How to Spring Clean Your Desk the Stratus Way

Well, it's about that time again.  The weather is warming, flowers are starting to bloom and the breeze is blowing up all the loose dust around your office (fingers crossed you have a window like mine)!  Work should be a productive place to be; you need a motivating environment, and mess, clutter, unorganization and dust are not that.

At least once a year, it's time to take down all the posted comics and piles of paper collecting dust (and hiding secrets) and give yourself the satisfaction of a deep Stratus Spring Clean.

1. Start by organizing your files - have you considered a cloud-based or electronic filing system?  Then, you can access work anywhere!
2. Damp wipe down everything with an All Purpose Cleaner.  Spray on and let it sit for a minute to really let the chemicals do their job.
3. Get a bulletin board for all your little pieces of paper and notes.  If you can't give up your Post-It habit (guilty here), at least organize the little guys.
4. Get a notebook.  This can hold all your ideas, favorite websites, random lists, anything you need it to.  Give the Post-It pad a break and home to your work epiphanies.
5. Clean out your keyboard with some sprayable air.  If needed, you can always pop off the keys for a good cleaning.
6. File your business cards.  Or consider connecting on LinkedIn... no business cards necessary.
7. Back up your files.  This isn't exactly a cleaning tast... but you'll thank me later.

Now it's your turn - post a picture of your new, super-clean office on our Facebook page.  Happy cleaning!

The Top Ten Ways You Can STILL Stay Healthy This Season

One of the unique things about the professional cleaning industry is that it is made up of thousands of sole proprietors, many with few (if any) workers. However, there is a significant operational issue with owning such a small company; if the sole proprietor gets sick, which is a bigger risk during these winter and spring months, it can cause havoc, economic pain, and even result in the loss of an account. Here are the top ten ways you can stay healthy this season:

1.       Eat well. Eat three well-balanced meals each day and try to avoid fast food.

2.       Wash your hands. Wash your hands frequently while working, after removing gloves, using cleaning equipment, tools, and/or chemicals.

3.       Use PPE. Wear gloves, goggles, and other protective clothing when working.

4.       Avoid inhaling chemical fumes. If mixing chemicals, do so in a well-ventilated area.

5.       Get plenty of sleep. Try to make your hours consistent; getting home and to bed at about the same time each evening improves sleep.

6.       Take a multivitamin. Some people believe in vitamins, and some don’t. But if taken as directed, vitamins may be able to keep you healthier.

7.       Get a flu shot.

   8.       Have a weekend. To keep the body strong and healthy, it is important to have a day or two off each week.

   9.       Drink lots of fluids. Drink plenty of water and juice while at work. If you think you are getting sick, drink even more. Some studies indicate drinking extra fluids at the first signs of illness can help it pass through your system faster.

   10.    Use ergonomic equipment. Select more advanced cleaning equipment, which is designed to make your job easier and help keep you healthy.

Finally, lighten up and stay happy! Studies indicate that people who have a positive, happy attitude towards life often have a stronger immune system!

Guest blog by Chelsea Pulley

Stratus Named 10 Most Promising Franchises for 2011 by Inc.com

Stratus Building Solutions, headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, is one of the “10 Most Promising Franchises of 2011” selected by Inc. Magazine in a process that establishes the best franchise opportunities for 2011. 

Stratus Building Solutions CEO, Dennis Jarrett, and President, Pete Frese, said in a statement: “We are very proud of all that 2011 has brought us already with our #1 Fastest Growing Franchise ranking from Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500 and our four new offices in Phoenix, San Diego, Louisville and Baltimore.  This recognition brings even more attention to our outstanding growth of which we are very proud.  A combination of hardworking individuals and a successful business model allow these goals to be achieved.”

With a strong interest in environmental stewardship, Stratus focuses its attention on the maintenance and service of commercial properties. Stratus has been able to grow at a tremendous rate, from 708 franchises in 2007 to 3,512 franchises in 2010.  This awarded Stratus Building Solutions a place in the Franchise Times Fast 55 of 2010.  The service Stratus provides its Franchise Owners has led to many awards including, USA Today’s Top 50 Franchises for Minorities, Black Enterprise’s Top 40 Franchises for African Americans and PODER 360’s Top 25 Franchises for Hispanics.  Stratus also achieved a high ranking on the Inc. 5000 list for 2010, leading into the new year with Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500.  There Stratus achieved a #1 Fastest Growing Franchise, #5 Top Low Cost Franchise, #6 Home Based Franchise, #18 Globally and #20 in the Franchise 500 for 2011. 

Stratus Building Solutions offers 16 different building service franchise plans providing state-of-the-art “environmentally green” cleaning systems, products, services and marketing support. These include the “Stratus Green Clean” program which uses environmentally-friendly products and services to help sustain healthier, more productive facilities. Also, the firm offers an exclusive “Stratus Sani-Proof” program that kills bacteria, including Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus and other germs found in schools, offices and healthcare centers.

For information about Stratus Building Solutions’ commercial cleaning opportunity, visit http://www.stratusofficecleaning.com/, or to learn more about specifically the green cleaning, visit http://stratusclean.com/stratusgreenclean.com/index.html.  The full list from Inc.com can be viewed here: http://bit.ly/bestin2011.  Press contact: Dennis Jarrett.

Choosing the Right Company - The Numbers Don't Lie

When you go to choose a company to service your building, don't you want to make sure it's the right company?  Anyone with a mop and bucket can claim to be a commercial-grade cleaner.  Well, Stratus isn't like that, so rest assured.  Go with a company you can trust - and 50 locations in the United States alone has "trust" written all over it.  In January 2011, we opened 4 offices alone!  Besides San Diego, Phoenix and Baltimore, we also opened Louisville, KY.

Stratus Building Solutions just got ranked as the #1 Fastest Growing Franchise by Entrepreneur Magazine - the numbers don't lie.  Stratus has entered the Louisville market by awarding another new Master Franchise to entrepreneur and veteran franchisor Kevin Spellacy. This marks his second Master Franchise location in the United States. Stratus Building Solutions of Louisville will operate from headquarters at 4237 Produce Road., Louisville, KY 40218 and be available at (502) 966-2025.

Dennis Jarrett, CEO of Stratus Building Solutions, said, “Kevin’s new Master Franchise is an exciting trend we’re currently enjoying of Masters opening up new territories once they see the value in the Stratus business model. Kevin established the Indianapolis office to the dynamic company it is today and we wish him the same success with the Louisville operation.”

Pete Frese, President of Stratus Building Solutions, added, “Kevin and his team continue to provide his regions with the same quality, value and ease of doing business that people have come to associate with Stratus. Kevin’s commitment to the Stratus green initiative and to his customer’s service needs have proven him to be a successful business executive for all the right reasons.”

Mr. Spellacy states "We are very excited to introduce Stratus Building Solution's premier commercial cleaning service to the Louisville market. Our customer should expect excellence in facilities services from our experienced staff. They will enjoy the same impeccable service that we provide our business and institutional customers in Indianapolis."

Read more about the Louisville opening here.

How to Be a Success

Whether you are running your own business or just trying to make it through the work week, here are some tips to get your mind set on success – which, let’s face it, is exactly what we’re all working towards.

Listen to our CEO, Dennis Jarrett, talk about his tips for success to Inc. Magazine in an interview on Success Tips from Inc. 5000 CEOs.

Success is different to each person.  Learn your own definition of success.  Write it down and revisit it weekly to stay focused.  After you know what success means to you, chart out how you plan to accomplish your goals.  Having a plan takes the pressure off of you.

Go big or go home… when it comes to ideas.  Think about it for a minute: If you only accomplish half of your goal (which is still an accomplishment) – that will equal a greater outcome if your goal more ambitious to start with.  Dream big.

Attitude – keep it positive.  Of course there are all the studies that show a positive attitude is related to success, but I won’t bore you with the details – just keep in mind there is a correlation.  Most people are as happy as they make up their minds to be.  Keep inspirational material and positive affirmations visible and actually use them!

Change is Possible. Constant improvement is possible.  Remembering you are the creator of your own destiny can be an extremely valuable insight when you are ready to give up.  Always strive to be better than you were they day before.  Get up every morning, and ask yourself, "What can I do to get better?"

No comfort zone.  There is no personal growth in a comfort zone.  The only way to expand – ourselves, our business connections, our business – is to take a step off the ledge and have faith in yourself, your products or your services.  Something will save you.  Whatever you are passionate about will automatically come out in you.  Trust that.

Have faith… in averages.  For every cold, damp day, there is a warm, sunny one.  When you have a bad day or something doesn’t go quite as planned, keep in mind for as bad as something seems right then, there will be something that will happen that’s equally as good.  A little determination and hard work never hurt sway these efforts, either.

So now that we all know some keys to success, what ideas do you have to implement them?  Do you have any extra tips?  What made you successful?

Stratus is the #1 Fastest Growing Franchise in the Country!

This has been a good week for the Stratus Team around the country…. and we’d like to share it with you.  The Entrepreneur Franchise 500 rankings were disclosed this month and Stratus is officially the #1 Fastest Growing Franchise in the Country! 

Each year, the esteemed business publication, Entrepreneur Magazine, publishes the annual Franchise 500.  It is a list of the Top 500 Franchises as compiled by their experts and given to the public as a trusted list the “who’s who” of the franchising world.  Many prospective franchise owners look to this list for guidance when buying a franchise.

Not only is Stratus the #1 Fastest Growing Franchise, were also got more Top Ten honors, as well.  We are the #5 Low Cost Franchise and the #6 Top Home Based Franchise.  Picking up the 18th spot for Top Global Franchise and 20th Best Franchise Overall round out the 2011 Franchise 500 rankings.

Stratus’ Rankings for 2009 in the Entrepreneur Franchise 500

Stratus’ Rankings for 2010 in the Entrepreneur Franchise 500

Stratus is very proud of each year we’ve made these national rankings.  These, in conjunction with all of our other franchising awards in 2010, prove Stratus to be an industry leader in not only the facility services area, but in franchising as well.

Stratus has only been in business since 2004, so be ranked in the Top Ten in so many categories year after year is quite an honor to us.  We continue to strive to not just maintain the leading edge, but to push the envelope and develop itself even further. 

 

If you’ve ever wanted to find out why everyone loves Stratus Building Solutions, this is the perfect time to find out! 

 

STRATUS BUILDING SOLUTIONS CONTINUES NATIONAL EXPANSION BY ENTERING PHOENIX MARKET

JANUARY 3, 2011, St. Louis, Missouri…Stratus Building Solutions, a St. Louis-based international Master and Unit Franchisor in the Building Service and Maintenance industry, has entered the Phoenix, Arizona market by awarding a new Master Franchise to Channen Smith, who will own and manage the operation at 5013 E WASHINGTON STREET, SUITE 130, PHOENIX, AZ 85034. The new business is called Stratus Building Solutions of Phoenix.

Dennis Jarrett, CEO of Stratus Building Solutions, said, “Stratus Building Solutions of Phoenix is the first Master Franchise location in Arizona and will provide wonderful opportunities for the city. Channen Smith is an accomplished business professional with more than twenty years of successful global experience in sales, marketing, product development, professional services, operations and general management. He is the President of four territories currently and a great addition to family of Master Franchisors.”

Pete Frese, President of Stratus Building Solutions, said, “Stratus Building Solutions of Phoenix is a natural expansion for Mr. Smith. He continues to follow the successful Stratus business model by exclusively offering Stratus Building Solutions franchise units for sale throughout metro Phoenix. Mr. Smith plans to hire six employees immediately and establish 50 unit franchises by year-end 2011, creating more than 100 new jobs.”

Mr. Smith is the President of Stratus Building Solutions of the Great Plains & Rocky Mountains, overseeing offices in Denver, CO; Kansas City, KS; and Omaha, NE. Previously, he served as VP Services for RelayHealth, McKesson Technology Solutions; VP Services for GE Healthcare-HCIT, in Barrington, Illinois; and as Executive Vice President-Service Systems, Otis Elevator Company, based in Farmington, Connecticut.. Mr. Smith earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Arizona and a Master of Science in management (MBA) from Purdue University. Channen and his wife have three daughters and live in suburban Denver.

“Working with Stratus Building has been a rewarding and profitable experience. Partnering with the Fastest Growing Franchise in the country speaks to the kind of success I have become accustomed to,” say Mr. Smith. “Stratus provides proven opportunities for entrepreneurs to own and manage new businesses, create jobs and generate income by rendering top-quality building services to building owners and managers.”

Financial terms of Stratus Building Solutions’ Master Franchise agreement with Stratus Building Solutions of Phoenix were not disclosed.

Stratus Building Solutions offers 16 different building service franchise plans providing state-of-the-art “environmentally green” cleaning systems, products, services and marketing support. These include the unique “Stratus Green Clean” program which uses environmentally-friendly products to help sustain healthier, more productive facilities. The firm also offers an exclusive “Stratus Sani-Proof” program that kills bacteria, including Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA), and other germs found in schools, health clubs, daycare centers, gyms, dormitories, medical offices and hospitals.

A division of Stratus Building Solutions called Stratus Affiliated Services, LLC provides landscaping, energy audits, recycling, pest control, hard-surface cleaning, and related services to complement the company’s successful building service and maintenance franchise programs.

Stratus Building Solutions won four “top ten” spots in Entrepreneur magazine’s 30th Annual Franchise 500® ranking published in the 2010 along with being awarded a place in the 2010 9link=http://www.inc.com/inc5000/profile/stratus-building-solutions]Inc 500-5000. Other awards include Franchise Times Fast 55, World Franchising’s 50 Top Franchises for Minorities, Black Enterprise’s Top 40 Best Franchises for African Americans, and Poder 360’s Top 25 Franchises for Hispanics.

Jarrett and Frese founded Stratus Building Solutions after each worked as top corporate executives for more than ten years in commercial cleaning franchise industries. With that experience, Stratus Building Solutions currently offers franchises in Connecticut, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, New Jersey, North and South Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Virginia, in addition to Arizona. In May 2009, Stratus Building Solutions of Canada was established to serve all ten provinces in that nation and the company’s near-term plans include expansion into Europe, South America and the Middle East.

Stratus Building Solutions franchise benefits include orientation and training; customer referrals; administrative and accounting support; pre-arranged credit lines; access to insurance and surety bonds, financing options, promotional support; and other turn-key advantages. The firm’s headquarters are at 1976 Innerbelt Business Center Drive in St. Louis, Missouri.

For more information, please see the website www.stratusclean.com or call Stratus Building Solutions at 314.731.2000 or toll-free at 877.731.2020. Media contact: Dennis Jarrett, Chief Executive Officer