National Maintenance Contractors began as a small, one-man show in Bellevue Washington in 1970. The founder, Lyle Graddon, started the company when he was only 18. Going door-to-door as Lyle s Janitorial Services, Graddon soon began to acquire accounts. By 1973, Graddon had already established enough business to hire employees, and in 1975 he registered his company as the 75th franchise in Washington. Now under the name of National Maintenance Contractors , Graddon s company to grow, and Graddon established an office in Portland, Oregon in addition to his office in Bellevue, Washington.