TROY'S BOOKSTORE

I was so excited when my book arrived! The need for managing cash flow, especially around fast growth, is so well explained in Making Cents of a Dirty Business. It's often easy to grow, but you feel the pinch as that growth costs money. Troy really gets it and gives great strategies. I also loved reading the advice from other BSCs that Troy surveyed. This book really made me feel like I was normal, even in a crazy business like janitorial. The biggest lesson I learned form the book was how to deal with customers who do not respect their contractors. Nothing frustrates me more than a customer who disrespects the hard work my best employees put forth or treats my carefully cultivated cleaning professionals with disdain. Troy's advice on the topic was professional and fair. There is a lot of opportunity in this industry, and Troy gives a useful road map to success in the core areas of owning and operating a commercial cleaning business.

“As I read Making Cents of a Dirty Business, I kept thinking that I could have saved ten years of struggle and heartache if I had read this before starting out on my own. Although I have been in this business for a long time, I still found great nuggets of wisdom that I will be implementing. This will be required reading for new Branch Managers in our company because it covers the major pitfalls of running a janitorial business along with solid advice on how to sail past them.”

"Being in business for less than a year, one of my initial concerns was understanding when and whom to hire as my first leaders. After reading this book, I had peace of mind about whom I needed to hire, what positions to hire and when to do so. Thanks for sharing your knowledge!"

"Just finished Making Cents of a Dirty Business. It was fantastic, straightforward and very well put together. I was really interested in the statistics from the survey but the story behind the stats was even better. As with most great advice on areas of focus for business, the simpler the better. Troy did a great job pointing out the things that really matter if you want a successful commercial cleaning business."

"I think Mr Hopkins says it so well in the introduction. Great read. This book should be a must read if you own a commercial cleaning business but as the author says, these principles would apply in any service business. I owned 3 of them in my career and the challenges Mr Hopkins addresses in each chapter existed in all my businesses. Wish he had written this 20 years ago. Take lots of notes."

"Wow, Wow, Wow! This book is so packed with insightful, practical steps on building a flourishing commercial cleaning business, that I have used it like a text book. We have been studying each chapter (one of my favorites “Chapt 4: Building a Leadership Team”), laying out implementation plans for our business and using it to coach the amazing franchisees in our area. It is a true game changer! Thank you Troy for sharing it with us."

“A great read from start to finish, it is like CliffsNotes for Building Service Success! Being in the business for 26 years it would have been nice to have a resource like this early on. As I read this book, it brought back memories of key decisions we made over the years, some good and some bad. Many mistakes were made because of our inexperience and lack of guidance. I’ve seen fellow contractors spend thousands of dollars in consulting services to get exactly what is laid out in this book. If you are new in the business or trying to grow your company, I would definitely recommend Troy’s book!”

“This book is a powerful resource for any Building Service Contractor. Making Cents of a Dirty Business is a practical, hands-on guide that provides a candid look at the top challenges in our industry and how to overcome them. A must read for any business owner who has the desire to build a great and lasting company!”

"Troy has nailed it! After 55+years as a janitorial contractor and consultant to the industry, I have never read a book that is so accurate, comprehensive, and thorough as this one. This book is not only for beginners but for anyone in business, janitorial or not. Had this book been available to me earlier in my career, the mistakes I made would have been far fewer, and I would have slept much better, not to mention the tens of thousands of dollars I would have saved. Buy this book, follow Troy's step by step guidance (no deviation), and your chances for success will be almost assured. START NOW!”

In my opinion, one of the most interesting aspects of the book was Hopkins’ take on new generations in the workforce. He offers a refreshing perspective on millennials and upcoming generations. While many employers frown on the changes and characteristics millennials bring to companies, Hopkins embraces them. He makes the case that the differences between generations are not problems, but rather opportunities for growth. He talks about the importance of the workforce adapting to accommodate new generations. Otherwise, companies may fall behind.

Wow, Wow, Wow! This book is so packed with insightful, practical steps on building a flourishing commercial cleaning business, that I have used it like a text book. We have been studying each chapter (one of my favorites “Chapt 4: Building a Leadership Team”), laying out implementation plans for our business and using it to coach the amazing franchisees in our area. It is a true game changer! Thank you Troy for sharing it with us.