The scope of work (SOW) is the contract behind the contract. When something goes wrong at a janitorial account, the SOW is the document that determines fault. A well-written SOW protects both facility owner and vendor. A vague one guarantees monthly friction.
The Six Sections Every SOW Needs
- Facility description (square footage, floor types, restroom count, occupancy).
- Service days and hours (with security/access protocol).
- Frequency table for every task (daily/weekly/monthly/quarterly).
- Included consumables (paper, soap, liners, chemicals).
- Explicit exclusions and add-on rates.
- Quality control and communication procedures.
Frequency Table Format
Best practice: build a matrix with rows for each task and columns for each frequency. Every cell either marked X or blank. No ambiguity.
The Exclusions Section
List explicitly what is NOT included: interior refrigerator, window exterior above ground floor, floor stripping, carpet extraction, biohazard cleanup, event cleanup, snow/ice management, pest control. Provide hourly or per-service rates for common exclusions upfront.
Change Management
Add a clause on how scope changes are documented and priced — email confirmation, revised SOW appendix, updated monthly rate. Verbal changes lead to disputes.
We Write the SOW for You
Every Blue Collar proposal includes a detailed SOW you can hand to legal without edits.