Entrepreneur Spotlight: JaMaal Macon
“I wouldn't be in the position I'm in with my business right now without LAUNCH. The class taught me my target market, hourly rate, startup costs and how to get my business license and insurance. It helped me eliminate the struggle to establish a foundation for my business. LAUNCH also connected me with people who could give me insight for my business.”
Growing up, most of us dream of being doctors, astronauts, teachers, or firefighters. One exception to this? JaMaal Macon, who wanted to be an entrepreneur. “Growing up as a kid, I always wanted to work for myself. I never envisioned myself working for someone for the rest of my life,” he says.
Fellow LAUNCH entrepreneur Christopher Williams, who owns Up-N-Smoke Grill, told JaMaal about the Business Entrepreneurship Academy. Not really being sure what to expect, he enrolled.
JaMaal admits, “Honestly, I had just planned to go to say I went, but I ended up enjoying the class and coming back.” The next 10 weeks helped JaMaal hone in on the plan for his business, Exclusive Cleaning Professionals.
Having owned a franchised cleaning service for 5 years, JaMaal took note of changes that could be made to make the business more efficient, as well as more affordable for clients. “One thing I’ve noticed doing commercial cleaning, is that a lot of businesses and individuals get tied into contracts that include services they don’t need,” he explains. Since the business was franchised, he was unable to make any changes to the way he ran the business and decided to start planning his own.
Exclusive Cleaning Professionals strives to offer excellent and affordable cleaning services for both residential and commercial clients, and with that comes customized cleaning packages that allows them to meet specific client needs. No longer do individuals and businesses have to pay for services they don’t need or want, and plans are created based on your budget.
Of the Business Entrepreneurship Academy, JaMaal says, “I was shocked, it was a lot different than I thought it was going to be. It was a class, but it had a different feel to it. Everyone taking the class was encouraging and helpful. Each week we developed a bond with one another. It was refreshing to see adults with the same goal that you have.”
“I wouldn't be in the position I'm in with my business right now without LAUNCH. The class taught me my target market, hourly rate, startup costs and how to get my business license and insurance. It helped me eliminate the struggle to establish a foundation for my business. LAUNCH also connected me with people who could give me insight for my business.”
Looking ahead, JaMaal hopes to develop Exclusive Cleaning Professionals into companies like Aramark, ABM and Southern Management. “I want to provide jobs and second chances to those that want the opportunity.”
