Choosing a commercial cleaning company is an important decision that affects the appearance, safety, and day-to-day operation of your facility. Whether you’re a facility manager looking for ongoing janitorial services or a contractor preparing a building for final turnover with post-construction cleaning, asking the right questions before signing an agreement helps ensure you receive the service you actually need.
Not every cleaning provider offers the same level of experience, quality control, or service flexibility.
Taking time to evaluate potential partners reduces the risk of inconsistent service, communication issues, or unexpected costs.
Companies such as Imperial Service Systems emphasize quality control, ongoing communication, and specialized service teams for different types of work rather than treating every cleaning project the same.
The following questions to ask a commercial cleaning company will help you compare providers and make a more informed hiring decision.
Evaluating Experience and Expertise
Experience should be one of the first factors you evaluate when comparing commercial cleaning companies. Commercial environments often have unique cleaning requirements that differ significantly from residential work, making industry-specific experience especially valuable.
What experience does the company have in commercial settings?
Ask how long the company has served commercial clients and what types of facilities it regularly cleans.
An experienced provider should be able to discuss projects involving office buildings, educational facilities, industrial spaces, healthcare environments, retail properties, or other commercial settings relevant to your business.
For facility managers seeking ongoing janitorial services, experience maintaining occupied buildings is especially important. Consistent scheduling, communication, and quality assurance play a major role in keeping facilities clean without disrupting daily operations.
For contractors and project managers seeking post-construction cleaning, ask specifically about experience with construction cleanups. This is a project-based service designed to remove construction dust, debris, and residue so the building is ready for inspection and occupancy; not ongoing maintenance. Providers with dedicated post-construction crews often understand construction schedules, punch lists, and turnover deadlines better than companies that simply assign janitorial staff to construction projects.
What types of facilities have they serviced?
Request examples of facilities similar to yours that the cleaning company has serviced and is currently servicing. Visit these facilities to see how they look. Past performance can offer valuable insights into whether a company understands your operational needs.
Ask the company:
- Have you worked in facilities of similar size?
- Do you have experience in my industry?
- Can you provide references from comparable clients?
How is the staff trained?
Cleaning quality depends heavily on the people performing the work. Ask about employee onboarding, ongoing training, safety procedures, industry certifications, and supervisor involvement. Some companies
also invest in specialized certifications for certain services.
Imperial Service Systems’ post-construction crews hold OSHA and aerial lift certifications as construction cleanup requires different equipment, safety procedures, and expertise than routine janitorial work.
Imperial also has regular ongoing training classes that help keep staff in a continuous improvement cycle.
How do they ensure consistent quality?
One of the best questions you can ask is how the company measures cleaning quality. Look for providers that have routine inspections, dedicated quality control personnel, supervisor visits, clear communication channels, and responsive customer support. Independent quality inspections help identify issues before they become ongoing problems.
Imperial Service Systems uses dedicated quality control specialists who independently inspect facilities from the cleaning staff to ensure cleaning is meeting your organization’s needs and expectations. We also maintain live customer support for ongoing communication/
Understanding the Scope of Services Offered
Commercial cleaning contracts can vary considerably, making it important to understand exactly what is, and is not, included.
What services are included?
Request a detailed scope of work rather than relying on general descriptions. For ongoing janitorial programs, standard services may include restroom cleaning and sanitizing, trash removal, dusting, vacuuming, floor care,
breakroom cleaning, and common area maintenance. Understanding these details helps avoid misunderstandings after service begins.
Are additional services available?
Some providers also offer specialty cleaning services that may be scheduled separately when needed, including carpet cleaning, window cleaning, floor refinishing, power washing, deep cleaning, and day porter services.
Clarify whether these services are included in the regular contract or priced separately.
What about post-construction cleaning?
If you’re a contractor or project manager, the discussion changes. Instead of asking about recurring janitorial schedules, ask questions such as:
- What does your final clean include?
- Do you remove construction debris?
- How do you handle fine construction dust?
- Can you coordinate with project timelines?
- Do you provide dedicated project supervisors?
Post-construction cleaning focuses on preparing completed projects for inspection, turnover, and occupancy. Services often include debris removal, detailed dust cleanup, window cleaning, floor finishing, and other project-closeout tasks. Not ongoing building maintenance.
Can services be customized?
No two facilities operate exactly alike. Ask whether the company can adjust cleaning frequency, shift schedules, building access requirements, priority areas, and seasonal needs. Flexible service plans allow businesses to receive the level of cleaning that matches their operational requirements instead of paying
for unnecessary services.
Eco-Friendly and Sustainable Cleaning Practices
Many organizations now include sustainability as part of their purchasing decisions. If environmental responsibility is important to your business, ask specific questions about the company’s cleaning practices.
Do you offer eco-friendly cleaning options?
Green cleaning may involve:
- Environmentally preferred cleaning chemicals
- Reduced chemical usage
- Microfiber cleaning systems
- Water-saving equipment
- Waste reduction practices
Rather than assuming a company offers sustainable cleaning, ask them to explain their specific approach.
Are green certifications available?
Some companies participate in recognized sustainability programs or use certified cleaning products.
Questions to ask:
- Which environmentally certified products do you use?
- Do you follow established green cleaning guidelines?
- How are chemicals stored and handled?
Request documentation when certifications are important for your organization.
Are products safe for occupants?
This question is especially important in occupied facilities. Ask about low-odor products, indoor air quality considerations, proper chemical dilution, employee safety training, and Product Safety Data Sheets (SDS).
Understanding product selection helps facility managers support both cleanliness and occupant comfort.
Comparing and Choosing the Best Commercial Cleaning Company
After gathering information from several providers, compare them using consistent criteria rather than focusing only on price.
Compare Experience
- Years in business
- Commercial experience
- Industry specialization
- Client references
Experience often translates into smoother communication and fewer operational surprises.
Compare Quality Assurance
Look for companies with structured quality management, including:
- Scheduled inspections
- Supervisor involvement
- Performance reporting
- Responsive customer support
Reliable communication is often just as important as the cleaning itself.
Compare Service Flexibility
- Scheduling options
- Emergency response
- Ability to scale services
- Geographic service area
Imperial Service Systems, for example, highlights 24/7 live customer support alongside dedicated quality control and supervision as part of its service model.
Review Contract Terms Carefully
Before signing, ask about contract length, service guarantees, cancellation policies, scope changes, and pricing adjustments. A clearly written commercial cleaning contract helps establish expectations for both parties.
Read Customer Reviews
Online reviews should not be the only deciding factor, but they can reveal patterns regarding reliability, communication, responsiveness, and long-term customer satisfaction. When possible, request references from businesses similar to yours.
Don’t base your decision on price alone. The lowest proposal is not always the best value. A provider with stronger supervision, better-trained staff, and reliable quality control may reduce operational issues over time, even if the initial quote is slightly higher.
Making an Informed Decision
Selecting the right commercial cleaning company involves more than comparing pricing sheets. The best provider is one that understands your specific needs, communicates clearly, and consistently delivers the agreed-upon level of service.
For facility managers seeking ongoing janitorial services, focus your evaluation on reliability, quality assurance, employee training, communication, and the company’s ability to support day-to-day facility operations.
For contractors and project managers hiring post-construction cleaning, concentrate on project-specific experience, dedicated construction cleanup crews, safety certifications, scheduling flexibility, and the ability to prepare the site for inspection and final occupancy. Keeping these services distinct helps ensure expectations align with the actual work being performed.
Asking thoughtful questions before hiring allows you to:
- Better understand each company’s capabilities.
- Compare providers using consistent criteria.
- Clarify service expectations before work begins.
- Reduce the likelihood of service issues or misunderstandings.
- Build a productive long-term relationship with your cleaning partner.
By performing careful due diligence, reviewing contracts, checking references, and understanding exactly what services are included, you’ll be better positioned to choose a commercial cleaning company that supports your operational goals and delivers dependable results over time.
Why Choose Imperial Service Systems?
Imperial Service Systems is more than just your average cleaning company. We are a dedicated commercial cleaning and janitorial services organization with more than 53 years of experience. Our clients have been with us an average of more than 20 years due to our operational excellence and results driven mission.
We keep more than 800 locations clean daily. We offer our clients a dedicated quality control team, 24/7 live customer support, and multi-level supervision. Imperial delivers quality janitorial and commercial cleaning services you can rely on.