Today we’d like to introduce you to Moaiad Shehadeh.
Hi Moaiad, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was born and raised in Amman, Jordan. At the age of 19, after graduating as a commercial pilot, I decided to move to the United States on my own to seek better opportunities and to begin my career, which was, at the time, flying planes. I invested in becoming a flight instructor in Miami, FL, and then landed a job flying a jet all over South America and the Caribbean islands. Afterwards, I moved to El Paso, TX to fly cargo planes. Unfortunately, COVID put my professional pilot career on hold, and things were black and white for me until I chose to take matters into my own hands and create something positive out of a very negative experience.
After being furloughed, I packed my belongings and drove to Dallas, where I worked various jobs to make ends meet. I eventually realized that I had to make a change because I wasn’t accomplishing tangible goals at the time. There were many possibilities when I was looking into starting a business with limited funds. But I went into the cleaning business because I saw some flaws in the industry that I wanted to capitalize on and establish a company that offered appropriate solutions for both the consumer and the workforce for the challenges that the industry was facing.
Since opening our doors 15 months ago, my company has grown substantially and is now valued at nearly $1 million. This came as a result of the dedication of myself and my staff, along with the encouragement and support of my wife & family. Knowing that I started my company with less than $10,000 makes me feel both humbled and grateful. This experience has definitely helped me to be modest and appreciative.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Starting a business is never easy; it is challenging. specifically with limited resources that must be utilized wisely to maximize results. The key was to tackle the industry’s main challenge, which is finding skilled professionals who could really deliver quality. And that solution comes at a price; the cost of attracting dedicated, professional, and trustworthy employees is significant. In fact, I wanted to recruit people who’d appreciate their job and the organization they work for by providing the finest benefits and compensation in the industry. Most importantly, treat them as if they were family. Our employees receive an hourly wage of $20–$25 excluding tips, they also receive benefits, bonuses, and access to new company vehicles.
The second challenge to tackle emerged as a result of providing a solution to the primary challenge stated above, which is to offer the lowest pricing to customers while maintaining quality. Aside from providing excellent compensation and benefits to our staff, we also use disposable cleaning supplies (rags, mop heads, dusters, toilet brushes, etc.) We never wash or reuse any of our cleaning supplies, and we only use premium brands like Mrs. Meyer’s and Method. Nevertheless, I managed to offer inexpensive rates by cutting expenses. I initially operated from my own home to avoid paying office rent. Employees would come to my home each day to restock supplies, use the company vehicle, and participate in meetings. In fact, the photo of me above was taken on the same table in my home at which I had my first meeting with my staff as an owner.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
We specialize in residential & commercial cleaning, offering a variety of cleaning plans for homes and businesses, from one-time deep cleanings to discounted, recurring services. We also provide many other types of organizing services by professional organizers, including those for the pantry, garage, and closets.
We are one of the few cleaning services that uses premium products like Ms. Meyers and Method, and the only cleaning company in the DFW Metroplex to use disposable cleaning materials for every property we service.
We are also quite pleased to say that the hourly wage we offer to our staff is indeed the highest in the industry. I believe that this is the single most important factor in our ability to provide superior service to our clients.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
Investment-wise, it is a great place that has unlimited potential due to the rapidly growing population as a result of people moving into it from different cities and states. And personally, I truly love it because it is so diverse and you get to meet people from all over the world from different backgrounds and ethnicities. I also get to try different cuisines, which is a huge bonus!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mikescleaningorganizing.com
