If you oversee janitorial services at your facility, you probably handle numerous other services and purchasing choices. Although I'm not familiar with your precise circumstances, I imagine you often face the need to reduce expenses. The current competitive business landscape demands a continuous endeavor to manage costs effectively.
When it comes to your janitorial program, along with other services, cutting costs might mean sacrificing service quality. The challenge for facility managers is to find the right balance between lower costs and top-notch service. In construction, there's a saying: “You can have it cheap, quickly, or good quality. Pick two.” This holds somewhat true in the cleaning industry too.
However, is there a method to control or even lower expenses while upholding a top-notch cleaning standard? Is it possible to trim costs without compromising quality?
I'd like to offer up two potential solutions.
#1 Adjust the Work Scope
In the janitorial industry, roughly 60% of our costs (with some fluctuations) are connected to cleaning labor expenses. To cut costs, minimizing labor hours is essential. A method to achieve this is by adjusting the work scope. Often, cleaning companies adhere to specific methods and frequencies for certain areas without questioning their effectiveness. For instance, some offices with low foot traffic might require only weekly cleaning, yet the current plan mandates daily service. Conduct a facility inventory to ascertain the precise cleaning needs for each area. Identify daily essential tasks, trash disposal frequency, and whether office vacuuming should extend to common spaces. Collaborate with a knowledgeable cleaning contractor to receive recommendations for the optimal strategies to uphold a clean and inviting atmosphere in your building.
#2 Remove Project Work from Monthly Charges
Throughout my experience, I've observed numerous companies overspending on their cleaning agreements due to project tasks (such as floor buffing, waxing, window cleaning, etc.). While these tasks are crucial for effective cleaning, certain contracts stipulate an annual project allocation, bundled within the monthly bill. Frequently, this work isn't genuinely required at the designated intervals, and it might even be neglected. In either scenario, valuable funds are being wasted. Opt for additional services as necessary rather than pre-scheduling them. This approach is likely to result in substantial cost savings over the year.