Scaling with Values and Vision - From Laundry Room to National Brand with Susan Toft - Ep 252

Ever wondered if your side hustle could turn into an 8-figure national brand? In this episode, Annelise sits down with Susan Toft, the powerhouse behind Laundry Lady - a business that started in her spare room and now spans over 300 teams across Australia and New Zealand.From doing laundry herself as a new mum to pitching on Shark Tank, Susan shares the gritty truth about growing a purpose-led, flexible business that empowers others while juggling single motherhood, self-doubt, and scrappy start-up solutions.This one’s a must-listen if you’re building a business on your terms and dreaming of scaling - without losing your freedom.How Susan turned a $5K grant into a national business modelWhat actually prepared her for Shark TankWhy building systems from the ground up was her secret weaponWhat investors look for (and what they don’t say out loud)The power of mission-driven marketing when you’re talking to two audiencesHow to grow without burning out—or giving up your valuesHighlights:01:15 – What is Laundry Lady? (And why everyone needs it after a family trip!)04:00 – How Susan became the “OG Laundry Lady” after leaving corporate life07:40 – Scaling from local to national with a bootstrap budget10:50 – The reality of juggling growth, divorce, and full-time work15:00 – Building a team and learning to lead (while letting go)20:30 – The myth of “balance” and the truth about flexible business models26:15 – Behind the scenes of Shark Tank – and what came after33:00 – Raising capital, founder self-belief, and standing strong in your values39:45 – Marketing to two audiences with the same story44:00 – Why Susan still wakes up excited—and how she’s making flexibility contagiousLearn More About Laundry Lady:Website: https://www.laundrylady.com.auInstagram: @laundryladyausWant more …Connect on Instagram: http://instagram.com/annelisewornBook a free Strategy Call: http://anneliseworn.com/consult