Why take up your employees' valuable time cleaning your office space when you can hire a commercial cleaning company to take care of it for you? Choose companies that have experience cleaning in the industry in which you work so you know that the products they use won't interfere with or harm your products.

Determine what it is you expect from the various janitorial cleaning companies before you begin the interview process. Make a detailed list of what you want done and how often you expect to have those services done, and compare it with the services provided by each company so you can find the right fit for your janitorial needs.

1. Hire trained professionals for office cleaning services.

2. Consider maid service when hiring cleaning companies.

3. Go green when choosing your commercial cleaning services.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Rely on professionally trained commercial cleaning companies

Choosing to hire a cleaning service company allows you to focus on what you do best -- running your business -- while they do what they do best -- providing you with a spotless workplace.

I recommend: Capital Cleaning Contractors provides comprehensive building cleaning services for all types of commercial properties. Jani-King International cleans commercial properties in myriad industries.

Think about maid service when considering commercial cleaning options

Maid service is for more than the home or the hotel. Think outside the box and explore the cleaning options professional maid services provide. Maid service typically includes a more personal touch and can be performed during working hours. You may find that a maid service suits your professional cleaning needs better than a janitorial service.

I recommend: Maid For You New York provides professional maid service for your commercial property on a daily, weekly, bi-weekly or monthly basis. Mrs. Clean House Cleaning Services and Maid Service takes pride in its professional staff and the quality of its services to your home or business.

Look for building cleaning companies with an eco-friendly focus

Take into consideration the types of cleaning products used by a cleaning service, especially if you and your employees work in a small or enclosed space. Ask about green cleaning products as well as green cleaning processes that provide you with the required sanitation while remaining eco-friendly to you, your staff and the environment.

I recommend: Universal Building Maintenance is a commercial cleaning company that uses eco-friendly cleaning products while performing high-quality cleaning services. ABM Janitorial Services has years of experience with office cleaning services and commercial building cleaning services, all while remaining committed to green cleaning products and processes.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Make sure the commercial cleaning companies you consider are bonded and insured. Request a copy of the bonding and insurance policies so you can rest assured that you're protected from any unpleasant surprises when working with building and cleaning service companies.

Green cleaning companies are becoming more and more popular. More individual customers and businesses are actively choosing non-toxic cleaning alternatives to cleaning with chemicals. The Environmental Protection agency has revealed a list of hazardous ingredients contained in most commercial cleaners and their long-term and short-term effects on health. Many maid services and commercial cleaning services are taking notice.

If you are new to starting a natural cleaning service company, you will be pleased to learn that there are a variety of sustainable cleaning services available to provide your cleaning service company with the natural cleaning supplies you need. There are enough companies in business to ensure you get top-notch service. You will also lessen the chances of respiratory problems for you and your employees that could be related to using harsh commercial cleaners. This guide will help you:

1. Find customers seeking a green cleaning service.

2. Find quality, natural cleaning supplies.

3. Find assistance programs for sustainable commercial cleaning companies.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Market your natural cleaning services to reach your target audience

People committed to living a holistic lifestyle will be delighted by the natural cleaning service you provide. How to you reach this market effectively? Offering a residential cleaning maid service is the easiest way to start and is not as costly as a janitorial cleaning service. Commercial cleaning companies offering services such as office cleaning services and other building cleaning services can require more of an investment than a maid service for special cleaning equipment and solvents as well as requiring special training to use them.

I recommend: Create a simple, informative easy to navigate website, brochures and other marketing materials once you have a solid marketing strategy in place to help you reach your target audience. A green marketing firm like Green Marketing can help you plan your marketing goals.

Find natural supplies for commercial cleaning companies

The natural cleaning service industry has grown quickly within the past decade. A natural cleaning company will need to find a natural building cleaning service supplier to supply you with cleaning solutions.

I recommend: Companies like Seventh Generation and Naturally Maid are known for the effectiveness of their cleaning products.

Commit to running a sustainable cleaning service company

Some states, like California, encourage the public recognition of green businesses like cleaning companies. Reaching the level of successfully operating a sustainable cleaning company requires lots of follow-through, including making sure that your building cleaning services comply with the state, local and federal environmental health and safety regulations. Some government programs offer additional incentives to green businesses.

I recommend: Smart Communities offers extensive information about assistance programs available to sustainable businesses. Organizations like theses even present awards to businesses to publicly recognize their efforts.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Take advantage of the financial and hands-on assistance benefits offered by local, state and federal assistance programs to a sustainable businesses, like commercial cleaning services.
• •  Watch what your company consumes in terms of energy, waste, supplies, packaging and raw materials.

Learning about building and cleaning service basics can help you determine if hiring such companies makes sense for your business. Cleaning companies take care of the basic housework required in your workspace. You can arrange them to come daily, weekly or monthly depending upon your needs, and hiring office cleaning companies allows you to focus on running your business rather than running to the trash. First, find out what types of services commercial cleaning companies provide; then evaluate those processes to discover how they would impact your business — both positively and negatively — before you hire someone to perform building cleaning services.

Look at your business practices, the services and the products you provide and how office cleaning companies will impact those processes. Discover what types of cleaning chemicals are routinely used and how those chemicals would interact with your products. Take a look at your workplace and evaluate the need for privacy in your business. Determine how to incorporate building cleaning companies safely and efficiently.

1. Evaluate the options provided by office cleaning services.

2. Look for a green commercial cleaning company.

3. Consider janitorial cleaning companies for your cleaning needs.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Choose office cleaning companies that meet your needs

Remember that office cleaning companies typically provide basic cleaning that may not include services like shampooing carpets or washing windows. Look for office cleaning companies that can work on your schedule and provide the services you require. Discuss what services are provided and how frequently those services are to be provided.

I recommend: Blue Chip Building Maintenance customizes an office cleaning routine that fits your needs and your schedule. Kelly Cleaning Services has decades of experience in office cleaning and will make your office shine.

Go green when selecting commercial cleaning companies

Recognize that many traditional cleaning products are not only harmful for the environment but can also create discomfort in your employees. Choosing a green cleaning company reduces or eliminates those issues altogether.

I recommend: Unicco provides office and janitorial services using green products that leave you with a clean workplace without damaging the atmosphere. Green Clean prides itself on being more than a typical commercial cleaning service, using only green products that are friendly to those who work in the area as well as the environment.

Evaluate janitorial services for full building cleaning

Think about selecting a janitorial service for full building service. Most janitorial services go beyond routine cleaning and provide a certain amount of maintenance or specialty services as well. Combining building maintenance with routine cleaning may prove to be a money-saving option. Make sure you fully understand not only what services each janitorial company provides but also what is not part of their service to avoid being caught unaware.

I recommend: Able Janitorial Services provides detailed cleaning for your business that includes not only traditional cleaning but also a service known as trauma cleaning, or cleaning after events like floods or fire. Moore Maintenance provides janitorial services with built-in quality checks to ensure you're satisfied with the work performed.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Make sure that any commercial cleaning services company you consider bringing into your professional space is bonded and insured to protect you from unpleasant surprises. Ask to see the insurance policy to verify that it exists, is active and provides sufficient coverage.

Cleaning services are part of owning and operating a business. You can do the cleaning yourself but if your business is growing, having a service clean for you will make a big difference. Cleaning services can do routine cleaning such vacuuming, cleaning bathrooms, dusting general areas and replenishing supplies such as soap and paper towels. But cleaning service companies can do more if you want that. Building and cleaning service companies key terms can help you focus on what you're looking for in a cleaning service company.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Commercial cleaning contracts

A commercial cleaning contract is an agreement between a client and a cleaning service on the rates and work to be performed, such as frequency of the cleaning. Contracts can be for one year, two years or three years.

I recommend: Buyerzone.com discusses some essential aspects of what goes into a commercial cleaning contract, including an important clause that protects the client.

Maid service

Maid service is traditionally a travel service for a hotel, but times are changing and maid service is expanding its definition of the service into business cleaning operations.

I recommend: Home Travel Agency defines maid service in its more traditional meaning. Some maid service companies are defining themselves more broadly as a cleaning service. For example, see Mia's Maid Service for information on a commercial cleaning service.

Green cleaning companies

Green cleaning companies use non-chemical solvents to clean offices. They do not use aerosol cans for anything. Green cleaning relies on natural, safe kinds of cleaners.

I recommend: International Janitorial Cleaning Services Association defines green cleaning companies on its website.

Green Seal certification and standards

Green Seal is an independent, non-profit standards organization that tests products for environmentally-friendly ingredients. Green Seal certification and standards are based on the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards for environmental labeling programs.

I recommend: Green Seal certification and standards are explained on its website. Cleaning products with Green Seal certification can also be found on the website.

Licensed, bonded and insured

'Licensed' refers to companies that have been licensed by a regulatory body, 'bonded' refers to insurance against the theft of monies and other forms of property and 'insured' means you have the correct amount of insurance to completely cover losses due to the company's errors.

I recommend: Brittany Maids defines the terms and explains how they are and are not applicable to cleaning services.

Building maintenance and cleaning services

Building maintenance is the general upkeep of a building, from replacing lights that have blown out to overseeing work done on the building by a contractor. Some businesses who own their own buildings might want to contract with a company that provides building maintenance as well as cleaning services.

I recommend: The International Facility Management Association definition pointedly excludes janitorial work in its definition of building maintenance. National Maintenance Group defines the work of a building maintenance and cleaning services company.