At Thrive, we’re fortunate to work alongside incredible local businesses that help make our community what it is.

One of those businesses is The Cleaning Company AZ.

While Jana and her team often work behind the scenes, they play an important role in helping keep Thrive welcoming, comfortable, and ready for our members each day. We recently sat down with Jana to learn more about her entrepreneurial journey, what inspired her to start her business, and why creating opportunities for others has become one of the most rewarding parts of being a business owner.

From Banking to Business Ownership

Jana has called Arizona home for nearly 22 years, but her path to entrepreneurship wasn’t a straight line.

Before launching The Cleaning Company AZ, she spent more than a decade working in banking and finance. Along the way, she gained valuable experience in customer service, professionalism, and business operations, all skills that would eventually help her build a company of her own.

Like many entrepreneurs, Jana didn’t quit her job and immediately launch a business.

Instead, she started small.

“I always knew I wanted to be a business owner,” she says. “I launched The Cleaning Company as a side business while continuing my banking career.”

Eventually, life presented her with a choice. Rather than searching for another job, she decided to take a leap of faith and go all-in on the business she had been building.

Looking back, she says it was one of the best decisions she’s ever made.

Building a Different Kind of Cleaning Company

Anyone who has worked with commercial cleaning services knows the industry often revolves around one thing: being the cheapest option.

Jana wanted no part of that race.

“I always tell potential customers that we may not be the cheapest, but the price will always be fair,” she says.

Fair for the customer.

Fair for the cleaners doing the work.

And fair for the business.

To Jana, focusing solely on speed and volume doesn’t create the kind of experience she wants for her customers or her team. Instead, she’s built her company around quality service, consistency, and long-term relationships.

It’s a philosophy that has helped The Cleaning Company AZ stand out in an industry where trust and reliability matter tremendously.

Putting People First

As we talked with Jana, one theme came up again and again: people.

Early in her entrepreneurial journey, she had a mentor who owned a commercial cleaning company. Watching that business operate taught her a lesson she never forgot.

“It didn’t take long for me to notice that employees were overworked and underpaid while the owner enjoyed the rewards of their hard work,” she says.

In that moment, Jana made a decision.

She wanted to build something different.

Today, she intentionally pays her cleaners more than 30% above industry standards and works to create an environment where team members feel respected, appreciated, and supported.

What she didn’t anticipate was how much that decision would benefit everyone involved.

“Our customers know their cleaners by name. They build relationships with them. Sometimes they even leave gifts.”

Because employees feel valued, they stay. They take pride in their work. They get to know each client’s unique needs and consistently deliver a higher level of service.

Creating a positive experience for employees ended up creating a better experience for customers too.

Creating Opportunities Through Business

When asked about the most rewarding part of building her business, Jana didn’t talk about revenue or growth goals.

She talked about people.

By paying above-industry wages, she’s been able to help many team members supplement their household income and earn meaningful wages for their families.

She also shared something that has stayed with us.

For some women who have experienced domestic violence and are working to rebuild their lives, having access to a stable job and a livable wage can be life-changing.

“This allows women who are forced to start their lives over due to domestic violence to earn a livable wage.”

It’s a powerful reminder that businesses can create impact in ways that go far beyond the services they provide.

Changing the Narrative

One of the biggest challenges Jana has faced isn’t cleaning itself.

It’s changing perceptions within the cleaning industry.

Too many businesses have been promised exceptional service only to be disappointed after making a switch.

“A lot of businesses have been made a lot of promises that if they switch companies, they’ll get better service,” Jana says. “The business makes the switch, but nothing improves.”

Over time, that creates understandable skepticism. Many business owners become reluctant to switch providers, even when they’re unhappy with their current service.

For Jana, earning trust isn’t about making bigger promises.

It’s about consistently delivering on the ones she makes.

Life Beyond the Business

Outside of work, Jana enjoys spending time with her two cocker spaniels, trying new restaurants, visiting farmers markets and plant shops, and cooking for friends and family.

She describes cooking as one of her love languages.

One of the things she appreciates most about entrepreneurship is the flexibility it provides.

As an early riser, she enjoys getting ahead on work while still having the freedom to spend time with friends and family, fit in a workout, or simply be present for the people she cares about.

“I can work from random places at random times, and I truly love that freedom.”

Advice for Women Thinking About Starting a Business

For women considering entrepreneurship, Jana offers simple but powerful advice:

“Just get started, and be ready to pivot.”

She believes too many aspiring entrepreneurs get stuck waiting for the perfect plan.

The reality?

Your business will evolve as you gain experience.

The plan that seems perfect today may not be the one that serves you best a year from now.

Starting before you’re completely ready is often part of the process.

Connect with Jana

To learn more about Jana and The Cleaning Company AZ, visit:

Website: www.thecleaningcompanyaz.com

Email: jana@thecleaningcompanyaz.com

Phone: 805-423-2203

We’re grateful to have partners like Jana helping support the Thrive community and love celebrating women who are building businesses with purpose, integrity, and heart.

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