What to Look for in a Janitorial Vendor (9 Non-Negotiables)

Cleaning companies are easy to start. The barrier to entry is a bucket and some hustle. So when you're evaluating a vendor, the real question isn't who exists — it's who stays.

The nine non-negotiables

• $2M minimum general aggregate liability (anything less and your risk team won't sign)
• Workers' compensation certificate (verify it's current, not expired)
• Employee dishonesty bond ($25K+ per employee)
• W-2 employees, not 1099 (ask directly — if they can't confirm, walk away)
• Uniformed, badged crews
• Background checks on file for every employee
• A named supervisor for your account (not a 1-800 number)
• References from similar-sized buildings (call them)
• A written service agreement (not a handshake)

What to ask during the walkthrough

Who is my day-to-day contact? How many crew members will be on site? Who supervises them? What happens if they don't show? What's your employee turnover rate? Can I see a sample service agreement before we sign?

Vendors that can't answer these in 30 seconds aren't ready to serve a serious building.