{"id":2708,"date":"2020-02-29T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-02-29T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zenmaid.com\/magazine\/?p=2708"},"modified":"2025-05-22T03:14:56","modified_gmt":"2025-05-22T03:14:56","slug":"commercial-cleaning-mistakes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zenmaid.com\/magazine\/commercial-cleaning-mistakes\/","title":{"rendered":"Steve Hanson Explains the 8 Mistakes To Avoid in Commercial Cleaning"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed__wrapper wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Are You Making These Mistakes in Your Cleaning Business? with Steve Hanson\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/FN9JzqUv47Q?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In the area of the Cleaning Industry Management Standard (CIMS) and Certification Program, Steve has an ISSA Certification Expert(I.C.E.) certification.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In fact, he has so much experience, he was able to identify and explain the biggest mistakes that Maid Service owners make when starting or growing commercial cleaning offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So relax and take notes on the biggest mistakes made by owners when transitioning their home cleaning business into a commercial cleaning service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"heading-1\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">2 Cleaning Businesses, 1 Mindset<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Trying to run a commercial cleaning and residential cleaning business at once can be difficult, both are very different in all respects, from prices to marketing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><p>When you are switching your home cleaning business to commercial cleaning services, be sure to treat them as two different companies.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/get.zenmaid.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zenmaid.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/free-trial-banner-1.png\" alt=\"\"><\/a><\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Owners of a successful residential cleaning company may be tempted to use the same <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zenmaid.com\/magazine\/25-ways-to-market-your-cleaning-business\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\"><strong>marketing for their Maid Service<\/strong><\/a>, but this is not recommended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even though certain techniques may have proven to be very profitable before, the commercial cleaning service business is a whole other level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/AHZ-zGtTd1mI64p_cmT9MbwNhmfZGs8EowdDbU3wochdt7DPp5QZYgF9jXGt50mEpJE6H1US62GBBOg_rILfyr9m5ER85JenzHFjqAqLq0n7jP-JjyjcgHmQ3MNhcedDxpdF1PtJ\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"heading-2\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Discounting commercial cleaning services (or home cleaning services)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Residential <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zenmaid.com\/magazine\/how-to-grow-your-business-without-using-low-price-methods\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\"><strong>cleaning services often discount prices<\/strong><\/a> but you shouldn\u2019t do this with commercial cleaning, it can cause you to underbid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The entire structure of price points is represented differently in the Maid Service business as opposed to the commercial cleaning side of the industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With commercial cleaning services, you are covering a large area and your cleaner deserves to get paid for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=20nRPx88e8c&amp;t=81s\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\"><strong>all of the work they put in<\/strong><\/a>, don\u2019t cheapen your product.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>\u201cGiving discounts is something I don&#8217;t think is a good idea because you can never make up that lost profit\u201d &#8211; Steve Hanson<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/ZE1IQM3m08JbQjIns-juRWFqU-Zsr4AngTHbThmOQHhKlJUNdg4cA-FTRYJOQhgEVFgN3DBKZNCU9pvaBktShv9CJgtA74hBnLMH58fJMsqhy-gHcRzGr0YLAFJzocfWgc0uVhWn\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"heading-3\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Not having the right systems for your cleaning business<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Be sure to have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zenmaid.com\/magazine\/automate-your-maid-service\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\"><strong>systems and controls in place<\/strong><\/a>in order to grow your Maid Service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A lack of operational organization can cause confusion and burnout, so keep a record of your progress and record your systems in a folder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zenmaid.com\/47keywords\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zenmaid.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/47-keywords.png\n\" alt=\"\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Update files in this folder periodically to stay on top of the improvements that your home cleaning company is making.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ll find that simply the <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/C-HHwqKlS8A\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\"><strong>implementation of systems<\/strong><\/a> can change the way you feel about your Maid Service, plus you\u2019ll see a rise in profit as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/z3zzoAz2r-V8T8fJvjLRbhIstjIXjBYnMPdvnY36iEhoQ9cRiHQNc8SrsNqm_Wqshp28WkQDSRVeT8iJX395s1hnHAOPZS7diGF7lB0Yq7wwNV32Yfd4d6gkbmMrausypn_AL4l5\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"heading-4\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bidding higher than you can jump<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Watch out when setting bids for your commercial cleaning services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are still thinking with your residential cleaning owner cap on, you might bid too high for what you are planning to cover in the cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Commercial cleaning has a <a href=\"https:\/\/priceithere.com\/commercial-cleaning-cost\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\"><strong>different pricing structure<\/strong><\/a> with an environmental structure difference to match.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Keep in mind when you are making a bid on a space that the time and effort to clean an office will be unique to that of a home setting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/Gfm5RdyCk7xyJo6rP-jBrHfXP03QYmlz-VLANZImCOfFWraB4xta-jMt1ov9iidDDKpQhut0Lt219KXOF6l68VJrMui7Hx6-ASSrG15X2ElmBtC25SFzk2J-r8KNyToaiiuSB95e\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"heading-5\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Forgetting about production rate changes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thejanitorialstore.com\/public\/Charge-Commercial-Cleaning-Services.cfm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\"><strong>Production rates are also different<\/strong><\/a> in residential vs commercial cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In a biweekly, general clean you will cover about 700 to 1000 square feet per hour, but in commercial cleaning, your square footage runs at about 3,200 &#8211; 3,500 per hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are pricing based on the usual ground covered in a Maid Service, you\u2019ll be thoroughly disappointed with all the rejections you receive on this bid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There just isn\u2019t often as much detail to cover in an office setting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is a larger space with a much less lived-in level of grime, so you can cover more of the area in the same allotted amount of time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/gWMvlElA-1NLQDm2BzyXy1ilLGj1x26HOiuKlMWvfZg-9AP_hhxgPYnLUeDH658MlW55iSJ2bUq0a21do40wArZa8p6f3vXlDAlkByCQltM8QfZ0CdQ2uU_iLP3Yz1pg1oik9Had\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"heading-6\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Not offering additional training to your cleaning employees<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Don\u2019t slip on the training!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Always <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/fiiVoG9UH0E\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">train your cleaners<\/a><\/strong> and include additional training as your home cleaning company evolves, especially if it evolves into a commercial cleaning company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Just because someone has cleaning experience does not mean that they have cleaned homes the way that your cleaning company does.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Likewise, if they have commercial cleaning experience, that&#8217;s not the same as residential and visa versa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In order to adequately prepare your staff, <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/9q3y5H_e6vE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\"><strong>cleaners should be properly trained<\/strong><\/a> for the relevant cleaning processes in both home and commercial properties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/fUwOUlXvRGEOhRG0qTReUqRBbjxWkFTrgubvbC2XcU7tHud3t8ox8e9tLJacPO2LH-YSIwnPAulPgZWWz7VhlDMNVWwOz5vhPJtSZDtnA3FJh2g5Zq-LTTDx-6EbKAiBH2MbmgJ2\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"heading-7\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Keeping your home cleaning hat on<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Remove your \u201chome cleaning hat\u201d when approaching commercial cleaning services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These are totally different businesses from one another, other than turning a dirty space into a clean space, so you need to be speaking the language of the culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are working on homes, they all have the same basic areas: kitchen, living room, bedroom, and bathrooms for example.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/zenmaidmastermind\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zenmaid.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/FB-group-banner.png\" alt=\"\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>However, if you are <a href=\"https:\/\/howtostartanllc.com\/business-ideas\/commercial-kitchen-cleaning\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\"><strong>talking commercial cleaning services<\/strong><\/a> you\u2019re looking at unique spaces like office buildings with cubicles and larger central bathrooms or hair salons with hard floors, mirrors, and chairs drilled in the center of the room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Considering how the process differs in each setting is critical to understanding your rate and profit potential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/jvZBqgbQUkxc9Dzoy97FOJ8Gnw5OnVHdanPTb5_BczF0SAbkVagNXLvnfyJUjAnpzUDin9n2-mX7rLJigrhVb-mYVLlcxNujNOgX0z3AYEWe_ta-sGtaIBHRnkkfytAsoeiDais6\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"heading-8\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Not understanding proper cleaning systems<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, a huge mistake made is the misunderstanding of cleaning systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Train your cleaners as a team or create team cleaning systems so that they can help each other learn how to work as a team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You may only send one cleaner per job to a home cleaning, but with work-setting type cleaning, your cleaners are likely working with a much bigger space and will need to send multiple cleaners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Since everything is basically <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/fiiVoG9UH0E\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\"><strong>made easier with training<\/strong><\/a>, teach your team how to work like one in order to get the job finished as quickly and efficiently as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This article was based on the information given in a talk by Steve Hanson that happened live at the 2019 Maid Summit, hosted and organized by ZenMaid.<\/p>\r\n<p><strong>About the presenter<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/p>\r\n<p>Steve Hanson has been working around the cleaning industry for 32 years and is an expert in helping commercial and residential cleaning business owners start, grow and scale their cleaning companies.<\/p>\r\n<p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\r\n<p>As the President of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.myhousecleaningbiz.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\"><strong>MyHouseCleaningBiz.com<\/strong><\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thejanitorialstore.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\"><strong>TheJanitorialStore.com<\/strong><\/a>, two mainstream sites in the Maid Service world that provide information anyone in the cleaning field can use to improve their business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<p><!--EndFragment--><\/p>\n\n\n<p>Read more great articles on the ZenMaid Magazine:<\/p>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__list wp-block-latest-posts\"><li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zenmaid.com\/magazine\/quick-guide-faqs-for-marketing-a-cleaning-business\/\">Quick Guide: FAQs for Marketing a Cleaning Business<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zenmaid.com\/magazine\/the-books-that-changed-how-i-run-my-cleaning-business\/\">The Books That Changed How I Run My Cleaning Business<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zenmaid.com\/magazine\/cost-to-start-a-cleaning-business\/\">How Much Does It Really Cost to Start a Cleaning Business?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zenmaid.com\/magazine\/how-to-market-a-cleaning-business\/\">How to Market a Cleaning Business: 10 Strategies that Actually Work<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zenmaid.com\/magazine\/how-natalies-15-clean-built-a-15-year-business\/\">How Natalie&#8217;s $15 Clean Built a 15-Year Business<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In the area of the Cleaning Industry Management Standard (CIMS) and Certification Program, Steve has an ISSA Certification Expert(I.C.E.) certification. In fact, he has so much experience, he was able to identify and explain the biggest mistakes that Maid Service owners make when starting or growing commercial cleaning offers. So relax and take notes on [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":5540,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"8 Mistakes to Avoid in Commercial Cleanings  %%sitetitle%%","_seopress_titles_desc":"Steve Hanson explains the most common mistakes home cleaning business owners make when they expand into commercial cleanings. ","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[30,114,28],"class_list":{"0":"post-2708","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-systems-automation","8":"tag-cleaning-business-growth","9":"tag-commercial-cleaning-business-mistakes","10":"tag-grow-your-maid-service"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zenmaid.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2708","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zenmaid.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zenmaid.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zenmaid.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zenmaid.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2708"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/www.zenmaid.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2708\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13847,"href":"https:\/\/www.zenmaid.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2708\/revisions\/13847"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zenmaid.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5540"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zenmaid.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2708"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zenmaid.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2708"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zenmaid.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2708"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}