Cleaning Up in Business: The Story of Entrepreneur and Founder Mark Borge
Mark Borge
Chief Executive Officer, Best Facility Services
Website: www.bestfacilityservices.com
Mark Borge is a Texas-based entrepreneur and founder of Best Facility Services, a commercial janitorial company he launched with just $4,000 and grew steadily for nearly two decades before merging with The Facilities Group in 2021. Beyond business ownership, he is a real estate investor, mentor, husband, father, and now grandfather—still walking by faith as he enters a new season of purpose. His story is not just about business success; it is about resilience, obedience, and finding fulfillment through faith and service.
The Calling to Build: Faith at the Foundation of Entrepreneurship
Success rarely begins with a clear path. For many entrepreneurs, it starts with a simple decision—to try. For Mark Borge, that moment came early in life, long before he built a company, merged with a larger corporation, or became a mentor to future business leaders. His journey began with a mindset that would later define his entire entrepreneurial career: the willingness to work hard, stay humble, and trust God with the outcome.
Mark grew up in Fort Worth, Texas, where he still lives today with his wife Julie and their family. Unlike many entrepreneurs who moved around chasing opportunities, Mark built his life on strong roots—family, commitment, and responsibility. He understood something many people overlook: prosperity doesn’t always require relocating to a big city or waiting for perfect conditions. It grows wherever you plant seeds—with consistency and purpose.
Before becoming the founder of Best Facility Services, Mark held a few traditional jobs. He worked in the mortgage industry and later in accounting for a medical supplies company. But quickly, he discovered that the corporate world wasn’t what he was called to do. He didn’t see politics, rigid structures, and slow growth as opportunities—instead, they felt like chains. Deep down, Mark sensed there was more to life than simply collecting a paycheck.
He once said that entrepreneurship requires faith, and he was right. It takes courage to bet on yourself when there’s no guaranteed salary, security, or immediate results. Mark’s journey wasn’t about chasing money; it was about honoring the purpose placed in his heart. He didn’t start with a glamorous vision or a trust fund. His early ventures included collecting scrap aluminum cans as a kid and selling them for fifteen cents a pound. It may sound small, but the principle behind it remains powerful—start with what you have.
Mark’s foundation in life and business began with three truths:
Work is a form of worship when done with excellence.
Wealth is a tool, not a god.
Faith means moving forward even when the next step isn’t fully revealed.
Before he ever made a dollar in business, Mark made a decision that would guide everything he built moving forward: to be useful to others. That belief became the heartbeat of his leadership and ultimately opened doors he never expected.
When Dreams Collapse: Failing Forward With God
Mark didn’t start out successful—far from it. His first business wasn’t Best Facility Services. Before that, he bought a printing franchise in 1995, believing it would be his first big break. He poured in time, energy, and sacrifice. But instead of growth, he hit struggle after struggle.
For two and a half years, he pushed hard, but the business barely survived. The stress mounted. Then an opportunity came—he attempted to buy a larger printing business so he could expand. Everything looked right on paper. He even had a holding company backing him. But at the last minute, the deal collapsed.
To make matters worse, he merged with another franchise in hopes of staying afloat. What he didn’t know at the time was that company was already financially underwater. He had unknowingly jumped from a struggling business into a sinking ship. Eventually, the bank came in and locked the doors. The business was gone. Years of work—gone. Dreams—gone. Money—gone.
All he walked away with was enough to pay off his car.
But instead of quitting, Mark learned something powerful: failure is a teacher. He didn’t blame God. He didn’t pity himself. He stayed humble and kept moving. He later said those hard years gave him a spiritual education in humility that he would carry for life.
During this time, God was preparing his character for bigger blessings ahead. Sometimes we pray for success, but God sends seasons that build our endurance first. Mark later realized: if he had succeeded too early, his ego would have destroyed him. Instead, God stripped him down to rebuild him stronger.
Building Again: The Birth of Best Facility Services
In 2004, Mark got a phone call that changed everything. A friend he knew from church and a Christian rock band reached out: “I’m in the janitorial business. Want to talk about starting a company together?”
Did Mark dream of being in the cleaning industry? Absolutely not. But he understood something most people don’t—opportunity doesn’t always come wrapped in glamour. Sometimes, God opens unexpected doors to test your willingness and obedience.
With just $4,000 in startup capital, Mark launched Best Facility Services in Texas. There was no outside investment, no loans, no inheritance—just faith, grit, and a lot of work. He didn’t take a paycheck for two years while the company grew. They bootstrapped everything and avoided debt completely. Slowly, clients came. Then more. The business gained momentum.
Within a few years, Best Facility Services hit the Inc. 5000 list twice—a national recognition of America’s fastest-growing private companies. Mark was now running one of the most successful self-funded janitorial companies in the U.S.—but he didn’t let success blind him. He remembered struggle. He protected his values. He stayed committed to treating people with dignity—from clients to janitors. His business wasn’t built on image—it was built on service.
He believed business is a calling, not a competition. And when trial came again, he endured with faith. When a major client stopped paying and payroll was on the line, Mark didn’t panic—he acted with honesty and patience. That client eventually paid back what they owed, and the company survived another crisis.
Prosperity with Purpose: Stewardship, Humility, and Wealth
In 2021—after nearly two decades of growth—Mark sold Best Facility Services through a successful merger with The Facilities Group. He stayed on during transition, earned a full performance payout, and today still holds equity in the company. From $4,000 to a business exit—that journey is a blessing few entrepreneurs get to experience.
But Mark is quick to say—success without purpose is empty. He has met wealthy people who are miserable and unfulfilled. Why? Because money alone doesn’t create meaning—purpose does.
Mark sees wealth as a tool for impact, not personal status. He and his wife Julie now invest in real estate, including multifamily housing projects. They also purchased a small ranch in Oklahoma, where Mark grows muscadine grapes as a passion project. Not because he needs more money—but because he values learning, building, and creating things that bless others.
He teaches young entrepreneurs a life-changing principle: work with gratitude, stay humble in both success and hardship, and never forget who your Provider is. He often reminds others that God won’t give success to someone who worships success more than Him.
Hope for Every Entrepreneur: Faith, Legacy, and Calling
Today, Mark lives a life built not just on achievement—but on fulfillment. He mentors business students. He speaks at universities. He supports his church and community. He helps care for his aging parents and celebrates life with his wife, daughters, and first grandchild. He is still building—but now with an eternal mindset.
His life message is clear: Yes, you can. You can rise again after failure. You can build something meaningful from nothing. You can do business God’s way—with integrity, courage, faith, and love for people.
Mark doesn’t chase success anymore. He chases purpose. He knows everything we build on earth eventually fades—but what we do for others lasts forever.
His story is not just business inspiration—it is a reminder: your calling doesn’t end when life gets hard. That’s where it begins.
Written by Jovilyn Dela Cruz
“Failure doesn’t disqualify you from your calling, it prepares you for it.”
