Kianna Binger was frustrated with trying to find reliable cleaners for her and her husband Shane’s property management company, Trailhound Cabin Co.
Seeing an opportunity to not only meet her own needs, but also leave a lasting mark on her community, Kianna started Lemon Fresh Cleaners in 2022.
When the Rapid City business took off faster than she could have imagined, Kianna had the idea to open the business up to franchise.
“We were getting new quote requests every day,” said Kianna. “People were asking ‘Do you travel to Philip?’ and, ‘When are you coming to Aberdeen?’”
Kianna graduated with honors from South Dakota State University in 2016 with a degree in entrepreneurial studies and the dream of opening her own business.
“Providing women a path to being their own bossess & setting their kids up for a bright future is the best feeling.”
-Kianna Binger
With 10 years of advertising experience, plus a childhood of her parents hand-painting the iconic Wall Drug signs, she felt well equipped for this new venture.
Kianna hired a consultant to learn about the ins and outs of professional cleaning and conducted intensive research to find the absolute “zest” products.
Next, she and Shane took responsibility for the different parts of the business—Shane would handle the logistics, while Kianna would be in charge of HR, advertising, and quality control.
With a mission of empowering women, creating clean, safe homes, and giving back to the community, Kianna says she’s never felt so “on- fire” about a project before.
“Lemon Fresh Cleaners is more than a cleaning service; it’s a catalyst for positive change,” she shared.
Read more about Kianna, her vision to empower women, and the work she does behind the scenes for Lemon Fresh Cleaners.
Our services can be best described as…
natural and high-end. We ensure a clean, safe approach to cleaning that is effective, yet gentle for families, pets, and homes. Each Lemon Fresh location is female-owned and operated, reflecting our dedication to fostering an environment where women lead and succeed.
The best part of my job is…
witnessing how we can help busy families, giving them more quality time with their kids, how relaxed they are coming home to a clean house, and being able to do it with natural products that are so much healthier for their kids. Another great part is the positive impact our franchise model has on women—empowering them to be their own bosses, while providing top-notch cleaning services to our communities.
Something different about the way we clean is…
that we don’t rely on harsh chemicals. We combine amazing natural products with a thorough understanding of the pH scale so we can clean effectively without ever needing bleach. Also, our commercial steamers can clean and disinfect at 220 degrees, so we don’t have to use any products at all in sensitive homes.
Breathe Easy
Natural cleaning products release fewer Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) into the air.
This can improve breathing and help with conditions like allergies, asthma, and can even help prevent lung cancer.
My favorite coffee shop is…
Pump House Coffee & Eatery in Deadwood, where I love sipping a dry cappuccino and watching the local artisans blow glass. I’m also big on their breakfast sandwich—it’s breakfast and a show.
My favorite way to spend my free time is…
at the pottery studio enjoying the natural light and meditating over the clay spinning circles in my hands. I also love hiking and enjoying the beauty of the Black Hills.
My go-to restaurant is…
Ron’s Café in Rapid City. It’s female-owned and operated, and she knows my order by heart: Blueberry gluten-free pancakes. It’s comfort food in a relaxed atmosphere, and the people are great.
Something that is influencing me right now is…
imposter syndrome. While I’m so excited for the big picture in this venture, it’s all really overwhelming sometimes. I try to stay present, focusing on the next right choice I can make to keep the ball moving. Another thing influencing me is the green movement, as I ensure that our products and policies are as sustainable and eco-friendly as possible.
Something that people don’t know about my company is…
how much work goes on behind the scenes. Coming home after a long day at work means washing loads of cleaning supplies, refilling products, quoting, payroll, and keeping employees happy. As any business owner knows, there’s an entire other job after your “job.”
I couldn’t do it without…
our friends and family who have been our biggest supporters on our social media pages and in real life, too. My husband, Shane, is also so sweet, compassionate, and sees the world in a different light than I do.
Off The Clock
Kianna and Shane support eight local nonprofits, and Kianna donates her time each week at the Dahl Arts Center in Rapid City.
I balance my work and home life by…
not letting it feel like work in the first place. Admittedly, there’s not a lot of balance right now because I could work on this sun-up to sun-down and find something to be excited about the next day. However, I take breaks whenever I feel burnout coming on and pursue other passions, take a hike, and get some sunshine.
My hobbies are…
pottery, painting, yoga, playing guitar, and coffee dates with friends. I love anything “hands-on” where I can be fully present.
Growing up, my dream job was…
to be an artist. Getting to design a cheeky brand, and do satisfying cleaning jobs—I feel like I got close enough!
“We’ve approached cleaning from a natural perspective & we’ve become better cleaners for it.” -kianna binger
Our franchisees…
are set up with a proven brand, training, and operations to “clean house,” literally and figuratively. We take as much of the operation’s load off of them as we can so they can focus on the real job: Cleaning. Our first franchisee, Jenna, has taken it to new heights, assembled a team we are so proud of, offers incredible leadership, and her schedule is absolutely packed.
A goal I have for the next five years is…
expanding our franchise network to reach more communities, empowering more women, and increasing our support for local nonprofits. However, something I’ve learned from the past five years is that nothing turns out the way I’ve planned—it’s usually so much better. The best thing I can do is pray about it.
