Meet Keyonna Bundridge | Cleaning Business Mogul , Mom, Engineer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Keyonna Bundridge and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Keyonna, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I was actually never someone who aspired to be an entrepreneur. The idea of not working a traditional 9-5 was scary and foreign to me my entire life. Truthfully; our cleaning business was started by “accident” which I now see as fate. I was working for a Engineering firm as a Geotechnical Lab Manager and was laid off right before the onset of Covid. No notice, no warning due to “lack of work”. With 5 children to feed and bills to pay I panicked. I didn’t have a back up plan, I wasn’t crafty, didn’t have a trade that I could put to use. One thing I did know how to do well was clean. My time spent helping my mother ( who was a housekeeper) as a child; and my time spent in the Navy assisted with that.

I started off just cleaning for friends and associates as a side hustle , until I found work. People saw what I could do, word of mouth took it to the next level. Next thing I knew I had to file paperwork to obtain business license and insurance.

My husband was working as a Carpenter; he traveled for work and would be gone during the week and home on weekends. The company he worked for was not at all supportive of his goals nor appreciative of his work ethic. When I pitched the idea of us working together building our own generational wealth and working for ourselves he was on board 1000 percent day one, we have been unstoppable since.

What should our readers know about your business?
Combat Cleaning Service is a Veteran- Black- and Women owned and operated cleaning company specializing in Deep cleans. We clean Commercial and Residential properties.

We love to take things apart and clean them; our motto is Top to bottom, Left to Right so nothing gets missed. We are the “Louis Vuitton” of cleaning services.

Something I hold strong to is being picky with clients. All money isn’t good money. Clients who are abusive, difficult, or disrespectful don’t see the value in what you do.

You get what you pay for; cheaper does not always mean better. There have been so many occasions where we have to come “clean up” after the first company that was hired. The difference in price point in hiring a free lance cleaner or someone who is doing a side hustle versus us, is we do the job right the first time, we are insured, licensed and bonded and use high quality product and unique techniques and our prices reflect so.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My love language is food. Me and my husband love bonding over a good meal, over the years we have hit the jackpot when It comes to knowing where to eat.

Breakfast spots –

Devine cinnamon Roll Deli
Another Broken Egg Café
The Toasty Hotspot LLC

Lunch/ Brunch –
Menkoi Ramen House
Motor Supply Company bistro

Dinner-
Bourbon
D Vino Rosso
Saki Tumi
Blue Marlin

Columbia Canal and Riverfront park has some awesome scenery

A drive out to Charleston, SC is always a must due to the immense amount of history on every corner

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My Husband Leonard ( Leo) and my 5 children. My husband is the muscle behind it all. He held down the fort and encouraged me all the way. I was able to finish my engineering degree, run the cleaning business and work all with his help.

From day one when I suggested we start a cleaning company Leo was on board and ready to go, he as seen the vision through and works hard every single day.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/combat.cleaning.sc/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/Combat.Cleaning.SC/

Image Credits
Marquis Lewis