Office Cleaning you can count On!

Cleaning Offices is a job that does not require a high level of skill.  Most people learn to clean as kids.  What makes the difference between cleaning and professional commercial office cleaning?  It is often not the chemical that makes the difference, nor is it often the equipment (though at times these assist the office cleaner in more efficiently cleaning).  What is the difference?  Is it the ability of the cleaner?  NO!!!! Is it the amount you pay???  At times (a properly priced job allows for the time necessary to provide quality janitorial services), but generally it is not even the amount of money paid for the job.
What makes the difference?


Quality of character,
Quality of management,
Quality of Experience,
Attention to detail,
and desire to do a good job. 

Many times large companies are hired by offices for janitorial services because they have proven experience.  What many fail to see is that the many times people are given these accounts who have no experience, management skills, or desire to provide quality service.  Some large companies just place new hires in a contract with no training and just expect them to do a good job, because they paid the big name franchise a fee to gain the contract.  The franchise does not care if they do a poor job, because they just blame it on the franchisee and then offer the contract up for sale again to another franchisee.  Other large companies simply subcontract work offering other companies less money to do the job for them (in their name). 
Commercial Janitorial Services are performed best, by companies that have a good management team made up of people that take pride in the service they perform.  It is not a glamorous job, but commercial janitorial services are a job best done by professionals that take pride in their work. 

Commercial Janitorial Services: Competitive world of Commercial Janitorial Services

Commercial Janitorial Services: Competitive world of Commercial Janitorial Services

Competitive world of Commercial Janitorial Services

The Commercial Janitorial Service Industry is an extremely competitive industry in which there are:  individual cleaning companies, small (one to ten employees), medium (eleven to 100 employees), and large (100+ employees.  All face many of the same issues, finding customers, retaining customers, and finding quality workers.  Below are some ideas that can be used by:
     -  Finding Customers:  (steady and even distribution in the following areas)
          *phone books ($250)
          *online marketing (adsense, google adword, seo, etc)
          *phone calls (call business' and try to set up appointments for bidding)
          *door to door (go to business that potentially need cleaning service and speak to manager)
          *networking (begin letting people you know, know about your business)
          *referrals (come up with a great referral program)
     -  Retaining Customers (quality managed business is the only way)
          *inspect nightly (I have lost customers off of one night of poor cleaning from an employee with me for 
            years)
          *inspection sheet
          *contact with customer (inquire how you are doing) (seek and accept critique)
          *do what you say, all the time (consistency is the key)
          *write letters of appreciation to key decision makers
     -  Finding quality workers
          *place adds (newspapers, online, flyers, etc)
          *Let people you know, know you are looking for quality help
          *always do a background check, and check referrals thoroughly (you never know based on the cover)
          *Fire when necessary (promptly when necessary)
          *Earn respect, Encourage growth, and make your partner

The cleaning service industry is highly competitive, but these are the basics to set your company off on the right foot.  Remember, when you face a sluggish period, ALWAYS GO BACK TO THE BASICS.