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Hidden Costs for Janitorial Services

November 19, 2014

The costs of janitorial services should be cut and dry, shouldn’t they?  You want particular things cleaned and you agree on a price for those services…it’s a piece of cake.  But then, you start working with your office maintenance company, and each month your bill isn’t what you expect.  You’re probably infuriated and feel ripped off, but you’ve also got a contract.  When you take a closer look at it, you finally notice the fine print, and there are a lot of hidden costs.

Indeed, depending on the professional cleaners you hire, there are a number of janitorial services for which they will charge extra.  Some maintenance companies indicate an hourly rate, and you might be under the impression that this rate covers all the cleaning costs, but you would be incorrect.  In fact, these companies need to cover their own operating costs such as insurance, employee-related costs (e.g. hiring, training, payroll, and equipment expenses), buying cleaner, and even supervision or inspection.  Plus, if you require specialized cleaning services such as required for certain equipment or machinery, shredding and disposal of sensitive documents, or 24-hour service from your cleaner, you should expect to pay more.

So what can you do to avoid hidden costs for janitorial services?  It’s fairly simple, you need to pay close attention to your cleaning contract.  You want to determine a fair rate that will include all of the cleaning services you need accomplished.  That being said, you also need to expect any add-ons or changes to your cleaning contract to impact the bottom line – there are not many companies willing to do more for less.

First and foremost, you need to make a list of all the cleaning tasks you want completed.  And you need to be thorough, i.e. check and double check your list.  Here is a typical list of services provided to the average office environment:

• Sweeping and cleaning all floors.
• Cleaning surfaces and windows (inside and out).
• Cleaning and restocking washrooms.
• Vacuuming and washing carpets.
• Dusting furniture and desks.
• Removing garbage and recycling.
• Cleaning break rooms including appliances, dishes, and sinks.
• Watering plants.
• Disinfecting office equipment including photocopiers, keyboards, and telephones.

This list may include all the cleaning services you require, or it may be too many or too few services.  Ultimately, you need to construct your own list to ensure your office will be kept in good shape.

In addition, you need to pay close attention to your janitorial company and the contract they provide.  Here are three tips that will help you avoid hidden costs:

1. Read through the entire service contract before you sign it.  Check to see if all the services you require have been included at a price you can afford.
2. Conduct some research on your janitorial service provider.  Check to see how long they have been in business and ask for references from current companies they service.  While you may get the same level of service from a start-up maintenance company as a well-established one, the piece of mind you’ll get from contacting references will help you determine whether you’re working with somebody who is going to nickel-and-dime you.
3. Never let a janitorial company strong-arm you into a service contract.  If you’re not getting the services you require at a reasonable price, look for a different maintenance company.