How do I verify a cleaning company’s supply closets and chemical inventory on site?
Visit more than one storage location, count what is there against the seller’s list, and read labels, dates and storage conditions. Ask where chemicals are kept at client sites and in vehicles, and who is responsible for safety information, so you know what you are actually inheriting.
A cleaning company’s stock is spread out: the main supply room, vehicles, and closets at client buildings. Ask the seller for a list of every location, then visit more than one. Count what is on the shelves against the inventory list, and note what is open, damaged, expired or unlabelled. Read the labels. Products should be in their original containers or properly marked ones, and the shop should have safety data sheets close at hand. Ask who keeps them current and whether staff have been shown how to use each product. Mixed or unmarked containers are a warning about how the whole operation is run.
Look at how chemicals are stored. Incompatible products stacked together, leaking containers and poor ventilation are all things to write down. Your lawyer or a safety adviser can tell you which rules apply to storage and disposal. Finally, ask how stock gets replenished and who pays for closets at client sites. Supplies a client owns, or leftover stock from a lost contract, should not be counted as yours. Write down anything you cannot verify and raise it before you agree on terms.
Key takeaways
- Visit every storage point, including vehicles and closets at client sites, not just the main room.
- Compare counts and labels with the list, and note damaged or unmarked containers.
- Ask who owns the stock kept at client buildings before it is counted as inventory.
Related reading
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Sources
This answer is checked against primary sources. Links were last confirmed on the dates shown.
- 01Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentWhat is inventory
- 02Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentHow to conduct due diligence when buying a business
- 03Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentWhat are the steps to buying a business?
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