Choosing a janitorial contract for a small business
A janitorial contract should tell you exactly what gets cleaned, how often and who to call. Here is what to look for before you sign one.
For a small store, office or practice, hiring a janitorial service is usually about one thing: not having to think about cleaning any more. The right contract makes that possible. The wrong one turns into a stream of reminders, missed trash nights and restrooms that were "done" but do not look it.
Start with a written checklist
The single most useful thing in any janitorial agreement is a checklist that says what gets cleaned on each visit. Trash and liners, restrooms, floors, entrance glass, counters, break room, high-touch points. If it is not written down, it is open to interpretation, and interpretation is where disagreements start.
A good contractor will walk the space with you before quoting and add anything specific to your business: a fitting room, a display case, a back stockroom that only needs a monthly sweep.
Match the frequency to the traffic
A busy retail store or restaurant front of house may need cleaning every night. A small office with a handful of staff may be fine with two or three visits a week. Paying for nightly service you do not need is wasteful, but stretching visits too far apart means each one becomes a catch-up clean rather than upkeep.
Questions worth asking
- Are you insured? Ask for a certificate of insurance. Your landlord may require it.
- Who is my point of contact? You want one person to call, not a general inbox.
- How is access handled? Keys and alarm codes should be covered in writing.
- What happens if something is missed? A reasonable contractor will come back and fix it.
- Do you supply products and equipment? And will they use your preferred products if you have them?
- Can extra work be added? Floor buffing, window cleaning or a deep clean before an inspection.
Watch for vague promises
Phrases like "full service" or "top to bottom" sound reassuring but do not describe anything. Ask what they mean in practice. If the answer is a list of tasks, good. If it is more adjectives, keep looking.
Keep it flexible
Businesses change. A store adds a second room, an office goes hybrid, a restaurant extends its hours. The agreement should let you adjust the checklist and the schedule without starting over. The best janitorial relationships are the ones where you adjust the plan together a few times a year and otherwise never have to think about it.
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