The starting point
Industrial cleaning and facility services, Greater Lisbon
Strong recurring revenue, low churn, a genuine reputation among industrial clients in the Lisbon belt. But everything runs on the founder's memory: contract renewals, supervisor schedules, key-account dynamics. Dispatch is a daily morning call. Recruitment is permanent and slow. The son is competent and engaged, but the parent-child dynamic is hard to professionalise without an external frame around them both.
What BTJT brought
Dispatch and route software for the team-leaders, with photo evidence and time tracking. CRM linking each contract to its renewal cycle and key-account contacts. A structured employer brand with a careers page and a steady recruitment pipeline. A formal COO role for the son, with a clear remit, KPIs and a peer-level relationship with the founder rather than a parental one. Quarterly governance with two external advisers.
Where things stand today
Contract count up against a competitive market, recruitment lead time materially shorter, supervisors managing their teams from the app rather than from the founder's office. The son is genuinely operating as COO; the founder spends his time on the top accounts and on commercial development. A succession framework is now visible — and credible — for years five to seven.