A chef found joining CrestClean to be the perfect recipe for a rewarding job that’s also given him a great work/life balance.
Not only has he made a sizzling success of his business, Mohammed Ali says he’s far less stressed these days and he gets to enjoy a lot more time with his family.
Working in a managerial role at the Cheesecake Shop was full on, so he decided to explore the idea of working for himself.
Mohammed had already had a taste of cleaning when he helped out his cousin, who has a CrestClean franchise. “I wanted to do something on my own so I thought ‘why not choose cleaning’,” he says.
Since joining CrestClean’s Auckland South teams, Mohammed has thrown himself into the business, taking on more work and growing his franchise nearly threefold in just a year. His wife, Shamina Aiman, a registered nurse, joins him with the cleaning after she’s finished her work.
“She’s really supported me in the business,” says Mohammed. “We love working together and we share the workload.”
Mohammed starts work in the mornings looking after his customers but then takes a break before he begins cleaning schools later in the day.
“I have time in between for my family. I really enjoy working for myself and being self-employed, there is no pressure.”
Keen to learn new skills, Mohammed attended a course with Master Cleaners Training Institute and is now fully qualified in hard floor care techniques.
He says the course was enjoyable and the training well structured. “It was very good and you get the knowledge step-by-step.”
He says the reward of doing a great job restoring floors for his customers makes him feel good. “It’s a very good feeling seeing the polished finish knowing the customer is going to be very happy with the result.”
Viky Narayan, CrestClean’s Auckland South Regional Manager, says Mohammed goes above and beyond for his customers. “He listens to what his customers’ requirements are and he takes pride in his work.
“He puts a lot into his business to ensure his customers are happy and he is always there for them.”
