Hartzog – Cleaning Business University

The dream of starting a business—one with low startup costs, recurring revenue, and the potential to scale—leads many aspiring entrepreneurs to the commercial and residential cleaning industry. It’s a foundational service that’s always in demand. But where do you start? How do you find clients, price your services, and manage growth without getting overwhelmed?

This is the gap that Anthony and Jhanilka Hartzog aim to fill with their flagship program, Cleaning Business University (CBU). They aren’t just teachers; they are operators who built a multi-million dollar cleaning empire from the ground up. Their program promises to provide the exact blueprint they used to achieve their own success.

But does CBU offer a realistic path to a profitable business, or is it just another expensive course? This in-depth review will dissect the program, exploring the Hartzogs’ story, the core curriculum, and the tangible steps you can expect to learn.

The Hartzogs’ credibility is the cornerstone of Cleaning Business University. Their story is a powerful example of entrepreneurial grit. Anthony left a corporate job, and together, they started their cleaning business with minimal capital, reportedly just a few hundred dollars.

They faced the classic struggles: finding their first clients, managing cash flow, and figuring out operations. Through trial, error, and the development of repeatable systems, they scaled their company, My Maid Service, into a massive success, servicing major commercial clients and generating millions in revenue.

They now focus on teaching their methods through CBU. Their background is crucial—they are not theoreticians but practitioners who have personally overcome the challenges their students face. This real-world experience is the program’s biggest selling point.

Cleaning Business University is a comprehensive training program designed to take a complete beginner from idea to a fully operational and scalable cleaning business. It’s structured as a step-by-step system, covering every aspect of the business.

The curriculum is typically broken down into several key modules:

This module addresses the initial fears and questions. It focuses on the logistics of getting started:

• Legal Structure: How to legally form your business (LLC, etc.).

• Insurance: What type of insurance you need to protect yourself and your clients.

• Low-Cost Startup Strategies: How to launch with minimal investment, often starting with residential jobs to generate cash flow for commercial equipment.

This is often the most valuable part of the program for newcomers. The Hartzogs teach specific, proven strategies for getting clients without a large advertising budget. This includes:

• B2B Commercial Prospecting: How to find, contact, and land lucrative commercial contracts (offices, medical facilities, etc.). This is where the high revenue lies.

• Residential Marketing: Strategies for attracting homeowners, potentially through platforms like Angi (formerly Angie’s List) or local Facebook groups.

• The Sales Process: Scripts and frameworks for conducting walk-throughs, creating estimates, and closing deals. They emphasize value-based pricing over competing on price.

• Building an Online Presence: Creating a simple, effective website and leveraging online reviews.

This is what transforms a chaotic job into a scalable business. CBU provides templates and systems for:

• Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs): Creating checklists for cleaners to ensure consistent, high-quality service on every job.

• Hiring & Training: How to find, vet, and train reliable cleaners, even if you start as a solo operator.

• Scheduling & Routing: Using software to efficiently schedule jobs and plan routes to maximize profitability.

• Supplier Relationships: How to get accounts with janitorial supply companies for wholesale pricing on chemicals and equipment.

Many new business owners undercharge. The Hartzogs teach how to price services correctly to ensure healthy profit margins after accounting for labor, supplies, and travel.

• Square Footage Pricing: The standard method for quoting commercial jobs.

• Per-Hour/Per-Cleaning Pricing: Models for residential work.

• Upselling Services: How to offer add-ons like deep cleaning, window washing, or floor maintenance to increase the value of each client.

Once the foundation is solid, the program covers growth strategies:

• Managing a Team: How to transition from being a cleaner to being a manager.

• Acquiring Other Cleaning Companies: Strategies for buying out competitors to rapidly gain market share and clients.

• Comprehensive & Practical: It covers topics many wouldn’t think of, from what chemicals to use to how to handle client complaints.

• Proven Track Record: The founders’ multi-million dollar success proves the model can work.

• Focus on Commercial Cleaning: While residential is covered, the emphasis on higher-value commercial contracts is a major advantage for scaling.

• Community & Support: Access to a community of other students and direct coaching from the Hartzogs and their team provides valuable networking and troubleshooting.

• High Financial Investment: CBU is a premium program, costing several thousand dollars. This is a significant barrier to entry and must be weighed against the potential ROI.

• Hard Work is Required: This is not a passive business. The initial phases involve intense labor—both in setting up the business and potentially doing the cleaning yourself.

• No Guaranteed Success: While the blueprint is solid, your success depends entirely on your execution, local market conditions, and work ethic. The program provides the map, but you have to do the walking.

• Industry Challenges: You will be managing employees in a high-turnover industry, dealing with client issues, and performing sales and marketing—all classic small business challenges.

Cleaning Business University is an excellent fit for:

• Aspiring Entrepreneurs with Limited Capital: People who want to start a service-based business without a huge upfront investment.

• Hands-On Individuals: Those who aren’t afraid of hard work, either doing the cleaning initially or managing those who do.

• System-Oriented Thinkers: People who appreciate having a clear, step-by-step plan to follow.

• Those Seeking a Scalable Business Model: Individuals who want to build a real asset that can eventually run without their direct involvement.

It is likely NOT for you if:

• You are looking for a purely passive or online business.

• You are not comfortable with sales, marketing, or managing people.

• You cannot afford the program fee and the initial startup costs for basic supplies and insurance.

• You expect easy, guaranteed money without significant effort.