Insurance coverage for Cleaning Services

• Do you need insurance for a cleaning business?

  Yes — once you clean other people's property for pay, the practical minimum is general liability, and most cleaning companies buy it inside a business owner's policy. Add a janitorial bond because clients ask for it, workers' compensation when your state's threshold says so, and expect commercial clients to demand a certificate before you start.

• What do cleaning business owners need to know about state insurance requirements?

  Less than "licensed, bonded, and insured" implies: no state statute requires a cleaning company to carry general liability. The state-law layer is workers' compensation — thresholds vary sharply by state — plus outliers like California's mandatory registration for janitorial employers. Bonds and liability limits come from clients, not legislatures.

• Do I need a bond for my cleaning business?

  Legally, rarely — no state broadly requires a bond just to clean, though some licensing regimes require bonding or insurance. Practically, yes if you want commercial contracts: clients demand a "janitorial bond" so they're reimbursed if your employee steals from them. Despite the name, that product is fidelity coverage — not a performance-guarantee surety bond.

Liability questions for Cleaning Services

General liability, E&O, D&O, and employment practices questions live on our sister publication: Cleaning Services on pleasedontsue.us.