Turnkey cleaning is a fully managed arrangement: one contractor takes responsibility for the whole cleaning of your premises, from the people who do it to the products they use and the checks that it was done properly. You agree the standard and the contractor runs the rest. The question usually comes from office managers and small business owners who have been managing cleaners, supplies and rotas themselves and want to stop.
This post explains what the model means in practice and whether it suits a small site. For how we clean offices and business premises, see our page on office and commercial cleaning in Woking.
What the contractor takes on
The name comes from “turn the key”: you hand over the job and the service runs without day-to-day input from you. Under a turnkey contract, the contractor is usually responsible for:
- recruiting, training and supervising the cleaners
- providing cover when a cleaner is ill or on holiday
- buying and storing cleaning products and equipment
- consumables such as toilet rolls, hand soap and bin liners, if agreed
- setting and adjusting the cleaning schedule
- checking the work and putting problems right
- keeping the health and safety paperwork for the cleaning, such as risk assessments and product safety sheets
Turnkey or a standard contract
| Aspect | Standard cleaning contract | Turnkey contract |
|---|---|---|
| Who supplies products and equipment | Often the client | The contractor |
| Who arranges cover for absence | Varies; sometimes the client is left without a cleaner | The contractor |
| Who checks the quality | The client, by noticing problems | The contractor, with regular checks |
| How it is priced | Usually labour only | Labour, supplies and management in one price |
| How much of your time it takes | More | Less |
A standard contract can work well for a small office with simple needs and someone on site who keeps an eye on things. The more there is to manage, the more a fully managed service saves.
What to confirm in writing
“Fully managed” means different things to different contractors, so ask for the detail in the agreement:
- Supplies: which products and consumables are included, and what happens if you run out between visits.
- Cover: how quickly a replacement cleaner is found, and whether you are told in advance.
- Access: how keys, fobs and alarm codes are held, and whether cleaning happens before opening, after closing or during the day.
- Reviews: how often the contractor checks the work, and how you report a problem.
- Notice: how long the contract runs and how much notice either side must give to end it.
Is it right for a small business?
The advantages are mostly about time. You have one point of contact, one invoice and no supplies to order. Absence cover is someone else’s problem, and the standard does not depend on you spotting what was missed.
There are trade-offs. You have less direct say over who cleans and which products are used, and the cost of supplies and management is built into the price, so the headline figure looks higher than a labour-only quote. For a very small office cleaned once or twice a week, that may not be worth it. For premises with toilets, a kitchen, several floors or longer opening hours, it often is.
Questions to ask before signing
- What exactly is included, and what would cost extra?
- Who is my contact, and how do I reach them?
- How will you check the work, and how often?
- What happens if a cleaner does not turn up?
- How are keys and alarm codes stored?
- How much notice do I need to give to change or end the contract?
Our guide on how to evaluate a cleaning contractor goes through the wider checks. Between visits, our tips on keeping an office clean between professional cleans help the standard hold.
Thinking about handing over the cleaning of your premises? Call 01483 773531 or contact us with details of the building and its hours, and we can talk through what would suit it.