Episode 127

Training That Pays

Locating and subscribing to training that pays you is challenging for the commercial cleaning industry. For the owners, the biggest challenge to training is the upfront cost. That cost is a threat to profits on 2 fronts:

1. Narrow Margins
2. High Turnover

Training Costs & Margins

When business owners ask me what they should be doing differently, the answer is almost always the same. Train your people! It’s that simple, and yet it’s the one thing most cleaning and janitorial company owners resist. Why? They’re afraid of the cost. But this perspective misses something crucial because it sees training as an expense instead of what it SHOULD be – A Profit Center.

The Investment of Training

Training is an investment that directly impacts your bottom line. Let me be clear about what training does. When your staff is properly trained, they know:

• The right order to do things
• When they’re using the right materials, supplies, and equipment

Well-trained cleaners understand their efforts have a direct effect on your clients’ operations. Your services are not just keeping facilities clean; you’re improving their business.

Better cleaning means healthier workplaces and reduced biohazards, which means fewer sick days among their employees. That directly increases their productivity and attendance rates. According to ISSA data, doing things the right way and reducing absentee rates increases production by about 2.6%. If that doesn’t sound like much, remember: that’s 2.6% of your client’s entire bottom line!

Training & Turnover

A focus on training reveals your company culture an a well-trained employees don’t want to leave. They take pride in their work. They perform at a higher level. Clients rarely, if ever, want to replace somebody who’s performing exceptionally.

A Real Example 

Years ago, I had a client who hired us when we first started. After the first year, the owner asked me an incredible question: “Nothing has changed on your end. Same vendors, same staff, same building, same everything. The only difference in your company. So what’s different?” I told him, “We train our staff to clean for health.” That year, his employees had unused sick time for the first time in a decade. His overtime costs dropped by over 56%. What he saved in overtime alone in a single year was more than what he was paying us to clean the facility. When I say look at cleaning as a profit center, that’s exactly what I mean.

Training & Client Relations

During the COVID pandemic, that same client called and asked how to protect his people. We increased service to five days a week during essential operations. The Results? Across the entire pandemic, none of his employees caught COVID. Realistically, we can’t take credit for all of that. But we can take credit for doing our part! That result is about more than cleaning protocols. That’s about training, consistency, and doing things the right way.

Well Trained & Job Satisfaction

Your better-trained employees result in happier employees. Happier employees take better care of your clients’ facilities. Your clients’ businesses run better. Their attendance is up. Their productivity is up. Their goodwill is up. The quality of what they’re producing improves. Everybody wins, including you! You’ve retained a client, built a stronger workforce and a more resilient organization.

Training & Commitments

I understand that you’re already stretched thin just getting the job done. The idea of adding training on top of everything else feels impossible. But here’s the truth: this one thing will actually take pressure off you. It will reduce your turnover. It will make your clients happier and more loyal. And the return on that small upfront investment will be substantial.

Ready to Transform Your Team?

Don’t let fear of cost hold you back from what could be the most profitable investment you make this year. Training modules designed specifically for cleaning company employees are available starting at just $23.99 per employee session. Visit our website to explore our training options and discover how investing in your people will pay dividends in retention, client satisfaction, and profitability. Contact me today. Your future self and your bottom line will thank you.

This Week’s Podcast transcript can be downloaded here for free.