When running a business, repeat business is a godsend for the long-term success, stability, and profitability of your business. This applies to businesses of all shapes and sizes across all industries. It means you don’t have to rely so heavily on bringing new clients into the business to guarantee a healthy flow of revenue. And that is a reassuring thought for a business owner.
Having a committed base of repeat customers whose business you can rely on is a buffer for your business, and this is what contracts can give your cleaning contractor business. A cleaning contractor guide can be useful for moving casual cleaning clients onto contracts, which is good for you and good for your clients.
Why bother with cleaning service contracts for your cleaning business?
In business, contracts are a win-win for both the business owner and their clients because they:
- protect both your business and your clients’ businesses;
- prevent misunderstandings;
- stipulate the payment terms; and
- are legally binding.
Using contracts will also make it a little easier to keep your cleaning operation organised by providing clear expectations to clients regarding their payment obligations and the cleaning services you agreed to provide to them. And finally, contracts can help manage risk in your business – if a disgruntled client brings a lawsuit against your business, your contract can serve as evidence.
Recommended reading: How to Get Cleaning Contracts
How to write a cleaning service contract?
So, are you looking to move more customers of your cleaning services business onto a contract arrangement and remove the informal and potentially ad hoc nature of how you do business with your clients?
If so, then it’ll be worth your while getting acquainted with how to write cleaning service contracts. It isn’t overly difficult, provided you have a recommended structure to follow. By following the steps below you’ll be able to draft your own contract template for your cleaning business. Once that’s done, all that’s left is to have a lawyer or solicitor check that no essential details are missing.
Below are the key sections to include in your cleaning service contract template. This template can be used to draft both house cleaner contracts, and commercial cleaning contracts.
1. Basic title
At the top of the page title your contract template ‘Cleaning Services Contract: Service Level Agreement’. Also include the date that the contract was drafted and for how long it will remain valid. State who the contract applies to – ie, yourself (the contractor) and your client.
2. Termination terms
Clearly define the process required for terminating the contract by either party, noting any cooling off periods and stipulating how the contract can be terminated (written or verbal).
3. The service
Specify exactly which services are included in the contract, and which are not. This clearly details to your client what you will be doing for them; it also protects you if they ask you to do something not mentioned in the contract.
4. Supplies
The supplies section of your cleaning services contract itemises what materials you’ll need to do the job and what items the client will need to provide you with. For example, you don’t expect your client to provide you with the tools of your trade (i.e., cleaning equipment and cleaning supplies), but you do expect your client to permit you to use their electricity to power your equipment.
If a client wants you to use a specific cleaning product that isn’t typically part of your service, you are well within your rights to charge an upcharge for, or ask your client to supply they product they want used.
5. Rates
Simply put, this is where you clearly state the pricing guidelines for your commercial cleaning contract services. Wherever possible, itemise your pricing to make it easier to for your client.
6. Procedures
In the unlikely instance where you break or damage property belonging to the client while cleaning their premises, make sure your contract states that you will cover the cost of damages you’ve caused and how you will resolve such situations.
7. Compensation
The compensation section of your cleaning services contract is where you specify your payment terms to your client. Include details on how you wish to be paid. For example, do you want to be paid at the end of a defined period (weekly, monthly, or quarterly), or per job completed. Also clearly note here the consequences for not paying within the timeframe.
8. Sign off
In your cleaning service contract, insert a section where all parties can insert their signature and officially sign off on the contract. Most standard contracts require signatures from two to three stakeholders.
Finally, to ensure that the contract is appropriate for your business’s needs you may want to consider having the contract reviewed by a legal professional.
While you’re busy contracting new clients to your cleaning contractor business, let us help with your cleaning business insurance*. We’ll mop up and neatly present all the available cleaning insurance quotes for your cleaning business, making it easier than you could ever imagine to finalise business insurance for your cleaning business. Go online for insurance for cleaners or give us a call 1300 920 864 to see how we can help protect your business.
