25 Essential Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Commercial Janitorial Company

Choosing the right commercial janitorial company is about much more than finding the lowest price. The cleanliness of your facility directly affects your employees, customers, visitors, and overall business operations.

Whether you manage a corporate office, industrial facility, retail location, or commercial property, selecting a reliable cleaning partner is an important business decision.

Unfortunately, not all janitorial companies operate with the same standards. Differences in employee training, supervision, insurance coverage, staffing, and customer service can significantly affect the quality and consistency of your cleaning program.

Before signing a janitorial service agreement, here are 25 important questions every business owner, property manager, and facility manager should ask.

Employee Screening, Staffing & Training

1. Will the same janitor clean our facility every shift?

Consistency matters. Having a dedicated cleaning professional who understands your facility, expectations, and security procedures can significantly improve service quality.

Ask whether your facility will have an assigned janitor or whether different employees will rotate through your location.

2. How do you screen and hire your employees?

Your cleaning staff may have access to offices, confidential areas, equipment, and valuable company property.

Ask about the company's hiring procedures, reference checks, background screening where appropriate and legally permitted, and employee verification processes.

3. What training do your janitors receive?

Professional cleaning requires more than basic experience.

A reputable janitorial company should have established training procedures covering cleaning techniques, chemical safety, equipment operation, cross-contamination prevention, and facility-specific requirements.

4. What benefits do you provide your employees?

Employee compensation, benefits, and working conditions can influence retention and job satisfaction.

Ask whether the company offers competitive wages, paid time off, healthcare benefits, or other employee incentives.

5. What is your employee turnover rate?

High employee turnover can create inconsistencies in cleaning quality and require frequent retraining.

Ask how the company retains experienced cleaning professionals and maintains continuity when staffing changes occur.

6. Are your janitors employees or independent contractors?

Understanding who performs the work is important.

Ask whether the cleaning company directly employs its staff, utilizes subcontractors, or operates through a franchise network.

Also clarify who is responsible for training, supervision, payroll, insurance, and workplace compliance.

7. Will employees wear uniforms and identification?

Professional appearance and identification help reinforce accountability and facility security.

Ask whether cleaning personnel wear company uniforms and follow established identification and access procedures.

Staffing Reliability & Supervision

8. What happens when our assigned janitor is absent?

Employees take vacations, become sick, and occasionally face emergencies.

A dependable janitorial company should have a contingency plan to address unexpected absences without disrupting your cleaning schedule.

Ask whether trained backup personnel are available.

9. Do you have enough employees to cover additional shifts?

Your cleaning needs may increase during special events, construction projects, seasonal activity, or unexpected circumstances.

Determine whether the company has sufficient staffing resources to accommodate additional service requests.

10. What happens if we are dissatisfied with our assigned janitor?

Even with proper screening and training, not every employee will be the right fit for every facility.

Ask how performance concerns are handled, how quickly corrective action can be taken, and whether replacement personnel can be assigned when necessary.

11. Will our facility have a dedicated account manager?

Communication is essential to maintaining a successful cleaning partnership.

Find out whether you will have a designated manager who oversees your account, addresses concerns, and coordinates service adjustments.

12. How is cleaning quality inspected and maintained?

A professional janitorial company should have measurable quality-control procedures.

Ask whether supervisors conduct routine inspections, use cleaning checklists, document deficiencies, and follow up on corrective actions.

A cleaning company should not rely solely on customer complaints to identify problems.

Insurance, Compliance & Company Credentials

13. Is your janitorial company properly insured?

Before hiring a cleaning contractor, request documentation of its insurance coverage.

Ask about general liability insurance, workers' compensation coverage where applicable, and any additional policies relevant to your facility.

Verify policy limits and whether the coverage satisfies your property's requirements.

14. Is your company registered with the California Labor Commissioner's Office?

California has specific registration requirements for janitorial service providers under the Property Services Workers Protection Act.

Covered janitorial employers must register with the California Labor Commissioner's Office and renew their registration annually.

Before hiring a janitorial contractor in California, verify its registration status through the California Department of Industrial Relations.

15. Is your company locally owned, independently operated, or part of a franchise?

Understanding the company's ownership and operating structure can help you evaluate accountability and decision-making.

Ask whether the company is independently owned, franchised, or part of a larger organization.

Also determine where its management team is located and who has authority to resolve service concerns.

16. Can you provide references from facilities similar to ours?

Experience servicing similar properties is valuable.

A company specializing in small offices may not necessarily have the staffing, equipment, or operational experience required for a large commercial facility.

Ask for references from customers with comparable building sizes, operating hours, and cleaning requirements.

Cleaning Services, Equipment & Supplies

17. What cleaning services are included in your proposal?

Never assume that all cleaning tasks are included in the quoted price.

Request a detailed scope of work outlining cleaning duties, service frequencies, and any exclusions.

This helps establish clear expectations and prevents misunderstandings after service begins.

18. Are cleaning chemicals, equipment, and materials included?

Some janitorial companies include cleaning supplies and equipment in their pricing, while others charge separately.

Ask exactly what is included, such as cleaning chemicals, microfiber materials, vacuums, mops, and specialized equipment.

19. Can your company provide restroom and facility consumables?

Many commercial facilities require ongoing supplies such as toilet paper, paper towels, hand soap, trash liners, and other consumables.

Ask whether your janitorial provider can manage inventory, replenish supplies, and coordinate purchasing.

20. What additional cleaning services do you offer?

Your facility may eventually require services beyond routine janitorial cleaning.

Ask about floor care, carpet cleaning, window cleaning, pressure washing, post-construction cleaning, and other specialty services.

Working with a company that can coordinate multiple cleaning services may simplify vendor management.

Contracts, Pricing & Customer Service

21. How is your pricing determined?

A janitorial proposal should reflect your facility's size, layout, cleaning frequency, service requirements, and staffing needs.

Ask how the company calculated its pricing and whether additional charges may apply.

The lowest bid is not always the best value if it results in inadequate staffing, inconsistent service, or unexpected expenses.

22. How does invoicing and payment work?

Ask whether invoices are issued monthly, biweekly, or according to another schedule.

Clarify payment terms, accepted payment methods, billing contacts, and procedures for resolving invoice discrepancies.

23. Are we required to sign a long-term contract?

Before committing, understand the agreement's duration, renewal terms, cancellation provisions, and notice requirements.

A transparent janitorial company should explain these conditions clearly before service begins.

24. How quickly does your management team respond to concerns?

Cleaning problems sometimes require immediate attention.

Ask how service requests are submitted, what response times you can expect, and how urgent situations are escalated.

Find out whether management is available outside normal business hours when your facility requires it.

25. How soon can your company begin service?

A successful transition requires planning.

Ask how much time the company needs to recruit or assign personnel, complete training, arrange equipment and supplies, and familiarize employees with your facility.

A properly coordinated startup can prevent service interruptions and establish expectations from the first day.

Final Thoughts: Choose a Janitorial Partner, Not Just a Cleaning Company

Hiring a commercial janitorial company should be viewed as establishing a long-term business relationship, not simply purchasing a cleaning service.

A reliable provider should demonstrate professionalism, accountability, operational experience, consistent staffing, responsive management, and a commitment to quality.

Before making your decision, compare prospective vendors based on their ability to deliver dependable service—not solely on the monthly price.

The right janitorial partner should make managing your facility easier, not create additional work for your team.