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What janitorial services include
A janitorial contract covers the routine work that keeps a building usable: trash and recycling, restrooms cleaned and restocked, floors vacuumed and mopped, kitchens and break rooms wiped down, dusting and high-touch surfaces. Each task has a frequency (every visit, weekly, monthly), set after a walkthrough. Our scope of work checklist lists the usual tasks by area.
Janitorial vs commercial cleaning, custodial and maid service
| Term | What it usually means | Schedule | Typical buildings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Janitorial | Routine upkeep from a fixed task list | Recurring, often nightly | Offices, clinics, stores, warehouses |
| Commercial cleaning | Any cleaning of a business property, including one-time and specialty work | Recurring or one-time | Any non-residential building |
| Custodial | The same work as janitorial; the usual word in schools and public buildings | Recurring, often by in-house staff | Schools, universities, government buildings |
| Maid or house cleaning | Cleaning of homes | Weekly or one-time | Houses and apartments |
In practice, most companies on our lists call themselves both janitorial and commercial cleaning companies. The difference that matters to a buyer is whether the company works in commercial buildings and carries the insurance and bonding a commercial client should require.
What are specialty cleaning services?
Specialty cleaning is work that needs extra equipment, chemicals or training and is not part of the nightly routine. It is usually quoted separately.
| Service | When it is needed |
|---|---|
| Floor stripping and waxing | Vinyl tile finish is worn, yellowed or built up |
| Carpet extraction | A few times a year, more in busy areas |
| Disinfection | After illness in the building, or where rules require it |
| Post construction cleaning | After a build-out or renovation |
| Window and high cleaning | Glass, light fixtures, vents and ledges out of reach |
| Medical office cleaning | Clinics with OSHA bloodborne pathogen rules |
Who provides janitorial services
Three kinds of company do most of the work, and you will see all three on our city lists.
Local independent companies
Most of the industry. The Census Bureau counted 67,799 janitorial establishments in 2023, and 61% had fewer than 5 employees. Of the 853 companies on our city lists, 603 are local or regional companies outside the franchise brands we track.
Franchise systems
National brands with locally owned franchise locations. 250 of the companies on our lists belong to 13 brands, led by Enviro-Master (36), JAN-PRO (36), City Wide Facility Solutions (31), Jani-King (29). Some brands sell unit franchises to owner-operators who do the cleaning.
The third group is national facility services companies that sell janitorial work alongside maintenance and other building services, mainly to large property owners. The biggest are publicly traded: ABM Industries reported $8.75 billion in revenue and about 113,000 employees for its fiscal year ended October 31, 2025 (annual report).
Who actually cleans your building
The company that signs the contract is not always the one that cleans. Cleaners may be the company's own employees, subcontractors, or franchise owner-operators. Each model can work, but it changes who is insured, who is trained, and who you call when something is missed. Ask, and get the answer in the contract.
Janitorial work in numbers
The two counts differ because BLS counts janitors in every industry, including those employed directly by schools, hospitals and building owners, while the Census figure covers only janitorial services companies. Sources: BLS occupation 37-2011, Census County Business Patterns 2023.
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We list the most-reviewed janitorial and commercial cleaning companies in 65 cities, with Google ratings, phone numbers and local wage data. Pick your city.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between janitorial and cleaning?
Janitorial means routine, scheduled upkeep of a commercial building from a fixed task list. Cleaning, or commercial cleaning, is the broader term and also covers one-time and specialty work such as deep cleans, floor stripping, carpet extraction and post-construction cleanup.
What is the largest janitorial company?
No official ranking exists. For scale, ABM Industries, a publicly traded facility services company whose largest segment includes janitorial and maintenance, reported $8.75 billion in revenue and about 113,000 employees for fiscal 2025. Most janitorial firms are small: 61% of establishments have fewer than 5 employees (Census, 2023).
What are specialty cleaning services?
Work beyond the nightly routine that needs extra equipment, chemicals or training: floor stripping and waxing, carpet extraction, disinfection, post-construction cleaning, and window and high cleaning.
Is janitorial the same as custodial?
The work is the same. Custodial is the more common word in schools and public buildings, often for in-house staff; janitorial is more common for contracted cleaning of offices and commercial buildings.
Do janitorial services include windows?
Usually only entry glass and spot cleaning. Interior and exterior window washing is normally a periodic service quoted separately.