COMPARING COSTS FOR HIRING VS CONTRACTING OUT COMMERCIAL CLEANING

Nate PruittCommercial Cleaning

“Cleanliness is next to godliness.” –John Wesley

In today’s world, cleanliness truly is “next to godliness,” especially in the workplace. In fact, over over two-thirds of C-suite executives say their employees have expressed concern about cleanliness in the workplace, noting that they felt it could pose a risk to their health and safety. With the Great Resignation leaving businesses without cleaning staff, you risk losing valuable clients. 

When deciding how to best handle cleaning on your premises, you have two options; in-house hiring or outsourcing a cleaning company. However, while these two differ, costs are a common factor.

Before hiring or contracting out commercial cleaning services, there are several cost factors to consider from each category.

AN IN-HOUSE CLEANING TEAM

How regularly do you need your property to be cleaned? How many employees or customers frequent your premises? What’s the size of the property you need to be cleaned?

These are some questions you need to ask yourself before deciding to hire an in-house cleaning team. Most importantly, consider the costs involved, such as insurance, cleaning materials, hiring and training, and continuous team management. These costs can eat away at your profits in the long run.

HIRING AND TRAINING THE TEAM. 

An in-house cleaning team that can work around your schedule is a convenient option. However, you’ll need to hire additional employees to help with your cleaning needs. 

Reports indicate it’ll cost you more than $4,000 per cleaning staff and an average of $1,111 annually to train the new employee. Unfortunately, with the Great Resignation, you might find it challenging and costlier to find the required workforce. 

INSURANCE

Your employees’ well-being is a priority. Healthcare insurance covers your employees against health issues and supports their well-being.

A healthy employee is always active, motivated, and more productive, boosting your bottom line.

While the Affordable Care Act (ACA) mandates you offer healthcare coverage if you have 50 or more employees, offering the coverage for fewer employees is a good gesture. Additionally, consider offering general liability and workers’ compensation to cover your employees against work-related accidents and injuries. 

If you decide to offer any form of insurance, ensure to include the coverage in your budget.

ONGOING TEAM MANAGEMENT

Continuous team management involves creating effective strategies to boost the teams’ collaboration and productivity. Be ready to invest in specific tools, such as team management software, team building exercise to boost morale and bonding, and education, remuneration, and incentives, to name a few. 

These tools also help reduce employee turnover. Regardless, if you plan to retain the in-house cleaning team, you need to budget for these ongoing management costs.

COST OF CLEANING EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES

Each property is unique, with individual cleaning requirements. For instance, cleaning a building with concrete surfaces requires different solutions from a structure with wooden surfaces.

Further, certain buildings might require specialized cleaning equipment and solutions, which can be expensive. The cleaning team requires uniforms and personalized protective equipment (PPE) when handling some cleaning solutions.

An in-house team requires this equipment to maintain a healthy and clean environment. 

OUTSOURCING A COMMERCIAL CLEANING COMPANY

If you decide hiring an in-house cleaning team isn’t a viable solution, outsourcing a commercial cleaning company is an effective plan. This company will oversee and meet the daily cleaning demands throughout the property. Further, they’ll assume all cleaning costs associated with having an in-house cleaning crew. 

IN-HOUSE OR CONTRACT OUT: FINAL VERDICT

Having an in-house cleaning team means you must budget for an entire department, which can further strain your bottom line. While outsourcing has its costs, transferring all cleaning responsibilities to a commercial cleaning company lessens numerous cost burdens, from insurance, purchasing cleaning equipment, and remuneration to compliance. 

As a business owner, having a set bottom line and a viable plan that won’t interfere with your profits is a welcome strategy. Consider outsourcing as it’ll reduce your business’s expenses, and you’ll get specialized cleaning services tailored for your business. 

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A COMMERCIAL CLEANING COMPANY

After deciding to contract out, the next step is doing your due diligence on various commercial cleaning companies before hiring the right one. Considering this company will be in charge of maintaining a clean, safe, and presentable property, you can’t overlook this process.

The following are some features to look for in your preferred cleaning company:

COVID-19 CLEANING PROTOCOLS

The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the way businesses and cleaning companies perceive hygiene. Cleaning has evolved, and now, deep sterilization and disinfection of all surfaces, from walls, floors, windows, desks, doors, light switches, and office appliances, to name a few, is a top priority. 

FLEXIBILITY AND RELIABILITY 

While regular cleaning is vital, it shouldn’t interfere with the daily operations of your business. Your preferred cleaning company should be flexible to work according to your schedule, not theirs. For instance, if working during the day might distract your employees or customers, the cleaners should consider working after business hours.

Further, consider a reliable contractor able to respond to emergencies or requests that might not be in their regular schedules. For instance, when your building is flooded due to burst pipes or a heavy downpour, you want to be assured that your cleaning contractor can help. 

FREE PROPOSALS AND ESTIMATES

Before making a final decision, your preferred contractor should make an appointment for a thorough walkthrough in your building. While there, they’ll collect data such as your building’s size, floors, measurements, and businesses within. They’ll also note the office schedules and your expectations to enable them to create an effective cleaning strategy. 

With this information, the contractor will create a free granular proposal and estimate the services that best suit your building. However, they should be ready to tailor their services and costs should the initial proposal go beyond your budget. This way, you’ll have a feel of what to expect in terms of quality and prices.

ENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDLY SUPPLIES

Scientific studies show that the chemicals present in commercial cleaning products can  carry allergens that can cause respiratory problems and chemical burns, to name a few. 

Further, chemical compounds such as Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (QUATs) cause land and water pollution if mishandled. A reliable contractor should use eco-friendly cleaning compounds and have a detailed guide on their products and how to handle them safely.

CUSTOMER SERVICE 

This goes without saying. A professional contractor should prioritize excellent customer service and experience. Do they have a dedicated customer service department? How do they handle customer complaints? How swift are they in resolving customer disputes? 

These are some questions you should ask all the contractors to get deep insights into their customer service.

EXPERIENCE AND QUALITY OF WORK

An experienced contractor has a unique edge in providing effective and quality services. When interviewing the contractor, ask for their portfolio to view past and ongoing projects. Having an online presence provides an unobstructed view of their experience levels. 

Also, ask for reviews from past clients and fellow contractors for deeper insights on your preferred contractor. You can also check reviews online from various sites such as Yelp, Google Reviews, Better Business Bureau and the contractor’s website. There are a lot of benefits to reap from contracting out a commercial cleaning company, especially when it comes to costs. Contact DTK today to learn how we can benefit your business.