Quaternary ammonium dithiocarbamate compounds having formula (I) or (II) and methods of preparing same by mixing in water a quaternary ammonium compound having formula (III) and a dithiocarbamate salt having formula (i) or a bis-dithiocarbamate salt as represented by formula (ii) and recovering the resulting quaternary ammonium dithiocarbamate compound from the organic layer formed thereby. Compositions employing such compounds are primarily useful as surfactants and biocides.