Tag Archives: University of Georgia

Two Maids & A Mop & Founder Recognized At 2019 Bulldog 100

Two Maids & A Mop CEO & Founder, Ron Holt, accepted honors for our company’s exponential growth and for his own entrepreneurial achievements at the 2019 Bulldog 100 hosted by the University of Georgia Alumni Association in Atlanta. Two Maids & A Mop, recently named by Entrepreneur Magazine as one of the top 500 franchises to own in America, was named as the 17th fastest growing business owned by a UGA alumni. In addition, the highlight of the evening occurred when our company’s CEO & Founder was named the recipient of the 2019 Michael J. Bryan entrepreneurial spirit award. The award is given to an UGA-educated entrepreneur that has experienced sustained business growth while also providing consistent support to the university. Only one award winner is announced each year.

“This event is always the highlight of my year in terms of recognizing our business’ growth,” said Ron Holt. “The University of Georgia provided me with an amazing framework that continues to propel me today. I am honored to be recognized by the school and excited to celebrate another year of record growth for our business and brand.”

This year’s award represents the 6th time that Two Maids & A Mop has been named to the exclusive list of fast growing businesses. You can visit the 2019 Bulldog 100 website for a complete list of all 100 fast-growing businesses.

Two Maids & A Mop Named to 2018 Bulldog 100

Two Maids & A Mop’s explosive growth across the country continues to gain notoriety and recognition. Last week, our executive team attended the 2018 Bulldog 100 Awards Gala to celebrate another strong year of growth. The annual program recognizes the fastest-growing businesses owned or operated by University of Georgia alumni. Two Maids & A Mop was selected as the 28th fastest growing Bulldog-owned company in this year’s class of businesses.

“Everyone that’s close to me knows about my deep affection for the University of Georgia,” said Ron Holt, CEO & Founder of Two Maids & A Mop. “The school provided me with the best education possible and also provided me with an amazing framework to grow as an adult. I have no doubt that my success as an entrepreneur is attributable to my early, formative years in Athens. My team is honored to be included in this year’s group of businesses.”

To view the full list of Bulldog 100 businesses, click here.

Two Maids & A Mop CEO Featured in UGA Alumni Magazine

Two Maids Home Office TeamThe Two Maids & A Mop journey from a small startup in Pensacola, FL to a fast-growing national brand with 40+ locations was recently published in the University of Georgia College of Agriculture & Environmental Sciences alumni magazine. The story traces back to our founder’s early days just after graduation from UGA with a degree in Biological Science. Ron’s story is famous because he used crazy penny-pinching methods to save money and worked odd jobs to make additional money while preparing to launch the original Two Maids & A Mop. Here’s a quick glance at the inspiring article.

“There was definitely some initial fear, nervousness and stress, but no hesitancy,” said Ron Holt. “I had a plan, and that plan couldn’t begin until I started the business.”

Holt opened Two Maids & A Mop, a residential cleaning service, in 2003 in Pensacola, Florida. The company began offering franchise opportunities across the country after building 12 corporate office locations. The company offers a competitive advantage by using a pay-for-performance model in which homeowners rate the cleaners, and ratings determine compensation.

The business now has more than 45 office locations across the nation and was on track to make $17 million in revenues for 2016.

Holt worked as an physical testing laboratory director and compares the lab to the service industry in terms of customer care. He credits his customer service skills to his work in his father’s convenience store in Colquitt, Georgia. “It was a business, but it was also like a family because my dad really cared about knowing the customers,” Holt said. “I feel the same way with our franchise owners. I want them to know we care.”

Two Maids & A Mop Partners With Legendary Football Coach Vince Dooley

Vince Dooley Two Maids

When University of Georgia graduate Ron Holt learned that legendary Bulldogs football coach and athletic director Vince Dooley wanted to partner with him, he couldn’t believe his ears.

“I still get chill bumps thinking about it,” Holt said. “It’s a pretty big deal for us. He brings so much to the table. When you think of Vince Dooley, you think of nothing but trust and integrity. He’s a proven leader.”

It’s the latest win for the Birmingham, Ala.-based Two Maids & A Mop, which is one of the country’s fastest-growing businesses. The home cleaning franchise has been named to the Inc. 5000 list every year for the past four years, and was also honored by the magazine as one of the fastest-growing companies in Alabama. Founded in 2003, the company boasts franchise network sales near $20 million and yearly revenues between $17 and 20 million, according to Holt, who oversees 400 employees and more than 30 franchise owners.

The company’s success may now appear ensured, but it got off to a rocky start.

“I lost money for the first two years. I didn’t even receive a paycheck,” said Holt, who founded the company on April Fools Day in Pensacola, Fla.

But things eventually began to turn around as Holt developed some competitive advantages and operational efficiencies.

“Once we recognized the model was not only profitable, but scalable, I started thinking big,” he said.

Holt figured he was on to something special when he opened his fourth store in the company’s future home base of Birmingham. It was Two Maids & A Mop’s first store outside its Florida confines, and he realized that his baby was finally ready to spread its wings and fly on its own.

“That was the first store that I was not actively involved in every single decision and task,” Holt said. After several years of handling just about every aspect of the business but the house cleaning itself, he was gratified to realize this store could thrive without his control.

“The business proved that it could scale itself and grow without me being the most important person in the world,” Holt says. “That store really changed everything for us and allowed me to think much bigger—and continue to think big today.”

Before long, the company had grown to 12 corporate stores in five states throughout the Southeast, and Holt’s business model began to shift toward franchising.

“That gave us the opportunity to really grow across the country, not just in the Southeast,” Holt said. “It allowed us to grow much faster, and, on top of that, it allowed us to partner with people who were business owners, instead of employees.”

Somewhere along the way, the company made a serious impression on a couple of customers who also happened to be the wife and daughter of Vince Dooley, the coach who is still considered a god in Georgia for coaching Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker and leading the Bulldogs to their last national championship in 1980. Dooley reached out to Holt—and just like that, a partnership was born.

“If people look into Two Maids & A Mop and study it, I think they’d be impressed by the [company’s] record of success. Hopefully, that will lead to more success in the future,” Dooley said.

Dooley is not a direct investor in Two Maids & A Mop, but the two are partners in virtually every other sense.

“He brings so many skills and traits to the table,” Holt said of Dooley. “I’ve learned so much from Coach Dooley’s life, and we’ve used that just in the last few weeks within our own business.”

Dooley is quick to remind people that he once oversaw a $120 million program as Georgia’s athletic director, so he has lots of direct business expertise to offer as well.

Holt said he sees Dooley’s involvement in Two Maids & A Mop as a golden opportunity for his business, which he wants to expand throughout the lower 48 states within 10 years. For the first time in the company’s 13-year history, Two Maids and a Mop will actively advertise its services—and Dooley’s endorsement will play a key role in that marketing push.

“We expect for something big to happen, honestly,” Holt said. “We fully believe that with the UGA community – whether it’s a fan or an alumnus, we feel that Coach Dooley’s partnership will really allow us to grow very quickly. Once people hear our story … we’re certain that our growth is going to take off.”

Two Maids & A Mop Named to 2015 Bulldog 100 Fastest Growing Businesses

(Left to Right) Ron & Rachel Holt; David & Tiff Luke

                         (Left to Right) Ron & Rachel Holt; Tiff & David Luke

Two Maids & A Mop is excited to announce that our company has been named the 21st Fastest Growing Business in the 2015 Bulldog 100. This represents our 4th consecutive year on the list of fast growing businesses.

“We are so humbled and honored to be included in the Bulldog 100 yet again,” said Ron Holt, CEO & Founder of Two Maids & A Mop. “The University of Georgia has produced more than 1000,00 graduates that have gone on to become business and entrepreneurial leaders throughout this country. To be ranked in the top 25 for the fourth consecutive year is a tremendous accomplishment and our franchisees an store managers should be commended for their hard work and dedication to our fast-growing brand!”

To view the full list of companies, please visit the 2015 Bulldog 100 website.

CEO & Founder of Two Maids & A Mop Recognized by University of Georgia

 (from left to right) Glenda Holt, ROn Holt & Rachel Holt

(from left to right) Glenda Holt, Ron Holt & Rachel Holt

The University of Georgia’s College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences recently selected our CEO & Founder as the 2014 Alumni Award of Excellence recipient. The award recognizes alumni from the school that have demonstrated excellence within their field and/or community. Congratulations to Ron Holt!

Check out the official press release from the University of Georgia!