Industry Insight

The 30-Year Confession: Why Your School or Business Should Fire Its Cleaning Contractor

Andy Hare · March 2026 · 4 min read

I've spent over three decades working inside the commercial cleaning industry. I've managed the contracts, overseen the teams, and seen the invoices you pay every month. But here is the truth the industry doesn't want you to know: most organisations are overpaying for "professional" services that they could manage better, cheaper, and more reliably — in-house.

The Contractor Cycle

For 30 years, I watched the same pattern play out. It starts with a shiny sales pitch and hollow promises. Then, the staff turnover begins. You never know who is in your building, the quality of work dips as the contractor tries to squeeze profit margins, and you're left playing phone tag with a middleman just to get a bin emptied.

You aren't paying for cleaner floors. You're paying for the contractor's office rent, their sales team's commissions, and their healthy profit margin.

Imagine Taking Back Control

Imagine taking that monthly invoice and reinvesting it. By moving your cleaning in-house, you gain total control.

  • For Businesses: You eliminate the security risks of high-turnover third-party crews and ensure that your brand's standards are met every single clean. You don't need a massive corporate machine — you need a system that works for you, not for a contractor's shareholders.
  • For Schools: You get staff who are part of your community — people who actually care about the pupils' environment and safety.

Stop Being a Line Item

Stop being a line item on someone else's balance sheet. I'm pulling back the curtain on how to build your own internal cleaning team without the corporate headache.

Contact me today for a consultation on how to take back control of your facility.

Andy Hare, Director & Founder of OAS Services

Andy Hare

Director & Founder, OAS Services. 30+ years in commercial cleaning, specialist carpet care, and compliance consultancy across the East Midlands.