When starting your janitorial cleaning business, one of the things you need to know is how to write a contract. Your clients will be more comfortable working with you if you provide them with a well-detailed working contract.
If you’ve never drafted a cleaning service contract before, here is your guide to five things you must include.
Basic Information
The basic information to include in your cleaning contract includes the business’s legal name, address, and contact information. This information is crucial for your client to identify with your company and know what they’re dealing with.
The contract should also include the client’s basic information, such as their name, address, and contact information.
Scope of Work
The scope of work is a detailed description of the janitorial services to be provided. This section should spell out exactly what services will be performed, how often they will be performed, and where they will be performed.
If you’re not specific on your scope of work, you might get your clients to think you’ll be handling what you don’t do. They might assume the contract also covers cleaning gutters and windows when it only covers interior cleaning.
The Supply List
Do you need your client to be responsible for providing certain cleaning supplies? If so, this is where you’ll want to list them. For example, if you’re a carpet cleaner, do you need your client to have vacuumed the carpets before you arrive?
If there are any special circumstances or requests, be sure to include those in this section. This will notify the client to restock all the supplies to have everything ready when you come to do the cleaning.
Contract Renewal and Termination
This is another crucial part you should never leave out when writing your janitorial service contract. The part is crucial because it will determine how long you’re going to work together and the circumstances that may lead to the termination of the contract.
You should, therefore, be very clear on when the contract will be renewed and the terms of its termination.
For instance, you can state that the contract will be automatically renewed every six months unless either party gives written notice of their intention to terminate it at least 30 days before the expiration date.
As for the termination clause, you can include a cause list that would lead to the contract’s immediate termination. Some of the common causes include:
- If either party fails to perform their obligations under the contract
- If either party is convicted of a felony or crime involving moral turpitude
- If bankruptcy proceedings are filed by or against either party
Payment Details
You’ll need to be paid for the services rendered. For this to happen, you need to provide the payment details in the contract. This includes specifying the accepted payment methods, how often you’ll be paid, and the late payment policy.
Having this information readily available will make it easier for both parties to adhere to the agreed-upon terms.
All details surrounding payment must be ironed out before any work is done. You don’t want to have disputes with your client when payday arrives.
