With years of experience cleaning commercial facilities in Boston and the surrounding area, we are very familiar with the idea of trying to figure out the best way to clean while still counting pennies. It is not easy to justify professional cleaning services when you are trying to maintain costs within a tight budget.
On the other hand, does a company really save money by maintaining an in-house janitorial staff? There is no black-and-white answer. A long list of factors influences the actual costs of maintaining a clean facility. We mention this to remind organizations that they should at least consider professional cleaning services even in the midst of counting pennies.
The Financial Considerations
The financial considerations in maintaining a clean facility are many and varied. Let us talk about the most important ones, beginning with labor costs. Paying for labor is the single biggest expenditure companies face.
Maintaining an in-house janitorial staff means paying wages, benefits, payroll taxes, and worker’s compensation. It can cost a company tens of thousands of dollars – above and beyond salary and health insurance – just to employ a single person.
Professional cleaning companies like All Pro Cleaning Systems incur the same costs. But we bundle all those costs together and then spread them out across multiple clients. For example, we may have one cleaning crew responsible for cleaning three properties. The labor costs associated with that crew are shared among all three property owners via service fees.
Other financial considerations to think about include:
- Equipment – Proper cleaning requires certain types of equipment. Keeping things in-house means investing in HEPA-filtered vacuums, industrial floor cleaners, power washers, etc. Things can get expensive.
- Cleaning Supplies – Even without expensive equipment, in-house janitorial teams need a lengthy list of supplies covering everything from cleaning solutions to microfiber cloths and a nice selection of brooms and mops.
A professional cleaning company needs all the same equipment and supplies. But we get better pricing because we purchase in bulk. Lower prices translate into more manageable costs at the contract level for each of our clients.
As an added benefit, organizations enjoy the predictability of a known monthly service fee. That service fee doesn’t change for the life of the contract. An organization will never spend more on professional cleaning than the contract calls for. The same cannot be said for in-house janitorial.
The Hidden Costs of Cleaning
It is impossible to discuss this topic without mentioning the hidden costs of cleaning. At the top of the list is managing in-house janitorial crews. Janitorial staff need to be scheduled. Their work needs to be inspected on a regular basis. Conflicts between team members need to be resolved, and morale needs to be maintained.
When an organization brings in professional cleaners, none of that is a concern to it. The cleaning company handles employee management separately. Not only that, but cleaning company managers also conduct regular inspections and audits. They make sure the cleaning crews are doing the job they are expected to do.
Adopt a Big-Picture View
If you are a Boston-area business owner counting pennies while considering professional cleaning services, we encourage you to adopt a big-picture view. Maintaining an in-house janitorial crew might be your best option. But a thorough analysis analysis might show you would be better off with professional cleaning services.
All Pro Cleaning Systems has been a trusted professional service provider in Boston and the surrounding area for years. Don’t hesitate to call us if you have questions about our services. If we can help your organization, we would be happy to do so.