Knowing that a janitorial services company will be there to keep your location looking presentable can be a relief. Finding one to do the job, however, can be a surprisingly challenging process. It's important to think about what your needs are and what their capacities are. Consider these tips as you start seeking professional help.
Matching Needs and Capabilities
Having a janitor come in once a week at a small business location is a different issue than having a full team handle work in a multi-story structure every evening. You need to think about how much total area will have to be cleaned and how long the job is likely to take. A smaller firm may be able to make a deal, but a larger one is going to place more equipment, people, and resources at your disposal. Neither approach is inherently better, but you need to contemplate how an office janitorial services company's capabilities do or do not match up with your needs.
Specific Tasks
There's a huge gulf between "I need this office cleaned" and "We have carpets and hardwood floors that'll require semi-annual treatment." There are janitorial services firms that offer assistance with those types of tasks, but don't assume everyone will. It may also be to your advantage to contract one set of less regular services, such as once-a-month floor waxing, to one business while having an office janitor come in to do daily or weekly work.
Cleaning Products
No one wants to end up having trouble with a company only after they discover there's a problem with the chemicals they utilize. It's always a good idea to discuss in advance the cleaning products that'll be utilized. For example, a business that bills itself as eco-friendly will want to be sure that the folks doing their cleaning work are using methods in line with that attitude.
It's also a good idea to be very conservative in your assessment of things like allergic reactions. This is especially the case if your office has a large number of employees on site or if you expect many customers to come to your office.
Costs
A rough rule of thumb in the cleaning business is that light cleaning work should cost $25 to $40 per visit to a small business. This includes emptying trash, vacuuming, and dusting. Many use a per-square-foot pricing model for larger sites, and a cost of $0.30 per square foot is reasonable.
