How do Janitorial Services Come up with Pricing?

By Peggy Finley


Keeping your office clean is not an optional activity. For the safety and health of anyone who comes in the door, every workplace must be kept neat and tidy. Employee morale and customer satisfaction are two good reasons to invest in professional office cleaning services. When considering which janitor services company to use, keep these factors in mind when getting bids from the vendors.

One major factor that affects what the cost of commercial cleaning will be is how much the cleaning staff is being paid. Whether they are paid minimum wage or more, the cleaning staff costs are usually the largest factor in determining what a cleaning company will charge. While a cleaning company that uses minimum wage workers may be cheaper, more than likely the work will be done at a minimum level. Ask any potential janitor service company what they pay their staff to get some insight into how that will translate into the effort put into the work.

How many hours are budgeted to clean the workspace? When you are choosing a cleaning company, a representative should come out and look at all areas of your office space to accurately determine how much time will be needed to clean the space. Basing an estimate on square footage gives a good ballpark figure, but that number alone often leads to low balling the amount of time needed which then cuts the cleaning staff without enough time to get the job done. It's better for the cleaning vendor to see the space so that all of the things within the space can be considered in the cost estimate.

Consider using a smaller non franchised cleaning company instead of a larger franchised company. The larger companies might have better commercials and nicer vehicles, but that cost obviously has to come from somewhere. You may end up paying more for the same type of service in order for the company to pay the overhead cost that comes from sending funds to the corporate office. Sometimes the smaller mom and pop type cleaning companies can offer you better, more personal service at a more reasonable cost.

Be detailed about deciding what services you need and how often. How much of your office needs service will be another big factor in determining the cost. Companies who have less money to spend sometimes just hire commercial cleaners to provide restroom cleaning services. Other task can be handled by office employees or can be done by a cleaning company less frequently if desired. Make a specific customized plan for your office space so you'll know exactly what each cleaning job will cost.

Be sure to have more than one cleaning company give you a bid when you are ready to hire someone. That way, you can see what different companies charge for which services and get the most bang for your buck. Ask the company representative a lot of questions up front so you know exactly what you are getting and feel comfortable with the company that will be in your building cleaning. A little extra leg work up front can ensure a lasting and smooth relationship with the office cleaning service that you end up choosing.




About the Author: