Office cleaning and closing the deal

There are many office cleaning companies and  cleaning companies out there so how can you distinguish yourself and then close the deal with a potential client?

Even if you manage to gain the client's commitment to signing an order, there may be a period of negotiation required to agree on the details.

Remember not to get carried away by the fact that you have potentially secured a new contract - you may still have to walk away if the deal doesn't suit your profit margins or your ability to deliver.

Negotiating on price
It is tempting to end up in a negotiation on the final cost of the deal, as it is almost certainly one of the elements that the client will try to negotiate on. However, it is rarely advantageous to give ground on price.

Provided you have set your price realistically, taking into account the cost of creating and delivering your product or service, lowering your price may:

result in a low profit margin that affects your ability to deliver to the required standard
create an expectancy that you will lower it further
suggest that it was too high in the first place
For more information, see our guide on how to price your product or service.

If the client insists on a price reduction, offer to give them a discount based on more cleaning services. You could also offer to agree on a particular price if you can alter some elements of the proposed package, eg lessen hours.

Take your time
Whatever happens in the negotiation, remain assertive but polite at all times. Don't be put off by comments designed to destabilise your position, eg 'that's far too expensive'. Outline the benefits and why it is worth the cost.

Consider all sensible offers but don't agree to a condition too quickly - this can make the buyer think you are desperate and that there could be more room for manoeuvre.

See what out clients have to say about us in out office cleaning testimonial page

How to do office cleaning well

Office cleaning companies and all cleaning companies have to perform well otherwise they will end up losing clients to someone who is prepared to do it correctly.

One thing to keep in mind is the proper cleaning procedures for varied pieces of equipment and furniture found in many offices.

For instance, computers and other electronics are practically guaranteed to be a part of any office. Since these items are most used, they tend to be the dirtiest. This is why it is important they are thoroughly cleaned. Computer screens can be wiped with soft microfiber cloths while the keyboard should be blown with compressed air and swabbed with alcohol to kill germs. Other electronic devices such as fax machines, hard drives and telephones can be cleaned and disinfected in the same way.

Furniture should also undergo deep cleaning and disinfection on a regular basis, typically about once a month. The tops of desks, shelves and other surfaces need to be wiped down with an all-purpose cleaner. All materials usually sitting on these surfaces need to be thoroughly dusted before they are replaced on the newly cleaned surfaces. Chairs need to be wiped down according their upholstery whether leather, vinyl or fabric.

There are other things to keep in mind with office cleaning such as shortcuts to keep dust from building and keeping wipes and paper towels handy for unexpected spills. In the interim of deep and thorough office cleaning, you should also perform smaller cleaning tasks such as disinfecting phone mouthpieces and other havens for germs. Keeping an office clean involves more than vacuuming and taking out the trash when you want to do an exemplary job.

ICS Cleaning prides itself on offering a fantastic eco friendly office cleaning service that is greener & cleaner than our competitors without costing more.e

How do we achieve this?

Here at ICS cleaning we don't like waste, waste leads to lost time, lost energy and inefficiency and unnecessary costs. By continually improving all aspects of our cleaning services we can offer a more efficient service whilst cutting back on waste which means we can deliver a better service which is also greener and cheaper.

The following are ICS initiatives which reduce waste and improve our service leading to a more eco friendly office cleaning service.

Microfibre cleaning systems – By introducing microfibre cleaning systems into the commercial cleaning regime, the use of chemical cleaning fluids can be reduced by 70-80%. Cleaning fluids and sanitisers should still be used in hygienic areas to kill germs, however, general use areas such as offices can be cleaned effectively with a microfibre system.

Alternative fuel / hybrid electric vehicles – ICS uses LPG dual fuel vans. LPG gives a 10-15% carbon dioxide reduction in comparison to petrol and is on a par with diesel. LPG also delivers 80% lower nitrous oxide emissions than diesel, along with zero particulate emissions. Hybrid vehicles are powered by a combination of petrol or diesel and electricity. This cuts down on the amount of fuel needed, meaning drivers will produce fewer emissions.

Reducing deliveries – ICS encourages less frequent deliveries of cleaning materials and consumables to customers’ sites. Fewer deliveries means a reduction in the fuel used and the emissions produced. However, adequate storage space is required at the site. Customers may need to provide alternative storage as traditional cleaners’ cupboards are often inadequate.

Eco-friendly carpet cleaning – ICS uses the dry carpet cleaning system which is Green Seal® certified. The green seal demonstrates that the product promotes a cleaner, healthier environment, causing less pollution, reducing waste and conserving resources. This system uses a natural product moistened with water, detergent and a small amount of safe-to-use-solvent. When compared with high flow wet extraction systems, the reduction in chemicals and water used is 97%.

Eco-friendly window cleaning – ICS uses the reach & wash system of window cleaning using the ionic cleaning action of pure sterile water. Cleaning is carried out without the use of any chemicals or detergents.

Recycling – ICS use and supply 100% recycled toilet rolls and hand towels. We also recycle printer cartridges, mobile phones and general waste. We encourage all customers to recycle and provide a mixed recyclables collection service through our Waste Management.

Save paper – Stopping its use is the best way to save paper, encouraging employees and customers to think before printing emails is an easy way to reduce paper use. Paper that is used on one side should be re-used for making notes and for fax machines. Repackaging and recycling our containers means we reduce our waste.

Eco friendly office cleaning services from ICS Cleaning

ICS Cleaning prides itself on offering a fantastic eco friendly office cleaning service that is greener & cleaner than our competitors without costing more.

How do we achieve this?

Here at ICS cleaning we dont like waste, waste leads to lost time, lost energy & inefficiency. By continually improving all aspects of our cleaning services we can offer a more efficient service whilst cutting back on waste which means we can deliver a better service which is also greener and cheaper.

The following are ICS initiatives which reduce waste and improve our service leading to a more eco friendly office cleaning service.

Microfibre cleaning systems – By introducing microfibre cleaning systems into the commercial cleaning regime, the use of chemical cleaning fluids can be reduced by 70-80%. Cleaning fluids and sanitisers should still be used in hygienic areas to kill germs, however, general use areas such as offices can be cleaned effectively with a microfibre system.

Alternative fuel / hybrid electric vehicles – ICS uses LPG dual fuel vans. LPG gives a 10-15% carbon dioxide reduction in comparison to petrol and is on a par with diesel. LPG also delivers 80% lower nitrous oxide emissions than diesel, along with zero particulate emissions. Hybrid vehicles are powered by a combination of petrol or diesel and electricity. This cuts down on the amount of fuel needed, meaning drivers will produce fewer emissions.

Reducing deliveries – ICS encourages less frequent deliveries of cleaning materials and consumables to customers’ sites. Fewer deliveries means a reduction in the fuel used and the emissions produced. However, adequate storage space is required at the site. Customers may need to provide alternative storage as traditional cleaners’ cupboards are often inadequate.

Eco-friendly carpet cleaning – ICS uses the dry carpet cleaning system which is Green Seal® certified. The green seal demonstrates that the product promotes a cleaner, healthier environment, causing less pollution, reducing waste and conserving resources. This system uses a natural product moistened with water, detergent and a small amount of safe-to-use-solvent. When compared with high flow wet extraction systems, the reduction in chemicals and water used is 97%.

Eco-friendly window cleaning – ICS uses the reach & wash system of window cleaning using the ionic cleaning action of pure sterile water. Cleaning is carried out without the use of any chemicals or detergents.

Recycling – ICS use and supply 100% recycled toilet rolls and hand towels. We also recycle printer cartridges, mobile phones and general waste. We encourage all customers to recycle and provide a mixed recyclables collection service through our Waste Management.

Save paper – Stopping its use is the best way to save paper, encouraging employees and customers to think before printing emails is an easy way to reduce paper use. Paper that is used on one side should be re-used for making notes and for fax machines. Repackaging and recycling our containers means we reduce our waste.