Office Cleaning Service Selection Guide

Running a business includes pushing a broom as well as pushing papers, so you need to determine how to select the best office cleaning service.  How do you find office cleaning services in your area and how do you select the one that is right for your needs?

Excluding pricing for one time or special services, office cleaning rates will largely be based upon the size of the area being cleaned and how often the services are performed. Office building cleaning rates in a large city may run between 5 and 10 cents a foot, going up to 35 cents a square foot if a larger crew or specialized equipment is required.  Other means of billing include fixed rate based upon the frequency of visits, with twice a week running about $200 a month and 5 days a week up to $700 a month on average.  Keep in mind that companies derive an hourly rate, generally $18-$20, after considering their overhead costs.  Waste transport and disposal, insurance, supplies, payroll are part of the rate calculation. 

A typical office cleaning contract will be for a year after which pricing is renegotiated. However, a 2-3 year contract is not uncommon.  Look for a 30-60 day period in which you can try the office cleaning business, and if not satisfied, can cancel without penalty. Remember that you are a business requesting a service from a business.  Expect the same quality and effort that you deliver to your own customers.

Office cleaning companies advertise on line, in local newspapers, in phone book yellow pages, and participate in direct mailing efforts through brokers.  National chains and franchises abound. In addition, if you drive around office parks or downtown shopping districts in off hours, you will see evidence of commercial office cleaning companies at work.  If you can get a word of mouth reference and then do a visual inspection of the work of that office cleaning company, there is really no better way to make a determination of the quality you can expect. 

In making any determination, require that the company is insured and licensed, to remove any concern of loss from property damage or theft. Also, consider that larger companies may have more modern or technologically advanced equipment and can rotate staff members to meet your satisfaction. Smaller privately owned companies will likely be more personable and have a greater emotional investment in customer satisfaction.

When requesting a quote for cleaning offices, break down the needs into routine and one time needs. The every day duties will include emptying trash, sweeping, vacuuming, mopping, and wiping and dusting work surfaces. The size of your business and amount of traffic will determine the frequency of the cleanings, whether multiple times per day or just several times a week.

Infrequent, but necessary, services may include stripping the wax from tile floors and re-waxing, grouting, or re-grouting tiles, washing windows inside and out, dusting of fixtures including ceiling lights. It may necessitate hiring specialty firms, such as a window cleaning service, to accomplish these rare tasks, and advance planning will ensure timely scheduling. If your business is in the healthcare industry, special attention must be given to selecting a firm that professionally handles biohazard waste, which is the proper classification of bodily fluids.