To hire a commercial cleaner well, define what you need cleaned and how often in writing, get quotes against that same written scope, then judge contractors on how they will deliver and prove it, not on the lowest price. Most bad cleaning contracts fail at the first step: the scope was vague, so every quote priced something different.
This guide is for the person who carries the decision: a facility or property manager, an office manager, a strata committee or a practice owner. It walks through the decisions in the order you will meet them.
What should you decide before you ask for quotes?
Decide five things first: the areas to be cleaned, the days and hours the cleaners can access the building, how often each area needs attention, any special requirements (infection control, security, chemical restrictions) and what outcome you expect at the end of each visit. If you cannot answer these, any quote you receive is a guess, and a contractor who quotes without asking is guessing too.
Writing this down is the single most useful step. How to write a cleaning scope of work shows how.
How does commercial cleaning pricing work?
Commercial cleaning is priced mainly on labour: the time needed to do the agreed scope at the agreed frequency, multiplied by what that labour costs, plus supplies, equipment, insurance and the contractor's overheads and margin. Floor area matters because it drives time, but it is not the price on its own.
Because labour is the largest part of the cost, the rules that govern what cleaners must be paid, including higher rates for evenings, weekends and public holidays under the Cleaning Services Award, set a floor under any honest quote. For the full breakdown, read how commercial cleaning is priced.
What makes one quote higher than another?
Differences between quotes almost always come from scope, frequency, access and the building itself, not from one contractor being "cheaper". The size and layout of the space, how many people use it, the number of washroom fixtures, the hours you need service and the standard you expect all change the time required. What affects a cleaning quote explains each factor so you can see why two reasonable quotes differ.
How do you compare cleaning quotes fairly?
Put every quote against the same scope and the same checklist: what is included, what is excluded, how often, who supplies consumables and equipment, how quality is checked and what the contract lets you change. A quote that is much lower than the rest usually leaves something out or relies on pay that does not meet the Award. How to compare cleaning quotes like for like gives you a side-by-side method.
What should you look for in a contractor?
Beyond price, look for evidence that the contractor will deliver the same result in month seven as in week one. Ask who will actually be on site, how they are supervised, how work is checked and reported, and what happens when something is missed. Ask to see their insurance and how they manage chemicals and site safety. A good contractor answers specifically and in writing.
At Vantage Point Facility Services we scope every building room by room, task by task and frequency by frequency, and we show you that scope before you sign anything. You can see how we work on our commercial cleaning services page.
What does a good contract include?
A good cleaning contract names the scope, the frequency, the price, how quality is measured, how issues are raised and fixed, how the scope can change, and how either side can end the agreement. Keep the scope document as a schedule to the contract so it is enforceable.
Running a formal tender or RFQ
For a larger or higher-risk contract, or where your organisation requires competitive quotes, run a structured process. How to run a cleaning tender walks through it, what to ask for in a cleaning RFQ lists the information to request and the tender evaluation scorecard shows how to score the responses.
Choosing a contractor, or changing one
Before you hire, put the right questions to every contractor: questions to ask a commercial cleaner. If you are unhappy with your current cleaner, see the warning signs your cleaner is underperforming and how to change cleaning contractor without disruption.
Contracts and quality control
The contract and the way you check the work protect you together. See cleaning contract terms to check, how cleaning quality is audited and what a monthly cleaning report should show.
Where to start
If you are early in the process, start with the scope: write a cleaning scope of work. If you already have quotes, go to comparing cleaning quotes. If you would rather see a scope built for your building, book a free walkthrough.