In short, we've summarized cleaning business insurance needs below and how much you should get for each type of coverage recommended.
What Insurance Do You Need For a Cleaning Business?
The types of insurance a cleaning business need most include general liability, workers comp, professional liability, commercial auto insurance.
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Updated: November 10, 2025
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Cleaning Business Insurance Needs: Key Takeaways
The best type of business insurance for a cleaning company to get is general liability insurance due to the high risk of claims for this coverage in the industry. (Read More)
Cleaning business insurance requirements commonly mandate janitorial bonds, workers comp, commercial auto, and general liability insurance. (Read More)
Optional business insurance a cleaning company should get include tools and equipment, commercial property and professional liability insurance.
To ensure you meet cleaning business insurance requirements, get a COI from your insurer, verify your policy meets requirements, send your proof to the right place, and continuously maintain your policy. (Read More)
What Insurance Types Are Needed For a Cleaning Business?
General Liability Insurance for Cleaners
General liability policies cover third-party claims for bodily injury and property damage, protecting cleaning businesses from common risks like client slip-and-falls and damage to customers' belongings. We recommend a $1 to $2 million per occurrence or $2 to $3 million aggregate policy for most cleaners and cleaning firms.
Real-Life Coverage Scenario: While cleaning a luxury condo, an employee broke a $3,500 antique vase and damaged $8,000 of hardwood floors. Without coverage, Maria faced $11,500 plus legal fees. Her general liability policy covered everything.
Workers' Comp Insurance for Cleaners
Required by law if your cleaning business has employees. This type of coverage pays medical costs and lost wages for common employee work-related injuries, such as chemical burns, slip-and-fall accidents or back injuries from lifting equipment.
Real-Life Coverage Scenario: An employee severely injured his back moving a 50-pound floor buffer down stairs. Emergency surgery, therapy and three months off work totaled $47,000 in medical bills and $15,000 in lost wages. Workers' comp covered all $62,000, protecting the employee and business.
Professional Liability Insurance for Cleaners
Protects cleaning businesses from costs resulting from clients claiming inadequate cleaning and any damage that results from negligence. A minimum of $1 million per claim or $1 million aggregate is recommended for the average cleaner company and satisfies most client contract requirements.
Real-Life Coverage Scenario: A cleaning crew failed to sanitize a medical office properly. Three patients contracted infections, and the practice sued for $250,000. Professional liability coverage handled legal defense and settlement, saving the business from bankruptcy.
Tools and Equipment Insurance for Cleaners
Tools and equipment insurance (or inland marine insurance) covers any equipment or supplies your cleaners use that break down or are damaged on the job or in transit, like vacuums or cleaning formula. This should not be confused with commercial property insurance, which covers stationary property at your headquarters. Most businesses in this industry should get coverage of $10,000 to $15,000.
Real-Life Coverage Scenario: Thieves broke into a work van and stole $3,850 in equipment (vacuums, steam cleaner and pressure washer). The crew couldn't work, losing $2,400 in revenue. Equipment insurance reimbursed them within days, preventing business disruption.
Commercial Auto Insurance for Cleaners
A $1 million combined single limit (CSL) for liability with comprehensive and collision coverage is the best option for most cleaning businesses and satisfies state requirements if you use vehicles for commercial purposes. If you're a traveling cleaning service, it covers damage to your car and damage you cause to others, preventing you from paying legal, medical or vehicle replacement costs from accidents.
Real-Life Coverage Scenario: A company van ran a red light, causing a collision that cost $35,000 in medical bills, $18,000 in vehicle damage, $32,000 for a totaled van, $5,000 in equipment destroyed and $8,000 in traffic pole damage, for a total of $98,000. Commercial auto insurance covered everything with just a $1,000 deductible.
Janitorial Bonds for Cleaners
If you work exclusively in residential homes and small spaces, a minimum of $10,000 is recommended, and for commercial properties, $25,000 is ideal. Also called a janitorial bond, this coverage is often required for contracts and covers you when staff steal client valuables, cause intentional property damage or fail to complete agreed-upon services.
Real-Life Coverage Scenario: A newly hired employee stole $18,000 in jewelry from a store during an after-hours cleaning shift. The store owner threatened a lawsuit and contract termination. The $25,000 janitorial bond covered the theft, protected the company's reputation and saved a contract worth $3,000 monthly.
Cleaning Business Insurance Requirements
The table below summarizes the business insurance requirements for cleaning companies by state law and contracts (depending on client).
Workers' Compensation Insurance | Required by law in most states once you hire your first employee, with penalties including fines up to $10,000 per employee, criminal charges, business license suspension, and personal liability for all injury costs. | The minimum amount of coverage is set by your state. |
General Liability Insurance | Some commercial clients, landlords leases/financing, and municipalities for business licensing require this coverage before allowing cleaning services to work on their property. | The industry standard requirement is $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate, although high-value clients may require $3-5 million in total coverage. |
Commercial Auto Insurance | 49 states require commercial auto insurance for all business-owned vehicles, and personal auto policies do not satisfy state law. | State minimums vary, with standard requirement ranges being between 25/50/10 to 30/60/25 split auto liability limits. |
Janitorial Bond (Fidelity Bond) | Most commercial clients, including banks, law firms, medical facilities, and government contractors, require a janitorial or fidelity bond before hiring cleaning services to protect against employee theft. | Most often, you'll need between $10,000-$25,000 for residential cleaning, $25,000-$50,000 for commercial properties, and $50,000-$100,000 for large commercial clients. |
Commercial Property Insurance | Landlords for businesses leasing commercial space and lenders for financed properties often require this coverage to protect their investment and insulate risk. | The coverage amount required is based on the replacement cost of the building and its contents, ranging from $ 50,000 to $500,000, depending on the property value. |
Luxury hotels, corporate headquarters, large property management companies, and high-value venues require this as an add-on to your existing liability limits. | Hgh-value commercial clients typically require $3-5 million total coverage, while premium/luxury clients may require $5-10 million. |
How To Ensure Cleaning Business Insurance Requirements Are Met
Below we've detailed a simple step-by-step guide to satisfying cleaning business insurance requirements and maintaining required coverage over time after buying.
- 1Request Certificates of Insurance (COI) from your insurance provider
After purchasing needed cleaning insurance policies, immediately request a Certificate of Insurance from each insurer. Most providers offer instant download or email delivery within minutes to hours.
- 2Verify coverage amounts match client/contract requirements
Review each COI to confirm policy limits meet the specific requirements (for example, $1M/$2M for general liability, specific bond amounts) stated in your client contracts or lease agreements.
- 3Add Clients as "Additional Insured" when required
Many commercial contracts require adding the client as an additional insured on your cleaning general liability policy. Contact your insurer to add this endorsement for a small fee and get an updated COI.
- 4Provide COIs to clients, landlords, and licensing authorities
Submit your certificates of insurance to commercial clients before starting work, to landlords before signing leases, and to any municipalities requiring them for business licensing.
- 5Set up automatic renewals and COI updates
Establish reminders 30-60 days before policy renewals to obtain updated COIs, and proactively send new certificates to all active clients, landlords, and municipalities to maintain continuous proof of coverage.
Get Business Insurance You Need For Your Cleaning Business
You can get matched to the best cleaning business insurance company for your needs using our tool below. While we match you to a top provider, we still recommend comparing around, doing additional research on cleaner insurance costs, and looking at additional providers to inform your right fit.
Get Matched To The Best Cleaning Business Insurer For Your Needs
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About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. With over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, he conducts original research and creates tailored content for all types of buyers. His insights have been featured in publications like CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!
He writes about economics and insurance, breaking down complex topics so people know what they're buying.