Compare scope before price
- Get the scope from each provider in writing, naming every task alongside its frequency.
- Ask how many crew hours per visit sit behind the price.
- Confirm which supplies the price covers and which are invoiced separately.
- Check whether periodic jobs, floor care in particular, sit inside the monthly figure or carry a separate charge.
Terms a cleaning contract should cover
| Contract term | What it should say |
|---|---|
| Scope of work | Every task and area, with a frequency for each. Hold the provider's work up against this document. |
| Schedule | Service days and hours, plus how holidays are handled. |
| Price and inclusions | The rate, whether monthly or per visit, what supplies it covers and the process for approving and billing extra work. |
| Insurance | A certificate showing liability coverage, and workers compensation as well when the company has employees. |
| Keys and access | Who is issued keys and codes, and what happens when one is lost. |
| Quality checks | The inspection schedule, and the process for flagging and fixing missed items. |
| Term and cancellation | How many months the contract runs, and how far ahead a cancellation must be given. |
Red flags
- A firm price offered sight unseen, with no questions about the building.
- A missing written scope, or a scope that never states frequencies.
- Hesitation over producing a certificate of insurance.
- A long agreement with no cancellation path if quality drops.