There seems to be no shortage of janitorial companies, yet finding the right company to handle your facility maintenance can feel elusive.
Part of this is due to the wide range of commercial cleaning companies. From small operations to large providers, how do you know which one is right for you?
If you run a larger facility, manage multiple buildings, have complex needs, or have dealt with inconsistent service, you might be considering a national janitorial service.
Maybe you assume bigger is better or that a larger company will be more professional. But size alone doesn’t determine service.
In fact, there are some solid reasons to think twice before choosing a national janitorial provider.
Do You Want to Be a Priority?
We’ve all experienced it: the bigger the company, the less an individual customer feels prioritized. This is often the case with national janitorial companies.
It isn’t always malicious. It’s often just the nature of large, publicly held organizations.
Corporations have a fiduciary duty to shareholders, which can translate into maximizing profits at the expense of individual customers. That structure may work for some industries, but cleaning services are personal and service-dependent.
Even if you’re a “big fish” locally, in a national company’s world you may be one of many accounts competing for attention. That can make premium responsiveness harder to get.
It’s also common for national janitorial companies to struggle with agility. They may not be able to shift services quickly as your needs change.
A well-staffed local Michigan-based provider is often better positioned to customize service to your facility. And in a smaller service area, local companies are often more motivated to keep customers long-term.
That makes your local building services company more incentivized to deliver consistent results.
Is Accountability and Responsiveness Important to You?
Your building maintenance and janitorial services are critical to a well-functioning facility. You need a provider that offers strong accountability and fast response times.
Unfortunately, national janitorial companies can be slow to react. That can make it harder to get the individualized service your facility requires.
In large, diffused organizations, responsibility can be unclear. As a Facility Manager, that’s a real problem.
How do you resolve issues quickly if you can’t get someone to call you back?
You deserve a janitorial partner that works directly with you when something goes off track. With the right Michigan janitorial services company, you’re more likely to have a direct line to the people who can actually solve problems.
Does a Strong Local Economy Matter?
We live in a global economy. For transactional purchases, it may not matter where you buy.
But janitorial services are different. You interact with the company and their people regularly, often daily, and ideally for a long time.
That means who you partner with matters.
National providers may employ local cleaners, but many jobs, revenue, and taxes can leave the state.
When you partner with a local Michigan commercial cleaning company, your facility benefits and your community benefits too.
Do You Want to Minimize the Impact of Janitorial Turnover?
Building a dependable, loyal, motivated workforce in a national janitorial company can be a struggle.
The industry already faces a high rate of turnover, which can affect service, consistency, and even security.
Retaining great team members requires a responsive work environment. That usually depends on strong communication at every level of leadership.
National companies often don’t do that as well.
Local Michigan janitorial companies may have an advantage here. They often understand that people are the foundation of their service.
With local leadership, they can build a stronger team culture. That culture carries over into better service for your facility.
Getting the Janitorial Services Your Facility Requires
If you want effective janitorial services, you need to understand what “effective” looks like. Whether you choose a local or national provider, the fundamentals still matter.
Your cleaning company should have great people who are trained to succeed. Lower-than-average turnover is a strong bonus.
They should also provide simple, transparent pricing. Clear pricing helps you compare bids in a meaningful way and find real value for your facility.
A strong provider should listen closely and customize service around your needs. They must also understand compliance requirements and operate ethically.
That includes legal hiring practices, no undocumented workers, and no illegal subcontracting.
They should have strong quality assurance systems that create reliability through accountability. And they must make it clear who to contact when issues come up.
Finally, the cleaning company you choose should be committed to earning your business long after the contract is signed.
