How to Choose a Commercial Cleaner in Canberra

To choose a commercial cleaner, start by asking two or three businesses to inspect your premises and quote against the same written task list, and then compare their insurance, staff checks, access arrangements and record keeping, rather than considering the price on its own.

The cheapest quote is not always the best value, because a commercial cleaner works inside your building, often after hours, with your keys and alarm codes. This guide covers ten practical questions to ask before you hire, and explains how to compare quotes fairly. If you'd like to see how we work, read about our commercial cleaning service in Canberra.

Spend ten minutes documenting what you actually need before you contact anyone, because it makes every quote easier to compare. Note the size of your premises, the number of washrooms and kitchens, your floor types, your busiest areas, and whether you prefer cleaning after hours or during the day.

Also consider how often you need a clean, because a busy office with many staff may need daily cleaning, while a small office with only a few people may only need a weekly visit, and a good cleaner will help you refine this list during the site visit.

1. Will you visit the site before you quote? A reliable price should follow a walk-through of your premises, rather than an estimate over the phone.
2. Can I see the task list in writing? It should show what is done at every visit and which tasks happen weekly, monthly or less frequently.
3. Can you send a certificate of currency? This document proves the cleaner's insurance is current, so request it before work starts.
4. What is your ABN? You can confirm a business is registered by searching its name or number on the government's ABN Lookup website.
5. Who will clean my site? Ask whether the same people will attend each time, and whether staff are police-checked.
6. How are your staff paid? Contract cleaners in Australia are covered by the Cleaning Services Award, and a very low quote can indicate that staff are not being paid correctly.
7. How do you manage keys and alarm codes? Ask where keys are stored, who can use them and what happens if a key goes missing.
8. How will I know each clean was completed? Checklists or reports after each visit make it easier to verify the work.
9. What happens if something is missed? You need a clear way to report a problem, and you should expect a prompt response.
10. What does the contract include? Check the price, notice period and how changes are agreed, preferably in writing.

When you hire a cleaning company, work health and safety becomes a shared responsibility between your business and theirs. Safe Work Australia explains that businesses sharing the same workplace must consult, cooperate and coordinate with each other to manage risks.

Its fact sheet on duties in a contractual chain also makes clear that safety duties cannot be contracted out to another party. In practice, this means you should inform your cleaner about any hazards on site, such as wet areas, stored chemicals or restricted rooms, and ask how they train their staff and handle cleaning products safely.

Commercial cleaning quotes can only be compared fairly when every business is pricing exactly the same work, so use this checklist when you lay them side by side:

• Same task list: every quote should cover the same tasks, so nothing is quietly left out.
• Same frequency: a daily clean and a weekly clean are very different jobs, so check the number of visits.
• Same GST basis: one quote may show $170 and another $187, but both can be the same price once GST is added.
• Visit times: after-hours and weekend cleaning usually cost more because of award penalty rates.
• Additional services: carpet cleaning, windows and consumables such as hand towel may or may not be included.
• Contract terms: review the notice period and how price changes are handled.

If your cleaner is registered for GST, the Australian Taxation Office's guide to tax invoices explains what every valid invoice must show, including the supplier's ABN.

Some warning signs are surprisingly easy to spot once you know what to look for, so be cautious if a cleaner will only quote over the phone, cannot provide a certificate of currency, has no written task list, or offers a price far below every other quote you receive.

It's also sensible to avoid relying on a handshake agreement. The government's business.gov.au guide to types of contracts explains that written contracts give both sides certainty, because they set out the work, the payment and what happens if there's a dispute.

Here is how we answer those questions for our own commercial clients in Canberra:

• Free site visit: we walk through your premises and agree a written task list with you before we quote.
• Clear pricing: a set price for the agreed work, starting from a minimum visit of $187 including GST ($170 + GST).
• Flexible timing: cleaning after hours or during the day, on a daily or weekly schedule.
• Secure access: every key is GPS-tracked, alarm codes are stored securely in our system and given only to the cleaner on your site, and we take responsibility for any misuse.
• Records: you receive a completed checklist for every clean.
• Insurance: we carry $20 million public liability insurance and can send a certificate of currency on request.
• Checked staff: every one of our cleaners holds a current police check.

If you manage an office, see how our office cleaning in Canberra operates, or read our guide to commercial cleaning prices to understand how quotes are calculated.

Aussie Duo is a family-owned Canberra business that has been cleaning homes and workplaces since 2013. To get a clear quote for your premises, request a free site visit or call us on 02 5501 3316, and we'll reply during business hours, Monday to Saturday, 7am to 7pm.