4 Mistakes When Hiring a Commercial Cleaning Company
Hiring a commercial cleaning company might seem like a straightforward task, but the wrong choice can lead to poor service, wasted money, and frustration. Whether you manage a venue, office, or worksite, avoiding these common mistakes will save you a lot of hassle in the long run.
- Choosing Based on Price Alone
It’s easy to be drawn to the cheapest quote, but low-cost cleaning services often come with hidden downsides – untrained staff, low-quality cleaning products, and an overall poor service.
While budget matters, you should focus on overall value. A slightly higher price for reliable service, well-trained cleaners, and consistent quality is worth it in the long run. Choosing the wrong cleaners will be a financial cost too, especially if your staff have to pick up the slack.
How to Avoid This Mistake:
Compare services, not just prices. Read online reviews such as Google Review, ask about their staff training and internal processes, and see who else they work with in your industry. Cleaning is not as simple as it seems, and it requires lots of work behind the scenes to make it operate smoothly.
- Not Defining a Clear Scope of Work
One of the biggest issues in commercial cleaning is misaligned expectations. If you assume the company will handle impact cleaning, window cleaning, or waste removal but it’s not in the contract, you’ll end up disappointed. Some contractors will deliberately make an ambiguous scope to take advantage of this miscommunication.
How to Avoid This Mistake:
Ensure the agreed scope of work clearly documents the cleaners’ daily, weekly, monthly and periodical tasks; and make sure both parties have a copy of it. Specify exactly what needs to be cleaned, how often, and if any additional services are required. A reputable company will be happy to clarify this before signing a contract.
CMBM Scope of Work – Example
- Overlooking Communication and Accountability
Even the best cleaners and cleaning companies can run into issues – missed tasks, scheduling conflicts, or unexpected cleaning needs. If there’s no clear way to communicate or report problems, small issues can turn into major frustrations and emergencies can go unresolved.
How to Avoid This Mistake:
Choose a company with clear communication and management processes.
- Do they have a dedicated Client Services Manager that you can contact directly? You don’t want to be calling a 1800 number on the day of an important event, only to speak to an answering machine.
- How often do they attend your site to inspect the cleaning and manage the service quality? Some companies will promise regular check-ins but fail to do so more than once a month.
- How do they handle complaints or service requests? Some companies use reporting tools to audit, manage and maintain your service delivery and quality – look for these as a sign of professionalism.
- Lock-In Contracts with Vague or Unreasonable Conditions
Some cleaning companies will push for multi-year contracts, offering to fix or limit price increases over the period. Contracts can also include vague conditions about what an acceptable standard of cleaning is, or unreasonable processes for performance management leading up to termination.
This isn’t the industry standard and isn’t the best way to ensure both parties are happy in an agreement.
How to Avoid This Mistake:
Avoid signing long-term contracts unless there are clear benefits and exit clauses. If they insist on a long contract, ask for a trial period or a rolling agreement with fair review terms. Be sure to check any fixed-price offer is realistic – some companies underquote just to lock you in, and then cut corners on service.
At CMBM, we’re confident in the standard and consistency of our service quality and have month-to-month contracts with no lock in period.
Final Thoughts
The right cleaning company should make your life easier, not harder. By prioritising quality over price, setting clear expectations, and ensuring strong communication, you’ll find a provider that keeps your venue, office, or site in top shape—without the headaches.
Need help finding a reliable cleaning provider? Take your time, ask the right questions, and choose a company that values long-term partnerships over making a deal.
Quick Read
Hiring a commercial cleaning company isn’t just about finding the cheapest price – it’s about quality, reliability, and clear communication.
Avoid these common mistakes:
- Choosing Based on Price Alone – Cheap cleaning services often mean poor quality and hidden costs. Focus on value over cost.
- Not Defining a Clear Scope of Work – Ensure cleaning tasks, frequency, and additional services are clearly documented to prevent miscommunication.
- Overlooking Communication and Accountability – Pick a company with dedicated contacts, regular quality checks, and clear issue resolution processes.
- Lock-In Contracts with Unfair Terms – Be wary of long-term contracts with vague cleaning standards and tough exit conditions. Look for flexible agreements instead.
At CMBM, we offer transparent service with no lock-in contracts, ensuring your site stays clean without the stress.
