Choosing a janitorial company is a relationship you will likely live with for a year or more. A few pointed questions during evaluation can save months of frustration later.
- How long have you been in business, and do you have references from similar facilities? Relevant experience matters more than longevity alone.
- Are your employees background-checked? Crews work in your building, often outside business hours — this should be non-negotiable.
- Are you bonded and insured? Ask for a current certificate of insurance covering general liability and workers' compensation.
- What products and equipment do you use? Product and equipment choices say a lot about a company's standards.
- Who will actually clean my building? Know whether staff are employees or subcontractors.
- What happens if I'm not satisfied with a clean? Ask about their complaint process and response time.
- Do you provide a written scope of work? Any provider unwilling to put details in writing is a red flag.
- What are your contract terms and cancellation policy? Understand commitment length and auto-renewal terms upfront.
- Do you have experience with my type of facility? Medical, industrial and office facilities each have different requirements.
- How do you train and supervise staff? Training and supervision determine whether standards hold up over time.
Ask us any of these directly during your quote request — we would rather answer them upfront than have you find out the hard way later.