Hiring a commercial cleaning company is one of those decisions that looks simple until you're stuck in a bad contract with inconsistent results. The right company keeps your space looking professional, protects your staff's health, and shows up reliably. The wrong one costs you time, money, and the embarrassment of a messy workplace. Here's what to look for before you commit.
1. Verify They're Properly Insured
This is non-negotiable. Any commercial cleaning company operating in Edmonton should carry general liability insurance and workers' compensation coverage. If a cleaner damages equipment or is injured on your property and the company isn't insured, you could be liable. Ask for proof of insurance before signing anything — a reputable company will provide it without hesitation.
2. Ask About Their Hiring and Screening Process
Cleaning crews have access to your space, your equipment, and sometimes sensitive areas. Ask directly: do they run background checks on employees? Are staff trained and supervised, or is work handed off to subcontractors? Companies that use trained, vetted employees generally deliver more consistent results than those relying on a revolving door of contract workers.
3. Look for Experience With Your Type of Facility
A company that cleans office buildings every day knows what "clean" looks like in that context. The same applies to medical clinics, retail spaces, warehouses, and restaurants — each has different standards, surfaces, and regulatory considerations. Ask specifically whether they've cleaned facilities like yours, and ask for references if you're making a significant commitment.
4. Understand the Contract Terms Before You Sign
Some cleaning contracts lock you in for 12 months with steep cancellation penalties. Others are month-to-month or per-visit. Neither structure is inherently wrong, but you should know what you're agreeing to. Watch for:
- Automatic renewal clauses that roll you into another term without notice
- Price increase provisions buried in the fine print
- Vague scope-of-work language that leads to disputes over what's included
- No-cancellation or short-notice-required clauses
A transparent company will walk you through the contract and answer questions without pressure.
5. Get a Clear, Itemized Quote
Vague quotes lead to scope creep and surprise charges. A professional commercial cleaner should be able to tell you exactly what's included at each visit — which rooms, which surfaces, which tasks are daily versus weekly versus monthly. If a quote is just a single number with no breakdown, ask for more detail before agreeing.
6. Find Out How They Handle Complaints
No service is perfect 100% of the time. What separates a good company from a bad one is how they respond when something goes wrong. Ask: what happens if you're not satisfied with a clean? Is there a re-clean guarantee? Who do you contact, and how quickly will they respond? A company confident in their work will have a clear answer.
7. Consider Whether They Offer More Than Cleaning
If your facility also needs occasional handyman repairs, maintenance, or specialized cleaning (like fleet or vehicle detailing), working with a single company that covers multiple services saves time, reduces the number of vendors you manage, and means one team that knows your property.
Ready to Get a Quote From an Edmonton Commercial Cleaning Team?
365 Days Services Inc has been serving Edmonton businesses for 17+ years with commercial cleaning, office cleaning, handyman services, and auto/semi-truck detailing. We're fully insured, use background-checked staff, offer flexible scheduling, and provide transparent pricing with no long-term contract required. Get a free, no-obligation quote and see what consistent cleaning looks like.