How Jose Built a $4 Million Hood Cleaning Business in NYC

What’s the secret to running a $4 million hood cleaning business in one of the world’s most competitive cities? Jose’s company started small in New York and has grown to serve 1,300 restaurants as clients. Without a big digital marketing strategy or media presence, he has built strong relationships with both small local restaurants and large corporate clients.

Keeping hoods cleaned every 90 days and ensuring fire systems are up to date helps businesses avoid fines and stay safe. In 2019, the New York Fire Department named Jose’s company as a model example for compliance. That recognition brought big changes.

New rules required proper certifications, which raised the quality of service across the industry. For companies like Jose’s that already follow the rules, it was a great opportunity to stand out and grow as less reliable competitors fell away.

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Jose showing his printed certificates

His company’s success comes from always showing up for his clients, quickly answering their calls, and listening to their needs. These habits have earned trust and kept customers coming back. 

They understand the importance of using new tools and technology. Learning to use resources like ChatGPT helps the business run more smoothly, improves customer service, and keeps the company strong for the future. Staying compliant and following the rules is key. By using checklists and ensuring that hood cleanings and fire system maintenance are done regularly, they help businesses stay safe and avoid fines.

Jose’s success comes from listening to his clients and always being there when they need him. His focus on building trust and showing up has helped him grow his business to serve 1,300 clients.

Bridging the Digital Divide

While Jose knows that relationships and good service are crucial, he also recognizes that technology is playing an increasingly important role. When he first started, even the city operated on paper, making it difficult to adopt modern processes.

That changed in 2019 when digital regulations began taking hold. Now, he sees technology as a way to improve efficiency, streamline day-to-day operations, and help his business grow.

Working with experts like Juan Esteban Rodriguez, Jose has embraced innovative ideas that help expand his capabilities.

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Juan Esteban Rodriguez, Jose, and Dennis Yu

His business is like a “Ferrari with a flat tire.” The quality of his service is excellent, but the digital side still needs to catch up. By addressing this gap, Jose is ensuring his business will continue to scale and maintain its reputation for excellence.

Jose’s success hinges on fully embracing technology. Rather than relying on outdated paperwork, his approach is to quickly adopt digital tools that streamline his business processes.

The Big Secret?

For Jose, continuous learning is key: the more you understand technology and how to use it, the more you can grow your business. Instead of using AI to generate articles, videos, and web pages out of thin air, they start with real, authentic content, showcasing actual experience and expertise.

AI then processes this raw material into social content, YouTube videos, Google Business Profile (GBP) posts, ads, and more.

By leveraging AI in this way, businesses can amplify their authentic signal—demonstrating what they do, where they do it, and how they do it—reinforcing trust and authority in their industry. This approach aligns with EEAT principle, ensuring that content is rooted in real-world experience, expertise, and credibility rather than generic automation.

Tools like ChatGPT have become valuable for tackling marketing challenges. But for Jose, technology is about more than just efficiency, it’s about enhancing communication and maintaining strong relationships. Instead of creating distance, these tools help him stay connected to his clients and keep the human touch in his work.

Jose stresses the importance of mastering industry regulations and fire codes. He sees nonprofit organizations as valuable resources for education and support, helping business owners stay compliant and maintain safety standards. These steps have been instrumental in Jose’s continued growth and long-term success.

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Jose is inspecting the kitchen hood

Running a family business isn’t easy, but Jose believes that making good decisions while also caring about his customers and team has been very important.

His journey shows that by combining strong relationships with a willingness to adapt and embrace technology, any business can achieve both growth and lasting success.

Dennis Yu
Dennis Yu
Dennis Yu is a former search engine engineer who has spent a billion dollars on Google and Facebook ads for Nike, Quiznos, Ashley Furniture, Red Bull, State Farm, and other organizations that have many locations. He has achieved 25% of his goal of creating a million digital marketing jobs because of his partnership with universities, professional organizations, and agencies. Companies like GoDaddy, Fiverr, onlinejobs.ph, 7 Figure Agency, and Vendasta partner with him to create training and certifications. Dennis created the Dollar a Day Strategy for local service businesses to enhance their existing local reputation and make the phone ring. He's coaching young adult agency owners who serve plumbers, AC technicians, landscapers, roofers, electricians in conjunction with leaders in these industries. Mr. Yu believes that there should be a standard in measuring local marketing efforts, much like doctors and plumbers need to be certified and licensed. His Content Factory training and dashboards are used by thousands of practitioners.