There is a trend toward outsourcing some functions of facility management. Outsourcing is often seen as a method of cutting costs and improving the quality of services.

Custodial services are often the first to be outsourced to a private company which can handle the specialized requirements for training, scheduling and utilizing a custodial workforce. Occasionally this has led to security breaches and the loss of intellectual property, so care must be used in deciding which facilities can be cleaned by third-party employees.

Outsourcing of mechanical and electrical responsibilities is more often done for smaller facilities. Larger organizations, like military bases and university campuses, are likely to gain great benefit by utilizing in-house staff who learn the quirks of each building's equipment.