Tom Stewart
Founder · Operator · Innovator · Industry Builder
From writing Castle Keepers's first SQL database in 1994 to building companies, technologies, publications, certifications, and educational programs that continue to shape residential cleaning, Tom Stewart has spent more than 30 years advancing the industry through purpose-driven innovation—transforming real-world operational experience into practical solutions that help cleaning businesses grow.
Companies
Building a Better Industry
Every organization I've founded serves a different purpose, but they're all connected by the same mission: advancing the residential cleaning profession through purpose-driven innovation. Together, they form an ecosystem that tests ideas in the real world, transforms them into technology, shares proven practices, and prepares cleaning business owners for what's next.
Active Castle Keepers House Cleaning
Co-Owner and CEO - 3 Active Branches
Tom and Janice have co-owned Castle Keepers since 1996, when they took over from Tom's mother-in-law at $2M ARR. The first residential cleaning company to earn CIMS certification and to adopt chemical-free cleaning as a standard service. At its peak, CK operated in 6 markets; 2 active branches remain following COVID-era consolidation.
📅 Joined 1994 · Co-Owner and CEO 1996 · 30+ years View Castle Keepers Website →
Active MaidCentral
Founder and CEO - Built from Castle Quick
Tom built his first SQL scheduling database for Castle Keepers in 1994 and called it Castle Quick. Two decades of iteration, a 2014 move to Microsoft Azure, and a 2019 ISSA trade show debut later - it became MaidCentral, the residential cleaning industry's leading business management platform.
📅 Castle Quick 1994 · Azure 2014 · Licensing 2018 · Pulse 2026 View MaidCentral Website →
Active Cleaning Business Today
Founding Editor and CEO
Founding Editor Tom Stewart launched Cleaning Business Today in 2013 to give residential cleaning business owners a publication focused exclusively on their profession. Today, CBT continues to cover industry news, business management, leadership, technology, and innovation—including Tom's Disruptive Innovation Summit, presented at ISSA in 2014 and again ten years later.
📅 Founded 2013 View Cleaning Business Today Website →Other Ventures
Modern Cleaning
2000 - PresentTom and Janice founded Modern Cleaning in 2000 to explore and educate on the science of chemical-free cleaning and the business systems required to make it successful.
Institute for Service Excellence
2012 - 2014 SoldProfessional Training Before It Was Common
Created to deliver standardized education and certification preparation for residential cleaning professionals, helping elevate the industry's standards.
Cleaning Business Builders
2013–Present · Active publicationHelping Owners Grow
Focused on coaching, accountability, and business transformation, Cleaning Business Builders became the foundation for many of today's coaching programs within the industry, particularly Core Profit Builders.
Smart Business Moves
2020 - presentCo-hosted by Tom Stewart and Liz Trotter
Conversations That Move the Industry Forward
Originally launched in 2020 during COVID, Smart Business Moves (livestream and podcast) continues today through special events and conversations that help business owners prepare for what's next.
Career Journey
30 Years of Industry Milestones
Every business launched, book published, certification built, technology shipped, and leadership role Tom has held - in chronological order. Click any milestone to go deeper.
The First Innovation
When spreadsheets couldn't keep up with a growing cleaning business, I built a simple SQL database. That project eventually became the foundation for MaidCentral.
Tom's Full StoryLearning What Great Businesses Need
Taking over Castle Keepers taught me that successful owners had very few places to learn from one another. That realization would shape much of what came next.
About Tom's ApproachInnovation Beyond Technology
Innovation isn't always software. Sometimes it's challenging accepted practices. We invested in scientific cleaning methods, workforce development, and better systems long before they became industry standards.
Innovation & TechnologyBuilding Community
Residential cleaning owners needed a place to learn from each other. As a founding member and first elected president of ARCSI (now ISSA Residential), I helped build that community.
Industry LeadershipRaising the Standard
Castle Keepers became the first residential cleaning company to earn CIMS certification, proving our industry could meet the highest professional standards.
Certifications & StandardsSharing What We Learned
Years of experience became books, training manuals, and certification programs. Knowledge only creates value when it's shared.
Books & ResourcesHelping Others Build Better Businesses
Education became the next opportunity. We launched the Institute for Service Excellence, Foundations of Business, and later Cleaning Business Builders to help owners grow stronger companies.
CertificationsGiving Owners a Voice
Residential cleaning deserved its own trade publication. Cleaning Business Today was created to share practical ideas, industry news, and proven business strategies.
Media LibraryLooking Around the Corner
Cloud computing wasn't mainstream in our industry yet, but I knew it would change how businesses operated. Castle Quick moved to Azure, and the first Disruptive Innovation Summit challenged owners to prepare for what was next.
Innovation & TechnologyGrowing Through Partnership
As Castle Keepers expanded into multiple markets, I also helped negotiate ARCSI's merger into ISSA Residential—creating a stronger future for residential cleaning professionals.
Industry LeadershipSharing the Software
For years, MaidCentral had been built and refined inside a real cleaning company. In 2018, we opened it to cleaning businesses across North America.
Innovation & TechnologyLeading Through Uncertainty
When the industry needed answers during COVID, we created new certification programs and launched Smart Business Moves—a conversation that grew into nearly 500 episodes helping owners navigate constant change.
Media LibraryTurning Best Practices Into Results
Software alone doesn't build better businesses. MCA Live was created to help MaidCentral partners apply proven operating practices that improve revenue, profit, and performance.
Innovation & TechnologyMeasuring What Matters
From the Strategy Summit to the Professional Cleaning Index and Smart Payments, the focus shifted toward helping owners make better decisions through data, education, and automation.
Industry LeadershipPreparing for What's Next
Pulse represents the next chapter of MaidCentral—built to give owners more flexibility while embracing automation and AI where they create meaningful business value.
Innovation & TechnologyNavigate the Platform
Explore Tom's Work
Books, certifications, media appearances, technology innovations, and decades of industry insights - organized by topic.
Knowledge Hub
Books & Resources
Two published books - the IICRC HCT curriculum manual and Modern Cleaning: The Evolution of Chemical Free Cleaning - plus downloadable resources and an AI assistant trained on Tom's complete body of work.
Credentials
Certifications & Methodologies
PHC, CIMS, IICRC HCT, and the Modern Cleaning Methodology - the credentials Tom built and helped Castle Keepers earn first, proving they were achievable by any serious residential cleaning operator.
Technology
Innovation & Technology
From Castle Quick's SQL database in 1994 to MaidCentral's Azure-hosted platform to MaidCentral Pulse's AI-first architecture in 2026 - Tom's technology journey spans the entire arc of the industry's digital transformation.
Media
Media, Podcasts & Speaking
500 episodes and counting of Smart Business Moves, keynotes at ISSA and ARCSI, webinars, interviews, and trade press - all archived, tagged, and searchable in one media library.
Insights
Articles & Insights Hub
Operational how-tos, industry commentary, business growth guides, and thought leadership on where residential cleaning is headed - drawn from 30 years of being inside the industry, not observing it from a distance.
Advisory
Industry Leadership & Advisory
ARCSI co-founder and first president, ARCSI–ISSA merger negotiator, Disruptive Innovation Summit organizer, PCI report publisher - the full history of Tom's association leadership and industry-building work.
Media Library
Smart Business Moves & More
500 episodes and counting of Smart Business Moves with Liz Trotter, plus keynotes, webinars, and industry interviews - all in one searchable library.
Smart Business Moves - On The Spot
Smart Business Moves with Guest Dave Murry of The DiJulius Group
Smart Business Moves with Guest Samantha Snider
Smart Business Moves with Guest Curt Kempton
Articles by Tom Stewart
Practical insights on running, growing, and loving a cleaning business - published on cleaningbusinesstoday.com.
Protecting Your Cleaning Business from a Recession
You don't need to predict a recession to prepare for one. Here's what the current economy means for your cleaning business — and why you should act now, either way.…
Read on Cleaning Business Today →How To Love Your Cleaning Business
As a house cleaning company owner, have you ever asked yourself the question, “Why do I do this?” I know we’ve all asked that question on a difficult day. On…
Read on Cleaning Business Today →Leveraging the right technology and platforms for your brands
Virtually every aspect of your company is touched or driven by some innovation that didn’t exist 5 or 10 years ago. I describe below four areas where user-friendly apps can…
Read on Cleaning Business Today →Managing the risks of the Hurricane Harvey clean-up
IICRC Master Technician Bruce Vance with useful tips for cleaning business owners in the aftermath of Harvey’s destruction House cleaning businesses whose service areas have been impacted by hurricane Harvey…
Read on Cleaning Business Today →Employee Life Cycle part 4 – The invitation to interview
The big secret to eliminating no-shows to interviews Okay, so now we have a list of people who have passed the first line of screening, the online form. Now we…
Read on Cleaning Business Today →Employee Life Cycle part 3 – Screening Applicants
Keep this stage of the recruiting process quick and easy for both the applicant and the employer.OK so you took my advice in the last two columns and you made…
Read on Cleaning Business Today →Industry Partners & Affiliations
Trusted by the Industry's Best Organizations
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Published Works
Tom's Books
Tom has written two definitive industry texts drawn from 30 years of operational experience - not frameworks borrowed from other industries. The Professional House Cleaning Technician's Manual is the curriculum foundation for the IICRC HCT certification, and Modern Cleaning: The Evolution of Chemical Free Cleaning makes the scientific case for microfiber, engineered water, and ATP testing.