Keeping your commercial property clean isn’t just about appearances—it directly affects customer perception, health and safety, regulatory compliance, and even property value. Whether you manage an office building, a residential high rise, a retail space, or an industrial facility, outsourcing commercial cleaning services is one of the smartest moves a property owner can make.
But how do you know if your commercial cleaning service is delivering real value? In this post, we’ll explore the key benefits of outsourcing exterior property cleaning and the KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) every business owner should track to measure effectiveness.
What are the Benefits of Outsourcing Commercial Cleaning Services?
Many business owners and facility managers choose to partner with professional cleaning services instead of handling property cleaning in-house. For both interior and exterior cleaning, outsourcing to a commercial cleaning company offers numerous operational and financial advantages.
Consistent, High-quality Results
Experienced professionals who are trained in commercial cleaning methods typically have standardized processes that are efficient and highly effective. This is especially important when cleaning large and/or tall buildings—you’ll want the cleaning crew to be as efficient as possible to minimize downtime, but also to prioritize safety. An added bonus is that professionals who have cleaned many different types of facilities are more likely to identify potential problem areas that need further maintenance or repair. This helps owners avoid more costly repairs down the road as well as reduce liability due to safety risks.
Better Equipment and Techniques
Professional cleaners use commercial-grade equipment that may require specialized training and is more expensive than what a business owner may want to invest in for periodic cleaning. For example, Window Hero leverages high-tech drones that can clean up to 15 stories and reach hard-to-access areas. Our drone pilots undergo extensive training to operate these devices safely and effectively and are required to obtain their Remote Pilot Certificate from the FAA. Commercial cleaners may also have access to eco-friendly cleaning methods and specialized solutions that are unavailable to those outside of the cleaning industry.
Flexibility and Scalability
Many professional cleaning companies are accustomed to working outside of “normal” business hours. If it’s important for you to schedule cleaning during the evenings or on weekends, a commercial cleaner will be able to easily accommodate this request. Cleaning companies can also adjust their service levels based on changing business needs, such as providing additional services during peak seasons, or providing different services at different frequencies throughout the year. This flexibility provides a distinct advantage over having to pay an employee for working off-hours or hiring extra staff when needed.
Compliance and Risk Reduction
Commercial cleaning providers stay current on OSHA, CDC, and other regulatory requirements. Their teams are trained to operate equipment safely, including the use of ladders, scaffolding, high-pressure washers, and cleaning agents. By outsourcing property cleaning, business owners avoid the risk inherent in these activities. It is imperative, however, to hire a cleaning company that is fully insured, bonded and licensed.
Additional Benefits
Outsourcing property cleaning enables you and your team to focus on your business—not the business of cleaning. It’s also been shown that a cleaner, healthier environment leads to fewer sick days and higher employee satisfaction. Naturally, customers also appreciate a spotless, professional space, and many will judge a business based on its curb appeal.
Although it may seem counterintuitive, outsourcing to a commercial cleaning service ultimately helps businesses save money by:
- Reducing expenses related to hiring, training, and managing in-house cleaning staff
- Eliminating overhead for specialized equipment and supplies
- Minimizing downtime and disruption during cleaning times
- Identifying areas in need of repair before incurring significant damage
- Lessening liability related to the health and safety of customers and employees
- Avoiding unnecessary fines and complications due to noncompliance
Top Commercial Cleaning KPIs to Track
Tracking KPIs related to the efficacy of your commercial cleaning contractor helps you make informed decisions, hold vendors accountable, and maintain a clean, safe environment for employees and customers. It’s important to have insight into a few key areas including service quality, customer and employee satisfaction. cost, safety, and compliance. As such, here are the most impactful KPIs for business owners to monitor related to their commercial cleaning service.
Cleaning Quality & Consistency
- First-time cleaning accuracy
- Missed task frequency / recurring service gaps
- Time to complete services
- Frequency of missed or delayed cleanings
- Inspection scores from third-party audits
- SLA (Service Level Agreement) compliance rate
Customer and Employee Satisfaction
- Number of complaints or service calls
- Response time to resolve complaints
- Employee and/or customer satisfaction survey scores
- Number of / sentiment of customer reviews related to cleanliness
Cost & Budget Control
- Cost per square foot cleaned
- Budget adherence over time
- Downtime / revenue loss due to cleaning service time
- Downtime / revenue loss due to missed/delayed cleaning or damage
- Number of maintenance issues identified early
Safety and Compliance
- Compliance with business sanitation standards
- Regulatory compliance scores (OSHA, CDC, local/state)
- Number of safety incidents / accidents
- Number of near-miss incidents / accidents avoided
Tips for Monitoring Commercial Cleaning KPIs
Outsourcing is most effective when it's managed strategically. Business owners and facility managers can help ensure high-quality outcomes by conducting regular inspections, holding vendors accountable via service-level agreements (SLAs), collecting feedback from tenants, employees, and customers, and monitoring compliance with regulatory requirements and safety standards.
Setting KPI Benchmarks
- Start with baseline data from your current cleaning routine.
- Set realistic, measurable goals (e.g., reduce complaints by 20%).
- Align KPIs with your business type (e.g., retail vs. office vs. industrial).
- Review and adjust benchmarks as your needs evolve.
While cost is usually a key consideration for business owners evaluating a commercial cleaning vendor, performance, safety, and long-term value are also important considerations. Tracking the right commercial cleaning KPIs helps business owners and facility managers ensure their investment in cleaning and maintenance services delivers real results over time.
Why Choose Window Hero for Commercial Cleaning
Outsourcing commercial cleaning can save time, money, and headaches—if you choose the right partner and keep performance transparent. By aligning with a trusted cleaning provider and monitoring KPIs regularly, you can maintain a clean, compliant, and customer-friendly space that supports your business goals.
At Window Hero, we deliver:
- Expertise You Can Trust: Every Window Hero team member completes 100+ hours of specialized, hands-on training.
- All-in-One Services: Pressure washing, gutter cleaning, window cleaning, and more, tailored to meet the needs of your business.
- Environmentally Friendly Options: Highly effective cleaning solutions that are safe for people, landscaping, and surfaces.
- Customer-First Approach: Transparent pricing, flexible scheduling, and satisfaction guaranteed.
- Local and Reliable Teams: Licensed, bonded and insured Window Hero teams that understand the local climate and can scale to accommodate many types of properties.
Looking for a commercial cleaning partner? Find your local Window Hero team and schedule a free onsite assessment.