Eight Questions to Consider When Selecting a Janitorial Provider

Outsourcing to a janitorial company that prioritizes the health of the people in the space while improving operational efficiency is vital. Whether you’re a first-time outsourcer or simply shopping for a new provider, the selection process can be daunting. According to IBIS World, more than one million businesses are currently active in the US janitorial industry. With so many companies to choose from, it can be a challenge to narrow down a provider that fits your business’s needs.

On average, cleaning expenses can consume up to 30 percent of a facility’s operating expenditure. As such a large portion of your operational budget, you want to make sure your clients can ensure occupant comfort and satisfaction. Throughout the provider selection process, it is important to consider key criteria that make up a quality janitorial services company.

Use our worksheet below to help guide you through the provider search, determine vendor qualifications, and ultimately develop a lasting janitorial partnership.

Key Point Comparison

1. Does the company mirror your company in terms of scope, locations, objectives?
Smaller scale janitorial providers can have a hard time adapting to industry advancements and responding to changing staffing needs. ABM’s janitorial team serves businesses of all scales, from neighborhood banks and schools to corporate office parks and airports.
□ YES
□ NO
2. Does the company offer an extensive list of valid references?
With over 100 years of custodial services innovation, ɫ����has established countless thriving janitorial partnerships. As the leading provider of facility solutions, ɫ����has the processes, resources, and innovation to keep your facility sparkling.
□ YES
□ NO
3. Does the company have a low employee turnover rate?
A high janitorial turnover rate can hurt your facility through poor quality work, security issues, and diminished relationships between frontline workers and clients. ɫ����has a lower-than-average industry turnover due to a focus on recruiting, training, retention, and a path to career advancement.
□ YES
□ NO
4. Does the company offer a janitorial walkthrough?
Janitorial walkthroughs can take time but are essential in delivering an accurate bid package. ɫ����doesn’t cut corners. In order to provide the services that best fit your facility’s needs, we take factors into account like supplies, square footage, flooring surfaces, building density, and more. □ YES
□ NO
5. Is the company willing to fully explain their pricing model and answer any questions about their custodial services and pricing methods?
An unclear pricing model can be a big red flag when it comes to selecting a janitorial provider. ɫ����makes the pricing stage fully transparent, and considers labor, direct operating costs, and overhead and profit when calculating best value estimates.
□ YES
□ NO
6. Does the company have high standards for employee performance?
Through standardized operation practices, ɫ����frontline team members uphold a standard of excellence that may be unattainable for other companies. Our janitorial program emphasizes accountability and results through training and selective hiring of loyal, engaged team members for consistent cleaning to the highest standards.
□ YES
□ NO
7. Does the company offer emergency support services?
Businesses unprepared for accidents can face devastating consequences. As facility managers, it’s important to plan for any circumstance imaginable. ɫ����offers 10 emergency specialty service options, like graffiti removal and floodwater extraction, to ensure clients are equipped to handle any accident.
□ YES
□ NO
8. Does the company have a quality assurance program?
The average janitorial industry contractor loses more than half of their total customers in any given year because of non-performance, poor implementation, or cost-savings measures implemented by their client. ɫ����offers Service Level Agreements (SLA) for work order management, inspections, and even corrective training for the occasional mishap.
□ YES
□ NO

As you consider your needs in an expert janitorial provider, we hope your search ends in a partnership that will benefit your facility and its occupants for years to come.

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