9 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Commercial Cleaning Company

A commercial cleaning company takes the stress out of the day-to-day cleaning of the work site. It’s one less thing for you to worry about, and you get cleaning packages designed to suit your budget, time, and convenience.

Before you hire the first company that comes up in your Google search, though, here are some of the top questions you should ask. Don’t be afraid to interview your potential contractor. After all, you want to make sure that you hire the right people for your company.

1. How many years have you been operating, and who are your typical clients?

Newer companies may still be fixing the bugs in their processes and, therefore, still gaining experience in some areas of cleaning, such as post-construction cleanup, industrial cleaning, maid services, and more.

This is not to say that newer companies should not be explored. However, if you have particular needs and concerns, an established company that has been operating for several years will have the experience you are looking for.

Additionally, check to see if they have experience with your specific facility. Are they comfortable cleaning your commercial business, and do they cater to other similar sites?

A cleaning company that specializes in factory settings, for example, might not be suitable for small office spaces or a restaurant/catering business that does not have the same expectations as a retail outlet.

2. Do you have any referrals?

Companies with testimonials, referrals, and client reviews allow you to see what others think and feel about a business before you reach out.

The more reviews there are (not just the good reviews, but the bad ones as well), the more you will know about them. For example, what did other clients consider a problem and how was it handled?

If there are no bad reviews, ask them to tell you about some of the complaints they have received and how they were resolved. If they tell you they have never had a complaint, while this could be true, you should question it.

3. Do you have employee screening?

Do they carry out background checks on their employees? For commercial businesses that deal with sensitive information or even provide care for patients, this factor is essential.

Knowing if the company conducts background checks is another security measure you can feel better about. This gives you more confidence in the company you are interviewing.

Confirm if the same people will always be coming to the site. This helps to build trust with the employees who represent the cleaning company and provides continuity, as you will know who will be on-site at all times.

4. Is your company insured or bonded?

Insurance is essential to any company, and knowing what type of coverage the cleaning company has tells you what they take seriously.

Your company’s insurance will cover a lot. Still, it’s always best to know that the contractor also has their own insurance, particularly liability insurance and workers’ compensation. Additionally, umbrella protection will protect both parties.

5. Do you provide a contract and payment plan?

A contract is a legally binding agreement that outlines the specific work the cleaning company is to perform. This acts as protection for you, your employees, your property, and the contractor as well.

Understanding how they invoice you is also a benefit. You want to make sure that you are able to pay them as efficiently as possible and avoid late payments, which may incur fees or penalties.

6. Can I call you after regular office hours?

If an incident occurs during regular office hours, you can typically call the main office line. However, what happens in the event of an emergency? How can you reach them outside of normal office hours, and who do you contact?

While no one plans on an emergency situation, it’s good to know what to do and who to contact, just in case.

7. What types of products do you use, and are they green?

There is a lot of emphasis on green cleaning in today’s world. Using products that still provide effective cleaning and disinfecting while not harming the environment is essential to reducing the carbon footprint–both for you and the cleaning company.

Knowing which products the cleaners use will help you decide if they fit in with your company’s values.

Another thing to check is if they have a recycling policy in place. Does all the garbage go to a landfill, or do they separate and recycle accordingly?

8. What about floor care and germ hotspots?

Every floor is different and has different requirements for cleaning. Then, there are the sensitive areas such as the bathrooms, kitchen, and common areas.

Does the company have a plan in place to make sure that these areas are cleaned properly and disinfected at the same time? Following the recent pandemic, this should be high on the list of cleaning priorities.

9. How do you measure quality control?

The cleaning manager calling you to ask if you are happy with the services once a month is not an ideal way of quality control. For customer satisfaction, this is a great way to interact with you as the client, but how do they measure and ensure high quality at all times?

The RBC Clean Way

RBC Clean is proud to offer high-quality services for commercial cleaning and is happy to answer these and any other questions.

Serving the GTA for many years and fully experienced in several different cleaning situations, needs, and types, as well as being an open and honest company, we welcome questions so that we can put your mind at ease about getting the right cleaners for your commercial business.

Call us today at 1-866-278-8208 or get a free quote online and find out how we can help you with your commercial cleaning services in Aurora.