Today we’d like to introduce you to Agnes Starczewski.
Hi Agnes, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I came to the United States when I was 17 years old with $20 in my pocket and only about 10 days of a place to stay. I didn’t speak English, I couldn’t read or write, and I didn’t understand the culture. Everything was new and very difficult. I started cleaning houses for Jewish families and slowly learned the language and how life works here. Over the years I went through many struggles, including abuse and leaving an abusive marriage. Cleaning houses was the only thing I knew how to do, so I kept working and never gave up. Little by little the work started growing. People trusted me, and I began getting more clients. Then I started hiring people and helping others find work. Many of them were in situations similar to mine, trying to build a better life. Today my company, Scarabs Cleaners, operates in multiple states. What started with one woman cleaning houses has grown into a team of hardworking people. Many of the people who worked with me have now opened their own businesses and support their families. After many years of hard work, I became a millionaire, but success never changed who I am. I still see myself as the same girl who came here with nothing. I believe in helping others, supporting my community, donating to local organizations like the Savannah Ghost Pirates, working with shelters for women, and giving opportunities to people who need a chance. I believe strongly in God and trust that He guides my path. My goal has never been only to build a business, but also to help other people grow, find their passion, and build their own future. Even today, after all these years, I am still the same person who started cleaning houses. I treat people the same way and always try to lift others up.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely was not a smooth road. In the beginning everything was difficult. I came to this country very young without speaking English, without family support, and without understanding the system. Even simple things like reading documents, talking to clients, or understanding contracts were very hard for me. I also went through very personal struggles. I experienced abuse in my marriage and eventually had to make the difficult decision to leave and rebuild my life. At that time I had to rely completely on my own strength, faith, and hard work. Building a business in a new country with no money, no connections, and limited language was another challenge. I had to learn everything by doing it myself. I made mistakes, worked long hours, cleaned houses during the day, and slowly learned how to run a business.
Another big challenge was learning how to hire the right people. In the beginning I trusted everyone very easily. Unfortunately, some people took advantage of that. I had situations where people stole or were not honest, and that was very painful when you are trying to build something good. Over time I learned how to read people better. Now when I hire someone, I can usually see very quickly if someone has the right heart or if they might be a “bad apple” for the team. I learned that protecting the good people in your company is very important, and sometimes you have to make difficult decisions so one person does not damage the whole team. Today when I look back, I realize those challenges built my character. They taught me resilience, humility, and compassion for others who are trying to build a better life.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Scarabs Cleaners ?
Scarabs Cleaners is a professional cleaning and property service company that started from very humble beginnings. I began by cleaning houses myself, one home at a time, and over the years the business grew through trust, hard work, and referrals from happy clients. Today Scarabs Cleaners operates in multiple states and works with homeowners, property managers, and businesses. We specialize in residential cleaning, move-in and move-out cleaning, and helping property managers prepare units quickly and professionally. What makes our company different is that we are built on relationships and opportunity. Many people who started working with me were trying to rebuild their lives or support their families. I believe strongly in giving people a chance to work, grow, and learn. Several people who worked with Scarabs Cleaners eventually opened their own businesses, and that is something I am very proud of. Our company is not only about cleaning spaces. It is about helping people build a better future through work, discipline, and trust. I believe success comes when you help others succeed as well. Even after building a successful company and becoming a millionaire through many years of hard work, I still stay very connected to my community. I support local organizations, donate to community programs like the Ghost Pirates initiatives, and work with shelters supporting women who are rebuilding their lives. My goal is always to grow the business while continuing to create opportunities for others.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up I learned very early that life requires strength and responsibility. I always had a strong personality and a lot of determination. Even when things were difficult, I believed that hard work and faith could change a person’s future. I was always very observant of people and situations. I learned to read people well and understand who is genuine and who is not. That ability later helped me a lot in business and in building teams. I also had a strong sense of independence. I didn’t like depending on others and always wanted to build something on my own. Even as a young person I believed that if you work hard enough and stay disciplined, you can create opportunities where none exist. Faith was also always important to me. I believe God guides our lives and gives us strength in difficult moments. That belief gave me courage to move forward even when the path was not clear. Looking back now, I think those early experiences built the foundation for the person and business leader I became later in life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.scarabscleanersllc.com/
