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While hiring janitorial services may seem like a mere incidental cost of doing business and maintaining a workspace, research shows that cleanliness is an integral part of generating revenue for your business. According to the Harvard Business Review, when a client first walks into your place of business, they take a mental note of how noticeably clean your work environment is and judge the competence and professionalism of your company even before any work is done. Furthermore, tidy work environments are linked to employees being more productive at work and taking fewer sick days due to the reduced threat of spreading pathogens like COVID.
Therefore, cleanliness is not just a cost of doing business—it’s important for your bottom line. However, managing your own cleaning crew while running a business can be costly and time-consuming, which is why most industry leaders outsource this work to commercial cleaning companies like Miami Top Cleaning. Before you choose the best janitorial service for your workplace, check out these guidelines to help you decide.
Tip #1. Assess What Your Business Needs
Most cleaning businesses offer a wide range of services that may or may not suit your business’ needs. Depending on the extent and frequency of the cleaning services your business requires, you have two options at your disposal: commercial cleaning and janitorial services.
Commercial Cleaning
Commercial cleaning refers to deep, detailed cleaning of office spaces. Most business owners hire these kinds of services monthly, quarterly, or bi-annually, which may depend on the amount of foot traffic throughout your business’s amenities. Some examples of commercial cleaning services include:
- Cleaning with a pressure washer
- Deep carpet cleaning
- Cleaning grout and tile
- Cleaning furniture upholstery
- Window cleaning
Janitorial Services
Janitorial services refer to the everyday upkeep required to maintain your office. Common examples of janitorial services offered by businesses include:
- Disinfecting restrooms and kitchen areas
- Emptying trash cans and waste
- Removing oil and chemical spills
- Dusting office spaces and maintaining reception areas
- Cleaning hard surface floors and regular carpet vacuuming
Before contacting a cleaning company, determine how frequently your business will require either commercial cleaning or janitorial services. Then ask the companies you are interested in if they can accommodate your schedule. Consider whether your business needs a cleaning service that works overnight or on weekends.
Tip #2. Ask about the Hiring and Business Practices of the Cleaning Service
The best cleaning companies hire the best staff and operate their businesses with all the necessary credentials to do so legally and at no risk to you or your company. Before you hire anyone, make sure to ask about these three important areas:
- Licenses and Insurance
Cleaning companies with valid business licenses and insurance save you from the stress and hassle of unwanted incidents occurring in the workplace. While these instances are rare, if someone happens to get injured on the job or one of the cleaning staff steals from your company, you want your business to be safe from the consequences. Standard insurance policies like workers’ compensation, general liability, and surety bonds shift the burden of responsibility onto the janitorial company’s insurance just in case something goes wrong.
- Hiring Practices
When you speak to the representative of the cleaning company you are interested in choosing, ask whether they require their staff to carry legal documentation and if they perform criminal background checks and routine drug tests on their employees. Furthermore, inquire into the level of training they invest in their employees. This can save you from the headache of an inexperienced janitor that wastes cleaning supplies and unintentionally damages your property.
- Green Certifications
If you are a business owner that cares about your carbon footprint, seek a commercial cleaning service affiliated with organizations and certifications like the ISSA (International Sanitary Supply Association) or the USGCB (U.S. Green Building Council). Often these companies will use natural and biodegradable cleaners and engage in practices like recycling to help your efforts to maintain a green business.
Tip #3. Look up reviews and compare quotes
Before choosing a commercial cleaning service provider, look up their business online and read the reviews. It is also important to be realistic about the cost you are willing to pay for a cleaning service. Once you find reputable companies in your area, contact their representatives, ask for quotes, and compare your options.
Keep in mind that different cleaning services may price their services differently. While some may offer a flat fee for all their services, others may charge by the hour or by the square footage of the space of the business they are cleaning. Whichever company you decide to move forward with, remember that investing in your company’s cleaning service is an important first step in making a lasting impression on your clients and maintaining a healthy and productive workforce.
