How to Choose the Right Commercial Cleaning Company for Your Business
According to OMHRA, absenteeism costs companies $16.6 billion in productivity annually, much of which stems from sickness or injury linked to unclean environments
Keeping the workplace clean prevents sickness, reduces the risk of injury, and boosts productivity. It also sets the standard of a high-quality work environment for your employees.
Despite this need, business owners often struggle to find reliable cleaning companies. Trust is vital, but determining which cleaning companies are truly reliable can be challenging.
This guide outlines the key factors to consider when hiring a commercial cleaning company, ensuring your business benefits from a clean, safe, and professional workspace.
Why Choosing the Right Cleaning Company Matters
Cleanliness leaves a lasting impression—whether or not we consciously notice it when stepping into a home or office. More than 90% of clients factor cleanliness into whether they will become repeat customers.
Your customers notice it, and so do your employees, both in terms of physical and mental well-being. In fact, “80% of Canadians feel that a clean space improves their physical health,” according to Newswire.
As such, it’s vital to find a cleaning company you can trust. This isn’t a facet of your business where you can find the cheapest service and call it a day. Hiring a bad cleaning company risks:
- Injury – Improper floor cleaning can leave it slick, increasing the risk of harm.
- Sickness – Poorly cleaned desks can leave an army of bacteria, increasing the risk of illness.
- Inconsistency – A low-quality cleaning company may be inconsistent, leaving some spots noticeably unclean.
- Unreliability – Unreliable timing and scheduling can interfere with your day-to-day operations.
- Unprofessionalism – Unreliable or unfriendly cleaning staff can hurt your employees’ morale.
Key Factors to Consider When Choosing a Commercial Cleaning Company
So, how do you avoid these pitfalls to find the best commercial cleaning services? To start, do a little research. Compare prices, services, experience, certifications, and more.
Let’s break down what factors to consider when hiring a commercial cleaning service.
Experience and Reputation
Experience makes the difference. Skilled use of machinery, cleaning solutions, and techniques ensures consistent, flawless results every time. Each commercial space is different, and your business likely has unique needs. It’s essential to confirm that the company has experience with office cleaning or cleaning facilities like yours.
With that in mind, you can start your search with local cleaning companies that know your area’s climate and cleaning needs by heart. 5+ years of experience is a good baseline to build a strong reputation.
Check testimonials, both on and off-site. Third-party review sites like TrustPilot or the Better Business Bureau (BBB) can help you search for a business to see its accreditations, reviews, and more.
Type of Business
One of the key factors to evaluate is whether the business is a single entity or a franchise. Franchising is a practice where companies acquire client contracts for the lowest possible price and then sell them to other parties. These other parties will then be the ones who take care of the cleaning.
For peace of mind, it is better to deal with a company that does not franchise. The person who provides the proposal will be the actual party you will be working with in the future, and their staff are under their direct control. Additionally, single-entity companies are able to provide better pay for their staff, reducing turnover and ensuring higher quality.
Services Offered
Think about what cleaning services you need. Some examples include:
- Carpet cleaning
- Window washing
- Post-construction cleaning
- Floor stripping and refinishing
- General commercial cleaning
You may need some or all of these, or your needs could be entirely different. Knowing what to expect helps you narrow the pool of candidates who are qualified to clean your business. A tailored cleaning plan is also helpful since it gives you and the cleaning company clear expectations of what needs to be done and how often it needs to be done.
Certifications and Compliance
Certifications are important for commercial cleaning. Always ensure that a cleaning company is licensed, bonded and insured, for your peace of mind. A simple search on WSIB can let you know if a cleaning company has a valid clearance certificate.
Staff Training and Professionalism
Employees make the difference. Staff trained to operate cleaning equipment and use cleaning chemicals are much more likely to do a better job and offer you safer service.
Ask your potential cleaning company if they background check their staff and if they are uniformed. Uniformed staff enhance workplace professionalism, particularly when cleaning occurs during business hours.
Customizable Schedules
Flexibility is important for all businesses. Check the operating hours for your cleaning company. Dirt never takes a break, so it’s important your trusted partner is committed to fighting the good fight. Yearly plans can be helpful since they set the standard for cleaning quality over a period of time.
You should also aim to schedule during quiet hours for minimal disruption. If a cleaning company can’t accommodate this need, they may not be right for you.
Pricing and Value for Money
Comparing price and quality of services is difficult. It helps to read testimonials, but you should also do your research. Pick a few promising cleaning companies and compare their prices, services, and testimonials.
Try the BBB, which can help you determine if a business is falsely advertising services. It’s also helpful to find reviews that mention comparative quality for the service price.
Green Cleaning Options
Green cleaning should be a commitment for all commercial cleaners. That includes using energy-efficient equipment, green cleaning solutions, and techniques to reduce waste.
Aim to partner with cleaning companies that can help with recycling programs, use safe cleaning products, and preserve natural resources. This shows their commitment to their staff, your employees, and the environment.
Red Flags to Watch Out For
When you’re looking into cleaning companies, here are some red flags to watch out for:
- Inconsistent Communication – Poor communication often indicates subpar work and service standards.
- Lack of Transparency – If the pricing or service agreements aren’t clear, you shouldn’t sign on with the cleaning company. Fair, transparent pricing is the framework for a longstanding business relationship.
- Absence of Certifications or Insurance – Uninsured or uncertified cleaning companies may have a lower standard. Plus, you may not be covered for the damages if an accident happens.
- Poor Online Reviews – Customers always speak their minds. If the business’s reviews are mostly complaints, then they might be more trouble than they’re worth.
- Franchising – On the cleaning company’s website, does it show they are a franchise? Keep this in mind, as it means you will not know who they will sell your contract to. Additionally, the staff provided to you may have lower pay than staff from a non-franchise.
- Locked long-term contracts – If the cleaning company requires long-term locked contracts with long periods of notice for cancellation, be careful. The quality of a company’s service and management should keep you as their client, not a legal contract that is difficult to get out of.
How to Evaluate a Cleaning Company
Before you sign, you can take some steps to make sure a cleaning company is a good fit for you.
Request a Site Visit
First, request a site visit. That way, the company can see your property and evaluate your cleaning needs. On your end, you can see firsthand who the manager or owner is and evaluate their level of professionalism.
Get a Written Proposal
Make sure you get a written proposal or quote from the cleaning company. Having a document detailing pricing and services upfront helps to avoid misunderstandings.
Ask Questions
Lastly, if you have any questions or concerns, make sure you ask. The management staff will be happy to assist you.
Your Next Steps to a Cleaner Workplace
Finding the right cleaning company is important but can also be challenging. To get started, do some research on local cleaning companies. Make sure they meet your needs and have the right certifications to show their quality of work. You can check independent sites like TrustPilot or the BBB to find reviews and get a sense of the company’s overall quality standard.
Forging a relationship with a cleaning company is a great way to increase your curb appeal and keep your workspace clean for clients and employees. Making those first few phone calls to your local companies is a good start!
If you’re in search of a quality commercial cleaning company in Kitchener-Waterloo, we’d love to hear from you. With over 30 years of experience in the commercial cleaning industry, we offer flexible scheduling and a steadfast commitment to eco-friendly cleaning practices. Contact us today to request a free quote for our services.