RZJ Janitorial Services » Office Cleaning

Obtaining Federal Government Contracts for Cleaning Companies (Part One)

RZJ Janitorial Services — Mon, 10 May 2010 22:05:35 +0000

Did you know that the United States Government has contracts with small businesses worth over $1 trillion a year? They are the single largest “customer” for the janitorial industry. Add state and local government contracts to this and you have huge potential to add to your client base. Before you start the application process, you need to understand how getting a government contract works. As with most government decisions, winning a janitorial contract requires going through bureaucracy involving very specific procedures and requirements. Learn the steps in order to get a government contract. You may find that your business is not eligible for government contracts or that you don’t even want to try.

To obtain federal government contracts, you first need to register with the Central Contractor Registration (CCR), which is basically a database the government creates that collects, validates, stores, and disseminates data necessary to award contracts to businesses. To do this, you need what is called a DUNS number, which is a unique number assigned to your business to identify you. If you do not have one, you can get one at http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform. You will also need your Tax Identification Number (TIN), Taxpayer Name, Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) information, and statistical information about your business. To resister, go to https://www.bpn.gov/ccr/default.aspx where you can also get answers to specific questions. As you can see, this is already a tedious and meticulous process, but a necessary one.

The next thing to do depends on your specific company makeup. If your company has 51% or more ownership by someone who is “socially or economically disadvantaged” or woman-owned, you need to register as “disadvantaged” or Sec. 8(a) certified. Many government contracts are awarded specifically to those companies who meet these criteria. You can find more information at the Small Business Administration (www.sba.com) on how to register for this status.

Another thing you can do is apply for a government grant. This is not a very common occurrence in this industry, but is not unheard of. For example, if your company hires the mentally-challenged individuals or ex-convicts, there may be some help to be found. Here is a link to an article on our site about grants that you may find helpful.

You can also sign up for PRO-NET, which is basically a listing from which government contracting officers choose vendors to meet their needs. PRO-NET is a free service offered through the SBA website at http://pro-net.sba.gov/ . It is integrated with the CCR, therefore has access to the information you have already submitted when you registered. Believe it or not, they actually made this easy for you!

Another SBA-sponsored program is called The HUBzone Empowerment Contracting Program. The intent of this program is to provide federal contracting opportunities for businesses located in distressed areas. As long as you meet the specified criteria, this program maintains a list of preferred vendors from which Federal agencies choose their contractors. Again, the SBA website tells you how to obtain this status for qualified applicants. As you can see, the SBA is a valuable resource in your efforts to obtain government contracts.

Now that you have a feel for what is involved in just becoming ELIGIBLE for government contracts, our next article will move on to the specifics on how you actually bid them.

Copyright TheJanitorialStore.com. All Rights Reserved.
Steve and Jean Hanson helps owners of small cleaning companies build a more profitable and successful cleaning business through his online community at TheJanitorialStore.com. Read inspirational cleaning success stories at http://www.cleaning-success.com, and sign up for weekly cleaning tips at http://www.thejanitorialstore.com.

Great Book to help in Starting your Cleaning Business

RZJ Janitorial Services — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:17:19 +0000

I wanted to share one of the great books I studied to get my cleaning business started. Start Your Own Cleaning Service (Start Your Own ) was put out by Entrepreneur magazine. They are now on the 2nd addition of Start Your Own Cleaning Service (Start Your Own ). This is a great book that has some great tips to get started with minimum cash up front. Here are a few things the book covers:

Current statistics and trend forecasts that keep you ahead of the curve
The ins and outs of finding customers
New ideas for hiring and training employees
What equipment and supplies you’ll need (and where to find them)
How to use technology to make your business competitive
Up-to-date legal, tax and insurance requirements
How to avoid common pitfalls
Surefire tips for growing your business

The book only cost $11 bucks on Amazon. The information I got from the book is priceless.

Start Your Own Cleaning Service (Start Your Own )

How to Choose the Right Microfiber Cloth for the Job

RZJ Janitorial Services — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 20:48:38 +0000

If you use microfiber cleaning cloths, then you’ve probably discovered that there are different grades of cloth available for different tasks. Most manufacturers will carry at least 3 different types of microfiber cloths. So how do you know which one to choose?

Two things will help you to determine which type of cloth to use: 1) the type of surface you’ll be cleaning, and 2) the type of soil you’ll be cleaning.

Heavy-duty microfiber cloths are used for heavy-duty cleaning to remove deep soil and oils. These cloths are great for construction cleaning and locations like automotive shops.
Medium grade microfibers are used for dusting and medium-duty tasks like wiping countertops and sinks.
Microfiber cloths that have a suede-like texure are used for glass, mirrors and bright-work. These cloths are usually much thinner than the heavy-duty or medium grade cloths but are more tightly woven.

How do you know you’re buying quality microfiber cloths?

Size. You should be able to fold the cloth in half, and then in half again. It should still be big enough to fit your entire hand.
Polyester piping around the edge of the cloth. This helps the cloth to withstand many washings.
Look for 80% polyester and 20% polyamide.
Run the cloth across your hand. Does it seem to “catch”? This is caused by the dense fibers and indicates quality microfiber.
Do a test. Take a small dab of hand lotion and smear it on a mirror. Then wipe with your cloth to see how many passes it takes to remove the lotion. A good quality microfiber cloth will remove the lotion in only one or two passes.

These aren’t scientific ways to choose microfiber cloths or test for quality, but “seeing is believing”, and once you’ve used a quality microfiber cloth and use the right cloth for the job, you’ll immediately see the difference.

Copyright TheJanitorialStore.com. All Rights Reserved.
Steve Hanson helps owners of small cleaning companies build a more profitable and successful cleaning business through his online community at TheJanitorialStore.com. Read inspirational cleaning success stories at http://www.cleaning-success.com, and sign up for weekly cleaning tips at http://www.thejanitorialstore.com.

Do’s and Dont’s of Caring for Microfiber Cloths

RZJ Janitorial Services — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 14:48:37 +0000

David Holly, co-author of Green Cleaning for Dummies and founder of Green Cleaning University offered this advice on the topic of laundering microfiber cloths:

“You really have no worry about machine washing in hot water – the typical hot water temperature of a home or commercial machine is below the temperature that can harm the fibers of a well made micro fiber cloth.

The two products to avoid are bleach and fabric softener. Bleach WILL damage the fibers. Fabric softener eliminates “static cling” or electrostatic energy – this is a critical part of what makes a micro fiber work. However, if you accidentally use some fabric softener – don’t panic – just rewash the cloth(s) and you’ll be fine. There is no permanent damage from this.

When washing, use a VERY SMALL amount of detergent. Micro fibers release the soil when washed very easily. Overuse of detergent is at best wasteful and at worst will load the cloth with detergent that remains after drying. A good starting point is 1/2 the amount you would normally use for a comparable size load. As with many chemicals in our business – more is NOT better.

A single cycle is fine for cleaning the cloths. There is no additional benefit from washing for more than one cycle – just wasting water and energy. The nature of the fibers helps prevent mold, mildew or other “nasties” from growing. By the same token, drying is not necessary either. They will air dry very quickly and will not mildew as they dry. If you choose to machine dry – this is where temperature IS an issue. Use a LOW setting. Dryer temps are MUCH higher than wash temps.

Do NOT dry any other cloths, rags, towels or other clothing with your micro fibers if you choose to machine dry them. They will pull all of the lint off these other materials and become so loaded that they may be worthless in the future.”

How to Increase Cleaning Productivity by Developing Routines

RZJ Janitorial Services — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 03:56:54 +0000

Whether you’re providing cleaning services to residential homes or commercial facilities, the amount of profit you’ll make is directly related to how quickly and efficiently you or your employees can clean. The less productive you are, the lower the profits.

Since every location is different, you’ll want to establish a routine for yourself or your employees so the same path is followed each visit. Generally, you’ll work in circular patterns, either clockwise or counter-clockwise.

If possible, carry as much as you can with you so there’s no need to run back and forth to pick up and drop off equipment or supplies. You should be able to carry spray bottles of all-purpose cleaner and glass cleaner, as well as microfiber cloths. To keep things together, buy a portable caddy, which you can carry with you. If working in an office, use a brute (trash can on wheels), and attach an apron or caddy that can carry your supplies. This will enable you to collect trash, dust, clean the breakrooms and restrooms without having to go back to collect different cleaning supplies.

Avoid backtracking and moving about the home or office erratically. This wastes precious time, and increases the chance that one or more tasks will be missed. When each home or office is given a specific route, it’s much easier to get into a flow or rhythm each time it’s cleaned.

When deciding on a routine, think logically. In homes, you may start with the back bedrooms and move forward to the entryway, leaving kitchens and bathrooms for last. For offices, you’ll usually work your way around the office removing trash, dusting, and spot cleaning. Then you’ll clean break rooms, coffee centers and rest rooms, leaving the floors for last.

When routines are established early, you take the guesswork out of cleaning, which means a bigger bottom line for your cleaning business!

How to Use Ladders Safely in Your Cleaning Business

RZJ Janitorial Services — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 17:56:39 +0000

When you’re in the cleaning business, chances are your employees will need to use ladders for some of their cleaning tasks. Whether it’s to wash windows or to dust a hard-to-reach ledge, training your employees to use ladders safely is very important if you don’t want them to fall. The following are tips for using ladders safely:

Use a ladder that is the appropriate size for the task at hand.
Use ladders that are in good condition. Check rungs to make sure they are secure and check your shoes for grease and grime, and clean if necessary.
Never use a metal ladder when working with electrical fixtures.
Stepladders should be opened fully with spreaders locked in place. Never use a stepladder as a straight ladder.
Use both hands when climbing a ladder. Keep your weight centered between the rails and do not overreach on either side.
Carry tools and window washing equipment on a tool belt.
When working at heights exceeding 6 feet, have a second person hold and steady the ladder. Ladders should not be stored where they present a tripping hazard, nor where they can fall on people.
Ladder angle – one foot out for each four feet of ladder working length.
Always use a ladder or footstool on a flat, stable floor.
Never stand on chairs, desks, boxes, books or other objects to reach up high.
Never lean or reach to one side of the ladder. Instead, get down and move the ladder.
Use caution cones when working in areas where there are a lot of people.