Q 1. Kindly give our readers an introduction to your business. Please include what your business is all about, in which city you are located and if you have offices in multiple locations/ cities.
Ans: Aqua City Cleaners is an eco-friendly cleaning company based in Victoria, BC and Vancouver, BC. We think everyone should have access to easy, stress-free cleaning, so our website lets customers book a cleaning appointment in 60 seconds or less. No need to pick up the phone or email us.
Q 2. Kindly give us a brief description about yourself (it should include your brief educational or entrepreneurial background and list some of your major achievements).
Ans: I’ve always been interested in starting my own business, but never got the opportunity to. Since graduating from university, I’ve worked in higher education and non-profit management.
Q 3. What inspired you to (start a new business venture) or (to make significant changes in an existing business)? How did the idea for your business come about?
Ans: I noticed that booking service appointments is usually quite complicated. So I knew immediately that I wanted a business model where customers have lots of independence to book appointments whenever they want. Living on the West Coast, people are very conscious of their ecological footprint, so I definitely wanted something with a low carbon foot print. I also love DIY, so I started off making all cleaning chemicals on my own, in what I call my ‘cleaning kitchen’.
Q 4. What three pieces of advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs?
Ans: Don’t stop working, building, dreaming, and creating
Surround yourself with good people (staff, contractors, freelancers, etc etc)
It’s difficult but don’t get discouraged, and don’t give up.
Q 5. What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?
Ans: Dedication: Staying committed and not losing focus even during the most difficult days
Stubborness: people who don’t give up and don’t take no for an answer
Confidence: Believing in your dream and knowing you have what it takes to achieve it. Being confident to know your shortcomings and improving on them
Q 6. How many hours do you work a day on average?
Ans: On my business, maybe 5
Q 7. To what do you most attribute your success?
Ans: I have a great team!
Q 8. How do you go about marketing your business? What has been your most successful form of marketing?
Ans: Word-of-mouth
Q 9. Where did your organizations funding/capital come from and how did you go about getting it?
Ans: Self-funded
Q 10. What is the best way to achieve long-term success?
Ans: In my business, recurring customers are important. In general, I’m still trying to figure that out
Q 11. Where you see yourself and your business in 5 – 10 years?
Ans: Continous growth, fulfilled employees
Q 12. Excluding yours, what company or business do you admire the most?
Ans: Superb Maids in Las Vegas.
I really like My Clean’s online presence and brand.
Q 13. How important have good employees been to your success?
Ans: Really really important. My staff are highly valued, I pay them really well and offer perks and bonuses to show my appreciation.
Q 14. How do you build a successful customer base?
Ans: Constantly delivering great service
Q 15. What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
Ans: Knowing that I can take an idea and turn it into a successful business. We’ve grown so much in the past year, and just opened up our second location in Vancouver.
Q 16. What kind of culture exists in your organization?
Ans: We’re a really flexible organization. When thinking of creating a company culture, I based this on my own experiences and modeled after workplaces that I found the most rewarding. My most rewarding workplaces were jobs where I got paid well, had lots of vacation time, had amazing benefits, and loved my co-workers. My staff can work flexible days and hours, and they only pick up shifts when they’d like. They’re not forced to work with cleaners they don’t get along with, and they can take time off when they like.
Q 17. In one word, characterize your life as an entrepreneur.
Ans: Balance
Q 18. How has being an entrepreneur affected your family life?
Ans: It hasn’t really affected my family life. I work really hard, but try to go on vacation and relax 3-4 times a year.
Company Details:
Company : Aqua City Cleaners
Contact : Boma Brown
Address : 2644 Prior St
City : Victoria
State : British Columbia
Zip : V8T 4W1
Phone : 250-412-6652
Email : clean@aquacityclean.com