Key takeaways
- Ask about insurance, who will actually clean your building, how work is checked, and what is written into the scope.
- A good vendor answers in specifics and in writing. Vague answers usually mean vague service.
- Ask the same questions of every bidder so the quotes are comparable.
Hiring a commercial cleaning company is a trust decision. Someone will be inside your building, often after hours, with keys and alarm codes. The questions below help you test that trust before you sign anything.
Start with risk and paperwork
- Are you insured, and can you send a certificate of insurance? Ask for general liability and workers' compensation, and ask that your business be named as additional insured. See commercial cleaning insurance explained.
- Who employs the people who will clean my building? Some companies use their own employees. Others use subcontractors. Neither is automatically wrong, but you should know which one you are getting.
- How do you screen the people who get keys? Ask what checks happen before someone is assigned to your site. See cleaning company background checks.
Ask about the work itself
- What exactly is included, and what is not? A written scope of work should list tasks and how often each one happens. More on this in what's included in commercial cleaning services.
- Will the same crew come each visit? Consistency is one of the biggest drivers of quality.
- How are your crews trained? Look for documented training on chemical safety, cross-contamination and your facility type, not just "experienced people."
- What products do you use? Ask to see the product list and the safety data sheets. In occupied buildings, certifications such as Green Seal or EPA Safer Choice are worth asking about.
Ask how quality is checked
- How do you know the work was done? Checklists, supervisor inspections, scores or photos beat "trust us."
- Who do I call when something is missed, and how fast is the fix? Get a name and a number, plus a re-clean window in writing.
- How do you handle complaints? A vendor with a clear process has probably used it before.
Ask about money and terms
- How is the price built? Square footage, frequency, scope and supplies should be visible. See how to evaluate commercial cleaning bids.
- What is the contract length, and how do I end it? A confident company is comfortable with a reasonable exit clause. See what a cleaning contract should include.
Tip: Write your questions down and ask them in the same order to every bidder. Then compare the answers side by side instead of relying on memory or the best sales pitch.
What good answers sound like
Good answers are specific. "We send a supervisor every Friday to score the site against the checklist" is a real answer. "We take great pride in our work" is not. If a company hesitates on insurance, staffing or scope, treat that as information.
You are welcome to use these questions on us. We will answer all of them during a walkthrough.