Q: Share a little about yourself and what led you to pursue your path to entrepreneurship. When did you start, and what were your action steps?
A: My name is Lorenzo Bates, and I am a native of Simpsonville, SC. I have been married to my best friend for 14 years. We have 2 daughters, Loren (12) and Zoe (7). After spending over 30 years in the corporate workforce and working in the pharmaceutical field I decided to leave my JOB (just over broke) to become an entrepreneur.
My action steps included keeping my current job while I was researching business opportunities. While researching businesses, I became interested in franchising because of the support and resources that are typically offered to franchisees. I signed up as a franchisee with 360Clean (www.360clean.com) because I was impressed with their affordable startup costs, their commitment to “Cleaning for Health” that focuses on disinfecting instead of merely cleaning surfaces, and their Pre-Set Sales Appointment Program.
I started my 360clean franchise on a part-time basis in 2017 in the Greenville, SC area. By 2020 I was ready to finally quit my corporate job and go “all in,” and since then I have seen my business skyrocket and I have won awards as the top performer with 360Clean. I took baby steps and eventually got where I needed to be with a patient, strategic approach.