1. What services do you need specifically?
When you first sit down to find a good janitor service, the first step is to make two separate lists.
On the first list:
Write down the minimum services you need for your business. For example you may need vacuuming, bathroom cleaning, trash removal, etc.
On the second list:
List of all the additional services you would like the janitorial service to offer. Perhaps you would like them to offer carpet & curtain & upholstery cleaning. But if they don’t it doesn’t mean you won’t hire them because you can always hire a separate company to do these things when they are needed.
When you call and talk to different janitor services, keep the lists with you and keep track of which janitor service can meet your needs. Some specialize and only service hospitals or manufacturing plants for instance. Since this is the first step, weed out any janitor services that can’t meet your business needs or standards.
Set appointments with 2 to 5 companies to give you an accurate written estimate. We suggest a minimum of 2 companies, and a maximum of five. It may be a good idea to ask other local businesses or associates whom they higher, and who they would recommend. Be sure when you do make a decision, that the company is reputable and can meet the needs of your business.
Filed Under Step One | 2 Comments
2. Is the Janitor Service Company Legitimate?
Can they legally work for you? If the company is not legitimate and one of their employees gets injured on the job, they could hold you responsible.
The problem lies when the janitor service is not insured. If the owner or one of their employees hurts themselves while doing work on your property, they may expect you to pay the bills for medical care.
Initially you may think that you can trust your service provider, but you never know how the relationship will change if there is an accident and they don’t have the money or insurance to pay their own bills.
If the company is licensed, bonded, and insured (at a minimum they must be licensed and insured, bonding doesn’t really protect you that much). If something were to happen, they will have their own insurance to take care of them. Now instead of them trying to get you to foot the bill, at most they will be asking for a statement of what happened (assuming you can provide that).
Also, it is important to remember that in most areas of the country that you are liable for anyone that you have invited on your property. This means in court, you will be considered liable to pay the medical bills.
So it is best not to risk it. Make sure that any company you choose can prove to you that they are properly licensed, bonded, and insured. And as an extra measure of precaution, be sure to include a statement in your contract specifically indicating who will be held liable in case of any accidents.
Also for tax reasons, you want the company you hire to be legitimate. If they aren’t legit you may have problems deducting the expense for janitor service in your taxes at the end of the year. Each business should generally be licensed with the state and city (and sometimes county) they work in. It is important to note that if the company is not licensed with the state, they are most likely not legal and not properly bonded and insured either. It is usually very easy for them to provide you with a business license and it only takes a few phone calls to find out if the business really is legit.
Along the same lines, you need to make sure you know if their employees can legally work in the United States. Also make sure you can communicate effectively with the person you are hiring; this may become a big deal if you use them for special projects.
Filed Under Step Two | Leave a Comment
« go back — keep looking »