By Lily Allen-Dueñas, Hola Iowa
Ana Maceda is the owner of Crown Cleaning LLC, a residential and commercial cleaning business serving Des Moines and its surrounding areas since August 2022. Originally from Mexico, Ana is navigating being a Mexican woman in Iowa as well as a Latina business owner. “I fall into such a small percentage now,” Maceda shares. Her determination and constant desire to continually learn and grow to build her business shines through her words. “The entrepreneur’s life is not easy, but the reward can be life-changing!” Her passion for entrepreneurship is honest, yet exuberant. She approaches entrepreneurship with a blend of passion and purpose, which is evident in every aspect of her business.
Where are you from and why did you decide to open a business in Iowa?
Soy Mexicana, born in Zacatecas, Mexico. I was brought to this country undocumented at the age of 4. Gracias a Dios my family and I are now US Citizens. I decided to start my business in Iowa because this is home. I want to plant and grow roots in this Iowa soil by building a strong business in this thriving state. I knew God was calling me to do something greater. I worked in customer service-related jobs for the past 14 years, which helped me develop the soft skills that are needed to be in the cleaning industry. I knew I wanted to have a place where not only the clients felt like they were winning when they picked us but also the staff. I realized then that I had the power to create that type of environment.
What motivated you to start your business?
I never realized how often I can be in a room full of people and none of them look like me. It has been a challenge to overcome feeling out of place. To overcome that feeling I am attending more events and beginning to make a presence in the community. I hope that one day I can see more faces like mine in those rooms.
What were some of your challenges when you first started?
As the sole business owner, I am responsible for everything in the business. That also means wearing many hats. I am working on learning how to know my numbers, how to run my social media, and how to get more clients and staff. The way I am working on that is by using all the free resources that this awesome state has to offer small business owners.
What is your favorite part about being a business owner?
I love that I get to build it how I want. I can pick the colors, the tools, the systems, the pay, how I treat my team, and how I treat my clients. As a business owner, you get the opportunity to build something greater than yourself. God can use your business to bless your staff, your clients, your network, and your whole community. All that because you decide to be courageous and to inspire others to go for it, even if it’s hard. Even if it’s scary. I hope to one day look around in those rooms and see more faces like mine.
If another Latina told you they wanted to open a business, what advice would you give them?
I would say feel the fear and do it anyway! Just think about it, you could be changing lives with your business. An entrepreneur’s life is not easy but the reward can be life-changing! Don’t let time keep going by wondering what if? Stop overthinking it, trust God, and go!
JEFAS Magazine is a collaboration of writers, photographers, social media managers, editors, translators, and designers from across Illinois, Iowa and the Midwest – all of whom are Latinx. It is the first magazine created by the Latinx community, for the Latinx community that focuses on how they are boosting the economy, giving back, and filling the gap between what is needed and what is available in the state.
To see the locations where you can find the magazine visit @JEFASMagazine on Instagram and TikTok
You can find the digital magazine here:
https://holaamericanews.com/jefas-latinas-in-business-magazine-may-2024/
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