How a Cleaning Business Turned Trust Into a Growth Strategy
When Jared Sarbit and Aaron Graham launched Picture Perfect Cleaning, they weren’t looking to start just any other cleaning company. They wanted to challenge an industry that often lacked disciplined operations, professionalism, strong workplace culture and long-term investment in employees, areas they believed could become powerful competitive advantages.
Today, the Alberta-based company serves nearly 290 client locations across Calgary and Edmonton. Its growth has been driven by a commitment to building trust, both with clients and employees.
“The deeper I investigated the janitorial industry, the more I realized there was a major gap in the market,” says Sarbit, co-founder and CEO. “Too many companies viewed custodians as replaceable labour rather than as people.”
The idea resonated with Graham, whom Sarbit met while managing a restaurant. The two quickly discovered they shared values around work ethic, accountability and treating people with respect.
From the outset, they focused on creating a business built around strong systems, clear communication and employee support. Rather than offering one-size-fits-all cleaning solutions, Picture Perfect Cleaning developed customized service plans designed to meet the unique needs of every client.
“We believed that if we built an exceptional culture and truly cared for our people, they would in turn create an exceptional experience for our clients,” says Sarbit.
The culture behind the company
That philosophy remains central to the company’s operations today. Four core values—People Matter Here, Be Honest & Accountable, Take Pride in What We Do and We Strengthen Our Community—guide everything from hiring and training to client communication and leadership decisions.
The founders focused early on creating repeatable systems that would allow them to maintain service quality as they grew. Detailed training programs, quality-control processes, regular inspections and proactive client communication became the backbone of the business.
But culture, they say, has been the real differentiator.
“In an industry known for high turnover, we focused relentlessly on creating a better work environment, stronger communication, growth opportunities and a real sense of belonging,” says Sarbit.
How slow growth paid off
Trust is especially important in an industry where clients are granting access to offices, buildings and private spaces. Picture Perfect Cleaning approaches trust-building as an ongoing process, beginning with the first client interaction and continuing long after contracts are signed.
“Trust is not built through a single interaction,” says Sarbit. “It’s built through consistent professionalism, communication, reliability and follow-through over time.”
As the company expanded beyond Calgary into Edmonton, maintaining that consistency became a new challenge. The founders intentionally slowed growth when they realized operational infrastructure wasn’t yet in place to support the level of service they wanted to deliver.
Rather than pursuing new contracts, they paused marketing efforts and focused on building a strong local leadership team.
“Sustainable growth is always better than fast growth if you want to build something that lasts.”
The value of long-term partnerships
That long-term mindset extends beyond the company’s operations. It also reflects Picture Perfect Cleaning’s relationship with BMO, a partnership rooted in family history.
In 1954, Sarbit’s grandfather lost his grocery store in an fire. Without insurance, rebuilding seemed impossible. BMO stepped in to help finance the recovery, creating a relationship that would span generations.
“That story has always stayed with me,” says Sarbit. “It represented more than banking. It represented trust, loyalty and long-term partnership.”
When Sarbit and Graham launched Picture Perfect Cleaning, continuing that relationship with BMO felt natural. As the company grew, access to financial guidance, banking tools and trusted advisors helped support key investments in leadership, infrastructure and expansion.
“One of the biggest advantages of a long-term banking relationship is that your financial institution begins to truly understand your business,” says Sarbit. “Not just the numbers on paper, but your vision and how you approach growth.”
Looking ahead, the founders believe they’re entering a new chapter. After 16 years building systems, culture and operational discipline, they are preparing for significant expansion across Alberta while exploring how technology, automation and AI can improve efficiency and client experience.
Sarbit notes, “at the end of the day, the strongest businesses are built when you combine high standards and operational discipline with genuine care for the people you serve and the people you work alongside every day.”
For Picture Perfect Cleaning, commitment to people and the trust earned through decades of relationships continues to shape the company’s future.
