Combating Janitorial Service Cost Inflation

Over the years, the rising cost of labor—particularly with the increase in minimum wage—has placed strain on janitorial budgets across the country. With raw labor comprising over 50% of a janitorial company’s budget, these companies often need to pass on increased labor costs to their clients to stay in business. While businesses may seek out cheaper alternatives, partnering with a reliable vendor and making strategic adjustments can help soften the impact of inflation.

If lowest cost is the priority over quality cleaning and great customer service, going out to bid for a new vendor might seem like an option. However, if you have a dependable janitorial vendor, working together to reduce costs is often a better solution. Here are several ways to collaborate with your janitorial team and keep inflation at bay:

Strategies to Combat Janitorial Inflation:

1. Open Communication: Talk openly with your janitorial vendor about your budget. Let them design a cleaning plan that fits both your financial needs and your quality expectations.
2. Assess Facility Usage: Identify areas in your facility that may not require daily cleaning. For example, meeting rooms or offices used by traveling associates might not need daily attention, potentially reducing labor costs.
3. Reevaluate the Task Schedule: Review your scope of work. Some tasks, such as high and low dusting, may be adjusted. Extending the cleaning schedule from every 4 weeks to every 6 weeks can create savings without a noticeable decline in cleanliness.
4. Employee Involvement: Partner with your team members by encouraging them to maintain their workstations. Provide cleaning wipes for dusting desks and sanitizing phones, reducing the workload for janitorial staff.
5. Centralize Trash Collection: Consolidate trash and recycling bins to one per 10 employees. This strategy can save 5% to 10% of your daily janitorial budget, particularly by reducing the number of trash liners needed. Additionally, centralized trash encourages employees to move around, promoting health and well-being.

Preparing for the Future

While implementing these cost-saving measures can ease the impact of rising wages, annual increases may still occur. Having proactive discussions with your vendor and revisiting your cleaning program regularly can help ensure that you’re minimizing costs without compromising quality.

For more ideas or a review of your existing cleaning program, contact JaniTek Cleaning Solutions at 1-855-JANI-TEK or sign up for a free consultation today.