Commercial Janitorial Cleaning Services

The cost of cleaning services is primarily based on time to complete tasks. Cost/time will depend on the size of your space, the frequency of cleaning and the scope of work to be completed. A professional cleaning services company will calculate the time needed to complete the work based on industry standards, as well as supplies and equipment required to do that work. Keep in mind, the more detailed cleaning you want, the more it will cost. So decide what your cleaning priorities are before asking for a cleaning quote.

As mentioned above, you generally get what you pay for in cleaning services. Some companies offer more comprehensive services and protection, and therefore may cost more. But, the extra cost may end up saving you, with features such as inspections programs, supply management services, an account rep, higher insurance coverage and safety accreditations. Be wary of bids that seem like a “really good deal" as these companies may not have adequate insurance, may not pay staff well, may not have good communication and may not have proper safety training. Another trick? These low bid companies sometimes start cheap and then raise your prices once they are in and they know you don't want to have to go through the whole hiring exercise again. Bottom line: decide what's important to you when shopping for a cleaning services contractor so you know what you're getting for your money.

Do your research. Here is some criteria you may want to check:

• What type of work the company does; industrial, retail, offices, do they have a specialty?
• Variety of cleaning services they offer; floor finishing, carpet cleaning, ceiling cleaning, parkade cleaning – whatever you might need for your facility
• Reviews of their work
• How long have they been in business?
• Technology available – for billing, inspections, scheduling, work requests – what do they offer that will will make managing the cleaning program easier for you
• Do they have adequate insurance, WCB and safety accreditations?
• Are they a local or national company, what suits your business best?
• Do they give back to the community, and if so, how?

The more information you include in the request for proposal, the better. Remember, decide what is most important to you and what you are willing to pay for. For example, on-line billing and payments, a dedicated account rep, supplies management, on-line requests, etc.

If you can, include:

• the cleaning frequency
• the depth of cleaning you want (basic, detailed, specific requests such as high dusting or cleaning up dishes)
• any specific priority areas, such as an owner's office
• ask for company information such as their communications plan, invoicing process and terms, issue reporting process, insurance/WCB, security checks and safety accreditations
• ask if the company uses their own staff or sub-contracts the cleaning
• feel free to share any good or bad experiences you've had with cleaners in the past so the cleaning company knows how to help you best

If you are unsure of what specific tasks you requie for your cleaning program, a professional cleaning company will give you recommendations based on your space and your budget. And please, do not give a cleaning contractor your desired scope of work AND your desired budget. From experience, I can tell you the two rarely line up so pick one or the other as your priority.

Yes, it does matter! Ask the question to any cleaning company you are considering. Companies that use sub-contractors may simply farm out your job, keep some of the profit, and then pay another company to do it for them. It's how some companies operate so they can get more business with less operating hassle. Unfortunately, this strategy does not benefit the customer. By sub-contracting out the work, the company you hired has less control and accountability over the work being done. Also, you don't know if the sub-contractor has the training, safety standards and overall care that a company using its own employees has.

It's highly recommended that you aska company to do a site assessment before submitting a quote. You will be able to get a customized cleaning program based on your specific needs, and more accurate pricing, by doing a walk-through with the bidders. And just as important, you will be able to get to know the company, their people and how they operate when meeting in person. Working with a company you like, trust and respect will make your cleaning program much easier to manage.

No, cleaning companies should be including the cleaning chemicals, small wares (such as mops) and equipment (such as vacuums, scrubbers) as part of their price.

If you'd prefer to have a supplies management program, where the cleaning company buys those items for you, you can request that. There are numerous benefits to doing that: you should get better pricing as they buy these supplies on volume, and it takes the tracking, ordering and re-stocking of supplies off your plate so you can focus on other things.

As soon as an issue arises, notify your cleaning company representative. A company can not address and fix any issues if they do not know about it. Having said that, most companies should be doing regular inspections so they can catch issues before they get to you. Give the cleaning company a chance to fix the deficiency. Also, ask if there is a reason why the same problem keeps happening. Have a conversation about it. After that, if issues remain then it's time to look for a new service provider. Again, ensure you have a reasonable out-clause in your contract and use it if you need.

Most companies will ask you for a contract, which is fair as they are investing time and equipment into starting up your job. Most often, the contract will be 1 – 2 years (longer for larger contracts) and should include an out clause if you are not satisfied with the company's performance.