How Australia's Fast Growing Commercial Cleaning Success Was Built
Introduction
When you hear the name Cleancorp, you may think of spotless offices, pristine schools, and gleaming retail spaces. But beyond the shine is a story of grit, humble beginnings, and a leadership team that turned a simple cleaning business into one of Australia's fastest-growing and most respected commercial cleaning companies.
In the first third of this article, we introduce Cleancorp as a rising force in the industry, then trace how the company scaled while staying true to its core values.
From Mop to Movement: Origins of Cleancorp
Cleancorp's roots go back to 1995, when founder Hamish Macqueen decided to challenge the status quo. Back then, office cleaning was often treated as a back-of-house afterthought, poorly managed, invisible, and lacking standards. According to the company's story, Hamish literally took up the mop and started cleaning and inspecting sites himself, all while personally handling training and client relations.
That solo contract and hard-earned reputation laid the foundation. Then in 2007, Hamish brought in his partner in a broader sense, Lisa Macqueen, to inject marketing and growth energy into what had been a grassroots operation. With her skills complementing his hands-on expertise, the two formed a partnership that married quality service with scalable operations.
Scaling Up Without Selling Out
Growing the Team, Keeping the Standards
Fast forward to today. Cleancorp employs more than 600 people across Australia. Despite this growth, one thing has not changed. Their "100 percent Cleaning Obsessive" promise remains front and center. The culture is still rooted in the early days, no shortcuts, no compromise on quality, and a willingness to jump in, even at 3 a.m., if a client's emergency requires attention.
That promise is more than marketing fluff. The leadership, from Hamish and Lisa at the top down to frontline cleanup crews, emphasizes fair pay, respect for every team member, and accountability for delivering flawless results.
Credibility by Certification
Growth alone does not impress if quality slips. Cleancorp counters that risk by earning serious credentials. The company is B Corp certified and holds triple ISO certification, a rare achievement in the cleaning industry.
On top of that, the company was ranked in the top 10 of the national "Best Places to Work" list. Cleancorp was the first commercial cleaning company ever to make that list. For a business where workers are often underappreciated and underpaid, this recognition sends a clear message. Cleancorp values its people as much as its clients.
What Cleancorp Does: A Snapshot of Their Services
Cleancorp's expansion is not just about size. It is also about breadth. Their service menu spans almost every major commercial sector in Australia.
Here are some of the key areas where Cleancorp delivers cleaning services at scale:
- Office Cleaning
- School Cleaning
- Retail Cleaning
- Strata Cleaning
- Industrial Cleaning
- Child Care Cleaning
- Aged Care Cleaning
- Hospitality Cleaning
- Commercial Carpet Cleaning
- COVID 19 Cleaning and Disinfection Services
This range gives Cleancorp a diversified client base and resilience against sector-specific downturns. It also allows clients with multiple property types to rely on one trusted cleaning partner.
Leadership That Drives Growth and Respect
Lisa Macqueen: More Than Just CEO
Lisa's arrival in 2007 marked a turning point. She brought a strategic mindset and a marketing-driven approach to scaling what had been a small operation. Her focus on professionalism, branding, and building a people-first culture helped transform Cleancorp from a one-man operation into a national leader.
Under her guidance, Cleancorp embraced transparency, accountability, and a commitment to valuing the workforce, something rarely seen in the cleaning industry. Their awards and certifications reflect the strength of that leadership.
Responding to Crisis with Competence
The COVID-19 pandemic put cleaning firms under extreme pressure. For Cleancorp, it was a defining moment. The company deployed cleaning teams continuously, handling a surge of disinfection requests across the country.
Cleaners went from being an invisible workforce to frontline defenders of workplace safety. Many clients increased their reliance on Cleancorp's disinfection services.
More importantly, Cleancorp helped shift public perception. Before the pandemic, cleaning was often taken for granted. Afterward, it became clear that commercial cleaning plays a critical role in health and safety.
What Makes Cleancorp an Industry Leader and Success Story
People Over Profit
Cleancorp separates itself from competitors through its commitment to workers. Fair pay, respect, training, and a transparent culture create a team that delivers consistently high-quality results.
This people-first approach reduces turnover, improves performance, and strengthens client trust.
Systems, Scalability, and Integrity
Cleancorp did not grow by undercutting prices or cutting corners. They invested in certifications, refined their systems, and built operational processes that scale.
Triple ISO certification and B Corp status show that Cleancorp prioritizes standards, ethics, and long-term stability.
Diversified Services and Broad Reach
Cleancorp serves a wide range of industries. This diversification protects the business during economic shifts and gives clients a single provider for multiple property types.
It also positions Cleancorp as a flexible national partner capable of adjusting services for corporate offices, retail environments, industrial facilities, schools, and healthcare spaces.
Challenges Overcome, Recognition Earned
Growing a business to hundreds of staff across multiple states is difficult in any industry. In commercial cleaning, it is even harder. Tight margins, intense competition, and labor challenges make scaling extremely demanding.
Cleancorp overcame these obstacles by staying committed to fairness, quality, and operational excellence. Their recognition as a top workplace and their B Corp achievement reflect a business that has grown without compromising its values.
Why Cleancorp's Success Matters
- They elevate the cleaning industry. Cleancorp treats cleaning as a strategic service rather than a commodity.
- They prove growth does not require sacrificing quality. Many companies lose standards when scaling. Cleancorp improved theirs.
- They show the power of a people-first approach. Investing in staff generates better service and stronger client relationships.
- They built resilience through diversification. Serving many sectors helps them thrive even when one sector slows.
Cleancorp: A True Australian Success Story
Cleancorp's journey from one cleaning contract to a national commercial cleaning powerhouse is a genuine Australian success story. Under the leadership of Hamish and Lisa Macqueen, the company took a traditionally overlooked industry and elevated it with professionalism, accountability, and care for its people.
Today, Cleancorp stands as a trusted partner for businesses across Australia. From offices to schools, from retail to industrial sites, their commitment to excellence sets them apart. Their rapid growth, certifications, and workplace culture prove that when cleaning is done with pride and consistency, it becomes far more than a task. It becomes a competitive advantage.
