Define the service and labour model
Separate routine cleaning, periodic work, specialist cleaning, hygiene, waste, grounds, security coordination, maintenance, integrated facilities services, and subcontracted work. Record each customer, site, scope, frequency, service window, staffing model, equipment, chemicals, access condition, quality measure, and responsible manager.
Identify employees, labour-hire workers, genuine independent contractors, subcontractor companies, franchisees, and owner labour accurately. A contract label alone does not determine employment or contractor status.
Test customer contracts and site transferability
- signed agreements, specifications, site lists, schedules, pricing, indexation, variations, and service levels
- term, extension, renewal, termination, assignment, change of control, consent, retender, and transition assistance
- security clearances, inductions, keys, passes, background checks, training, and customer approvals
- revenue and contribution by customer, site, service, supervisor, shift, and labour model
- complaints, credits, missed services, rework, incidents, audits, and customer concentration
Service frequency, customer tenure, regulation, or repeat invoicing do not guarantee contract renewal. Buyers will test contract rights, retender exposure, labour cost, quality, relationship ownership, and alternatives.
Reconcile awards, employees, and contractors
Fair Work Ombudsman publishes information on the Cleaning Services Award and independent contractors. Award coverage depends on the employer, employee, classification, work, and industrial setting. Not every cleaning or facilities employee is necessarily covered by one award.
Prepare employee and contractor records covering role, location, hours, classification, pay, allowances, overtime, leave, superannuation, agreements, claims, visas where relevant, training, site approvals, and realistic retention risk. Obtain employment-law advice before changing arrangements or making buyer promises.
Prepare safety, chemical, and site evidence
- risk assessments, safe-work procedures, consultation, training, incidents, investigations, notices, and corrective actions
- chemical register, safety data, labels, storage, dilution, personal protective equipment, spill response, and disposal
- plant and equipment ownership, maintenance, inspection, electrical safety, condition, and replacement needs
- working at height, confined areas, sharps, biological hazards, traffic, manual tasks, lone work, and customer-specific risks where relevant
- public liability, workers compensation, motor, property, professional cover where applicable, claims, and notifications
Safe Work Australia develops national policy and model guidance, while jurisdictional regulators administer and enforce workplace duties. Environmental, dangerous-goods, health, local, and customer requirements can also apply.
Prove service delivery without the owner
Document rostering, time and attendance, site instructions, quality inspections, issue escalation, consumables, equipment, relief coverage, payroll inputs, billing, customer reporting, complaint handling, access control, and business continuity.
Map who owns tenders, pricing, customer relationships, recruitment, site starts, workforce issues, quality, safety, and emergency response. Show that supervisors and systems can maintain service across normal absences and contract transitions.
Assess value and the complete buyer proposal
Buyers may examine maintainable earnings, contract quality, customer concentration, retender exposure, labour compliance, supervision, safety, claims, equipment, systems, working capital, and owner dependence. There is no universal cleaning or facilities multiple.
Compare cash, debt, working capital, deferred consideration, warranties, indemnities, employee process, contractor review, customer consents, site access, systems transition, and seller obligations. Use the Australian buyer scorecard and owner-transition guide.