Meet Karie Miller | Founder / Owner Green Cleaning Company

We had the good fortune of connecting with Karie Miller and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Karie, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Honestly, I am not sure I really had a thought process when I started my own business. It just happened and as a daughter of a longtime business owner, being a business owner myself was in my blood. I never reacted well to being told what to do, so being my own boss was ultimately the only answer for my future. I wish I could say that I sat down one day and wrote a business plan, got a loan, did a ton of marketing and prepared a perfect path to success, but it was much more organic. I had been selling environmentally safe cleaning products (and vitamins) for several years. I was a good at it because I was passionate in getting rid of toxic cleaning supplies in the home. At the end of 2009, I was 6 months pregnant with my daughter, still selling products and was now working as a server at a local Italian restaurant. After doing that for a while, I decided I didn’t want to serve or sell anymore. Instead, I thought about starting a cleaning business with these products that I knew so well. I wanted to show people that they could have clean homes without using toxic chemicals to do it. With a broom, my non-toxic, bio-degradable green cleaning solutions and a few towels and sponges, I went to work. One house at a time my business grew completely by word of mouth. Fifteen years later, I am still here along with 7 other employees and much more efficient business operation. I’m proud to say we have increased our sales every year since I started!

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Not everyone will admit they actually enjoy cleaning, but I really do. I love knowing that someone will come home from a long day at work or managing their family, open their door to a tidy and sparkling clean home without using chemicals to do it. We give our clients the gift of time with our service. Time to spend with family or friends, go to the gym or make a nice meal, or just relax. All knowing they do not have to lift a finger to clean anything because Green For You Cleaning did it for them. We have had the unhappy client now and then. In the beginning, it destroyed me. Like, “can’t sleep and I’m up all night” destroyed me. I wanted to go to their house that moment and fix the problem. I know I am not perfect, but I expect perfection for my clients so it really bothered me—still does! The one thing I have learned though is to not overreact and get defensive. Take a breath. Ask questions. Apologize. And remember what Metoyer told me, “there really are no problems, only solutions!” – it has become my motto. You can guarantee I will come up with a solution – (a little secret about me, I can pretty much fix any problem or find someone who can) – I am proud of this quality. This is what sets me a part from other companies and is a huge reason why clients stay with us. I obviously still have challenges and it changes by the hour. But I have learned to check in with clients to let them know that I care and am available for them to come to me with any questions or concerns. Communication is key, as it’s the only way to resolve an issue. I stress this in the beginning of any client relationship and I also make it a priority when I hire my employees. I take care of them like I do my clients. I have learned that consistent check-ins with employees are essential to their happiness in their job which always equates to how they perform on the job. I try to support them the best that I can. I love this company and the people who work with me. I am extremely proud of fact that employees have said that “working for Green For You Cleaning has made a profound positive impact on their lives.”

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I live in the SouthBay. So I have so many areas I can share with visitors. The beach, the city, the mountains … all from 5 minutes to only a couple hours away. I always suggest to get a home rental as close to the beach as possible. They can take daily walks on the strand and meet up for coffee at one of my favorites spots, Java Man in Hermosa Beach. I also take them to the Redondo Beach Pier. Probably on a Thursday so we can enjoy the farmers market at Veteran’s Park and then walk them on the pier and end up at Tony’s, an iconic bar that has been open since 1952. I could take them paddle boarding or kayaking and on the same day drive them to The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures located in Los Angeles. I love the changing exhibits they have their. If they felt they needed mountains, we would take a short drive to Lake Arrowhead and maybe spend a couple days there – on the water in the summer or skiing in the winter. I am from a small town called Lemoore, California and I had a great upbringing there … but my dream was to come to Los Angeles. And I love LA, it is my home.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My business started out with just me, but it would not have survived without many individuals during this journey. For the first few years I cleaned all the homes by myself, with occasional assistance from a couple friends and a few helpers I met along the way. (Shoutout to Teresa who was there with me early on!) The jobs kept coming in and it wasn’t long before I could not keep up on my own. I asked around and got recommendations for a few exceptional cleaners that taught me how to clean better and more efficient. I still feel so lucky that’ these “angels” popped up at different phases of my business journey to help get me where I am today. When people ask I always say “Yes, I own the business, but I have the most amazing crew and we work together as a team!” I am so thankful for them every day. My other shoutout is to my husband, Jeff Miller, for supporting me the whole way through. Together we have been able to keep this business growing while also managing our busy family life with our wonderful 3 kids! When I started, I used to write down every job and every dollar amount in a notebook – old school. Obviously that wasn’t sustainable. In 2018, Jeff got more involved and decided it was time to take Green For You Cleaning to the next level. He built a website, streamlined our operation with a few online applications to make it easier for us to manage and more convenient for our customers. Change can be scary, so I was reluctant at first but I thank him for pursuing and following through. We have been growing rapidly ever since! Part of that change was also increasing our client base so we added commercial and construction cleaning to our services. This was a big step so I am very thankful to Jason Metoyer of DMiles Development, who mentored me about the ins and outs of that side of the business and his continued support today. Mom, you are always there for me no matter what. I am blessed you were able to help me with the kids during my busy times. Also, for riding along with me from job to job and occasionally helping me. Dad, I have your business sense and your tenacity and my ability to persevere through the hardest times of owning a business. And as you know there are some pretty difficult obstacles to work through. Thank you for your advice even when I did not want to hear it—I listened…mostly! Lastly, I have to thank my hundreds of clients past and present. They are my biggest supporters and without their trust and loyalty, I would not have the successful business I have today.

Website: https://www.greenforyoucleaning.com

Instagram: @greenforyoucleaning