Understand the problem and be ready to explain the benefits of your service

Business owners have many things to consider every day, and hiring a commercial cleaning company is usually one of the last things on the long list. Hiring a cleaner sometimes hesitates due to various issues, from cost to lack of trust, to concerns about irritating chemicals.

As a person who has worked in this industry for a long time, when the business manager considers the pros and cons of introducing a commercial cleaning company, I noticed three common themes. Here are some of the most common problems, as well as some simple ways to ease concerns and convince more business owners of the many benefits of commercial cleaning.

One of the most common problems heard by commercial cleaning and cleaning service companies is cost. Business owners often wonder what they really get and why they should hire a dedicated team to enter the office, restaurant or retail facility for a thorough cleaning.

Managers argue that their offices are “not that dirty” or explain how employees handle the simple task of keeping the space clean and tidy. As a professional, you know that the rate of return for outsourcing this kind of work is very high. The truth is that the office is usually much dirtier than what your potential customers see.

This is a world that has been forever changed by the pandemic, which focuses on cleanliness and bacteria. Remind your customers that commercial cleaning is no longer a luxury, but a necessary condition to ensure people's safety and health.

It is important to explain that cleaning companies pay attention to small details, and these small details are often overlooked when leaving the cleaning work to employees. Professionals focus on cleaning high contact areas such as door handles and elevator buttons. They regularly vacuum and empty the trash can. All these work together to make the client's space cleaner and limit the number of bacteria left after a day's work.

Business owners who understand the benefits of commercial cleaning for maintaining a safe and healthy environment may still be hesitant because they believe that professional cleaning products are too harsh and may leave lingering fumes. In the workplace, chemical fumes and odors can cause headaches and slow production.

A knowledgeable cleaning company will help business owners understand that such concerns are effective and at the same time take steps to reduce them. For example, explain how most of the cleaning work is done at night so that the chemical vapor will not stay. Reputable commercial cleaning companies schedule their work when employees are not in the building to reduce the impact of these chemicals. For example, office carpet cleaning can be done on Friday night, so any persistent smoke or smell will disappear when the staff returns on Monday.

Many companies have turned to green cleaning products. If your company uses environmentally friendly cleaning products, take the time to explain the benefits to your potential customers. Green chemicals not only eliminate the need for harmful chemicals and the accompanying odors, but also eliminate indoor air quality issues in enclosed environments (such as offices).

Frequent hesitation when hiring commercial cleaning or cleaning services is a lack of trust. Business owners often worry about letting outsiders enter the building after get off work. Understandably, allowing people who are not working in the company to access sensitive information or expensive equipment will cause a certain degree of hesitation and require a high degree of trust.

Every company has a responsibility to create a reputation that helps alleviate these concerns. The first step in building this reputation is to ensure that workers wear professional uniforms with name tags. This will help employees who may stay in the building at night to identify members of the cleaning staff.

The cleaning company should also have proper insurance. There are many small businesses in the cleaning industry, and they are usually part-time. It is important to emphasize to potential customers that your company has been adequately covered by general liability, workers’ compensation, and clean bond policy insurance. This will help demonstrate professionalism and earn trust.

When we interact with potential customers who are considering increasing our services, the hesitation and reasons for not hiring a commercial cleaning company will always be part of the work. As you strive to develop a cleaning business, it is important to understand the reasons and be prepared to explain the benefits.

Afshin Cangarlu is the CEO of Stratus Building Solutions, a leading green commercial cleaning franchise company in the United States. He was appointed as CEO in 2015 and has more than ten years of work experience in the commercial cleaning industry. Stratus Building Solutions is an international franchise company founded in 2006 and headquartered in Los Angeles, California. Stratus aims to provide environmentally friendly commercial cleaning services promoted by dedicated and entrepreneurial small business owners and regional support offices.

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