Cleanlots: America's Simplest Business, a Parking Lot Litter Removal Business You Can Be Proud Of

by Brian Winch

Cleanlots has been described as “America’s Simplest Business” and “almost as simple as a walk in the park”. Entrepreneur magazine said parking lot litter cleanup is “a simple, inexpensive and potentially lucrative business to get into, and the market is growing”.
The Cleanlots book is an operations manual on how to start and operate a parking lot litter cleanup business. Each book purchase includes FREE email and telephone support from the author.
Since 1981, author Brian Winch has made a six-figure annual income cleaning up litter from parking lots, and he'll teach you to do the same.
It’s an excellent way to take control over your life and income; you can start this business with very little money, without a college education or advanced computer skills. It’s an ideal business for anyone who likes to work outside, who’s responsible and can pay attention to detail. You can also operate this business part-time, as a side hustle until you’re ready to go full-time.

76 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 29, 2018

About the author

My name is Brian Winch, creator of Cleanlots. I’ve been operating a parking lot clean up business since 1981.

Let me take you back to when I started…

I was working at a sporting goods store, completely uninspired by my job and lacking motivation for it.

My prospects were slim as all I had was a high school diploma and a small savings account. But what I had was the motivation to change my life for the better and a willingness to work for myself.

That’s when I remembered my father used to make extra money on the side by cleaning up litter in a neighborhood shopping plaza. I’d gone along with him a few times as a kid and I remembered thinking how easy it was. It was literally a case of us walking around the property cleaning up litter before the stores opened the next day and getting paid for it.

It was then that I decided to start a home-based litter cleanup business part-time so the work didn’t interfere with my full-time job. I contacted property management companies and offered to clean their retail, office and warehouse properties on a daily basis.

After just two months I was making more money than in my full-time job. I bet you can guess what I did next… I QUIT MY JOB.

I turned my $200 investment into a $650,000+ per year business. I never dreamed I could turn a litter cleanup business into such an enjoyable lifestyle, but I did.

Reviews

[John Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll disclose this book was written by a friend of mine. However, I'll still tell you why I like it and the business behind it after seeing it in action for the last few years.

I am a marketing consultant who helps small business owners start and grow businesses and that is why I'm writing this review. I see a lot of complicated new tech businesses and how much money they cost to start. I see how hard people work to get their high-tech businesses going and along comes the Cleanlots manual.

It is one of the least sexy businesses as far as curb appeal goes. However, it is a great opportunity for people with very limited resources to start their own business part-time or full-time.

The book is about how to start a parking lot litter cleanup business for next to no money. This idea may seem completely counter-intuitive in today's high-tech age, but don't let that stop you from considering the idea along with other home businesses.

As a side hustle or as an alternative to other home businesses, this is about as simple a business as you can start, with the least money and learning curve around. It is ideal for people who want to be outside or who need their independence.

The book tells you step-by-step how to do the business and the author offers free telephone and email support to readers.

As someone who has witnessed the development of this book and the conversations with readers and people who have started the business, it is exciting to see what people have done with it.

If you are considering a food stand or being an Uber driver or maybe some other micro business and you're frustrated about the high costs and complexity, consider this idea with an open mind.

I've read the book, met the author and I've seen the business in action first-hand. I've even walked along with Brian while he was doing the work, to see what he does every day.

I think there is value in the simplicity and accessibility, beyond what first impressions may stop you from considering.

So I'm a little biased. I'll own that. But as a small business consultant, I like the opportunity this represents. It allows people to get into business with almost no money and I really like that. It is empowering for people with few other options. (less)

[Tricia · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is about how to start your own parking lot litter removal business, but most of the advice is so generic that it could be applied to any business, and the information that is provided would be at home in the “...For Dummies” series, for example, “your office should be set up in an area where it remains separate, in some way, from the family space of your home” and “you need a cell phone and computer.” I was also continually doubtful of the author’s declarations from the very beginning of the book where he claims that “Money is not the criteria for the successful launch of a business.” I’m sorry, but I think that money is very necessary for starting a new business. Winch also says that he provides the reader “with valuable information obtainable nowhere else," but I also find that very hard to believe; I am sure that most, if not all, of the information Winch provides can be found somewhere online. I also found Winch’s tone both too upbeat and too simplistic at the same time, and padded with unnecessary content including pictures of tools, and potential businesses that might become clients, as well as generic tax and contract forms that can probably be found anywhere online. Finally I was disgusted when Winch suggested products like the "Litter Licker® litter collection tool”; it seemed too much like product placement/advertising.

[Mike Parsons · Rating 5 out of 5]

This operations manual promises you ‘a parking lot litter removal business you can be proud of’ and, I must say, it delivers on its straightforward, logical and enthusiastic approach – an approach that is almost as helpful as standing talking to the author himself! Originally published as long ago as 1985, the book has had 8 reprints, and I can see why. It’s short, but it tells you everything you need to know to set up a business of your own. And if that wasn’t enough, the author promises to answer queries on the phone or by email. The book covers business opportunities and how to see them, personnel and how to recruit (including interview questions) and keep them, operations, and marketing. Each chapter is clear, makes sense of the concrete situation and city-wise. The chapter on operations, for example, literally lists every tool you might need to do the job. There are plenty of example forms to use or adapt and even scripted phone calls in marketing the business and receiving the odd complaint. Though this is an American experience, UK readers might see the logic behind it all and benefit from thinking through the implications and starting their own business. It’s a model worth emulating!

[Shelby Steinauer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brian Winch's CleanLots is an idea I had never thought of. This is a how-to manual for building your own parking lot little clean up business. Who'd've thunk it. This was an easy to read manual and even easier to follow. It's detailed and covers every aspect to starting a business of this sort. Some of the advice is transferable to any type of business, too. It's very helpful that he includes advice pertaining to legal and and the IRS. He also includes sample proposals and marketing ideas.

I do think the forward should have been reworked. It sounds to much like a sales pitch. "Congratulations! You've discovered an excellent business opportunity..." and "...valuable information obtainable nowhere else." It just feels like a smarmy sales pitch and it made it a little hard to feel open to what he had to say. Once you get past that, this simple guide is easy to understand and all you need to get started on your clean lots business... that and some garbage grabbers.