Business domination through mould eradication

Most of us hate mould. This Gold Coaster has found a way to make money out of it.

MOULDMEN’S founder Gerard Murtagh epitomises the quote often credited to Confucious: “Choose a job you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.”

His enthusiasm for mould removal is contagious, especially when the implications it can have when left untreated around the home are understood.

“That’s why I love what we do because we transform lives through healthier homes,” he said.

“A lot of people just feel like they’re rundown, they might be stressed at work or they’re not getting enough exercise.

“It’s got nothing to do with that, as behind their bed there’s probably a massive mould infestation that they can’t see. Now they’re living with mould everyday and that’s why they’re sick and that’s what drives me.”

Mould Men owner Gerard Murtagh at his Molendinar office. Picture Glenn Hampson

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Mr Murtagh said they had recently acquired an airconditioning cleaning business and were about to launch that service as part of MouldMen’s offerings.

“Nine times out of 10 when we look into the barrel of an air conditioner, we’re finding that they are mouldy or dirty,” he said. “If you’ve got mould in your aircon and you turn that on, you’re going to be filling your bedrooms and living rooms full of mould throughout the summer. I want people to be aware that if you’re not getting them cleaned, not just serviced, then you’ve got a potential health hazard.”

He said education of the detrimental effects of mould, and the benefits to all parties when it is cleaned up, was one of his main focuses in growing the business.

Gerard Murtagh for MouldMen

“Marketing is really important when it comes to educating tenants, landlords and property managers - if you’ve got mould, we’ve got to work together to get rid of it,” he said.

“Let’s do the right thing by everybody and get it done as quickly as possible. Some landlords don’t want to do it, but if you’ve got a happy tenant, they’re more likely to pay the rent on time and look after the property.”

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Mr Murtagh started the business when he and wife, Hot Tomato breakfast radio host Emily-Jade O’Keeffe, were living in Brisbane in 2011.

He had a pressure cleaning business at the time and following the devastating floods in that city, he was given a lot of work cleaning pubs and other public assets which made him question the ongoing issue of mould.

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Emily-Jade O'Keeffe and Gerard Murtagh

After a fact-finding trip to the US to meet experts who had worked on the Hurricane Katrina clean-up in New Orleans, MouldMen was borne.

From humble beginnings, the business now employs 25 staff who work in the company’s head office in Molendinar which he purchased in 2017, as well as a satellite office in Townsville.

The company is on track to record a 60 per cent growth this financial year with more than $2.5 million in revenue.

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Mr Murtagh said a trade services division for landlords and body corporates will be launched soon, as well as plans to expand nationally with a Sydney office opened by June 30 next year.

“We want to be a nationwide business with many service brands underneath our banner, not just providing mould remediation services but offering other property management services,” he said. “Our strategic plan takes us to having 500 staff across Australia.”

Mr Murtagh said growth will come via acquisition and organic growth, rather than through a franchising model.

Gerard Murtagh for MouldMen

“We will never franchise, I don’t believe in franchising as I think there are enough great people in Australia who want to work for a great company and we want to be that great company they want to work for. We don’t need to grow through franchising.”