Scripts
Cold Calling Scripts for Commercial Cleaning (With Free PDF)
TL;DR
- The goal of a cold call is a 15-minute walkthrough. Never quote a price on the phone.
- Open with who you are and why you are calling in one breath, then ask who handles the cleaning service.
- Make an offer that is easy to accept: a free walkthrough, a written price in 24 hours, and a first-clean guarantee.
- "We already have a cleaner" is the normal answer. Ask to be the backup quote and when the contract renews.
- Plan on 50 calls a day. Track calls, conversations, walkthroughs and contracts. The free PDF has the full script and a scorecard.
The best cold calling scripts for commercial cleaning do one job: book a walkthrough. Say who you are, ask who handles the cleaning service, make a low-risk offer and set a time. The scripts below cover the opener, the gatekeeper, voicemail, common objections and follow-up.
Before you dial: three rules
- Sell the walkthrough. You cannot price a building you have not seen, and a number on the phone gives the buyer a reason to end the call.
- Call business lines during business hours. Tuesday to Thursday, 9 to 11 a.m. and 2 to 4 p.m., reaches the most office managers.
- Decide your number first. Fifty calls a day is a common target for a new company. The script matters less than making the calls.
The opening script
Use this when a person answers the main line.
You: "Hi, this is [Name] with [Company]. We clean offices here in [City]. Quick question: who handles the cleaning service for your building?"
If it is them: "Great. I'll be brief. Are you 100 percent happy with your cleaning right now, or is there anything that keeps getting missed?"
If they name a problem: "That's the most common thing we hear. Here's what I'd like to do. I'll stop by for 15 minutes, walk the space, and send you a written price within 24 hours. If the first clean isn't better than what you have now, you don't pay for it. Would Tuesday or Thursday morning work?"
Why it works: the opener is honest about who you are, the question is easy to answer, and the offer costs the buyer nothing. Offer two specific times so the answer is a choice between them.
The gatekeeper script
The person at the front desk often knows more about the cleaning than the owner does. Treat them as a source.
You: "Hi, this is [Name] with [Company], a local cleaning company. I'm not sure who to ask for. Who looks after the cleaning service there?"
If they give a name: "Thank you. Is [Name] in today, or is there a better time to reach them? And what's the best email for a one-page intro?"
If they say "we're all set": "Understood, and thanks. Would it be all right if I sent one page for the file, so you have a backup if anything changes? Who should I address it to?"
Write down every name you get. The next call starts with "Hi, is Maria in?" and that call gets through far more often.
The voicemail script
Keep it under 20 seconds and give one reason to call back.
You: "Hi [Name], this is [Your name] with [Company] here in [City]. We clean offices near you on [Street or area]. I'd like to give you a backup price on your cleaning, no obligation, in case you ever need one. My number is [number]. Again, [Your name], [number]."
Then send a two-line email the same day and call again in three days.
Answers to five common objections
"We already have a cleaning company."
You: "I'd expect so. Most offices I call do. I'm not asking you to switch today. I'd like to be your backup quote, so if a night gets missed you have a price in hand. When does your current agreement come up for renewal?"
"Just send me some information."
You: "Happy to. So I send the right thing, how many days a week do you get service now, and roughly how big is the space? What's the best email? I'll follow up Thursday to make sure it arrived."
"We're not interested."
You: "No problem at all. Before I let you go, is that because you're happy with your cleaner, or is someone on staff handling it? Either way, would it be all right if I checked back in a few months?"
"How much do you charge?"
You: "It depends on the size, the floors and how many days a week, and I don't want to guess high or low. It takes me 15 minutes to walk it, and you'll have a written price the next day. Is tomorrow at 10 or Thursday at 2 better?"
"I'm not the person who decides."
You: "Thanks for telling me. Who is, and what's the best way to reach them? Is it all right if I say you pointed me their way?"
If someone asks you not to call again, say "Understood, I'll take you off my list," and do it. Mark the record so nobody on your team calls them.
The follow-up sequence
- Same day: a short email with your one-page intro and insurance certificate.
- Day 3: a second call. "I sent a page over on Monday and wanted to put a voice to it."
- Day 10: a third call or a walk-in with a printed flyer.
- Monthly: a brief check-in until they say stop. Note renewal dates and call 60 days before.
When a call turns into a walkthrough, build the price with the method in how to bid on commercial cleaning jobs. For more places to find numbers to call, see the commercial cleaning lead generation guide.
Is cold calling businesses legal?
Calling a business line to offer a business service is generally legal in the United States. The FTC's guidance on the National Do Not Call Registry lists most sales calls made to a business as exempt from the registry rules, which are aimed at calls to consumers. A few points still apply to you:
- Dial by hand. Autodialers and prerecorded messages have separate, stricter rules, especially for cell phones.
- Honor every request to stop calling and keep your own do-not-call list.
- Be careful with numbers that may be personal cell phones, such as a sole owner's mobile.
- Some states have their own telemarketing rules. Check your state attorney general's site.
This is general information, not legal advice.
The numbers to track
Track four numbers every day: calls made, conversations with a decision maker, walkthroughs booked and contracts signed. After two weeks you will know your own ratios, and you can work out how many calls one new account takes. If the calls are happening and conversations are low, change the time of day. If conversations are happening and walkthroughs are low, change the offer.
After a good call, the buyer will search your company name. A professional site and a quick reply to their quote request make the second conversation easier. That is the part Fairhaven Design handles for commercial cleaning companies: the website, the quote form and the follow-up messages.
Common questions
What do you say when cold calling for commercial cleaning?
Say your name, your company and that you clean offices locally, then ask who handles the cleaning service. Ask whether anything keeps getting missed, offer a free 15-minute walkthrough with a written price in 24 hours, and suggest two specific times. Do not quote a price on the phone.
Does cold calling work for commercial cleaning?
Yes, when it is done in volume. Most offices already have a cleaner, so most calls end quickly. The value comes from the few who are unhappy now and from being the backup quote when a vendor slips. Daily calls and consistent follow-up matter more than the exact wording.
What is the best time to cold call offices?
Mid-morning and mid-afternoon on Tuesday through Thursday usually reach office managers most easily. Avoid Monday mornings and Friday afternoons. Medical offices are often easier to reach just after opening or right after lunch. Test two time blocks for a week and keep the one with more conversations.
How many cold calls does it take to get a cleaning contract?
It often takes a few hundred calls to win a first contract. A new company making 50 calls a day might book one or two walkthroughs a week, and a portion of those sign. Track your own calls, conversations, walkthroughs and contracts to learn your ratio.
How do I get past the gatekeeper?
Do not try to get past the gatekeeper. Ask them for help. Say you are a local cleaning company and ask who looks after the cleaning service. Get the name, the best time to call and an email address. Front desk staff often know exactly what the current cleaner misses.
Is it legal to cold call businesses for cleaning services?
Calling business lines by hand to offer a business service is generally legal in the United States. You should still honor every request to stop calling, avoid autodialers and prerecorded messages, take care with personal cell numbers and check your state's telemarketing rules. This is general information, not legal advice.