From College Student to Entrepreneur: Building a $7 Million Portfolio with Johnny Robinson

December 13, 2024•2 min read

“Success is not final; failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” - Winston Churchill, Former prime minister of Britain

From College Student to Entrepreneur
Building a $7 Million Portfolio with Johnny Robinson

In a recent REI Hacker Podcast episode, Johnny Robinson, co-founder of Home Service Academy, shared his journey from a college student with a small side hustle to managing a $7 million portfolio. His story offers actionable insights for aspiring entrepreneurs, emphasizing the importance of adaptability, leveraging social media, and building scalable business models.

Starting Small:
A Window Cleaning Business at 21

Johnny began his entrepreneurial journey as a college student working as a lifeguard. With $150, he and his friend Sergio started J&S Window Cleaning. Their side hustle quickly grew, eventually rebranding as Orange Window Cleaning and generating $65,000 in monthly revenue at its peak.

Start small and scale incrementally.
Initial investments don’t need to be large; creativity and effort go a long way.

Innovating with the 'Remote Cleaning Method'

To reduce costs and streamline operations, Johnny developed the "remote cleaning method," which relies on contractors instead of employees. This innovation allowed him to expand into house cleaning by launching Mary and Mops, a business created for his mother that quickly became profitable.

This approach later became the foundation of Home Service Academy, which teaches others how to start and grow similar ventures.

Leveraging Social Media for Growth

Johnny credits social media, particularly Twitter, for much of his business success. By sharing his experiences online, he built connections with influential figures like Cody Sanchez and expanded his audience. His content creation strategy includes:

Educational videos about cleaning and business.
Listicle videos showcasing profitable small business ideas.
Plans to feature collaborative content with other entrepreneurs.

Navigating Challenges and Building Resilience

The COVID-19 pandemic tested Johnny’s resilience. After his business partner left, he increased advertising spend and leaned into growth strategies. These decisions paid off, allowing him to grow the business during a difficult period.

Scaling Home Service Academy

Home Service Academy now supports over 1,500 locations across the US and Canada. Its focus is on providing low-cost, actionable methods for aspiring entrepreneurs to start and scale cleaning businesses.

Key Lessons for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

Start Small: You don’t need significant capital to start a service-based business.
Adaptability: Innovative methods like the "remote cleaning model" can set you apart.
Content is King: Use social media strategically to connect with others and grow your brand.
Build for Scalability: Service businesses offer opportunities to learn key skills and scale effectively.
Stay Resilient: Challenges, like partner departures or economic shifts, are opportunities for growth.