How to Choose a Commercial Cleaning Contractor

A practical buying guide for Michigan facility managers and business owners!

Woman with clipboard talking to commercial cleaning contractor in office.

Finding a reliable commercial cleaning contractor is harder than it looks. You can post a request, get five quotes back in two days, and still end up with a crew that misses bathrooms, uses the same mop on the kitchen and the hallway, or simply stops showing up after the first month.

We have been cleaning commercial buildings across Michigan for over 20 years, and the businesses that are happiest with their cleaning service are the ones that asked the right questions before they hired anyone.

This guide walks you through the 10 questions every business should ask a commercial cleaning contractor before signing a service agreement. By the end, you will know exactly what to look for, what red flags to watch for, and how to make a confident, well-informed decision. If you want a broader overview of the industry first, see our Complete Guide to Commercial Cleaning Services in Michigan.

Why Choosing the Wrong Cleaning Company Costs You More Than Money

A cleaning contractor who does a poor job does not just leave your building dirty. Dirty workplaces lead to higher employee sick days, bad first impressions with clients, and in regulated industries like healthcare or food service, compliance violations that can result in fines or shutdowns.

According to a study by the International Sanitary Supply Association (ISSA), the Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association, a properly cleaned and maintained facility can increase worker productivity by up to 12 percent and reduce absenteeism. On the other hand, a poor cleaning program has the opposite effect.

There is also the financial side to consider. Commercial cleaning costs in Michigan vary widely depending on facility size, service frequency, and the type of cleaning involved. Choosing a contractor based on the lowest quote alone often leads to switching companies within a year, which means paying onboarding costs twice. This guide will help you choose right the first time.

The 10 Questions to Ask Every Commercial Cleaning Contractor

Question 1: Are You Licensed, Bonded, and Insured in Michigan?

This is the first question, and it is non-negotiable. A legitimate commercial cleaning contractor operating in Michigan should carry:

General liability insurance (to cover property damage or accidents on your premises)
Workers’ compensation insurance (so you are not liable if a worker is injured in your building)
A surety bond (which protects you if an employee steals from your business)

Ask to see certificates of insurance directly. Do not accept a verbal assurance. Uninsured contractors leave you legally exposed, and Michigan law does not protect business owners who hire unlicensed or uninsured service providers.

Pro Tip Request that your company be listed as an additional insured on their policy. A reputable contractor will not hesitate to provide this.

Question 2: Do You Run Background Checks on Your Employees?

Your cleaning crew will likely be in your building after hours with access to offices, computer equipment, file rooms, and potentially sensitive areas. You need to know who those people are.

Ask specifically:

Do you run criminal background checks on every employee before hiring?
Do you re-screen employees periodically or after long absences?
Do you use a third-party screening service, or conduct checks in-house?

A cleaning company that cannot answer these questions clearly is a company whose hiring process you cannot trust. If they hedge or say something like “we trust our people,” that is a red flag.

Question 3: What Training and Certifications Do Your Cleaners Have?

Professional cleaning is a skilled trade. The ISSA (International Sanitary Supply Association) offers industry certifications like the Cleaning Industry Management Standard (CIMS) and the Cleaning Management Institute (CMI) programs that signal a company invests in professional development.

Ask the contractor:

Are your employees trained before they enter a client facility?
Do you offer any ISSA-certified training programs?
Do you have supervisors on staff who oversee quality control?

A cleaning company that trains its people properly will produce more consistent results and have lower staff turnover, which means you see the same faces and build a working relationship rather than dealing with a revolving door.

At K&K Cleaning, every crew member goes through structured onboarding training before their first shift. We use professional-grade equipment and environmentally certified cleaning products on every job.

Question 4: What Cleaning Products Do You Use, and Are They Safe?

This matters for three reasons: the health of your employees, the safety of your building surfaces, and your own environmental commitments as a business.

Questions to ask:

Do you use EPA-registered disinfectants?
Do you offer green or eco-friendly cleaning options?
Are your products safe for use around food prep areas, medical environments, or children?
Do you provide Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for the products used in our facility?

The EPA’s Safer Choice program certifies cleaning products that meet strict health and environmental standards. Look for contractors who use certified products, especially if your facility has employees with sensitivities or your business has sustainability goals. At K&K, we use green professional cleaning methods and products with environmentally friendly ingredients safe for all environments.

Question 5: What Does Your Service Agreement Include?

A detailed service agreement is your protection. A vague agreement is how corners get cut without accountability. Before signing anything, make sure you understand:

Scope of work: Exactly what gets cleaned, in which rooms, how often.
Frequency: Daily, weekly, bi-weekly, or custom schedule.
Supplies: Does the contractor supply cleaning products and equipment, or do you?
Staffing: Will you have a dedicated team, or will crews rotate?
Communication: Who is your point of contact and how do you report issues?

A service agreement is not just paperwork. It is the foundation of the entire business relationship. Any contractor who is reluctant to put the full scope in writing is one you should walk away from.

Question 6: Do You Offer a Service Level Agreement (SLA)?

An SLA goes one step further than a standard contract. It defines the measurable standards the contractor agrees to meet, and what happens if they fail to meet them.

A good SLA might specify:

Response times for complaints (e.g., missed areas corrected within 24 hours)
Quality inspection frequency and how results are shared
Remedies or credits if service falls below the agreed standard

Not every small business needs a formal SLA, but for larger facilities, multi-site operations, or regulated environments like healthcare or food service, an SLA is essential. A contractor who has never heard of an SLA, or who dismisses the concept, is probably not operating at a professional level.

Key Insight The best commercial cleaning contracts include a 30-day performance review period with easy exit clauses if standards are not met. Ask for this during negotiations.

Question 7: Do You Have Experience in My Type of Facility?

Cleaning a professional office is very different from cleaning a medical clinic, a warehouse, a restaurant, or a building that just finished construction. The cleaning protocols, equipment, and products differ substantially.

Ask for specific experience in your facility type:

Medical or dental offices (bloodborne pathogen training, EPA List N disinfectants, HIPAA awareness)
Post-construction cleaning (HEPA vacuuming, drywall dust protocols, punch list cleaning)
Industrial or warehouse facilities (floor care, heavy-duty equipment cleaning)
High-traffic retail or hospitality environments

A contractor who has only ever cleaned small offices is not necessarily the right choice for a 50,000 square foot medical facility. Match their experience to your needs, and ask them to walk you through how they would handle the specific challenges of your building.

Question 8: Can You Provide References from Similar Businesses?

Any cleaning company worth hiring should be able to provide at least two or three references from businesses similar to yours. Do not just collect the names; actually call them. Ask:

How long have you used this company?
How do they handle complaints or missed areas?
Has the quality been consistent over time?
Would you recommend them, and why?

You can also check the Better Business Bureau (BBB) listing for Michigan cleaning companies, look at Google reviews, and search for any complaints filed with the Michigan Attorney General’s office. A contractor with a pattern of negative reviews or unresolved BBB complaints is one to avoid, no matter how low their quote is.

K&K Cleaning Contractors has served Michigan businesses for over 20 years. We are happy to connect prospective clients with current customers who can speak to our consistency, professionalism, and communication.

Question 9: How Do You Handle Complaints and Quality Control?

Even the best cleaning companies occasionally miss something. What matters is how they respond when that happens. Ask specifically:

Do you have a formal complaint resolution process?
Who do I contact if I notice a problem?
How quickly will the issue be corrected?
Do you conduct regular quality inspections?

A good contractor will welcome this conversation. They will have a clear process, a dedicated contact, and a commitment to correcting issues quickly. A contractor who gets defensive or vague when asked about quality control is one who likely has had problems they have not addressed well.

Question 10: What Is Your Pricing Structure and What Is Not Included?

Before you compare quotes, make sure you are comparing the same things. Pricing for commercial cleaning in Michigan varies widely based on facility size, cleaning frequency, and service type. See our detailed breakdown of commercial cleaning costs in Michigan for 2026 to understand what fair market rates look like for your type of facility.

When reviewing quotes, ask:

What is included in the base price, and what is extra?
Is equipment and supply cost included, or billed separately?
Are there additional charges for deep cleans, floor stripping, or window washing?
What is the contract length, and what does early termination look like?

A low headline price that comes with a long list of exclusions and add-on charges can end up costing far more than a slightly higher all-inclusive rate. Get the full picture before you commit.

What Fair Pricing Looks Like In Michigan, commercial cleaning for a standard office runs roughly $0.08 to $0.18 per square foot depending on frequency and service level. Post-construction cleaning and floor stripping run higher. If a quote seems dramatically lower than others, ask what is being left out.

Your Pre-Hire Checklist at a Glance

#	Question	What to Look For
1	Licensed, bonded, and insured?	Certificates of insurance on file
2	Background checks on employees?	Third-party screening policy
3	Training and ISSA certifications?	Documented onboarding + certifications
4	Products safe and EPA-registered?	SDS sheets, green product options
5	Full written service agreement?	Detailed scope, frequency, supplies
6	Service Level Agreement offered?	Response times, remedies in writing
7	Experience with your facility type?	Proven track record, walk-through offer
8	References from similar businesses?	Verifiable, contactable references
9	Quality control process?	Formal complaint resolution system
10	Transparent pricing, no hidden fees?	All-inclusive quote breakdown

5 Red Flags That Mean You Should Walk Away

Even with thorough questioning, some contractors are not a good fit. Here are five warning signs that should send you to the next quote on your list:

They cannot produce insurance certificates immediately. Any legitimate company has these on file and can email them the same day.
Their quote is dramatically lower than everyone else’s. This usually means they are cutting corners on labor, training, or products.
They pressure you to sign a long-term contract with no performance out clause. A confident contractor lets their work speak for itself.
They cannot name a single reference from a business like yours. Experience in your industry matters.
They get evasive about background checks or employee screening. You are trusting these people with access to your building.

Ready to Get a Quote From a Michigan Cleaning Contractor You Can Trust? K&K Cleaning Contractors has been serving businesses across Battle Creek, Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Detroit, and Ann Arbor for over 20 years. We are locally owned, fully insured, use green cleaning products, and back every job with a satisfaction guarantee. Call us at (269) 348-3422 or visit kandkcleaningcontractors.com to request a free commercial cleaning quote today.

How to Choose a Commercial Cleaning Contractor: 10 Questions to Ask Before You Sign