Guide to Cleaning and Maintenance Services and Supplies

Maintenance and cleanup isn't as glamorous as finance, e-commerce, online marketing, negotiating tactics and other parts of running a small business. But these tasks are, nonetheless, vital to your ongoing operations. You can't run a successful company if it's dirty, piled with trash and falling apart. MRO (maintenance, repair & operations) may not be top-of-mind, but to keep things running smoothly so you are free to concentrate on sales, strategy, finance and other matters, you'll need the right services and suppliers. Look for these two things:

1. An online supplies vendor that has the type of supplies you need and a Web site where you can order easily and have items delivered quickly.
2. An experienced, reputable commercial cleaning service that can handle the amount of space you have, and is fully insured.

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

Locate everything you need online to keep things running smoothly

If you don't already know about Grainger and Uline, you soon will.

I recommend: Grainger is the top provider of maintenance, repair and operating supplies to businesses (1.7 million of them) in North America. And since there are a gazillion products and parts you might need (well, Grainger actually carries 800,000), their online product search is super helpful. Order online or find a Grainger branch in your area. Uline is known more for shipping supplies, but carries janitorial supplies as well.

Compare prices and dig deeper at maintenance and cleaning superstores

These suppliers can help you buy smart and save big.

I recommend: Interstate products has a full line of industrial maintenance supplies, or as they say, "Everything to clean everything."Spectrum Pharma-Quip has supplies geared to the medical industry. J&R Supply carries a complete line of janitorial, cleaning and maintenance supplies. The Betty Mills Company is one of America's major suppliers of cleaning and facility supplies. Parish Maintenance Supply specializes in floor care and has helpful cleaning tips.

Click to the cleaning services you need for your business

Outside cleaning and maintenance services can keep your biz in tip-top shape.

I recommend: Get free price quotes from commercial cleaning companies at BuyerZone. The National Association of Professional Cleaners can help you locate a cleaning service in your area through its National Cleaning Directory. They also offer helpful tips on hiring a cleaning company. Vanguard Cleaning Systems provides commercial cleaning services through an organization of approximately 700 franchise owners.

Sign up for full-service maintenance solutions

Total facilities management companies will do it all so you can concentrate on other matters.

I recommend: USI Building Services, Inc. is a single provider for all maintenance needs. They take care of supplies, equipment management, scheduling and reporting.

Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• Consider extremely low cleaning services bids carefully. A cleaner may be bidding low because of inexperience or a lack of insurance coverage. If they destroy your desks, floors or other facilities, you'll have bigger problems.
• Evaluate franchised cleaning services just as carefully as you would any other service. Although they may carry a familiar name, they are still independently owned and may or may not have cleaning industry expertise and experience.
• According to BuyerZone, prices vary by size and frequency of cleaning services. Nightly janitorial service for a company in a 20,000 sq ft office in a major city may cost 5-10 cents per square foot ($2,000-$4,000/month). More services, additional workers, or pricey cleaning supplies and equipment can increase the cost as much as 10-35 cents per square foot.

The official source of Cleaning and Maintenance Services and Supplies is
the Cleaning Supplies page at Business.com