By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
Fort Hays State University student Cole Murphy has big plans for his fledgling cleaning company in Hays.
Murphy, 20, formed The Clean Team Hays in August, and is slowly growing a customer base and expanding service offerings.
The Clean Team cleans businesses and homes. Starting in January, the business will clean private planes and cars.
The business eventually plans to expand into cleaning home and business exteriors. This could include pressure washing, exterior window cleaning and cleaning gutters, among other services.
The business offers service within 50 miles of Hays. Prices are quoted on a square footage basis. Both regular and deep cleaning options are offered.
Basic cleaning runs 8 to 10 cents per square foot, and deep cleaning runs about 12 cents per square foot.
"It's always been a passion of mine to start my own business," he said. ... "This is what I intend on growing in the future moving forward."
Murphy of Amarillo, Texas, is a junior in business administration and entrepreneurship at FHSU. He was trading stocks when he was 18.
"To me it's not so much about the money," he said. "It's about finding the win and getting the win and feeling like I did something on my own."
Murphy is also the president of Sigma Chi at FHSU.
"I get to help people grow," he said,"and that is a lot of what it is with the business. I like helping employees and the customers. It helps me feel good that we do good for other people. It's about that win — that emotional win for me."
Murphy said he thinks the need is going to be in the service industry in the future.
Murphy has largely built his business thus far through word of mouth and referrals. The company bills through Square.
He has built a regular customer base of about 20 to 25 clients, with all of his three employees being college students who work part-time.
Murphy is not afraid to get his hands dirty. He goes out on jobs regularly, which he says helps build a rapport with his clients.
Although many businesses in the service industry are struggling to find employees, Murphy said the flexible schedules he offers have been popular with his peers at FHSU.
He said he has had no problem finding employees.
Murphy said he would like to work toward hiring someone in Hays full time. This is part of a plan to expand his business to Wichita by 2023 and eventually to his native Texas.
He said finding someone to work full time may be more challenging.
"Being a small business right now is a thrilling experience, because we actually get to make sure all of our customers are happy and make sure we're doing right by all of our people," Murphy said.
Customers interested in hiring The Clean Team Hays can visit the business's website or Facebook page at The Clean Team or call 806-420-9884.