How The Right Commercial Janitorial Services Company Can Increase Profits And Decrease Expenses

Facility managers are under constant pressure to reduce costs even though real costs of managing a facility keep increasing. So, how do you perform to excellence when your budget may not be what you want?

Among the expenses you manage, the cost of a commercial janitorial services company can add up pretty quickly. If you scale back their services, you could end up with a dirty facility. That’s not going to be acceptable for anyone.

So what do you do? How do you maintain the clean, fresh environment that motivates clients to buy and staff to think clearly?

Here are some ideas you can take to the bank:

Use “Smart” Cleaning Strategies

The first thing to do is to involve your commercial janitorial services company and simply ask them “how can we maintain our high cleaning standards and reduce expenses”?

You’ll be surprised at the practical answers you will get. Your commercial cleaning company understands the pressures you face every day.  Although they won’t be willing to provide the same amount of work for less money, they will be eager to help because they want to keep the contract.

The people who deal with the nitty-gritty details of keeping your facility clean know where there is waste of time and resources. Study your facility with them and analyze where you can reduce expenses.

Look at each cleaning zone and your specifications list.  See if you can find areas that get less wear and tear but are thoroughly cleaned every day.  You might only need a thorough cleaning once a month.  Maybe some rooms are heavily used once a week but not in between.  Look at areas that would be fine if they were cleaned on alternate days. You’ll be surprised how much money you can save simply by reducing the labour cost of commercial janitorial services.

Just be careful to not slash services without discussing them with your cleaning contractor.  Some services definitely should not be reduced like entryway cleaning and washrooms.

Save Money With The Right Chemicals, Tools, And Equipment

Your janitorial budget depends on the amount of time the cleaning company spends on your facility.  By using the most up-to-date tools and equipment they will be able to provide a high standard of cleaning in less time.

When you sign up a new commercial janitorial services company or at contract renewal time, specify that you want them to use the latest technology that is appropriate for your facility.  Also, specify that you expect their equipment to always be functioning at top levels and that they will replace equipment that is over a certain age.

While the commercial janitorial services company will want to keep using their “perfectly good” equipment even if it is decreasing inefficiency, you know it takes them longer to achieve the same clean if their equipment is wearing out.  This is costing you money in labour costs, so you have a right to specify that they use the best technology available to do the job.

The latest equipment will also save you money on water, chemicals, and energy.  Make sure they are using the most cost-efficient chemicals and tools to do the job.

Consider A High Staff Turnover As A Source Of Excess Expenses

If a commercial janitorial services company has a high staff turnover rate it means there is something going on with the management.  Are they treating their workers properly?  Will poor treatment of their workers spill over into poor quality work?

Cleaning staff becomes more efficient the longer they are in the job and the longer they have been cleaning your facility.  If you keep seeing new cleaning staff you know their efficiency is likely to be down.  They will need to spend more time and are likely to use up more chemicals and produce are lower quality of cleaning.  Some staff turnover is natural, but if it becomes excessive, have a chat with your commercial cleaning services contractor.

Ensure The Cleaning Company Staff Provides Quality Health And Safety Training

Worker’s Compensation costs add up quickly.  If your janitorial cleaning company staff keeps getting into accidents or breaking things this cost will be factored into the quote you get for the service.

Also, if the commercial cleaning company doesn’t enforce the use of safety procedures like warning signs when the floor is wet, you could have claims from people having accidents.  This not only costs you money, but it also affects the reputation of your company.

Communicate clearly with your commercial janitorial cleaning company that you expect their staff to be thoroughly trained in safety procedures affecting the cleaning staff as well as the people using the facility.