How do I train a family member to run the day-to-day at my janitorial company?

Janitorial work looks simple from outside, but running it is mostly coordination. Your family member needs to learn how crews are scheduled, how sites are inspected, how supplies are ordered and what to do when someone does not show up at night.

Begin by shadowing you for a stretch, then flip it. Let them run a few sites while you stay available. Review their calls afterward, calmly, and ask what they would do differently. Mistakes at a small site cost far less than mistakes learned at your biggest account.

Write down the things you carry in your head: which client is particular about what, who has keys, which supervisor handles problems well. Process notes help your family member, and they also make the company easier to hand over later. Introduce them to clients and staff as someone who has authority, not as an apprentice. Staff look for signs of who decides, and clients want to know who answers the phone at two in the morning. Agree on dates and responsibilities in writing. Succession in a family company works best when roles are clear, and an adviser outside the family can help.

Key takeaways

• Move from shadowing to running a few small sites before the largest accounts.
• Write down client preferences and routines that currently live only in your head.
• Introduce them to staff and clients with real authority, and agree on timing in writing.