Lynn Cotton is the owner of Crystalline Cleaning Company, a small commercial cleaning business she founded in St. Louis, Missouri in 2009. Through the following phone-held interview, Lynn is going to talk us through the logistics of starting a business as well as other essential information.
1. To start from the beginning, can you tell us what inspired you to establish your own business versus working for one that already was?
“I was working for a cleaning company before I established my own. I didn’t like the hours with two young kids at home, and the fixated pay. In my opinion, the company I worked for, specifically the owner, was not professional and slacked off on several aspects of the job. This really pushed me to feel that not only was I capable of starting my own business, but doing a better job as well.”
2. When you first had your idea to start the company, how long was it before it was a functioning business?”
“It was almost exactly three months, and I kept working in the meantime. Essentially the only thing I was waiting on was for paperwork to go through. I had to meet with my lawyer and call around to several insurance agencies to find the best coverage for the business. I then started to make practice phone calls to local businesses to ask if they needed cleaning services — and to my luck, the first call turned into an opportunity I am still employed with today!”
3. What education do you feel is essential, if any, to complete the role as an owner for a small business such as yours?
“I truly feel that any education can help you. Basic accounting, business communication, and foreign languages are all useful classes that can help you start your own profession. Although I think it would be extremely difficult, I do know people that have started businesses without a college education — so it is possible.”
4. Looking at how Crystalline Cleaning Company has changed over the years, is the amount of growth you have received (in the number of employees, etc.) what you expected?
“Yes, I am exactly where I wanted to be. As I said before, one of the reasons I started was because I wanted to ensure a high quality of performance by my employees. The small size I am at allows me to still be a hands-on owner, but I have enough employment that the company is still afloat.”
5. As I was doing my own research on small businesses, I came across several terms like “Sole Proprietorship”, “Limited Liability Company (LLC)”, and “Corporation”, can you tell us which of these types of small businesses Crystalline Cleaning Company is, as well as why you chose this format?
“I am an S corporation, which was my lawyer’s recommendation. Essentially with the size of my business, an S corp juristics my taxes as well as provides me with more protection than an LLC or other form. With the economy, anything can happen to a small business, and I wanted to make sure that if my company did go into debt, that my personal assets would be protected. This is coverage an LLC or other form does not always provide, however, an S corp costs more in the long run — so it is up to personal preference and not a bad idea to consult a lawyer.”
6. As the owner, you have to deal with all the paperwork that many may not realize goes into a business, what exactly does this paperwork entail (like filing taxes, and payroll), and how much time do you feel you spend working on this aspect of your company?
“As the owner, there is always something I can be doing. I have taxes, payroll, receipt filing, weekly/monthly/yearly expenditures, new employee interviews etc. It is an easy 1-2 hours a day just in paperwork, not on top of actually working. This could vary for other businesses but I feel that it is a pretty accurate representation.”
7. Do you feel that the amount of female-owned small businesses is equivalent to that of male-owned? What are some challenges you have had to overcome (work-life balance, discrimination) that you feel a male owner would not face?
“I feel that female-owned small businesses might outnumber the amount of male-owned. Contrastingly from when I first started the company, there is a law-abiding push for companies to not discriminate, or harass female workers. However, it is still a male-dominated world, and I did have a company prefer a male employee as their cleaner. Although this isn’t right, or professional, and I could have sought legal action – I decided to just move on. I want to work for companies that respect me, and my employees, and if that is how the company feels then I do not want to work for them. That is one of the benefits of having your own company, that you can decide whether or not you want to provide your services there or elsewhere. Now I feel that all of the employers I am providing a cleaning service for are a good fit with my company morals, and it is a trusting work relationship. Concerning the work-life balance portion of the question — I did have two small children while I was starting my business. I was always able to make it to all of their events, and have family time with them. This is partly because I was able to make my own hours and decide on my workload.”
8. Lastly, as I thank you for your time and the information you have provided, is there anything you would like to share?
“Owning your own business is not for everyone. Some people prefer a work routine, to not have to bring work home, and vacation time — a luxury you don’t get as a business owner. However, my favorite part is how much flexibility I have. Not only in my hours but also with my income. If I want to make more money, I find more companies to clean, and vice versa. The control I have with Crystalline Cleaning Company allowed owning a business to fit my lifestyle and is my favorite part.”
Starting your own business or company can be tedious and time-consuming. As Lynn mentioned, there are numerous types of paperwork the owner must complete to ensure the business is running smoothly and the employees are safe. Although this may disappoint several aspiring entrepreneurs, the rewards of owning your own small business greatly outweigh these costs. I hope this interview was not only information but possibly inspirational to some looking to start their own business!