Hiring a commercial cleaning company is one of the highest-turnover vendor decisions most facility managers make — and the most avoidable. Bad hires almost always trace back to the same missing questions during vetting. This guide walks through the 12 questions that reliably separate professional operators from underinvested competitors, along with what a strong answer actually sounds like.
The Vetting Questions That Matter
1. Are you licensed, insured, and bonded?
Ask for a Certificate of Insurance (COI) naming your business as an additional insured. General liability minimums should be $1M per occurrence and $2M aggregate. Workers' comp is non-negotiable — if a cleaner is injured on your property and the vendor doesn't carry it, you're exposed.
2. Do you employ your cleaners or use subcontractors?
W-2 employees mean the vendor controls training, background checks, and quality. Sub-contracted crews create a layer between you and whoever actually shows up. Neither is disqualifying, but you deserve a straight answer.
3. Are cleaners background-checked?
For any facility with sensitive data, cash, healthcare records, or valuable equipment, criminal background checks and E-Verify should be standard. Ask what the process is and how often it's re-run.
4. What's your average employee tenure?
High turnover is the single biggest driver of quality problems. A vendor whose average tenure is under six months will struggle to deliver consistent results no matter how good their sales pitch is.
5. How do you handle quality control?
Look for named supervisors, documented inspections (weekly or monthly), and a formal escalation process. 'The owner spot-checks' is not a QC program at any scale above two accounts.
6. What's your communication protocol?
Named account manager, defined response time (24 hours is standard), and a written channel — email or portal — for logging requests and issues.
7. Can you provide references in my industry?
A vendor that has never cleaned a medical office will struggle with your medical office. Ask for two or three references from similar-scope facilities and actually call them.
8. What's included in the recurring price?
Get the scope of work in writing — daily tasks, weekly, monthly, quarterly. Anything not listed will be billed as an extra.
9. How do you price add-on work?
Carpet, windows, floor strip-and-wax, high dusting, post-construction. Get these rates upfront so there are no surprises.
10. Do you use green-certified chemicals?
Ask whether Green Seal, EPA Safer Choice, or equivalent certifications are standard. This matters for occupant health, especially in offices and schools.
11. What's your exit clause?
A 30-day out for non-performance is standard. Beware of multi-year contracts with heavy termination penalties.
12. Can I visit an active account?
A confident vendor will introduce you to a similar client with permission. Anyone who deflects is worth a second look.
Red Flags to Walk Away From
- Bid dramatically below the other quotes (often signals unpaid labor or missing insurance).
- No written scope of work.
- 'We don't need to see the space' — every reputable vendor walks the facility before quoting.
- Vague answers about insurance, background checks, or supervision.
- Aggressive multi-year contracts with steep termination fees.
Ready to Compare Us to Your Current Vendor?
Blue Collar Cleaning Co. answers every one of these questions in writing. Let's schedule a walk-through.