~7min Read
The Challenge of Finding the Right Cleaning Vendor
If you’ve ever searched for “commercial cleaning company near me” and felt overwhelmed by the results, you’re not alone. For facility managers, building owners, and operations teams, finding a reliable, consistent, and responsive cleaning vendor is a critical task—and a difficult one.
The stakes are high: janitorial cleaning can help set the tone for the entire operation in a facility. It can impact everything from employee morale to production efficiencies. Yet many facility managers struggle to find a vendor who will treat their facility like a high priority rather than just another account, and find the cycle of constant performance dissatisfaction and regular vendor turnover continues
So, what’s the real challenge? Where do you start? As with many important decisions, it should start with having a productive mindset, stepping back and self evaluating.
- What has worked in the past and what can we look at differently that might lead to better results?
- How much do we know about the cleaning industry these days?
- What are their challenges?
- What does a dynamic cleaning company look like that prioritizes consistent high level performance and a long term relationship?
If a facility manager struggles with cleaning vendor turnover, perhaps opening up to a new philosophy is the answer.
Traditionally, most decision makers have made price nearly the only consideration. It’s understandable. Cleaning a facility 5 days or more each week can mean a hefty budgetary line item. It’s tempting to just take the lowest price from among multiple proposals. Yes, price is important. But other considerations should also be weighed equally.
It’s also about finding the right blend of company size and proximity, commitment to consistent service, and a partnership mindset that recognizes that your job performance and reputation is also at stake. Find a vendor big enough to meet your needs, but not so large you get lost in the shuffle where you are treated like just another fish in their pond Make sure that you are a high priority.
Why Vendor Size Matters
It might seem like the bigger the vendor, the better the service—but that’s not always the case.
National Vendors: Pros and Cons
Large, national commercial cleaning companies typically use multi layered management structures that can put real distance between you and their ultimate account point of responsibility. Sure, a district manager will be assigned to your account, but their primary responsibility is to support their sales operations and help to launch new accounts elsewhere and make their numbers. They will provide a very impressive proposal that touts their national footprint and mighty clout in the industry, but how connected will they be to their team assigned to your account?
In many cases, these vendors headquartered in another state are less focused on your needs leaving you to feel under prioritized. They also might not prioritize your account if it’s considered “mid-sized” compared to their other national contracts. This can result in delayed communication, inconsistent service, or a lack of urgency.
Subcontracting
Some national vendors will often subcontract services to another company when a client is just outside their typical target account profile. While this allows them to say “yes” to more clients and add to their top-line growth numbers, it can create disconnects in accountability and quality control.
Not all subcontracted teams are created equal. Some lack the training, professionalism, or oversight necessary to meet your facility’s standards. And if you didn’t know your cleaning was being subcontracted—well, that’s a red flag.
Local Doesn’t Always Mean Small
Let’s clear up a common misconception: local and small aren’t the same thing.
Just because a cleaning company is based in your city or area doesn’t necessarily mean they’re under-resourced or inexperienced. In fact, local commercial cleaning companies often bring the best of both worlds: the capacity to handle large facilities, and the responsiveness to solve problems quickly.
Let It Shine, for example, is based in Northern Colorado and serves Fort Collins, Greeley, Loveland, Windsor, and all areas north of Denver. We provide cleaning services for schools, warehouse and distribution facilities, office buildings, utilities, corporate headquarters, clean-tech manufacturing and out-patient medical —all without sacrificing the personal touch.
What Facility Managers Actually Want
If you’re a facility manager, you’ve likely seen the full range of service—from over-promising sales reps to under-trained night crews. What you really want is simple:
- Consistency and reliability
- Accountability and responsiveness
- Trust, confidence, and peace of mind
That’s why we recommend focusing your search on three core differentiators when evaluating vendors.
1. Locality: Responsiveness + Local Knowledge
When your janitorial vendor is based nearby, you get faster support and better communication. But the benefits go deeper.
Local cleaning companies better understand the local labor market and how to hire cleaning staff who will fit for your building. That local knowledge and insight leads to more connected and vested staffing, seamless turnover transitions, and stronger service consistency.
🧭 Tip: When searching “commercial cleaning company near me,” prioritize companies with a local office and full-time staff in your region—not just a local phone number.
2. Staffing: Who’s Really in Your Building?
One of the most important questions you can ask when hiring janitorial services for businesses is: Who will actually be doing the work?
The janitorial industry has long been known for hiring folks without many choices in the employment market leading to teams of under-motivated individuals and high turnover. At Let It Shine, we have developed a unique hiring profile and strategy where we hire our own employees—goal-oriented individuals who are motivated to earn extra income that supports their particular life journey.
They are highly responsible and wired to take pride in their work. They are understood and supported in their endeavors. They are appreciated and respected for contributions and service to our clients. They refuse to be victims in a crazy world and give-in to life’s pressures. And they are testament to our belief that you can find good people.
This gives facility managers peace of mind knowing the people in their building are responsible, serious, and motivated. Vendors who take janitorial services for businesses seriously ensure a connected team marked by consistency and accountability, unlike rotating or temp staffing solutions often used elsewhere.
For an external perspective, this article outlines key staffing considerations for selecting a commercial cleaner.
3. Investment: Is Your Vendor All In?
Here’s a hard truth: many vendors start strong, then gradually fall off in their performance.
The floors don’t shine quite as much. Trash cans get missed. Communication slows down. You begin to wonder—what changed?
That’s why it’s essential to choose a vendor who’s truly invested in your success. It should be personal where they have your back and don’t want to let you down. This means more than checking boxes. It means showing up consistently, communicating proactively, and looking for ways to improve service—not just maintain it.
Facility managers who prioritize long-term outcomes know that sticking with a vendor who’s willing to grow and adapt often delivers better results than starting over. Rethinking your vendor relationship can reveal new ways to strengthen accountability and drive better performance.
If you’re already working with a provider but questioning the fit, our guide to strengthening commercial cleaning vendor relationships outlines clear steps for resetting expectations and rebuilding trust.
Choosing the Right Commercial Cleaning Company Near Me: What to Look For
A Google search won’t tell you everything. It’s a great starting point—but in the commercial cleaning world, what you really need is trust, reliability, and long-term partnership where your success builds theirs too. That’s why choosing the right vendor takes more than comparing prices or skimming online reviews.
Here’s what we suggest facility managers prioritize when evaluating potential partners:
How will our business be important to the vendor?
The vendor should feel grateful to be chosen for the opportunity to serve you and your organization. Do they understand it is a privilege and honor to be part of your team? Look for a mindset and philosophy of partnership that includes an understanding that choosing them puts your reputation on the line in your organization. Make sure they know that your success leads to their success and not the other way around.
Ask About Turnover
High turnover on a cleaning crew is not unusual but can be one of the most common (and costly) red flags. It can often indicate a lack of connectivity or team support and lead to missed tasks and poor consistency, poor training and unwilling accountability, and a lack of familiarity with your facility. Ask the vendor how long their team members typically stay, and whether they have processes in place for seamless transitions, predictive onboarding and ongoing support.
Request References
Don’t just take their word for it. Ask to speak with current clients who have similar square footage and cleaning requirements. The best vendors will gladly provide references—and it’s often in those conversations where you learn the most about real-world performance and responsiveness.
Inquire About Site Visits
A commercial cleaning company that’s serious about earning your business will want to understand your space and particular needs first. Do they offer a walkthrough or site consultation before sending a proposal? This shows they’re committed to building a solution around your needs—not plugging you into a one-size-fits-all plan.
Review Their Staffing Model
Ask how they staff each facility. Are team members background-checked? Are they W-2 employees or subcontractors? Do they receive any training specific to your building type—like medical, industrial, or educational environments? These questions help you assess not just professionalism but safety and readiness too.
Evaluate Their Investment in You
Choosing the best cleaning vendor for facilities isn’t just about who’s available—it’s about who will be committed to your success. Look for vendors who show up on time, communicate proactively, and treat your building like it matters. If they care about your success, they’ll deliver consistent results from day one and not want to let you down. It should be personal, not just transactional.
If you’re unsure what to ask or how to evaluate proposals, schedule a consultation with Let It Shine and we’ll walk you through it—no pressure, just helpful advice tailored to your facility.
Let It Shine: The Vendor That Treats You Like a Priority
At Let It Shine, we don’t believe in “set it and forget it.” We build partnerships.
We’re big enough to service large facilities and small enough to stay agile and always available. We show up consistently. We communicate clearly. And we never treat your business like just another account.
Whether you manage a school, warehouse, corporate office, or industrial space, we’ll work with you to build a cleaning plan that reflects your needs and your standards.
Want to learn more about our janitorial services for businesses? Explore our services page or read about what to expect in our commercial cleaning proposals.
Final Thoughts: Your Next Cleaning Vendor Should Make Life Easier
The right commercial cleaning company near you should:
- Understand your industry and unique needs
- Hire people you can trust
- Respond quickly to issue or change
- Stay consistent month after month
If your current vendor is falling short, don’t settle.
Ready for a Cleaning Partner Who Actually Delivers?
Let It Shine provides professional commercial cleaning services for schools, warehouses, offices, and more across Northern Colorado: From Fort Collins, to Loveland, Greeley, and Windsor. Schedule your consultation today.
Schedule a free consultation today and receive a custom proposal tailored to your facility’s goals.