#138: Why Ryan Williams Started a Cleaning Business From Working at ZenMaid

Ryan Williams spent two years at ZenMaid helping cleaning business owners better run their companies...then he bought into one. In this episode, Stephanie sits down with Ryan, co-owner of The Villages Maid Service Hot Springs location and VP of Revenue at ZenMaid, to talk about what changed when he went from giving advice to living it. They talk about classic hiring chaos, the feast-or-famine pendulum, the contractor vs. W2 debate, and why brand still beats AI in 2026. They also have a few very unserious blooper moments, but that's what you get when you listen to a podcast with these two    📌 What You'll Learn  — Why the cleaners you trust earliest are often the ones who quit first  — How to handle the "feast or famine" swing between too many leads and not enough cleaners  — When the contractor model makes sense vs. when to switch to W2  — How to use Alex Hormozi's "Dream 100" to get your first paying customers  — Why brand and culture matter more than paid ads in 2026  — What to do when an applicant says "yes" the morning of and ghosts you anyway  — How to set expectations with 1099 cleaners around insurance and supplies   Resources Mentioned — The Ultimate Sales Machine by Chet Holmes: https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Sales-Machine-Turbocharge-Relentless/dp/1591842158 — ZenMaid: https://get.zenmaid.com/ — The Villages Maid Service (Hot Springs + Florida locations): https://thevillagesmaidservice.com/   👉 Try ZenMaid free for 14 days: https://get.zenmaid.com 📞 Stephanie's Consulting & Resources for Purchase: https://serene-clean.com/consulting-services/ ✉️ Subscribe to ZenMaid's Weekly Newsletter: https://www.zenmaid.com/newsletter/