Yana Stankova, a flute teacher from Pytyakh, Yugra, balances her passion for music with running a cleaning business to support her family. Starting with just herself and a couple of assistants, she has built a team of professionals and continues to take on cleaning jobs even while on maternity leave.

The business began during a challenging period in Stankova’s life, with her initially offering cleaning services at low prices to make ends meet. As demand grew, she recognized the potential and, in 2021, secured a social contract with the local administration, receiving benefits to invest in professional equipment and supplies. This allowed her to expand her operations and offer part-time work to acquaintances, eventually forming a team of 18 people within a year and a half.

During peak seasons like spring and summer, the team could handle four to five orders per week, with employees earning between 7,000 and 10,000 rubles per order. While some jobs were smaller, Stankova emphasized that all orders were important, even those like washing a window for an elderly person.

Despite the demanding nature of the work, Stankova prioritized fair wages for her employees and invested in high-quality equipment and chemicals. After accounting for deductions, taxes, salaries, equipment depreciation, and the cost of supplies, her net income averaged between 150,000 and 200,000 rubles per month.

The cleaning business presented unique challenges, including dealing with difficult situations such as cleaning apartments after tragic events or those affected by hoarding. Stankova highlights one particularly challenging job involving an apartment where pigeons had lived for months, requiring extensive cleanup and the assistance of her husband and father-in-law.

Stankova explains that cleaning prices are determined by various factors, including the size of the space, the complexity of the job, and the desired level of cleaning. While a full cleaning of a one-room apartment can cost between 15,000 and 20,000 rubles, they also offer cheaper options and sometimes perform additional tasks like grocery shopping or pet walking.