Tips on hiring a commercial cleaning company

As your business grows and you take on staff to meet demand, you might want to think about the benefits of outsourcing elements such as administrative duties, marketing, and cleaning. Choosing a commercial cleaning company to help maintain your facilities will allow you to ensure a safe, clean environment for your employees and customers, but finding the right team is easier said than done. Below, we’ve put together some strategies to help you…

Understanding your business

One of the biggest challenges businesses faces when outsourcing cleaning is finding a firm that understands their business and can adapt to the way they work. For instance, the way you clean a dentist is very different to the way you’d clean a solicitors firm. Make sure you’re clear when briefing potential cleaning companies about the duties, regulations, products, and timelines – for example, you might only want them to clean when patients go home, or when staff leave for the evening after 6 pm. Choosing a firm that already has experience in your sector is advisable, but with the right support, you can mould a company to your needs.

Ask for case studies

The best way to save yourself time and money when looking for a commercial cleaning company is to choose a reputable firm that has case studies and positive feedback and reviews from its existing client base. Sure, a new company might sound promising, but it’s more likely that a well-established business will have developed a clear protocol, found the right staff, and ironed out any kinks that you’re trying to avoid by outsourcing. At Precision Facilities Management, for example, we have years of experience working with clients in a wide range of industries and can tailor and adapt our services to meet your requirements.

Create a schedule that works for you

Before you begin speaking to prospective cleaning companies, it’s worth spending some time thinking about exactly what it is you’re looking for. How often do you want your facilities to be cleaned? Do you have a preferred time of day? Do you know how many members of staff it would take to clean 10 rooms? Do you want them to bring their own supplies, or can you source them in-house? A good cleaning company will be able to advise and offer you some recommendations, but knowing exactly what you want before you begin speaking to firms will give you more confidence and ensure you’re getting the best value for your money.

Look for accreditations

Something else to consider when finding a cleaning firm to work for your business is their experience and accreditations. The truth is that a good cleaning company doesn’t need to have won every award under the sun or sent their staff off on expensive courses, but if they are accredited by a recognised body, you’re more likely to want to work with them. It’s also vital that the firm is insured to work on your premises and that they’re covered should something go wrong – liability insurance is an absolute must. You should also review your own insurance policies to ensure you’re covered against third parties working in your office.

Choose trained cleaners

If you have a number of cleaning companies in the local area and are struggling to whittle down your options, reviewing their training and staff development is another good idea. If you choose a team that’s trained and has skilled, dedicated, professional employees, they are more likely to know how to take care of your facilities and use the right equipment in the right places. Granted, cleaners do not need formal training or qualifications, but your chosen firm should adhere to health and safety regulations and have a proven track record of working with experienced staff. If they have a high employee turnover, ask yourself why.

Understand their absenteeism policy

One of the reasons why so many businesses outsource their cleaning to a third party or a facilities management company is because they don’t have to find, hire, and retain their own cleaners in-house. When you work with a commercial cleaning company, they’ll sign a contract with you to provide a service every day, no matter what. Ask them about their staff turnover rate and ensure that they have policies in place that mean, even if three members of their team are off sick, you’ll still get the same level of service, every day. When it comes to cleaning and hygiene, you cannot afford to cut corners or accept a sloppy level of service.

Click here to find out more about how Precision Facilities Management could help you with commercial cleaning, or call us on 0116 366 6508 to discuss your project in more detail.