What is Commercial Cleaning?

We all have to clean every day in our lives, be it at home or at work. To understand what commercial cleaning actually is, it is most helpful to compare and contrast it to residential cleaning. Read on to learn more about commercial cleaning, how it differs from residential cleaning and how using the services of commercial cleaning services like Desert Oasis Cleaners can benefit your business and create a more productive work environment for you, your employees and your customers.

A lot of residential cleaning business owners want to expand into commercial cleaning but don’t think about just how different it is from their main business. The thinking is that cleaning is cleaning, whether it be a home or office. This approach is the reason that residential cleaning companies trying to expand into commercial cleaning can falter and fail from the start.

So how is commercial cleaning different from residential cleaning?  Here are 10 things to consider before diversifying into commercial cleaning.

1. Residential cleaning is done during daytime hours and most commercial cleaning is usually done in the evenings, late at night and on weekends so it’s usually a good idea to have two separate crews. This will require hiring more cleaners, team leaders and/or promoting your current employees to supervise the commercial cleaning crew. You might find hiring for your commercial crew more challenging in comparison to your residential cleaners because people are more willing to work during the day as opposed to evenings, nights, or weekend work.
2. Your current cleaning staff will have to be retrained if they will be working the commercial cleaning crew also. Since residential cleaning is a lot more detailed than that of commercial cleaning, your commercial crew will need to clean much more quickly and with less focus on detail and more attention on completing the required cleaning requirements of the facility.
3. Residential cleaning is completed in the client’s personal space instead of their workspace. Because you are touching their personal effect’s they tend to be more sensitive and “picky” than commercial cleaning clients. They are typically more demanding of the small details (i.e. how you place the pillows on their bed and couch, how you fold or hang the towels, how you replace items you pick up to dust, etc.). Commercial cleaning clients are more interested with ensuring you complete the cleaning specifications agreed to on their contract.
4. When residential clients are in their home while you are cleaning, they have inclination to watch your every move. They want you to be on time and might watch the clock to see how long it takes for you to clean. Commercial clients are not keeping an eye on the clock to make sure you arrived on time (if they are even on site when you get there). They might, however, leave “traps” to make ensure your employees are thoroughly cleaning.
5. Residential cleaners have more interaction with their client’s, so you want to hire employees who have excellent communication skills, are personable, and are well groomed. Even though these are qualities you want to have in ALL your employees, commercial cleaners typically clean at night, after the building occupants have gone home for the day, so there is usually less interaction.
6. You will have to wait to get paid with commercial cleaning so expect a decrease incoming cash. Residential cleaning companies are typically paid the day the service is completed. Commercial cleaning companies are normally under contract with terms of payment. This requires an invoice be issued every month to the customer and results in a longer time period to receive payment. In addition, a lot of commercial cleaning companies are now invoicing prior to providing cleaning services versus invoicing at the end of the month for that month’s cleaning services.
7. Pricing and profit margins are different. In commercial cleaning, the bigger the account, the lower the profit margin. In addition, cleaning supplies, chemicals, and equipment costs are higher with commercial cleaning accounts which leads to decreased profit margins per client. However, the bigger accounts may be easier managed and the lower profit margin can be made up in volume.
8. Production rates will differ from residential vs. commercial. The average production rate for residential is usually 700-1,000 sq. ft. vs. commercial which can range from around 2,500 to 4,000 sq. ft. per hour or more. Commercial pricing is more time consuming also. Commercial clients usually require a bidding process, a building walk through and a contract drawn up to include the list of cleaning specifications, terms and conditions of payment, signatures and references.
9. Marketing is different since residential cleaning is “business to consumer” and commercial cleaning is usually “business to business”. Also, there are a lot more potential residential opportunities out there than commercial businesses so there will be more competition for commercial cleaning accounts.
10. You may have to alter or change your current residential cleaning company name or create an entirely new one. Your company name needs to fit the services you are offering. You will find it extremely hard to lure new commercial cleaning customers with the name: We Clean Maid Services. Use a name that will be marketable to both residential and commercial clients.

As you can see, there are a lot of differences between residential cleaning and commercial cleaning. If you are thinking about braching out into commercial cleaning, start making a list of advantages and disadvantages in order to determine if this is the right thing to do for your business.

Desert Oasis Cleaners Provides Commercial Cleaning In Phoenix

Desert Oasis Cleaners is an commercial cleaning company in Phoenix, Arizona offering a full list of commercial cleaning services including industrial floor cleaning, warehouse cleaning, factory cleaning, cleanroom cleaning, industrial breakrooms & bathrooms. We also help with industrial cleaning in Phoenix, Mesa, Chandler, Scottsdale, Glendale, Gilbert, Tempe, or anywhere in the Phoenix Valley.

To get a free office commercial cleaning service quote, use our contact form to submit a request or call Desert Oasis Cleaners today at 1-480-720-0907.

First impressions are vital to your business – that’s why you need the experts at Desert Oasis Cleaners who never hesitate to go the extra mile to ensure your workplace looks it’s best!