The Numbers Game – Comparing Commercial Cleaning Contracts

When looking for a quote from a commercial cleaner for your facility, you’ll no doubt see a wide range of prices, high and low. Naturally, the lowest quote will grab your attention, because everybody loves a bargain. And, as a property manager looking after your budget, it’s important to make sure you are getting a good value for your dollars. But let’s take a look at whether you are really getting what you expect with the cheapest quote.  

Apples to Oranges?

Commercial cleaning bids might seem confusing, especially if you aren’t really comparing apples to apples. While on the surface, the quotes might look the same, there are two important details you want to clarify: the number of employees dedicated to your facility and their number of work hours.

For example, commercial cleaning company #1’s bid includes three full-time employees at eight hours for each employee. Commercial cleaning company #2’s bid might also be for three full-time employees, but instead of working eight hours, they’re actually only working seven—forcing the cleaners to take an hour-long lunch break without getting paid for it. This tactic makes company #2’s bid looks much less expensive on paper.

Consequences of the Lowest Bid

Maybe you’re thinking, what’s an hour (1×7= an entire day lost of work)? In the long run, that extra hour they’re shaving off can lead to cleaning deficiencies. That means some areas aren’t getting serviced because employees struggle to keep your facility and properties clean. Then come the complaints from residents and tenants. Not only is the cleanliness of your facility being compromised by company #2’s low estimate, but they’re also taking advantage of their employees and setting them up for frustration and dissatisfaction.

Pricing Transparency is Key

To help ensure you are indeed comparing apples to apples when reviewing commercial cleaning proposals, ask for a statement of operations. This should include the number of employees, the hours per week for each employee, their breaks, and all the burden of costs including wages, insurance, supplies, and other overhead expenditures.

Cheaper isn’t always better and comes with more risk. What it comes down to is trust. If a commercial cleaner isn’t willing to be transparent about how your money is being spent, what else are they not being transparent about?

Here are some other factors to consider as you compare commercial cleaning quotes for your property.

• Are their employees trained, professional, capable, respectful, and knowledgeable?
• Are the workers contracted or are they employed by the cleaning company?
• How do they treat their employees?
• How long has the company been in business?
• Is their work well documented and high quality?
• Does the company have a set of core values they practice?
• How quickly will they address your concerns?
• Are they using the latest cleaning technologies to increase efficiency?
• Are they easily accessible if you have issues, emergencies or complaints?
• How are their online reviews?
  
  

What You Get with Clean Advantage

Not all cleaning companies are the same. We believe our concept of customer service and quality control goes beyond your average cleaning company. It is the Clean Advantage difference.

What We Do

• We build a partnership with you and your property. 
• Our objective is to ensure your property is clean and safe for your residents or tenants.
• We keep costs down by providing supplies in our contract.
• We constantly train and are on top of new products or equipment.
• We have long-term, highly-trained, and loyal cleaning professional employees.

Use Clean Advantage – we don’t play any games with you. We provide straightforward, clear, pricing.