What to consider when hiring a commercial cleaning service
24 June 2020
Step one: What type of cleaning service is best for my business?
Overview of:
Solo cleaners
Small cleaning companies
Cleaning agencies
National cleaning corporations
Solo cleaners
These are usually self-employed cleaners who build up a cleaning round locally. Some business owners have had the same operative for years, and even have them take care of their homes and walk their dogs. This is a great option if you want to support somebody local and build a relationship with them.
Most solo cleaners take out a form of public liability insurance but it’s always best to check. And you will want to make sure they are working for other clients, not just you, to avoid any confusion relating to employment status.
You’ll need to remember there’s no organisation backing a solo cleaner. When it comes to holiday or illness cover it can be difficult to keep up with cleaning sessions. The same is true if there are any complaints or disputes.
Payment can be as simple as cash-in-hand, or bank transfer. You may have to request invoices for your own records.
Beware online posts promoting solo cleaners for anything less than £10 an hour. If the price seems too good to be true it probably is. You may stumble across genuine hard-working cleaning operatives who are priced too low. Typically these burn out after a few months, or raise their prices fairly quickly.
Some of the best cleaning operatives we know started out as solo cleaners. They’re friendly, reliable, and are normally the cheaper option. Conversely, most of the horror stories about cleaning operatives gone rouge tend to be solo cleaners. It all depends on which type you hire.
Small cleaning companies
Most are local businesses who cover a wider location than a solo cleaner.
As employers, they hire cleaning operatives and place them at your site. They are responsible for induction and on-going training. Normally they provide all equipment and chemicals, unless there’s a specific arrangement in place.
They are expected to be fully up-to-date on HSE and HR matters, and should provide a line manager to take care of you as a client. They have a formal complaints procedure and may have the ability to get enhanced-DBS checks. Having a pool of local employees should mean more flexibility when covering absences.
You may be required to sign a contract to retain ongoing cleaning services, and you would usually receive an invoice according to company terms. Payments are normally transferred online, although some companies are happy to accept a cheque.
There are a few drawbacks to small companies.
You relinquish choosing the individual operative. The cleaning company decides which operative to send, and would likely only change for a very good reason.
It’s worth checking if you will receive the same operative each week. Core Services sends the same operative each time, excluding holiday or sickness cover, but some companies like to send different teams on rotation.
As employers, they must comply with HSE standards which means there are more restrictions to consider. Core Services operatives cannot use bleach or work at height. You would need to check each company’s policy.
There is a perception that contract cleaners are difficult to get hold of once your contract is in place. There’s normally a reason stereotypes exist, but management reactivity can vary massively from company to company. The only way to know for certain is to check with their existing clients.
Price wise, it depends on whether your chosen company charges hourly, per square foot, or per session. Most companies have a minimum spend regardless of service time. We charge per session as we build each service from scratch with each client. A reputable company should be able to provide you with a ranged estimate of your monthly spend following a site visit.
Cleaning agencies
Cleaning agencies typically use self-employed cleaners. Some are franchises which can appear and disappear very quickly. Since Core Services began we have seen 3 different agencies start up then fizzle out.
Payment can be complicated with agencies if they need to avoid paying the cleaning operative directly. Clients may end up paying a management fee each quarter, then paying the operative separately each session.
Although this isn’t true for all agencies, the operative’s rate generally matches the national minimum wage. For self-employed cleaners this doesn’t cover them for statutory holiday pay. Perhaps for this reason most agencies have a high turnover of workers.
National cleaning corporations
Large-scale companies who service larger organizations such as colleges, shopping centres and military bases.
They have a corporate structure, and may also have cleaning accreditation's or ISO certifications.
Normally they are part of asset schemes where they can rent equipment and have them repaired. If your site requires heavy duty floor machinery this could be a good option.
Due to the costs involved these companies tend to service larger businesses or national chains. They normally have a high level of professionalism from management who can deliver reports on KPIs.
Pricing wise, they usually charge per square foot. There’s a wide variance between prices so it’s important to do your research beforehand. Contracts are typically for two years minimum, with some companies aiming for three or five.
One drawback with national companies is that your site may not produce a large enough account for them.
As large organizations they have to have set policies to keep things running smoothly. This can present a problem when it comes to flexibility. Supplying cleaning chemicals and equipment can be difficult as many require a minimum spend before an order can be placed. And, although it’s rare, some of the largest cleaning organizations can run into cash flow problems which impacts their teams.
Whatever your business, your main considerations should be:
Size of your business
Maintenance budget
Whether your chosen service has a track record of looking after their clients
Do you have an idea of what kind of cleaning you would like? Try our
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How can I keep my workplace safe from the mutated corona virus? The mutated corona virus is far more contagious than the previous strain. To protect your workplace double down on your existing safety measures. Here’s what we are recommending to our manufacturing clients: Split your workplace into zones such as: • Shop floor • Office spaces • Kitchens • Toilets • Warehouse/storage Whenever moving into a different zone carry out these hygiene measures: • Wear a mask • Maintaining social distancing • Wash hands or change gloves Between each zone? Yes, between each zone. Even if it’s only a few feet from the shop floor to the office? Yes! To really keep your staff safe use cleaning products designed to attack enveloped viruses. And make sure your cleaning operatives are touchpoint cleaning trained. Our operatives have always been touchpoint trained since Core Services began in 2015. If you want a cleaning service you can count on you can call us during office hours on 01384 918 451. Or you can fill in the contact us form and we will get back to you within one working day.