“No contracts required!”
If you've ever been in the market for a commercial cleaner for your organisation, you've undoubtedly heard this pitch before. It might even have sounded quite tempting at first. After all, why tie yourself down to a cleaner who may turn out to be a costly problem?
Without a contract, you feel like you can call the shots and cut ties whenever you need to—and that commercial cleaner may seem like they're meeting you where you are, sacrificing the security of a contract on their part to earn your trust with time. But let me tell you something: that “freedom” is a mirage.
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My wife, Anne and I opened In-Tec Commercial Cleaning more than 30 years ago, and while a lot has changed, the promises we make to our clients have not.
We’re committed to respecting your time, delivering exceptional service, and maintaining a safe, compliant workplace. Contracts help us keep those promises by creating clarity and accountability, so both you and our team know what to expect and have a shared definition of what success looks like.
When you encounter a commercial cleaning company making you that offer of "freedom," you should see that as a flashing warning light that something is very wrong. When a cleaning company avoids formal agreements, they’re shielding themselves from accountability—and you’re left exposed to unreliable service, lack of consistency, and unnecessary headaches. (If your organisation operates in a highly regulated industry—food manufacturing, for instance—where compliance isn’t optional, the stakes are even higher.)
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That's why I want to have this conversation with you all today. My goal here is not to sell you on In-Tec as your next commercial cleaning partner. Rather, I want to give you the knowledge you need to make an informed decision about your next commercial cleaning partnership. Because even when a cleaner lets you “walk away at any time,” working with cleaners who operate this way can still lead to costly, unintended consequences for your organisation.
By the end of this article, you’ll understand why a lack of a contract is a red flag if you’re hearing it pitched as a positive. We’ll also explore how a contract safeguards your investment, outlines responsibilities, and ensures you’re getting the service you’re paying for—all while holding your cleaner accountable.
Why Do Some Commercial Cleaners Avoid Contracts?
When a commercial cleaning company tells you they don’t require contracts, it’s worth asking yourself, "Who is this really benefitting?" In many cases, the answer is simple: it’s benefitting the cleaning company, and that’s often by design. For some, avoiding contracts is a way to sidestep accountability or create a system where they can underperform without facing consequences. (More on that shortly.)
Of course, there may be cleaning companies that offer a no-contract option with good intentions. But even in those cases, when you don't have a contract in place, you are left unprotected, often without recourse if something goes wrong.
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Whether intentional or not, a lack of contracts rarely benefits you, the client. Here's why:
- Avoiding Accountability: Without a contract, there’s no clear definition of what you’re paying for. They can underperform or cut corners, and you're left with no way to hold them accountable. It’s much easier for them to walk away from their obligations when nothing is written down.
- Short-Term Thinking: Companies that avoid contracts often operate on a “churn and burn” model, signing up as many clients as possible without committing to long-term relationships. They’re not looking to build trust—they’re looking to close the next deal.
- Compliance Red Flags: A lack of contracts might also point to deeper issues. Are they using sham contractors instead of employees? Are they cutting corners on compliance with workplace laws? If they’re avoiding one form of accountability, you’ve got to wonder what else they’re hiding.
- Trust Without Accountability Isn’t Trust: Some companies might say, “We don’t need a contract because we want you to trust us.” But real trust isn’t about avoiding accountability. It’s about embracing it. A trustworthy cleaning company will have no problem putting their promises in writing because they know they can deliver.
In the moment, a verbal agreement or a handshake may feel like enough. Unfortunately, neither are backed by any enforcement mechanisms that safeguard your business against commercial cleaners who don't keep their word, make costly mistakes, and increase your liability.
So, when you’re evaluating a commercial cleaning company that avoids contracts, ask these questions:
- How will you guarantee the scope of work is delivered if there’s no formal agreement?
- What happens if I’m unhappy with the service? How will that be resolved?
- Can you prove compliance with workplace laws, including fair pay for your cleaners?
- Do you use employees or contractors, and how do you manage their work without a contract?
- How do you ensure consistency in service without the accountability of a contract?
How the Right Cleaning Contracts Protect You
One thing I’ve learned over the years running a commercial cleaning business is that good intentions don’t mean much without a plan to back them up. That’s why contracts are so important. A contract doesn’t mean there’s no trust—it shows there’s trust and accountability. It’s not about tying anyone down or making things complicated. It’s about setting the ground rules, so there’s no confusion, no shortcuts, and no excuses when it comes to the service you’re paying for.
Whether you’re in a highly regulated industry or just looking for consistency, a good cleaning contract protects you in ways you might not even realise. It’s your best tool for avoiding risks, getting the service you need, and building a partnership that works. Let me show you how.
1. No Hidden Fees or Surprises
Nobody likes nasty surprises—especially when it comes to their budget. With a contract, all the costs are clearly laid out. You’ll know exactly what services are included, what’s extra, and how pricing works before anyone gets started. That kind of transparency is essential for keeping things fair.
Without a contract, you’re left to guess. What happens when something outside the “normal” scope comes up? How do you know the prices won’t change on a whim? A clear contract means no hidden fees and no games with your money.
2. Consistency + Reliability
When your cleaner doesn’t show up or cuts corners, that's no small inconvenience. Your cleaner failing to hold up their end of the bargain creates bigger problems for your business. A contract holds your cleaning provider to their promises, because your schedule, quality, and processes are all written down and agreed upon from the start.
This kind of reliability is even more important if your business has specific compliance requirements. It’s one thing for a cleaner to say they’ll meet the standard. It’s another to have it written down and tracked. A contract makes that happen.
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3. Clarity in Every Detail
Ambiguity kills trust. That’s why every good cleaning contract should spell out exactly what’s being done, how often, and to what standard. It eliminates confusion by defining the scope of work, the responsibilities of both parties, and how communication will flow.
When these details are clear, everyone’s on the same page. There’s no “I thought you meant this” or “I didn’t realise that was included.” It’s all there in black and white, so your day-to-day run smoothly.
4. Protection from Risk
If your cleaning company isn’t meeting compliance standards, I don't have to tell you that you've got a big problem. A contract shields you from risks like non-compliance, inconsistent service, or safety lapses, by formalising everything from quality checks to incident handling.
For organisations in regulated industries, this is critical. Whether it’s food safety, ESG reporting, or workplace health, a good contract lays out exactly how your cleaner will keep you covered.
5. Accountability You Can Count On
Handshake agreements won't save you when something goes wrong. A contract gives you something to stand on—a documented agreement that holds your cleaning provider accountable. If the job’s not done right, you have a clear way to address it and a framework to resolve the issue.
It’s not about playing hardball. It’s about making sure you get what you’re paying for and everyone is working toward the same goal. Accountability protects your investment and keeps the partnership strong.
6. A Foundation for Long-Term Success
When you’re working with a commercial cleaner, you’re not just hiring a service—you’re building a relationship. A contract gives that relationship structure. It sets the terms for how you’ll work together and what you can expect as your needs evolve.
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Good partnerships are built on trust, respect, and a shared commitment to success. That all starts with clarity and accountability, which a contract provides. It’s not just a piece of paper—it’s the roadmap for a partnership that grows with your business.
What the COVID-19 Pandemic Taught Us About Building Better Contracts
With the right partner, a contract becomes can be a framework that adapts to your needs, even when the unexpected happens. At In-Tec, we’ve built our contracts to do exactly that: anticipate challenges and provide clear solutions. The COVID-19 pandemic gave us a real opportunity to put this into practice.
During the pandemic, we saw how much confusion and frustration businesses experienced with their cleaning contracts. Many of them were locked into agreements where they were still being charged, even though their offices were empty. It wasn’t fair, and it didn’t sit right with us. So, we worked with our legal team to add a pandemic clause to our contracts.
This clause made it clear: if your business shuts down or your premises become inaccessible, the contract ends cleanly—no ongoing charges, no uncomfortable conversations. Our goal was to give our clients a clear path forward in the middle of chaos, reinforcing trust during a time when everything felt uncertain.
Contracts Establish of Trust + Accountability
When it comes to the relationship you have with your commercial cleaning partner, verbal agreements and good intentions aren't enough. In my experience, without a solid contract in place, things start to fall through the cracks—expectations are missed, responsibilities are unclear, and when something goes wrong, there’s nothing to fall back on.
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At In-Tec, our contracts are built to do exactly that: protect you. They’re designed to eliminate any ambiguity about what we’re delivering and how we’re delivering it. Every part of the relationship is spelled out clearly—what needs to be done, when it’s being done, and what standards it’s being done to. In short, our contract is our way of saying, “We’ll do what we’ve promised—and here’s how we’ll stand behind it.”
So, what should you do next? Start by taking a good, hard look at your current cleaning agreement—or ask yourself why there isn’t one. Does it clearly outline what you’re getting, who’s responsible for what, and what happens if something goes wrong? If it doesn’t, you’re leaving too much to chance, and that’s a risk no business should take.
If you’re in the process of evaluating new cleaning providers, dig deeper than the sales pitch by asking the following questions:
- How will the contract address my specific compliance and liability needs?
- What happens if something doesn’t go as planned? Is there a clear process to fix it?
- Does the contract outline service standards in detail, or is it full of vague promises?
- How does the contract hold both parties accountable, not just me as the client?
We know what’s at stake for your organisation, whether it’s compliance, liability, or simply wanting to know the job is getting done right. Find a partner who respects your standards, values your trust, and is willing to back it up in writing. That’s the kind of relationship that makes a difference—and that’s what we’ve been delivering at In-Tec for more than 30 years.
If you're interested in learning more on how to choose the correct commercial cleaning partner for your organisation, you can download our guide, 10 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Commercial Cleaning Company. Or you can contact us at any time with your questions, or to start a conversation about how we may be of service to you.