How to Choose the Right Commercial Cleaning Company | DayMaker Cleaning Co.
You need a cleaning company for your Saint John office. Maybe your current one isn't cutting it. Maybe you're hiring for the first time. Maybe you're just tired of wondering if they actually showed up.
The problem? All the websites say the same thing. "Professional." "Reliable." "Quality service." Everyone claims to be great.
So how do you actually tell the difference between a company that will do good work and one that will leave you wondering if they even came?
Here's what to look for (and what to avoid) when choosing a commercial cleaning company in Saint John, Quispamsis, or Rothesay.
Start With the Right Questions
Before you look at anything else, ask these questions. The answers will tell you everything.
"Are Your Cleaners Employees or Independent Contractors?"
This is the single most important question.
Why it matters:
Contractors mean lower costs for the company and lower quality for you. They're rushing between gigs, paid per job (not for quality), and have zero accountability to anyone.
Employees mean training, consistency, and people who actually care about doing good work because it's their actual job.
What to listen for:
Good answer: "We hire real employees and give them great training."
Bad answer: "We use independent contractors" or vague responses like "we work with experienced professionals."
Learn why most companies use contractors and why some don't.
"Will I Have the Same Team Every Time?"
Most companies send whoever's available. Different people constantly. Nobody learns your space.
Why it matters:
Rotating cleaners mean starting over every time. No relationship. Inconsistent quality. Constantly re-explaining what you need.
Dedicated teams learn your space, build routines, and take pride in keeping it consistently clean.
What to listen for:
Good answer: "Yes, we assign the same team to your business."
Bad answer: "We'll try to" or "usually" or "we send our best available people."
"Do You Give Your Teams Enough Time to Actually Clean?"
This is the question most people don't think to ask. But it's huge.
Companies that rush their teams through spaces in record time to maximize profit deliver surface-level work at best.
Why it matters:
If cleaners are scheduled for 30 minutes in your 2,000 sq ft office, they're not cleaning. They're doing a quick wipe-down and leaving.
Real cleaning takes time. Companies that care about quality schedule appropriately.
What to listen for:
Good answer: They ask about your space and give realistic timeframes.
Bad answer: They quote suspiciously fast turnarounds or won't commit to timeframes.
"What Happens If I'm Not Satisfied?"
This tells you whether they actually stand behind their work or make you jump through hoops.
Why it matters:
Good companies make it easy to address issues. Bad companies make you fill out forms, prove your case, or wait days for responses.
What to listen for:
Good answer: "Just let us know and we'll make it right."
Bad answer: Complicated processes, defensive responses, or "we'll send someone to investigate."
What to Look for in Their Business Model
Beyond the questions, pay attention to how they operate.
Do They Actually Train Their Staff?
Ask about training. Specific training, not just "yes we train people."
What good training looks like:
Proper cleaning techniques for different surfaces
Safety protocols
Customer service standards
Quality control processes
Red flag:
"We hire experienced people" with no mention of actual training programs.
How Do They Handle Scheduling and Communication?
You need a company that's responsive and doesn't make communication difficult.
What good communication looks like:
Easy to reach (not just voicemail)
Clear about schedules and changes
Proactive about issues
Simple payment and billing
Red flags:
Hard to get responses
Vague about schedules
Complicated billing with hidden fees
No clear point of contact
Do They Provide Their Own Supplies and Equipment?
Professional companies provide everything. You shouldn't have to supply cleaning products or equipment.
Why it matters:
Companies that make you provide supplies are cutting corners. They're also more likely to be using contractors (who bring their own random supplies).
What's Their Quality Control Process?
How do they ensure consistent quality? Do they have one?
What good quality control looks like:
Regular check-ins with clients
Team supervision
Clear standards and checklists
Willingness to address issues quickly
Red flag:
No real answer or "we trust our contractors to do good work."
Red Flags to Watch For
Some things should make you immediately skeptical.
They Won't Give You a Clear Price
If they can't give you a ballpark after basic questions about your space, that's suspicious.
Why it matters:
Vague pricing usually means they're planning to upsell or hit you with add-ons later.
Good companies can quote you accurately based on square footage, frequency, and type of space.
The Price Seems Too Good to Be True
If someone quotes dramatically lower than everyone else, there's a reason.
Why they're cheaper:
Using exploited contractors
Rushing through spaces
Cutting corners on quality
Planning to charge extra fees later
Not properly insured
Cheap almost never means good value in this industry.
They're Vague About What's Included
"We'll clean your office" isn't a real answer.
What you should get:
A clear breakdown of what's included in standard cleaning and what costs extra. Room by room, task by task.
Learn what should actually be included in office cleaning.
They Push Hard for a Decision
Good companies answer your questions and let you decide. Bad companies pressure you.
Red flags:
"This price is only good today"
Aggressive follow-up
Won't give you time to think
Make it difficult to say no
They Have Terrible Reviews (Or No Reviews)
Check Google reviews. Not just the star rating, but what people actually say.
What to look for:
Consistent complaints about quality
Issues with communication or billing
Problems getting issues resolved
Rotation of different cleaners
Good sign:
Reviews mentioning specific team members by name, consistent quality over time, responsive to concerns.
What Actually Matters for Quality
Let's be honest about what creates good commercial cleaning.
The People Doing the Work
Quality starts with who's actually cleaning your office.
Good companies:
Hire employees (not contractors)
Pay fairly with benefits
Provide training and support
Create career paths (not just gigs)
Why it matters:
When people are treated well, they do better work. When they're exploited, quality suffers.
Learn why companies that don't pay between jobs deliver worse results.
Consistency Over Time
One good cleaning doesn't mean much. You need consistent quality week after week.
What creates consistency:
Same team learning your space
Enough time scheduled to do the job right
Quality control processes
Easy communication when issues arise
Accountability and Trust
You need to trust that they'll actually show up and do good work when you're not there.
What builds trust:
Employees (not rotating contractors)
Clear communication
Willingness to make things right
Track record of consistent service
Questions About Specific Business Types
Different businesses have different needs.
Medical/Dental Offices
Ask about:
Sanitization protocols
Experience with medical spaces
Compliance with health standards
Frequency recommendations
Retail Spaces
Ask about:
Cleaning around business hours
Customer-facing area priorities
Flexibility for busy seasons
Window and glass cleaning
Professional Offices (Insurance, Engineering, etc.)
Ask about:
Desk and workspace cleaning policies
Document and paper handling
After-hours scheduling
Secure access procedures
Local vs. National Franchises
You'll see both options in Saint John.
National franchises offer:
Brand recognition
Standardized systems
Corporate backing
Local companies offer:
Direct owner involvement
Flexibility and customization
Community investment
Often more personalized service
Neither is automatically better. Quality depends on the specific operation, not the business model.
Read the full comparison of local vs. franchise cleaning companies.
The Real Test: Your Current Experience
If you already have a cleaning company, here's how to know if you should switch:
You should probably switch if:
You regularly wonder if they actually came
Quality varies wildly visit to visit
You see different people constantly
Issues don't get resolved
Communication is difficult
You're paying for cleaning but your office still doesn't feel clean
You probably have a good company if:
Your space consistently looks and feels clean
You know your cleaning team
Issues get addressed quickly
Communication is easy
You're not constantly checking their work
What We've Learned From Our Clients
Most of our commercial clients came to us from other companies. Here's what they tell us:
"We wondered if they'd even been here."
This is the most common complaint. Paying for cleaning but seeing no real difference.
"We had different people every time."
Nobody learned the space. Quality was inconsistent. Felt like starting over constantly.
"They rushed through so fast, there's no way they actually cleaned."
When companies pack too many jobs into a day, your space gets a quick wipe-down at best.
"Getting issues fixed was impossible."
Voicemail tag, complicated processes, defensive responses. No real accountability.
What changed when they switched:
Same team every visit who actually learned their space. Consistent quality. Easy communication. And offices that actually felt clean.
The Bottom Line
Choosing a commercial cleaning company comes down to this:
✓ Employees (not contractors) who are trained and treated well
✓ Same team every time who learns your space
✓ Enough time scheduled to actually clean (not just rush through)
✓ Clear communication and easy issue resolution
✓ Transparent pricing with no hidden fees
✓ Accountability and willingness to make things right
Red flags to avoid:
✗ Vague about who's cleaning or how they operate
✗ Suspiciously low prices
✗ Won't commit to dedicated teams
✗ Complicated processes for addressing concerns
✗ High-pressure sales tactics
Ask the right questions upfront. Pay attention to how they answer. Trust your gut about whether they're actually going to deliver quality or just tell you what you want to hear.
And if your current company isn't working?
It's okay to switch. Most businesses that come to us tried someone else first. You're not stuck with mediocre cleaning just because you already signed on with someone.
You deserve commercial cleaning that actually works. That starts with choosing a company built to deliver it.
We clean offices, medical practices, retail spaces, and more across Saint John, Quispamsis, and Rothesay. Same dedicated teams, real employees, time to actually clean. See how we're different.
