Startup Story
Anyone running a successful business or large home knows that keeping things clean and tidy is a must, but professional help is needed to achieve this state of domestic or corporate bliss. In Botswana, help is at hand from entrepreneur Cindy Matlapeng, founder of The Office Team Cleaning and Support Services, a business that makes light work of cleaning.
LoA chatted to founder Cindy Matlapeng this month to find out more about this growing business.
When did your start your business?
The Office Team Cleaning and Support Services was launched back in 2018 and today we have a team of 3 employees.
“What inspired me to start up my company was the thrill of entrepreneurship, making a profit and being able to call the shots.”
What does your company do?
We provide cleaning services for domestic households and offices, plus we offer maid services for high income earners, and also upholstery cleaning.
What inspired you to start your company?
What inspired me to start up my company was the thrill of entrepreneurship, making a profit and being able to call the shots. Growing up and looking back to my childhood days, I was always playing as an entrepreneur. When I was at school I wanted to do a course that could lead me into having my own business practice or firm. The bottom line is that I have always wanted to be my own boss.
What makes your business, service or product special?
Other than delivering extraordinary services, I focus on a narrow niche such as corporate and high income earners in terms of maid services. I have also created a cause marketing strategy, that is I have partnered with poverty eradication programs to carry out cleaning campaigns that happen annually.
Tell us a little about your team
My team is made up of full time office cleaners in different organizations, casuals that carry out day jobs or part time jobs such as after party clean ups, moving in/out clean ups, and there is myself as the managing director and financier of the business.
“My future aspirations for the business are to grow across the country with as many branches to easily reach as many potential clients as I can and to create employment for many citizens.”
“The bottom line is that I have always wanted to be my own boss.”
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And, do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
Yes I do come from an entrepreneurial background, my great grandfather had a local general dealers store in our home village and my grandmother was a green grocer. I realized my entrepreneurial journey when I was working for a local company. I have always had a burning desire to do business and I found an opportunity in selling virgin hair which I imported from South Africa and also got involved in network marketing. Within a year I had registered a cleaning company, and today, here we are!
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
My future aspirations for the business are to grow across the country with as many branches to easily reach as many potential clients as I can and to create employment for many citizens. I also aspire to manufacture and sell my own chemicals.
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
I have always wanted to become my own boss, seeing myself start from nothing and growing to something. The never ending challenges that are always defeated at the end of a good fight give me enough satisfaction.
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
Start NOW, you will figure it all out later. I am saying this because one step on the staircase leads to the other, then the other, until you finally reach your destination. When I first started my cleaning company, I registered a name. I had no idea of what I really wanted to do, but I kept on going, ideas came every single day, and I took them head on to where I am today.
Find out more
FACEBOOK | EMAIL cindy@theofficeteam.co.bw
Why LoA loves it….
Sometimes, you have to think big in order to make it in business, and there is no doubting that Cindy Matlapeng has a big vision for what she is building in terms of her own business. She saw a gap in the market, created the right services and product offerings to fill that gap, and today is building a successful business that is growing and creating jobs for others. — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo of Lionesses of Africa