Key takeaways:
Understanding cleaning business insurance is essential for protecting your company, employees, and clients from unexpected incidents and liabilities.
- Insurance is highly recommended for cleaning businesses. While not always legally needed at start-up, insurance is crucial before servicing clients, especially if you have employees or company vehicles.
- Different policies offer specific protections. Typical policies include general liability, tool and equipment insurance, commercial auto, and workers’ compensation, with additional options like professional liability and cyber insurance available for unique risks.
- Costs vary depending on your business needs. General liability insurance averages around $48/month, but total policy costs depend on factors like coverage limits, services offered, number of employees, equipment, and location.
- Getting insured is straightforward. Pick your coverage needs, research providers, gather business details, request quotes, and carefully review policies to make informed decisions.
- Bonds may be required and can build client trust. Janitorial bonds protect clients against theft or damages, and even when not required, they enhance your reputation and client confidence.
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Originally published in November 2020. Last updated on October 31, 2025.
Cleaning business insurance protects you, your employees, and your business assets from unexpected risks and damages, like property damage, vehicle collisions, and employee theft.
In this post, we’ll explore whether you need insurance (and why), what your insurance policy should include, how much it costs, how to get insurance coverage, and more.
Jump to:
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Do you need insurance to start a cleaning business?
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Who needs cleaning business insurance?
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Benefits of cleaning business insurance
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What type of insurance is needed for a cleaning business?
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Are there any other types of insurance for a cleaning business?
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How much is insurance for a cleaning business?
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How do I get cleaning insurance?
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Does my cleaning business need to be bonded?
Do you need insurance to start a cleaning business?
Not necessarily. Unless you have company vehicles or hire employees right away, you aren’t required to have insurance if you want to start a cleaning business. That said, it’s strongly recommended to get insured before cleaning a client’s home or office.
Insurance covers your business in case of an accident or lawsuit. For example, if an employee is injured on the job, business insurance pays for workers’ compensation, so you don’t have to.
Some commercial clients require proof of insurance before they’ll sign a contract. And no, a personal insurance policy won’t help here—homeowner’s insurance doesn’t cover situations outside the home.
It’s best to have a good cleaning business insurance policy in place. You might even want to think about forming a limited liability company (LLC) to separate your personal assets from the company and protect yourself even further.
READ MORE: What licenses do you need to start a cleaning business?
Who needs cleaning business insurance?
Cleaning business owners who have employees or company vehicles are required to have insurance.
Beyond legal requirements, every cleaning business owner should have insurance to provide peace of mind and protect against accidents, property damage, or financial liabilities.
This applies to all types of cleaning services, including:
- House cleaning
- Commercial cleaning
- Maid services
- Janitorial services
- Carpet cleaning
- Office cleaning
- Window cleaning
- Pressure washing
- Gutter cleaning
- Dry cleaning
Some specialty cleaning services may require extra insurance because of on-the-job risks. For example, biohazard cleaning and high-rise window cleaning have different challenges that your policy might not cover. Talk to your insurance agent about your specific policy needs
Benefits of cleaning business insurance
Cleaning business insurance is a good investment for any cleaning company, whether you provide residential or commercial cleaning services. That’s because it offers the following benefits:
- Protects your business in case of an accident or lawsuit that could affect its financial health
- Reimburses your clients for damage while cleaning (e.g., broken window, stained carpet) or theft of their personal property
- Takes care of employees if they’re injured on the job, including medical bills and lost wages
- Covers injury claims if a non-employee is injured because of your work (e.g., slipping and falling on a wet floor)
- Replaces cleaning equipment if it’s stolen or damaged
- Covers company vehicles in case of collisions, theft, or other damage
- Helps you stay compliant for commercial and government clients who require their cleaning service providers to have proof of insurance
- Provides peace of mind knowing that your cleaning company is protected in case of unexpected incidents
Having company insurance also demonstrates to future clients that you’re serious about your work. It instills confidence, puts people at ease, and shows that you care about protecting their home or office.
What type of insurance is needed for a cleaning business?
All cleaning professionals and business owners should have general liability insurance. It covers you, your workers, and your business in the event of accidents or property damage.
Depending on how your business operates, however, you might need more specific policies, too. Let’s look at the most common types of business insurance plans for cleaning companies.
General liability insurance
General liability insurance for a cleaning business often covers physical damages and legal fees if a client accuses your company of injury or property damage. General policies can cover three main types of incidents:
- Bodily injury, meaning a third party gets physically hurt because of your business (e.g., an office worker slips and falls on a wet floor after your crew has cleaned it).
- Personal injury, which is non-physical damage to a person, like slander or libel (e.g., your employee spreads a damaging rumor about a client, who decides to sue).
- Property damage that causes harm to someone’s belongings (e.g., your employee accidentally breaks a client’s window while cleaning it).
Administrative costs are included in most general liability coverage. This amount covers any fees associated with processing a claim, like courtroom fees or document filing fees.
READ MORE: Train cleaners to avoid injury and property damage
Tool and equipment insurance
You bring your cleaning business supplies and equipment from one job to the next. Tool and equipment insurance keeps you from paying out of pocket to repair or replace damaged or stolen items.
This type of insurance is usually added onto a general liability insurance policy. It’s extra helpful if you provide specialized cleaning services that require you to own more expensive equipment, like a commercial carpet cleaner or upholstery cleaner.
Commercial auto insurance
If you own vehicles with titles attributed to your cleaning business, you’ll need commercial auto insurance. This is especially true if your employees drive these vehicles to clients’ properties.
Don’t have a company car? You’ll still need commercial auto insurance if you use your own personal vehicle for work purposes, even if you already have personal car insurance.
If your employees drive personal or rented vehicles to client properties, you’ll also need a separate policy called hired and non-owned auto insurance.
Workers’ compensation insurance
If you hire cleaning employees, workers’ compensation insurance for a cleaning business is non-negotiable. In fact, it’s a legal requirement in 49 of 50 states (excluding Texas).
This type of cleaning insurance policy covers medical bills and lost wages if your employee is injured on the job and can’t return to work right away.
For example, say your employee falls down the stairs at a client’s home, breaks their leg, and can’t work for six weeks. Workers’ compensation insurance covers the cost of X-rays and urgent care, as well as their income during the time off.
Are there any other types of insurance for a cleaning business?
There are several other types of business insurance for cleaning that could fit your needs. It all depends on how your business operates and the risks you face. You could consider adding extra policies like:
- Commercial property insurance to cover your office (if your business has one) in case of fire, vandalism, certain types of weather, and other situations
- A business owner’s policy that combines general liability and commercial property insurance, giving you a slight discount when you have both
- Business income insurance to cover lost income, operating costs, employee payroll, and other costs in case of a business interruption, like a fire or robbery
- Professional liability insurance in case of a lawsuit or claim related to broken contracts, missed deadlines, or mistakes on the job
- Product liability insurance if you make your own cleaning products and they cause harm to a client or their property
- Employment practices liability insurance in case of claims from your employees (e.g., discrimination, sexual harassment, unfair termination)
- Cyber insurance to protect your business in case of a data breach or other cybersecurity incident that causes fraud or other damage to your business
- Crime insurance to cover your business in case of criminal activity like employee theft, counterfeit currency, or third-party fraud
- Key person insurance to keep the business running if you die or can’t work anymore
- Commercial umbrella insurance to extend your coverage in case of a major incident with expenses that go beyond your policy limit
Your exact policy coverage will vary depending on the insurance provider. Check with your insurance agent to see what’s included in your policy so there aren’t any surprises in case of a claim.
How much is insurance for a cleaning business?
General liability insurance costs about $48/month or $580/year. However, the total cost of your overall policy depends on which coverage options you choose.
When setting a budget for cleaning business insurance, remember that each policy is based on several variables. For instance, cleaning insurance costs often depend on:
- Your policy limit and deductible
- Where your business is located and the state it operates in
- What types of cleaning services you offer, like carpet cleaning or Airbnb cleaning
- How many people you employ
- How much cleaning equipment your business owns
- If you own or operate company vehicles
- How much revenue your cleaning business makes
Monthly costs will be higher if you want a higher coverage maximum. Expect to pay more each month if you want your policy to provide $1 million in coverage for damages, versus only $250k in coverage.
Below are a few ballpark estimates for cleaning insurance based on industry data (assuming at least $1 million in general liability coverage and $2 million in umbrella insurance coverage):
| Policy Type | Estimated Monthly Cost | Estimated Annual Cost |
| General liability insurance | $48/month | $580/year |
| Commercial auto insurance | $173/month | $2,075/year |
| Workers’ compensation | $136/month | $1,627/year |
| Commercial umbrella insurance | $67/month | $801/year |
| Janitorial bond | $11/month | $126/year |
| Total: | $435/month | $5,209/year |
To determine your cleaning business insurance cost, get a quote from a reputable insurance company. You can do this online, and it usually only takes a few minutes.
How do I get cleaning insurance?
Now that you know what cleaning business insurance is and how it protects your company, you can follow these five simple steps to get insured quickly and gain peace of mind:
- Pick your policy needs: Even though general liability is a safe bet, think about your business model, your equipment, and your team. Weigh those needs against your budget to determine which policies you need to secure first, like commercial auto or workers’ compensation insurance.
- Research insurance providers: There are lots of commercial insurance companies to choose from, but smaller or cleaning-specific insurers can offer competitive rates and greater coverage. Research online or meet with agents to start gathering information.
- Assemble your business details. Before you can sign up for a policy, you’ll need to provide some basic business details, like which equipment you own or how you hire (and fire) employees. Gather this information and keep it handy in a file folder.
- Ask for quotes. Once you’ve narrowed your options down to a few insurance companies, start getting quotes. Many companies have online forms that let you enter information and receive a quote within minutes. You’ll need to share contact details so an agent can get in touch.
- Purchase one or more policies. Review policy paperwork carefully and make sure you understand the “fine print.” This includes knowing your monthly premium, the deductible, and any non-covered incidents. Understanding your policy before you sign can prevent unexpected surprises in the future.
Does my cleaning business need to be bonded?
Your business might need to be bonded depending on where you operate and what your commercial clients require. Check state regulations to make sure, and speak with your clients to understand their needs.
While cleaning insurance protects your business, janitorial bonds protect your clients in case of damage or theft. Your insurance provider pays the client directly in case of a claim, and you repay that amount to the provider.
Even if it’s not required, a janitorial bond can be convincing for residential clients who are deciding whether to use your services. You can also get a surety bond to reassure clients that you’ll fulfill your side of the cleaning contract.
Your insurance company can help you decide on the right type of bond for your business.
Protect your company with cleaning business insurance
As a business owner, you can gain more peace of mind with a cleaning insurance policy. The licensed advisors at Next Insurance are ready to help with your insurance questions and policy needs.
Want to learn more about running a successful cleaning business? Check out our cleaning business resources.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Your business needs general liability insurance at a minimum. You’ll also need commercial auto insurance if you have company vehicles, as well as workers’ compensation insurance if you have employees.
Depending on how your company is set up, you might find other types of small business insurance to be helpful, too. -
Your employees are covered by your workers’ compensation policy. This provides health insurance in the event of any job-related injuries. If they’ll be driving company vehicles, you should also add them to your commercial auto insurance policy.
Any subcontractors should carry their own small business liability insurance, as they won’t be covered under yours. -
Some clients might request a copy of your COI as proof of insurance. Most insurance providers let you download your COI for free from their website or app. The exact process might vary depending on the insurance company. Check with your agent for more details.
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If you have employees, workers’ compensation insurance is required in 49 of 50 U.S. states (excluding Texas). Auto insurance is also mandatory in every state except New Hampshire, so you’ll need commercial auto insurance for any vehicles your business owns.
Otherwise, insurance isn’t a requirement—just a strong recommendation. -
Yes, general liability insurance (whether alone or as part of a business owner’s policy) protects your clients in case of personal injury and property damage.
Other policies, like tool and equipment insurance and workers’ compensation insurance, cover you and your employees in case of property damage or on-the-job injuries.
Check with your insurance company to see which policies cover which situations.