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Struggles: Entrepreneur Challenges & Small Business Stories presented by NCBI
Ever feel like the 'entrepreneurial dream' is actually a series of endless fires? Welcome to Struggles, the podcast that goes behind the highlight reels to reveal the raw, unvarnished truth of running a business. We dive into the scaling pains, financial hurdles, and leadership dilemmas that keeping you up at night. Each episode features candid interviews with real-world founders who share their failures, triumphs, and the exact lessons they learned the hard way. Stop guessing and start navigating your journey with practical insights from those who have been there. Subscribe to Struggles, and let’s tackle the tough issues together.
Struggles: Entrepreneur Challenges & Small Business Stories presented by NCBI
How Kim Klima Built Squeaky Clean NEO from Scratch
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In this episode of Struggles, Brian Butkowski sits down with Kim Klima, founder of Squeaky Clean NEO, to talk about the real story behind building a cleaning company from scratch with nothing but a vacuum, a vision, and a ton of grit. Kim opens up about the early days — from figuring out business basics without capital to juggling full-time jobs while cleaning houses at night.
They talk about what growth really looks like, how she brought her kids into the business, the slow and scary process of hiring the first employees, and the balance between affordability, fair wages, and profit margins. Kim also shares the mindset shifts that helped her stay grounded, why referrals beat paid marketing every time, and what it actually takes to build a brand that feels like family.
If you’re a small business owner, someone in the service industry, or just someone who needs to hear the honest version of entrepreneurship, this conversation will hit home.
Let us know what you are struggling with as a business owner