All companies should provide a clean, safe working environment for their staff and customers. Evaluating a Janitorial Service for your business can be difficult and there are many factors involved that really need to considered.
Level of Service Provided
What is it that you will need cleaned and how frequently? To be sure that you're on the same page with the contractor, it is a must take the time and carefully develop a schedule that summarizes the areas to be cleaned and the frequency that they receive service.
Quality of Supplies and Materials
In most cases, the janitorial contractor will use their own materials and supplies to clean the facility. You really should know what they plan to use and verify if the equipment, supplies, and chemicals are of good commercial quality and safe to use in your facility. The quality of the work is due largely to the standard of the supplies and equipment.
References/Reputation
It is usually a great idea to ask for references of companies they have served that are like yours. This will help validate that they have experience cleaning a similar kind of building in terms of size and scope.
Insurance Protection
Get an Insurance Certificate prior to signing any contract and be sure that the policy includes Liability Insurance with a minimum of $1 million in coverage, Workers Compensation with minimum legal limits, and a Janitorial Bond in the amount of $50,000 at a minimum. Coverage with these minimum limits show the contractor is running a legitimate business and protects against potential property damage or injury to workers or patrons.
Pricing
The smallest price is not always the best value. We have all heard the phrase, "you get what you pay for" and this couldn't be more true in the cleaning industry. Cleaning cost is based on time and the hourly rate. If the price is really low, then the company has either underestimated the time it will take to fully clean the building as scheduled or the hourly rate they are charging is low. While this may seem O.K on the surface, highly trained janitors that understand how to properly maintain buildings won't work for a low hourly rate. Therefore it is possible that the person cleaning your building would be undertrained and part time. This can likely also lead to frequent turnover in the cleaning crew. Though we all need a competitive price, be suspicious of an exceedingly low price compared to other vendors.
Contract Terms
When reviewing the contract, confirm the term of the contract and the pricing arrangement. Most contracts are written with a term of one year with an annual renewal, which provides a fixed price for that period of time. Nevertheless the contract should also provide a non-performance clause which allows for cancellation in the event the contractor does not deliver the service that was specified. It is crucial to understand the non-performance provisions and steps required to cancel the contract if you experience unsatisfactory service. The vendor should have a fair chance to correct any service issues, but there shouldn't be so many hoops to jump through that it makes it nearly impossible to get out of the contract.
Many of us consider the price to be the primary factor in our decision. We often hear potential customers complain about the service they are receiving. After further review we find that the price they're paying is below what would be considered reasonable to make sure that the time is adequate to complete the job properly and to compensate expertly trained staff. Take all of these factors into consideration, perform your due diligence and you will be pleased with your decision.
Level of Service Provided
What is it that you will need cleaned and how frequently? To be sure that you're on the same page with the contractor, it is a must take the time and carefully develop a schedule that summarizes the areas to be cleaned and the frequency that they receive service.
Quality of Supplies and Materials
In most cases, the janitorial contractor will use their own materials and supplies to clean the facility. You really should know what they plan to use and verify if the equipment, supplies, and chemicals are of good commercial quality and safe to use in your facility. The quality of the work is due largely to the standard of the supplies and equipment.
References/Reputation
It is usually a great idea to ask for references of companies they have served that are like yours. This will help validate that they have experience cleaning a similar kind of building in terms of size and scope.
Insurance Protection
Get an Insurance Certificate prior to signing any contract and be sure that the policy includes Liability Insurance with a minimum of $1 million in coverage, Workers Compensation with minimum legal limits, and a Janitorial Bond in the amount of $50,000 at a minimum. Coverage with these minimum limits show the contractor is running a legitimate business and protects against potential property damage or injury to workers or patrons.
Pricing
The smallest price is not always the best value. We have all heard the phrase, "you get what you pay for" and this couldn't be more true in the cleaning industry. Cleaning cost is based on time and the hourly rate. If the price is really low, then the company has either underestimated the time it will take to fully clean the building as scheduled or the hourly rate they are charging is low. While this may seem O.K on the surface, highly trained janitors that understand how to properly maintain buildings won't work for a low hourly rate. Therefore it is possible that the person cleaning your building would be undertrained and part time. This can likely also lead to frequent turnover in the cleaning crew. Though we all need a competitive price, be suspicious of an exceedingly low price compared to other vendors.
Contract Terms
When reviewing the contract, confirm the term of the contract and the pricing arrangement. Most contracts are written with a term of one year with an annual renewal, which provides a fixed price for that period of time. Nevertheless the contract should also provide a non-performance clause which allows for cancellation in the event the contractor does not deliver the service that was specified. It is crucial to understand the non-performance provisions and steps required to cancel the contract if you experience unsatisfactory service. The vendor should have a fair chance to correct any service issues, but there shouldn't be so many hoops to jump through that it makes it nearly impossible to get out of the contract.
Many of us consider the price to be the primary factor in our decision. We often hear potential customers complain about the service they are receiving. After further review we find that the price they're paying is below what would be considered reasonable to make sure that the time is adequate to complete the job properly and to compensate expertly trained staff. Take all of these factors into consideration, perform your due diligence and you will be pleased with your decision.
About the Author:
Kevin Johnson is the owner of Jan-Pro Cleaning Systems - Twin Cities since 2004. He is a professional in the commercial Janitorial Services industry primarily based on his experience operating one of the top offices among Jan-Pro's regional master franchises.
1 comment:
My friend owns a cleaning company and one of her employees was accused of stealing a very expensive necklace. Her janitorial bond insurance covered it all, no matter if it was true or not.
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