The Argument for Outsourcing Cleaning Services

Some facilities like hospitals and schools have traditionally cleaned in-house, so they never consider making a switch. They like having control over their operations and feel they've got a working system that is budget-conscious. But with all the changes related to cleaning for health and the environment, many of these same institutions have started making the switch. They've come to realize that professional cleaning companies have the resources to stay up to date on new technologies, more efficient equipment and training procedures. Plus they are able to accommodate a wide range of unique needs.

The Argument for Outsourcing

How can you convince an in-house cleaning prospect that your services are worth their while? Keep the following points in mind.

The Myth of In-House Efficiency

Facilities such as schools, hospitals and some industrial plants have traditionally favored in-house operations. Some mistakenly think this is the best option simply because it's what they're used to. After all, if it's been working for so many years, why make a change?

In reality, however, the idea that a veteran in-house cleaning team has gotten the routine down pat may be a misconception. Research cited by the Association of College Unions International noted that in-house custodian productivity can be notably lower than industry standards. This makes a huge difference in large venues like four-year colleges, where individual custodians are each responsible for some estimated 36,354 square feet of space.

Outsourcing Lowers HR Costs

One of the major inescapable expenses associated with in-house cleaning is human resource management. Businesses that want to maintain a custodial staff are responsible for:

• Interviewing, performing background checks and hiring candidates,

• Training cleaning staff in the use of tools and equipment,

• Paying salaries, and

• Covering benefits, such as worker's compensation, unemployment insurance, vacation time and sick leave.

Outsourced cleaning companies absorb these expenses precisely because it's their business to do so. Services that specialize in custodial work are also able to distribute the costs of HR management across multiple client accounts. In other words, no single one of your patrons is solely responsible for the total sum of your staff overhead.

When presenting this argument to your prospect, be sure to site the extra time they'll have available to find new tenants, keep existing tenants happy, and manage other vendor relationships.

Custodial Companies Manage Material Overhead More Efficiently

Similar to the way they deliver lower HR costs, outsourced cleaning companies reduce the fiscal burdens associated with supplies. For instance, your professional custodial firm can handle expenses such as:

• Paying for cleaning equipment upkeep,

• Purchasing/managing cleaning and consumable supplies, and

• Ensuring cleaning supplies comply with safety and environmental regulations.

True, a business that performs in-house custodial work can foot these bills, but doing so may not be ideal. Dedicated cleaning companies can establish ongoing relationships with a wider range of partners devoted to custodial support services, such as supplying consumable items. Because your business depends on staying compliant, you're also more likely to adhere to applicable laws and minimize the cost of transitioning to new standards such as the recent OSHA/GHS Compliance changes.