Success Story: Cassie’s Cleaning Co.

From Challenges to Sustainable Growth: Cassie’s Cleaning Co. Rebuilds for the Future

Bismarck – Cassie Mellmer did not initially set out to build a cleaning company. While in college, she was looking for flexible work when a friend preparing to leave for graduate school asked Cassie to take over her cleaning clients. Cassie continued adding customers of her own, and by the time she graduated in 2021, she had built relationships she did not want to walk away from.

Rather than give up those clients, she decided to hire employees. What began as a flexible college job grew into Cassie’s Cleaning Co. and, eventually, a business much larger than she had imagined.

Finding a Path Forward

By 2024, growth had also brought significant challenges. The company was dealing with leadership and staffing issues, payroll tax and accounting problems, and a major operational shift from solo, hourly cleaning to a flat-rate, team-based model. The strain forced Cassie to step back and reconsider how the business was structured and what needed to change.

During that difficult period, Cassie was referred to the ND SBDC and began working with Bismarck Center Director Tyler Demars. His initial focus was helping her better understand the financial picture of the business through analysis, benchmarking, and financial projections.

Before they could move forward, however, they had to work through unclear financial reports and bookkeeping issues that were making it difficult to identify the source of the company’s cash flow challenges. Once the numbers became clearer, they identified labor costs that were significantly above budget and unsustainable at the company’s existing pricing and efficiency levels.

Cassie made the difficult decision to adjust pricing and improve cleaning efficiency, knowing the changes could cost the company both clients and employees. Ultimately, the business lost only a few clients and retained nearly all of its staff through the transition.

“When it felt like everything was falling down around us, Tyler helped us see that there was still a path forward and gave us the confidence to take it,” Cassie said.

Tyler said Cassie’s willingness to act on what the numbers were showing made a difference.

“Cassie was willing to make difficult decisions when the numbers showed changes were needed,” Tyler said. “She stayed focused on what would help the business become more sustainable while continuing to support her team.”

Building a Business That Works for Everyone

The advising relationship continued as the company grew. Cassie and Tyler met regularly to review financial results against projections and develop stronger systems for managing cash flow and working capital. When tighter margins and rising payroll costs created another challenge in 2026, Cassie returned to the ND SBDC to again evaluate the numbers and adjust the company’s financial plan.

That work helped the company reach a goal Cassie had been pursuing for years. Within six months of addressing the latest financial challenges, Cassie’s Cleaning Co was stable enough to implement a bonus program for both management and cleaners.

The company’s recurring client base has grown from approximately 120 clients in 2024 to 180 today, while labor hours per payroll have more than tripled. That growth has allowed the company to invest more deeply in its employees and operating systems, including retirement benefits, uniforms, transportation support, and new software and CRM tools.

For Cassie, those investments are closely tied to what the business is ultimately trying to provide.

“Our cleaners are at the heart of what we do,” she said. “They give our clients something incredibly valuable: more time with their families and less time worrying about their homes.”

Her view of success has changed as the company has matured. Today, Cassie is less focused on building a business that depends on her and more focused on creating one that can continue to grow because the right people, systems, and leadership are in place.

As Cassie’s Cleaning Co continues to evolve, the ND SBDC remains a resource for the financial questions, growth decisions, and new challenges that come with each stage. For Cassie, sustainable growth now means building a company that works not only for its clients, but also for the employees and leaders responsible for carrying it forward.