Choosing the Right Type of FM Company For YOUR Needs

How to pick the best cleaning company for your needs. The one-size-fits-all company is a myth.

Let’s be honest. There are tons of facility management companies out there. And, for the most part, they all can provide the same things. Professional cleaning, maintenance, software, oversight, the list goes on and on.

And, choosing the right one for your building sites and company shouldn’t come down to you simply going with your gut. You need to choose the one that’s right for you.

And,  that means you need to take into consideration different factors. Obviously, the cost of services is one of them.

But you also want to look at their customer service history, the experience and qualifications of their employees, the overall quality of their products, and any additional services or features they offer that may set them apart from the competition.

You'll also want to examine what each FM company is good at. Every company has a specific reason for how their company is structured. And, when your job is to cut through the sales pitches and ultimately decipher what is best for your company, things can get a bit confusing. We're here to help.

3 Main Types of FM Companies

Before you choose, know what you're choosing from! Here are three specific types of facility management and what they are known for. Before you choose, read on to learn about a different type of facility management company.

1. Traditional Facility Management Companies: These companies offer a range of services including real estate services and facility oversight. They typically provide staffing and on-site management for functions including parking, security, and food service. They also partner with contractors experienced in specific services including landscaping and commercial cleaning. They are great for large buildings, requiring on-site, outsourced managers oversight of employees.  Examples: ABM, Sodexo, JLL, Cushman & Wakefield, CBRE, and ISS.

2. Standard Janitorial Companies: These companies are known for doing one thing, and for the most part, doing it well. They are great at cleaning.  But you need to find out which one can serve your individual needs best. There are more than 250,000 commercial cleaning and janitorial providers in the United States alone. Many of these cleaning businesses follow a "one-size-fits all" cleaning methodology and rely on a master franchise model (which focuses on building more franchises). So, they may not be the best solution if you require a variety of services and have multiple locations with different needs. Examples: JanPro, Jani-King, Pro-Serv, Vanguard, ServiceMaster.

3. Independent Contractor Companies: Also known as "mom and pop" shops, these companies are your local independently owned and operated businesses. Look for LLCs when choosing from this category, but know that you will lack getting a holistic view of your operation and will end up managing a patchwork of providers. In addition, you'll suffer from a lack of oversight. Examples: Those you will find on websites like Angie's List (now known as Angi), Thumbtack, and Taskrabbit.

Choosing YOUR FM Company Just Got Easier

So, when looking for the most suitable type of facility management company, it's important to assess your needs and understand all the factors behind each type. The right choice will be a strategic partner that offers not only top-notch service but also access to valuable resources, materials, and technology and people.  

With this knowledge in hand, you'll be on your way to finding a facility management partner that can help your business stay efficient, cost-effective, and safe. If only there were a company that took the best of these three models to give your company what it needed.

Spoiler alert: there is. OpenWorks takes the very best of these three models and creates a unique package that works for your buildings and your sites.

OpenWorks operates with a unique direct franchise model with oversight of all service providers by experienced operations personnel. You receive on point of contact for all building service needs, while each location receives specific attention from locally owned OpenWorks businesses.

Intrigued? You should be! We know that one size doesn't fit all, and we're here to help you find the best facilities management option for your company. Reach out today to get started!

To learn more about OpenWorks’ Facility Management services, get a no-obligation quote from one of our FM professionals today, or call us at (800) 777-6736.