Behind the Business with Vern Moore

The cleaning and sanitization industry are not thought to be the most glamorous, but it has certainly established itself as a contender when it comes to business sectors who’ve seen sustained success. When you look around a modern city, cleaning businesses are often the unsung heroes, especially in the season of COVID-19, of skyscrapers, high rises and buildings where large gatherings take place. Though they may not receive the credit they deserve, the passion to create welcoming spaces is deep rooted in many of the business owners who oversee the operations of cleaning services across the country. The same goes for local cleaning service business owner Vern Moore.

ABOUT THE BUSINESS

Vern Moore is the proud founder of A Green Thing Environmental Services LLC. A Green Thing offers cleaning services to commercial properties around the city, with an emphasis on eco-friendly products and methods of cleaning. After initially resisting the suggestion from a fellow business buddy to open a cleaning business, Vern soon realized the potential in starting the business. He familiarized himself with the business structure by reviewing a few cleaning service contracts, and soon found advertising cleaning services to a vast social network. Within the first couple months, Vern’s phone was consistently ringing with new clientele ready to hire him. And thus, A Green Thing was born in June of 2011. 

WHEN YOUR BACK IS AGAINST THE WALL

For Vern, the average day in the life of an entrepreneur consists of work from dawn to dusk. He’s typically ready to tackle the day by 7am, checking emails on his phone while getting his two children ready for their own daily schedules. From there he’s on the clock, calling employees and operations managers to ensure everything is running smoothly at various cleaning job sites. If a drop-in is necessary, Vern may find himself on the road at any hour, ensuring the needs of every client are always met. On quieter days, Vern is able to buckle down at the computer and research potential clients, follow up with businesses who may have previously declined his services and update the company website and social media pages with new content. His day typically wraps up around 9pm with some quality family time. For Vern, ensuring the success of his children’s future is what motivates him daily to achieve his business goals.

To the unfamiliar eye, it may seem like Vern has always been a master at time management and business operations. However, this was a skill that took time to build. During his interview with Planning 2 Perfection’s Egypt Graham, Vern reminisced on the earlier days of his entrepreneurship journey. “To plan things out better” is the piece of advice Vern would have given himself at the start of A Green Thing. It’s common for entrepreneurs to turn their passion into an LLC before fully considering the other components that go into making a successful business. These various moving parts have generated more hours on the job for Vern compared to his previous 9-5 position. The ability to control your schedule comes with great risk and great reward, so getting things in order prior to the launch of a business is crucial to maintaining momentum and avoiding unnecessary speedbumps. 

While A Green Thing was started in 2011, Vern’s entrepreneurship journey took a turn when he made the decision to leave his full-time position after a significant salary cut. What was a part-time side hustle quickly became his full time job. At first, Vern was hesitant to go all-in on his business, stating “You can complain all you want about a job but there’s nothing like knowing you have guaranteed income”. He quickly had to overcome this fear of inconsistent paychecks when his back was against the wall and entrepreneurship was his only viable option. “I really just went out there and put my all into it” Vern recounted. Even in the face of challenges, Vern reminded himself that he can always find a way to make the business work. Whether it be networking, making phone calls or posting on social media, Vern remained confident in his vision because the business was everything to him. 

WHERE ARE THE CLIENTS?

Like many entrepreneurs, Vern is always on the quest to attract and maintain new client relationships. He attributes his success with clients thus far to consistency. Vern is always sure to stay up on his networking by keeping tabs on those who previously said “no” using the Notes app on his phone and always putting himself out there for new opportunities. If the client doesn’t know you exist, then they can’t hire you for your services. This is the school of thought Vern has used for years to build relationships with clients throughout the city. 

While this is the golden rule to Vern’s entrepreneurship journey, one can never assume that business is always smooth sailing. Vern has encountered hiccups along the way, specifically in landing larger city contracts. While Vern can hold his weight when negotiating contracts and reaching agreements, the most difficult part is often just getting into the room with the decision makers. The politics of business in a major city can be intimidating and complex to navigate, but Vern is confident that with consistency, persistence and the right connections, new doors will inevitably open for his business.

INSPIRATIONS AND MOTIVATIONS

Long before Vern became a businessman, he was once a young elementary school student who used to purchase candy at a local newsstand and re-sell it to his fellow classmates. At the time, Vern simply wanted to be the cool kid at school that always had candy. He didn’t realize he was already engaging in the basic principles of entrepreneurship, buying and selling for a profit. Fast forward to present day and Vern has tapped into several resources for inspiration, motivation and mentorship. 

“Having someone who you can pick their brain, and they’re an open book, that’s priceless” Vern stated as he expressed his gratitude for a mentor and friend in the real estate business. While they serve in different industries, Vern is still able to apply the advice he received, using it to leverage positive change in his own business. While some business owners can be stingy when revealing various tips and methodologies to growing a business, Vern sees the importance in passing along the information he’s learned to someone else who may need help. Donna L. Allie of Team Clean, one of Philadelphia’s largest cleaning companies, and Don Peebles, a successful real estate developer, have both served as inspiration to Vern to keep pressing forward on his entrepreneurial journey 

You can learn more about Vern Moore and her business A Green Thing Environmental Services LLC, on his website and Facebook page.

ABOUT THE SERIES

“Behind the Business: Insights from the Everyday Entrepreneur” is a written interview series developed by the Planning 2 Perfection team. In each interview, we will explore the entrepreneurial journeys of everyday people turned self-starter and how they have been able to grow their business. Interviews will span across various industries to offer a wide array of advice, learning lessons and personal anecdotes.