[ag]

Hi all

i work in domestic cleaning but my work has mainly been turning to carpets & uph etc. Recently though I have also been asked about commercial cleaning, and to be honest I have shyed away from it, as I dont really see how the profit is made. I find it hard to see how its made in domestic to and I found domestic work to be too variable - mrs X wants this, but Mrs Y wants that. my staff werent sure what to do where in the end adn no-one was happy.
I was asked to do a dentists surgery and I reckon it would take about 2 hours per clean, by the time the floors are done etc. She wants this done twice a week starting at 6:30 am.
firstly if I am not doing the cleaning myself, how do you guys deal with the work being done properly by the employees. do you say to the client - we do this, this and this, and then a big clean once a month? Or do you big clean all the time?Do you have a standard list of whats cleaned across all commercials so as you know job done OK or if you are not cleaning yourself do you call in to see everythign was done OK or not?
The owner wants me to hold the key and let the cleaners in and lock up after them, so it means I have to just turn up also. Ok, thats fine, but does this mean an increase in price as essentially there are two of us on site.
Also I have worked out that to cover salaries, advertising, insurance, bills etc I need to be charging approx. 30 euros ( I live in Ireland ) an hour. This is the reason I am moving away from the domestic business as people hardly want to pay more than 10 euros. Anyway I know that its better to set the job as a price, so that means I will be charging approx. 110 euros for a weekly clean in a dental surgery - seems a bit steep doesnt it? I tried finding out about costs for office cleaning by ringing competitors, but they all said they have to come out and see the office. I understand that, but can anyone guide me on price at all. I am at a dead end.
and am amazed at how long this question has become.
Muchos appreciated.
aGnes

[Robert Parry]

Agnes,

Providing you are correct in your assumption that each clean will take two hours, cant find a lot wrong with your price, dental/doctors surgeries etc, will however, expect the highest standards, so your idea of doing the basics and a deep clean monthly is a non-starter.

Your training and insurance need to be correct as well, you will find insurance costs go through the roof once you mention any sort of medical facility, you also seem to have little or no experience in the commercial or medical sectors, so i would advise that you get yourself upto speed before contemplating this kind of work.

Good luck, regards,

Rob

[ag]

Hi thanks for your reply. you are correct,  I have no experience in the commercial sector at all for cleaning - but do have for carpets, floors, upholstery etc.
I suppose I find the commercial sector a bit confusing as I have got the impression that people expect it to be very cheap as they do in most places for domestic cleaning.Maybe its a wrong assumption to have. However it seems to me that there are a lot more costs associated with commercial. I already have insurance, public liability etc due to exisitng business.
I was out at the opening of a shop the other day, and was chatting to a lady who said that she had just hired cleaners, and this was her fifth attempt at finding someone she was happy with. Ok - alarm bells rang as I thought is there no pleasing her, but when I asked her what the issues were, she said they were fine for the start and then gradually dust started appearing again.So I thought maybe that they hadnt explained what gets done when, how regular etc. And then I thought - well how do you set the marker?
I am a hard working girl, who is a quick learner and would really appreciate advice on how you would recommend getting up to speed re;commercial cleaning & medical without actually going and working for a cleaning bus. as established myself in other areas. BTW, am based in Limerick, Ireland, so no competition to anyone in the UK.
Many thanks

Agnes

[shelton]

Agnes,

The lady you were speaking to is indicative of most of my own Commercial customers - the new guys start with good intentions, but soon get bored.   Once solicitors I now look after even had the previous cleaners snooping through the files, leaving the front door unlocked & going shopping!

If you can keep up a good standard of clean, and more importantly, do it consistently then you will have happy customer.  It's not rocket science - people just want a good service and don't mind paying for it (in my experience, anyhow).

[Robert Parry]

Hi Agnes,

Wouldnt dream of advising you to work for another cleaning co, honest!

If you send me your e-mail address i will send you a sample specification containing various tasks and the reccomended frequencies as laid down by most PCT's in the UK, I am not prepared to share this info with all and sundry though, and would respectfully ask you to keep the information for your own use only. This is in order to protect our own intrests within the healthcare sector, which is by far the biggest earner for ourselves

I would also point out, that this sample specification is not the whole story by any means, but it will give you a far better idea of what you should be doing, regards,

Rob

[ag]

Hi Robert

I sent you a mail.
Many thanks for all your advice so far......

Agnes