When a business outgrows having staff tidy up after themselves, there are two choices: hire a janitor as an employee, or contract with a company that provides janitorial services in Charlotte. Both can work. The right answer depends on the size of your facility, how your hours run, and how much management time you can spare. Here is how the two options compare.
The Real Cost of an In-House Janitor
The hourly wage is the number most people compare, but it is only part of what an employee costs. A fair comparison includes everything below.
- Payroll taxes and workers' compensation insurance
- Benefits and paid time off
- Recruiting, screening, and training, repeated whenever someone leaves
- Cleaning chemicals, paper products, and other supplies
- Equipment such as vacuums and floor machines, plus repairs and replacement
- A supervisor's time to schedule, inspect, and handle problems
Add these up before comparing against a contractor's monthly price, which normally includes labor, supervision, insurance, equipment, and usually chemicals.
Coverage When Someone Is Out
A single janitor gets sick, takes vacation, and may eventually resign. When that happens, the building does not get cleaned unless someone else steps in. A janitorial company is responsible for sending a replacement, so the schedule holds. For many businesses this is the deciding factor.
Training, Equipment, and Specialized Work
Routine cleaning is one skill. Stripping and waxing floors, extracting carpet, and disinfecting correctly are others, and each needs its own equipment and training. A contractor spreads that cost across many clients. An in-house employee either needs the training and machines, or you hire a contractor for those jobs anyway.
Liability and Insurance
With an employee, workplace injuries and any damage they cause fall under your own insurance. With a contractor, their general liability and workers' compensation policies should respond first. Ask for a certificate of insurance before work starts, and confirm that the company is bonded if its crew will be in your building after hours.
Control and Familiarity
This is where in-house staff have the advantage. An employee is on site, knows the building and the people, and can respond right away when something spills. If that matters to you, ask a contractor two questions: will the same crew be assigned to your building every visit, and can daytime coverage be added if you need it?
When In-House Makes Sense
- Large facilities that need someone present through the whole workday
- Sites where cleaning is combined with maintenance or groundskeeping duties
- Organizations that already have a facilities manager to supervise the work
When Outsourcing Makes Sense
- Small and mid-sized offices where cleaning takes a few hours a day or less
- Businesses that want cleaning done after hours
- Companies without a facilities manager
- Multi-location businesses that want one standard across every site
- Facilities with specialized needs, such as medical offices
How to Compare the Two Fairly
- Write down the tasks you need and how often. Our office cleaning checklist is a starting point.
- Estimate the hours that work requires each week.
- Calculate the full annual cost of an employee, using the list above.
- Request quotes from contractors for the same task list.
- Compare the totals, then weigh coverage, liability, and management time.
Get a Janitorial Quote for Your Charlotte Facility
Blue Oak Solutions is licensed, insured, and bonded, and our crews are background-checked and trained. Request a free quote or call 980-307-4988 to see how an outsourced plan compares for your building.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to hire a janitor or outsource cleaning?
It depends on how many hours of cleaning you need. Compare the full cost of an employee, including payroll taxes, insurance, benefits, supplies, equipment, and supervision, against a contractor quote for the same task list, then weigh coverage, control, and the time it takes to manage the work.
What happens when the cleaner is sick or on vacation?
With an in-house janitor, you need to arrange coverage yourself. With a janitorial service, the company is responsible for sending a replacement so your schedule is not interrupted.
What should I ask a janitorial company before hiring?
Ask for a certificate of insurance, confirmation that the company is bonded, how crews are screened and trained, whether the same crew will be assigned to your building, and exactly which tasks are included in the price.