Marguerite White launched her janitorial and floor cleaning business in 2004 with a $35 investment to support herself while she was completing her business degree at St. Ambrose University. The concept for the business came from her younger sister in Washington, D.C. who found that house cleaning was a lucrative way to earn money for college. Marguerite knew she would have to start her business small because of her limited capital, but her dream was to expand and grow the business to serve commercial customers in numerous markets.

Marguerite approached the Eastern Iowa Small Business Development Center for assistance in getting her business off the ground. She enrolled in Boot Camp for Entrepreneurs, the center’s day long education program that introduces entrepreneurs to business planning and gives them the basics for operating their new business. A week later Marguerite returned to the center with her plan.

Through the years Marguerite has come back to the Eastern Iowa SBDC several times to discuss new challenges and opportunities. While her business started out primarily in residential cleaning, it has evolved to being predominantly commercial. Marguerite’s diligent networking and marketing through the local Chamber of Commerce and other community organizations have allowed her to achieve this goal.

Marguerite is a self-described “big picture person”. She sees opportunities, not boundaries and counsels other prospective owners, “Don’t say it. Do it. Surround yourself with those whom you aspire to be like. Never take no for an answer from someone who cannot say yes. Stay consistent.”

Marguerite is now facing the growing pains that most small businesses do - constant training and oversight of employees takes away from valuable planning and networking time. She realizes that she has reached the point in her business where she has to turn over some of the administrative responsibility to an assistant, so she is working on a revision of her business plan to accommodate an administrative assistant that will allow her the time to do what she does best – connecting with new customers and generating new business. To update this plan and seek the necessary financing Marguerite has again turned to the SBDC.

“The SBDC has been with me from the beginning. Boot Camp for Entrepreneurs was awesome. The information I received there has helped guide me throughout my business. The SBDC is just a good resource for your business as you grow.”