Get Quotes from Top Cleaning Services in Columbus, OH

Are You Licensed to Practice as a Cleaning Service in Columbus?

Cleaning contractors do not have to obtain any state or city-specific business license before offering cleaning services to Columbus residents. However, all cleaning contractors running a cleaning business are required to fulfill certain state-level business registrations before operating their business in the city. The type of business registration process to follow is determined by the type of business the cleaning contractor wishes to run.

Generally, all business entities like corporations and limited liability corporations who plan to transact business in Columbus must register with the Ohio Secretary of State. For sole proprietorships and general partnerships, they need to register a trading name or report using a fictitious name if carrying on business in a name that is not their own. Registration of any business type can be completed online or by contacting (877) SOS-FILE or by completing and submitting all relevant application forms via mail to:

The cleaning contractor must obtain an Employer Identification Number through the Internal Revenue Services and register their business with the Ohio Department of Taxation. In addition, the cleaning contractor must register their business with the Income Tax Division of the Columbus Office of the City Auditor. For questions regarding state-level taxes, you can contact the Ohio Department of Taxation at (800) 282-1780. You can also contact the city's Income Tax Division at (614) 645-8328 for more information on city taxes.

Note that when a cleaning contractor hires an employee, the contractor must report to the Ohio New Hire Reporting Center. You can contact the Ohio New Hire Reporting Center for more information at (888) 872-1490. Also, the cleaning contractor as an employer may be required to establish an unemployment compensation tax account with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. For more information on the unemployment compensation tax, you can contact the state's Department of Job and Family Service at (614) 466-4605.

How Much Do You Charge Compared to Other Cleaning Services in Columbus?

How much cleaning contractors charge for their services in Columbus is influenced by factors like the scope of the cleaning job, the size of the area that needs cleaning, the type of cleaning product and supplies needed, and the experience of the cleaning contractor. Typically, city cleaning contractors utilize hourly, square footage, or fixed rates when charging for their cleaning services. Nonetheless, it is a good idea to get estimates from at least three cleaning contractors when looking for a cleaning company to carry out your intended cleaning services.

Comparing these estimates helps you get a fair estimate that is most suitable for your budget. It also enables you to filter out any cleaning contractor trying to defraud you by overcharging above the average cost in your area.

Cleaning contractors in Columbus earn an average wage of $31,120 annually. A comparison of the average hourly wages of workers in Columbus's building and grounds cleaning and maintenance industry against workers in the rest of Ohio and five other major cities in the country is provided below:

What Type of Cleaning Cleaning Services Do You Offer?

When hiring a cleaning contractor for any intended cleaning services, it is essential that you verify if they offer that type of service. Columbus cleaning contractors provide several services to residents, including regular cleaning, one-time cleaning, green cleaning, deep cleaning, move-in/move-out cleaning, apartment cleaning, live-in maid services, and office cleaning. In addition, some cleaning companies also offer specialized cleaning services and disinfecting services for contaminated spaces, medical facilities, and industrial facilities.

Before signing the work contract, confirm that the cleaning contractor can handle the cleaning job. To do this, you can request references from past clients to inquire about their work quality. Also, you must confirm if they have all the necessary cleaning supplies and equipment to carry out the job effectively. Lastly, determine how much your cleaning contractor intends to charge you for their cleaning services. Cost estimates for some cleaning services typically requested by home and property owners in Columbus are listed below:

Do You Comply with Columbus's COVID-19 Regulations?

According to data published by Columbus Public Health, over 233,000 doses of COVID-19 have been administered to Columbus residents. However, as of February 2022, there have been over 150,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the city, with more than 1,600 deaths recorded. When hiring a cleaning contractor, you must ensure they are well-versed with the relevant COVID-19 Resources for Businesses provided by the Franklin County Public Health. For instance, your cleaning contractor should know about working with appropriate personal protective equipment like masking and maintaining physical distancing policies.

Hiring a cleaning contractor who adheres to these guidelines and requirements when carrying out a cleaning service in your home or facility reduces the chances of your health being compromised. This is because this guideline aims to curtail the spread and protect the health of confirmed cases of the virus. As such, you should never hire a cleaning company that is not conversant with the guidance or downplays the relevance of the guidelines regarding the cleaning and disinfecting of your home or facility.

If you require more information about the COVID-19 guidelines and requirements, you can contact Franklin County Public Health at (614) 525-3160. You can also contact the city's Public Health at (614) 645-7417 for your COVID-19-related queries.

Do You Provide Commercial Cleaning Services for Non-Residential Locations in Columbus?

Columbus does not issue specific occupational or business licenses to commercial cleaning companies operating in the city. This city also does not require residential cleaning companies to obtain specific licenses to operate. However, the kind of cleaning services offered by these cleaning companies differ. A commercial company carries out cleaning and disinfection services in commercial, industrial, and medical facilities, such as offices, schools, hospitals, factories, and apartment complexes. Meanwhile, residential cleaning companies focus more on home and residential dwellings.

Nonetheless, commercial cleaning companies with a solid waste facility and engage in the handling and disposal of solid and hazardous waste are required to obtain a solid waste license from Columbus Public Health through its Solid Waste Licensing & Inspection Program. You can inquire about the program and the license requirement and procedures by visiting the city's Public Health at:

Do You Engage Unionized Cleaners for Non-Residential Buildings in Columbus?

There are different union cleaning services representing cleaning contractors in Columbus, just like the SEIU Local 1 - Ohio and SEIU District 1199WV/OK/OH, representing more than 50,000 workers' interest, including cleaners in the city. These unions protect members' rights, improve their work-life, and provide access to different training certifications. This is why many home and property owners prefer hiring union cleaning services because of their up-to-date certification, better working conditions, fairer wages, and low turnover of cleaners.

Notwithstanding the perks of hiring a union cleaning service, you should do your due diligence to ensure that your intended union cleaning service is not controversial. This is because some union cleaning services may cause strikes, picketing, and bring unwanted media attention to your facility. You can use the information found on the relevant union's website you are hiring from to confirm if there is an ongoing struggle or action.

Do You Offer COVID-19 Disinfecting Services in Columbus?

When there has been a confirmed case of COVID-19 infection in your home, it is very important that steps are taken to clean and disinfect your home, especially likely areas where the individual has touched, to reduce the spread of the virus further. Note that not all cleaning companies offer this type of specialized cleaning and disinfecting service. This is why you must inform the cleaning company of the required cleaning services. You must also confirm the cleaning company has all the necessary cleaning and disinfection cleaning supplies.

In addition to this, you must make sure that all cleaning and disinfection will be carried out in accordance with all relevant COVID-19 resources and CDC cleaning and disinfection recommendations, which include:

• Using only EPA-approved List N Disinfectants for the disinfection.
• Use of personal protective equipment like wearing disposable gloves, face masks, and other appropriate equipment during the cleaning and disinfecting.
• Proper disposal of all protective equipment used. Also, cleaning supplies used for the cleaning must be properly cleaned, disinfected, or sterilized before they are stored.
• Cleaning and disinfecting surfaces with the appropriate cleaning agent and disinfectant
• Adherence to the instructions on cleaning and disinfecting products' labels to avoid compromising the health of the household occupants.
• Improve and sustain proper ventilation within areas to be cleaned and disinfected. This is because most cleaning agents have a pungent smell that can cause respiratory issues like asthma.
• Paying attention to high-touch surfaces like tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, and faucets.

What Cleaning Supplies Do You Use?

To end up with a satisfactory cleaning job, the cleaning company must utilize the right cleaning supplies. This is why you must confirm the type of cleaning product the cleaning company intends to use. Otherwise, you may end up with a shoddy cleaning job. The type of surface to be cleaned usually determines the type of cleaning agent the cleaning company will use to carry out the cleaning services. Some of the common cleaning agents generally used are degreasers, detergents, acids, and abrasives:

• Degreasers: Degreasers are commonly used to remove grease, oils, and organic stains, and you will usually find degreasers in commercial or industrial kitchens
• Detergents: this is the most common cleaning agent cleaning contractors use in residential and commercial buildings. This cleaning agent can come in the form of a gel, powder, cake, crystal, or liquid form.
• Acids: Acids are highly corrosive chemicals that remove rust, mineral deposits, and hard water stains from surfaces. Due to their corrosive nature, acids must be appropriately diluted and handled properly to avoid injuries.
• Abrasives: Abrasives usually come in powder or liquid form, and it is used as a scour to remove dirt and stains from hard surfaces. This cleaning agent is not suitable for surfaces that can be easily scratched.

Certain cleaning services require cleaning products like sanitizers and disinfectants to eliminate germs, fungi, and other microorganisms. Also, if the cleaning services involve a contaminated area, disinfectants will be needed to get further rid of the virus. Before your cleaning contractor commences work, make sure you request a copy of the cleaning product they intend to use and verify if they are EPA-registered and suitable for the job. Also, it helps you eliminate any product that may contain allergens that may trigger allergy episodes in any of the occupants of your home or facility.

Do You Carry the Necessary Insurance Policy for Cleaners in Columbus?

Hiring an insured cleaning contractor protects you from any financial or legal cost accompanying liabilities incurred due to unexpected work-related injuries. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, 4,764 work-related fatalities and 2.7 million work-related injuries were reported across the United States in 2020. Considering how cleaners can easily sustain injuries due to slipping, tripping, or falling while working, you should make sure your intended cleaning contractor is insured with a general liability insurance policy. This not only protects you from incurring any financial cost, but it also covers the cost of repairing any of your property damaged by the cleaning company.

As such, when hiring a cleaning contractor, request a copy of their insurance certificate and ensure you validate the authenticity of the insurance certificate with the issuing insurance provider. In addition, you should make sure that your intended cleaning company also carries janitorial bonds. Note that Ohio mandates every employer, including cleaning contractors in Columbus, with at least one employee to maintain workers' compensation insurance for their employees. This helps pay out the benefit of the employees when they are injured while working on a job. You can direct your inquiries concerning workers' compensation insurance requirements to the Ohio Bureau of Worker's Compensation at (800) 644-6292.