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How Much Should you Pay for Janitorial Services?

August 23, 2016

Professional janitorial services are a must have for any business owner who operates an office, commercial, or industrial space.  Not only does proper cleaning help to maintain the image of your business, but it can also improve employee productivity and health and safety.  That being said, budgets are a real thing and business owners (particularly small business owners) are always looking to moderate their expenses.  With that in mind, you must be asking “how much should you pay for janitorial services?”

Any time we’re talking about the cost of services, we need to be careful because many factors will influence the bottom line.  When it comes to janitorial services, there are 4 main factors that will impact total costs: geographic location, cleaning requirements, cleaning frequency, and the facility.  We’ll discuss each of these factors so that you can get a clearer picture of what janitorial services will cost for your business.

Geography

Whether your business is located in a rural community, a city suburb, or a major metropolis will impact the cost of cleaning services, though not always predictably.  For example, rural cleaning services can be more difficult to come by as there will certainly be fewer janitorial companies and therefore less competition for your business; this can often translate to higher costs.  On the other hand, the cost of running a business in a major urban centre is typically higher, so this can also translate to higher janitorial costs.  Travel and parking costs, the costs of cleaning supplies and materials, and the cost and availability of sound labour are all elements that are influenced by geography and will therefore influence the cost of your janitorial services.

Nevertheless, to give you a ballpark idea of cleaning costs, you should expect to pay between $20 and $40 per hour for cleaning services.  In a small city, cleaning costs will typically fall between $20 and $30, whereas you’ll pay upwards of $25 per hour in a larger city.

Cleaning Requirements

Depending on the scope of your cleaning requirements, the cost of janitorial services will vary significantly.  For basic cleaning services, you’ll obviously pay less.  Basic services include tasks such as trash removal, bathroom and kitchen cleaning, and floor and windows.  More comprehensive services cost more because they require more time and energy as well as more specialized equipment.  You can even request environmentally-friendly cleaning services, but you should expect to pay more.  Ideally, you need to make a list of all the cleaning services you require so that your janitor’s quote reflects your specific needs.

Cleaning Frequency

This should really be a no-brainer: The more often you require cleaning services, the higher your monthly costs will be.  Still, you’ll find that the cost per cleaning is often lower when you require more frequent services.

Your Facility

The size of your facility will impact janitorial costs simply because larger facilities require more time to clean, but other factors will influence cost as well.  For example, an office with different types of flooring might be more expensive to clean because your janitor will need to utilize different types of equipment.  In addition, an industrial facility will likely require specialized cleaning equipment that isn’t necessary for most basic office spaces.

In the end, the cost of janitorial services can be very difficult to estimate.  Speak with several professionals in your area and get a quote based on your location, your cleaning requirements and frequency, and the type and size of your facility.