COMMERCIAL CLEANING: HOW TO AVOID FLY-BY-NIGHT COMPANIES
The commercial cleaning industry has seen a boon due to the Coronavirus pandemic. With consumers and workers demanding improved cleaning and disinfecting protocols, many businesses have turned to commercial cleaning companies to manage their cleaning regimens.
While most commercial cleaning companies are well-established and professional, the recent boom in the industry has seen an influx of new companies. Many of these newcomers are not fully qualified or experienced to do the job properly and some are outright scams.
Of course, not every new commercial cleaning company enters the industry with bad intentions, many are well-intentioned business owners who are honestly trying to establish themselves in a very competitive industry. In today’s post, we are going to give you some tips on how to tell the difference and avoid getting burned.
SO, HOW DO YOU AVOID GETTING BURNED?
BACKGROUND CHECKS
The reality is that a qualified commercial cleaning company (even a newcomer to your area) should have a track record of commercial cleaning experience. When vetting potential providers, always research their backgrounds to determine their level of experience.
You can often achieve this by doing your own online research. Any reputable cleaning company should have an established web presence with a professional website, a social media presence, and reviews from past customers. If you find a prospective provider with a single-page website that looks like it was built by a 12-year-old that is probably a red flag.
Additionally, a simple Google search for the company name can reveal a great deal. You can often find filings for fictitious names, business licenses, and industry certifications. These are all signs that a company is likely on the up and up.
REFERENCES
A well-established commercial cleaning service should be able to provide references from current and past clients. Asking for references specific to your service needs will provide insight into the level of experience a particular prospect has with your industry. For instance, if you are seeking warehouse cleaning services, ask for references from distribution center or warehouse facility clients.
LICENSES AND INSURANCE
No legitimate commercial cleaning company operates without a business license and insurance. If you have concerns about a specific provider ask to see their business license and insurance credentials. If they can not provide this information, run.
CLEANING PROTOCOLS
Any respectable commercial cleaning company has established cleaning protocols and procedures in place to ensure consistency in its services. Experienced providers have likely relied on these protocols for years and will be happy to explain them to you.
You should focus your questions on cleaning services specific to your needs. For instance, if you are managing a multi-suite office building, you want to know what kind of experience the provider has with this scenario and what protocols are in place.
TRAINING PROTOCOLS
In order for a commercial cleaning company to provide consistently great service, they need well-trained employees. Ask what training protocols are in place, how much training is required, and what their employee turnover rate is.
ASK FOR A FACILITY WALK-THROUGH
Most commercial cleaning companies will provide a facility walk-through. It helps them to understand your needs and gives them the ability to provide an accurate quote for services. If your prospect seems reticent to provide a walk-through, move on to the next contestant.
If your prospect can answer all of these questions to your satisfaction, you can rest assured you have found a legitimate provider.
LOOKING FOR AN HONEST, EXPERIENCED COMMERCIAL CLEANING COMPANY?
Complete Care Maintenance has been providing commercial cleaning services in New Jersey and Pennsylvania since 2001. We are backed by more than 30 years of combined industry experience. Check out our Google reviews and give us a call today to learn how we can help!
