Starting a cleaning business without proper insurance is like mopping a floor with a broken bottle of bleach—eventually, something’s going to spill. And when it does, you’ll be stuck paying thousands of dollars out of your pocket for damages, injuries, or lawsuits that could have been covered.

Here’s the thing most new cleaning business owners don’t realize: you can’t just grab any insurance policy and call it a day. The coverage you need depends on your business structure, whether you have employees, and the types of cleaning services you offer. Get it wrong, and you’re either overpaying for coverage you don’t need or leaving yourself exposed to financial disaster.

So in this post, I’m going to walk you through the five types of cleaning business insurance every cleaning business owner needs. We’ll cover what each policy actually protects, when you need it, and how much you should expect to pay. By the end, you’ll know exactly how to protect your business without wasting money on unnecessary coverage.

Why Insurance Matters More for Cleaning Businesses Than You Think

Let’s be honest—insurance feels like one of those boring business tasks you’d rather skip. But cleaning businesses face unique risks that make proper coverage absolutely critical.

The Real Cost of Operating Without Coverage

Think about what you do every day. You’re working in other people’s homes and offices, surrounded by expensive equipment, chemicals, and furniture everywhere. One wrong move—a knocked-over vase, a slip on a wet floor, a chemical stain on an expensive rug—and you’re looking at thousands in damages.

Client Property Damage Scenarios (and Their Price Tags)

When you’re starting your cleaning business, you probably don’t think about all the ways things can go wrong. But they do.

Without insurance, every single dollar comes straight from your pocket. And if you can’t pay immediately, you’re facing a lawsuit that’ll cost even more in legal fees.

Employee Injury Expenses Most Owners Don’t See Coming

If you hire even one employee, their safety becomes your financial responsibility. Cleaning work involves repetitive motions, heavy lifting, chemical exposure, and wet floors—all prime ingredients for workplace injuries.

And if your employee can’t work for six weeks while recovering, you’re also on the hook for their lost wages.

According to workers’ compensation coverage requirements, 49 out of 50 states legally require this coverage if you have employees. Operating without it means facing serious fines, lawsuits, and potentially losing your business license.

How Insurance Actually Helps You Get More Clients

Having proper insurance is beyond protection. It’s actually a sales tool that helps you win bigger, better-paying clients.

Most commercial clients, such as office buildings, retail stores, and government facilities, won’t even consider hiring you without proof of insurance. They want to see a certificate of insurance (COI) before they sign a contract.

These clients know the risks. If something goes wrong on their property, they need assurance that your insurance will handle it—not their own policy. No COI means no contract.

Also, when you advertise that your business is “bonded and insured,” you’re sending a clear message that you’re professional, legitimate, and trustworthy. This matters especially for residential clients who are letting strangers into their homes.

Being bonded protects clients from employee theft, and being insured protects them from accidents. Together, they give potential clients the confidence to choose you over unlicensed, uninsured competitors charging rock-bottom prices.

What Type of Insurance Is Most Important for a Cleaning Business?

If you only get one type of insurance for your cleaning business, make it general liability insurance. This is your foundation—the coverage that protects you from the most common and expensive risks you’ll face.

1. General Liability Insurance (Your Foundation Coverage)

General liability insurance covers third-party bodily injuries and property damage that happen because of your business operations. In simple terms, if you or your employees accidentally hurt someone or damage something while working, this policy pays for it.

What General Liability Actually Covers

A general liability policy typically covers three main areas:

• Bodily injury: If a client slips on your freshly mopped floor and breaks their wrist, your policy covers their medical expenses. If a visitor to the property trips over your equipment and sues you, the policy covers legal defense costs and any settlement or judgment.

• Property damage: When your employee accidentally breaks a client’s expensive artwork while dusting, your policy reimburses the client. If you spill cleaning chemicals that damage a client’s hardwood floors, you’re covered.

• Personal and advertising injury: This includes things like slander, libel, and copyright infringement. If an employee makes false statements about a client that harm their reputation, your policy handles the legal costs.

Average Costs and Coverage Limits You Need

The typical general liability policy for cleaning businesses costs between $40 and $60 per month, or about $500 to $700 annually. This gets you standard coverage limits of $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate.

What does that mean? The “per occurrence” limit is the maximum your insurer will pay for a single incident. The “aggregate” limit is the total they’ll pay for all claims during your policy period (usually one year).

For most cleaning businesses, these limits are sufficient. However, some commercial clients may require higher limits—like $2 million per occurrence. If that’s the case, you can increase your coverage (which increases your premium) or add umbrella insurance on top of your base policy.

Why This Should Be Your First Purchase

Before you take on your first paying client, get general liability insurance in place. Many leading commercial insurance providers can get you covered within 24 hours with just a few minutes of online application work.

Client Contract Requirements

Most clients—especially commercial ones—include insurance requirements in their contracts. They want to see proof that you carry at least $1 million in general liability coverage before they’ll hire you.

Without this coverage, you’re limiting your potential client base to only individuals who don’t ask for proof of insurance. That might work when you’re just starting with residential clients, but it’ll keep you from landing the bigger, more profitable commercial contracts.

Lease Agreement Necessities

If you rent office space or a storefront for your cleaning business, your landlord will almost certainly require proof of general liability insurance. This protects them if someone gets injured at your business location and tries to sue the property owner.

Even if you operate your business from home, some homeowner’s insurance policies have exclusions for business activities. Getting a separate general liability policy ensures you’re covered for business-related incidents, regardless of where they occur.

2. Workers’ Compensation Insurance (Required in 49 States)

Once you hire your first employee, workers’ compensation insurance becomes non-negotiable. This isn’t optional coverage you can decide to skip—it’s legally required in almost every state.

What Workers’ Comp Covers for Your Cleaning Team

Workers’ compensation insurance provides benefits to employees who get injured or become ill because of their job. It covers medical expenses, lost wages, and rehabilitation costs so your employees can recover without facing financial ruin.

On-the-Job Injuries from Lifting and Repetitive Motion

Cleaning work is physically demanding. Your employees spend hours lifting heavy equipment, bending, kneeling, reaching, and performing repetitive motions. These activities lead to predictable injuries over time.

Back strains from lifting commercial vacuums or moving furniture are extremely common. So are repetitive motion injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome from constant scrubbing and wiping. Knee injuries from kneeling on hard floors happen regularly too.

Workers’ compensation insurance covers the medical treatment for these injuries, including doctor visits, physical therapy, medications, and even surgery if needed. If the injury is severe enough that your employee can’t work for several weeks or months, the policy also replaces a portion of their lost income.

Chemical Exposure and Illness Coverage

Cleaning businesses use high concentrated chemicals daily. Even with proper safety equipment and training, accidents happen. Chemical splashes can cause burns or eye injuries. Prolonged exposure to certain cleaning agents can lead to respiratory problems or skin conditions.

Your workers’ comp policy covers these work-related illnesses just like it covers physical injuries. If an employee develops chronic respiratory issues from exposure to harsh cleaning chemicals, the policy pays for their medical treatment.

Lost Wages and Medical Bill Protection

Here’s where workers’ comp becomes absolutely critical: it protects both you and your employees financially.

Say one of your cleaners falls off a ladder while cleaning high windows and breaks their leg. They need surgery, several weeks of recovery, and months of physical therapy. The total medical costs hit $40,000, and they can’t work for three months.

Without workers’ comp, your employee could sue you for those medical bills and lost wages. The lawsuit alone could cost $100,000 or more in legal fees and judgments. With workers’ comp, the insurance handles everything, including medical costs, partial wage replacement, and legal protection for you.

Legal Requirements by State

Workers’ compensation laws vary by state, but the basic requirement is consistent: if you have employees, you need coverage.

When Workers’ Comp Becomes Mandatory

In most states, you’re required to get workers’ comp insurance as soon as you hire your first employee. Some states have slightly different thresholds, with maybe three employees or five employees, before it becomes mandatory.

Texas is the only state that doesn’t require workers’ compensation insurance. However, even in Texas, most businesses choose to carry it anyway because the alternative is being open to lawsuits from injured employees.

Check your specific state’s requirements through your state labor department or insurance regulator. Don’t guess and hope you comply—the penalties for operating without required coverage are severe.

Penalties for Operating Without It

If you’re caught operating without workers’ compensation insurance when it’s required, you’re facing serious consequences.

Fines can range from $1,000 to $100,000, depending on your state and how long you’ve been non-compliant. You might face criminal charges in some jurisdictions. Your business could be shut down until you obtain proper coverage.

Worse, if an employee gets injured while you’re uninsured, you’ll pay for all their medical expenses and lost wages out of pocket—plus legal fees when they sue you. It’s not worth the risk. 

So even if you don’t have employees, workers’ comp insurance is worth considering. 

An analysis of insurance cost data shows that workers’ comp for sole proprietors typically costs $30 to $60 per month—much less than a single emergency room visit.

3. Commercial Auto Insurance (Not Your Personal Car Insurance)

If you drive to client locations, which virtually every cleaning business does, you need commercial auto insurance. Your personal car insurance won’t cover business use, and the resulting gap could cost you everything.

Why Personal Auto Policies Won’t Cover Business Driving

Most people assume their personal auto insurance covers them everywhere they drive. That’s not how it works.

The Gap Between Personal and Commercial Coverage

Personal auto insurance policies have exclusions for business use. When you’re driving to and from client sites, transporting cleaning equipment and supplies, and using your vehicle to generate income, you’re operating a commercial vehicle—even if it’s the same car you use for personal errands.

If you get into an accident while driving for business purposes, your personal insurer can deny your claim based on the commercial use exclusion. This means you’re personally liable for all damages—to your vehicle, to other vehicles, to injured people, and to property. We’re talking tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars in potential costs.

What Commercial Auto Insurance Protects

Commercial auto insurance covers you for vehicle-related incidents that occur during business operations.

Vehicle Damage and Theft

If your business vehicle is damaged in an accident, stolen, or damaged by weather or vandalism, commercial auto insurance covers the repair or replacement costs.

This matters especially for cleaning businesses because your vehicle contains expensive equipment and supplies, and if they’re stolen, your commercial auto policy covers it.

Accidents En Route to Client Properties

When you’re driving between client locations or from your home base to job sites, you’re covered for any accidents that occur. This includes liability for damage to other vehicles, injuries to other people, and property damage.

Commercial auto insurance also typically includes medical payments coverage, which pays for your medical bills if you’re injured in an accident, regardless of who was at fault.

Special Coverage for Employee-Driven Vehicles

If your employees drive as part of their job duties, you need special coverage beyond basic commercial auto insurance.

Hired and Non-Owned Auto Insurance Explained

Hired and non-owned auto (HNOA) insurance covers situations where your employees drive vehicles that your business doesn’t own.

“Hired” refers to vehicles you rent or lease for business purposes. If you rent a cargo van for a big job and your employee gets into an accident while driving it, HNOA insurance covers the damages.

“Non-owned” refers to employees using their own personal vehicles for business purposes. When an employee drives their own car to a client site and causes an accident, HNOA insurance provides liability coverage.

It typically costs $30 to $50 per month and provides crucial protection if you have employees who drive for work.

4. Tools and Equipment Insurance (Inland Marine Coverage)

Your cleaning equipment and supplies represent a significant investment. Tools and equipment insurance—also called inland marine coverage—protects this investment from theft, damage, and loss.

What This Coverage Protects at Client Sites

Unlike regular business property insurance that covers items at your business location, tools and equipment insurance covers your supplies wherever they are—in your vehicle, at client sites, or in storage.

Stolen Supplies and Equipment

Equipment theft is frustratingly common in the cleaning industry. You leave supplies in your vehicle overnight, and someone breaks in and steals everything. Or you’re working at a large commercial site, step away for a moment, and your backpack vacuum disappears.

Without insurance, you’re paying out of your pocket to replace everything—possibly $2,000 to $5,000 worth of equipment, depending on what you own. With tools and equipment insurance, you file a claim and get reimbursed for the replacement cost.

Damaged or Destroyed Cleaning Tools

Equipment also gets damaged through normal business operations. 

Tools and equipment insurance covers repair or replacement costs for covered causes of loss, typically including theft, fire, water damage, and accidental damage.

This insurance is typically an add-on to your general liability policy and costs $10 to $20 per month for most cleaning businesses.

If you’re starting with basic supplies, you don’t need equipment insurance yet. Your total investment might be under $500, making it more cost-effective to replace items out of pocket if required.

But once you invest in professional-grade equipment, the calculation changes quickly.

5. Janitorial Bonds (The Trust-Builder Your Clients Demand)

Janitorial bonds work differently from insurance policies, but they’re equally important for building client trust and meeting contract requirements.

How Bonds Differ from Insurance Policies

Insurance policies protect your business from financial loss. Bonds protect your clients from loss caused by your business.

Surety Bonds vs. Fidelity Bonds Explained

There are two main types of bonds for cleaning businesses.

• Janitorial bond: A janitorial bond (also called a fidelity bond or employee dishonesty bond) protects clients from theft or fraud committed by you or your employees. If one of your workers steals from a client’s home or business, the bond reimburses the client for their loss.

• Surety bond: A surety bond guarantees that you’ll fulfill the terms of your contract. If you fail to complete the work as agreed, the bond compensates the client. Surety bonds are less common for cleaning businesses but may be required for large commercial or government contracts.

What Happens When a Bond Claim Is Filed

Let’s say a client discovers that $2,000 in jewelry is missing after your team cleaned their home. They report the theft and file a claim against your janitorial bond.

The bonding company investigates the claim. If they determine the theft occurred and was committed by your employee, they will pay the client $2,000. But here’s the key difference from insurance: you’re then responsible for reimbursing the bonding company.

With insurance, you pay your premium, and the insurer accepts the risk. With bonds, you’re ultimately responsible for paying back any claims. This makes sense because bonds are about guaranteeing your trustworthiness, not protecting you from accidents.

Why Clients Require Bonded Cleaning Services

Being bonded signals to clients that you’re a legitimate, professional business that takes responsibility seriously.

Protection Against Employee Theft

Clients are inviting strangers into their homes and offices, often when no one is around. They’re trusting you with access to valuables, cash, electronics, and confidential information.

A janitorial bond provides clients with financial protection if trust is violated. It shows that a bonding company has vetted you and that claims will be paid if theft occurs.

Client Property Security Guarantees

According to cleaning industry resource guides, many clients won’t even consider hiring an unbonded cleaning service. The bond is proof that you’re taking client security seriously.

For residential clients, this peace of mind is worth paying slightly more for your services. For commercial clients, being bonded is often a non-negotiable contract requirement.

How to Get Bonded for Your Cleaning Business

Getting bonded is straightforward and less expensive compared to insurance policies.

Application Process and Requirements

To get a janitorial bond, you apply through a surety company or insurance provider. The application typically requires:

• Basic business information (name, address, structure)
• Personal information about you and any partners
• Credit check
• Background check

The bonding company also evaluates your financial statements, business details, resumes, and trustworthiness. Since you’re ultimately responsible for repaying any claims, they want assurance that you can do so.

Average Bonding Costs and Coverage Amounts

Most cleaning businesses start with a $5,000 to $10,000 bond, which costs $100 to $300 per year. That’s roughly $10 to $25 per month, which is a small price for the credibility and client confidence it provides.

Larger cleaning companies or those working on government contracts may require bonds of $25,000, $50,000, or even $100,000. The cost increases with the bond amount but still represents a small percentage of the total coverage.

Additional Coverage Options Worth Considering

Beyond the five essential policies we’ve covered, several additional insurance options may be suitable depending on your specific situation.

1. Business Owner’s Policy (BOP)—Bundle and Save

A Business Owner’s Policy bundles multiple coverage types into one package, usually at a discount compared to buying each separately.

What’s Included in a BOP

A typical BOP for cleaning businesses includes:

• General liability insurance
• Commercial property insurance for your business location and contents
• Business interruption insurance to replace income if you can’t operate temporarily

Some BOPs also include equipment coverage, so you might not need separate tools and equipment insurance.

When Bundling Makes Financial Sense

If you have a physical business location—an office, storefront, or warehouse—a BOP often saves money compared to purchasing general liability and property insurance separately.

Many insurance providers offer BOPs for cleaning businesses starting around $1,200 to $1,800 per year. When you evaluate the financial requirements of your business, bundled coverage can reduce your overall insurance costs by 10% to 25%.

2. Professional Liability Insurance (Errors and Omissions)

Professional liability insurance—also called errors and omissions (E&O) insurance—covers claims that you provided inadequate service or made mistakes that caused financial loss to a client.

While general liability covers physical damage and injuries, professional liability covers financial harm from poor service quality.

For example, you’re contracted to clean a medical office that must pass a health inspection. You miss cleaning certain areas, and the office fails its inspection, resulting in a two-week loss of business. The office sues you for lost revenue.

Professional liability insurance would cover your legal defense and any settlement or judgment in this case.

When E&O Protection Becomes Necessary

Most residential cleaning businesses don’t need E&O insurance. If you clean only houses and apartments, general liability is sufficient.

But if you offer specialized cleaning services such as medical facility cleaning, clean room services, or food service sanitation, E&O coverage becomes crucial. When clients rely on your expertise to maintain regulatory compliance, professional liability fills an important gap.

3. Commercial Umbrella Insurance

Umbrella insurance provides additional liability coverage beyond the limits of your base policies.

Let’s say you have a $1 million general liability policy. A serious accident at a client site results in injuries that lead to a $2.5 million judgment against your business.

Your general liability policy pays the first $1 million. Without umbrella insurance, you’re personally responsible for the remaining $1.5 million, which could bankrupt you and force you to close your business.

With a $2 million umbrella policy, the excess $1.5 million is covered.

When $1 Million in Coverage Isn’t Enough

Umbrella insurance typically costs $30 to $75 per month for $1 million to $2 million in additional coverage. It’s relatively less expensive because it only pays when your base policies are exhausted.

You might need umbrella insurance if:

• You work in high-value properties (luxury homes, upscale commercial buildings)
• Your contracts require liability limits above $1 million
• You’re expanding operations and want extra protection as you grow

Most small cleaning businesses don’t start with umbrella insurance, but it becomes a worthwhile consideration as your business grows and your potential liability increases.

How to Choose the Right Insurance Provider for Your Cleaning Business

Not all insurance providers are created equal. Some specialize in small business coverage and understand cleaning industry needs, while others treat you like any other general liability customer.

Several providers have built strong reputations for serving cleaning businesses specifically, and they include: 

• NEXT Insurance—Best for Digital-First Experience
• The Hartford—Best for Comprehensive Coverage
• Insurance Canopy—Best for Affordable Startup Coverage
• Thimble—Best for Part-Time and Gig Cleaners

1. NEXT Insurance—Best for Digital-First Experience

NEXT specializes in small business insurance with a completely digital experience. You can get quotes, purchase coverage, and download your certificate of insurance entirely online in about 10 minutes.

They offer:

• General liability starting around $40/month
• Workers’ comp with competitive rates
• Tools and equipment coverage
• 24/7 policy management via web or mobile app

NEXT works well if you want fast, convenient coverage without needing to talk to an agent. Their digital platform makes it easy to add additional insureds to your policy and generate certificates of insurance instantly, which is important when clients need proof of coverage quickly.

2. The Hartford—Best for Comprehensive Coverage

The Hartford is one of the largest and most established commercial insurers in the country. They’ve been in business for over 200 years and have financial strength ratings of A+ from AM Best.

For cleaning businesses, The Hartford offers:

• General liability and BOP packages
• Workers’ compensation
• Commercial auto insurance
• Umbrella policies

The Hartford tends to be slightly more expensive than digital-first providers, but you get the stability and reputation of a major insurer. Their Business Owner’s Policy for cleaning businesses averages $1,550 per year, providing solid coverage with strong financial backing.

3. Insurance Canopy—Best for Affordable Startup Coverage

This insurance platform is designed for the needs of small operators who need basic coverage at affordable prices. Insurance Canopy focuses specifically on service businesses like cleaning companies, and their pricing starts at about $39 per month for general liability, with instant certificate of insurance access and quick online quotes. 

They also offer bonding services, making it easy to get both insurance and bonds from one provider.

Insurance Canopy works particularly well for new cleaning businesses that need affordable protection while validating their business idea and building their client base.

4. Thimble—Best for Part-Time and Gig Cleaners

This is ideal for side hustlers who clean part-time or seasonal workers who don’t require year-round coverage because it offers flexible, on-demand insurance that you can purchase by the hour, day, or month. 

You can get coverage for a single day (starting around $15) or switch to monthly coverage if your business picks up. The flexibility means you’re not paying for insurance during periods when you’re not actively cleaning.

What to Look for in a Cleaning Insurance Provider

Beyond price, several factors should influence your decision about which insurance provider to choose.

1. Industry-Specific Coverage Understanding

Work with a provider that genuinely understands the cleaning business. They should know what coverage you need without needing you to repeatedly explain your business model.

Look for providers that offer prepackaged cleaning business insurance or have dedicated pages on their website for janitorial and cleaning services. This indicates they’ve developed expertise serving your industry.

2. Certificate of Insurance Speed and Accessibility

You need to be able to generate certificates of insurance quickly and easily. Some clients want to see proof of coverage before even giving you a quote for work.

Choose a provider that gives you instant access to certificates through an online portal or mobile app. Being able to generate and email a certificate in five minutes helps you move faster when pursuing new clients.

3. Additional Insured Endorsement Options

Many commercial clients will ask to be added to your policy as an “additional insured.” This gives them extra protection if something goes wrong on their property.

Some insurers charge fees every time you add an insured. Others include unlimited additional insured endorsements with your policy. If you work with multiple commercial clients, this difference matters.

Common Insurance Mistakes Cleaning Business Owners Make

Even when business owners understand they need insurance, they often make critical mistakes that leave them exposed or waste money unnecessarily.

1. Assuming Personal Policies Cover Business Activities

This is the number one mistake. Your personal auto insurance doesn’t cover business driving. Your homeowner’s insurance doesn’t cover business equipment, nor does your health insurance, which might not cover work-related injuries.

Operating under false assumptions about personal coverage is dangerous. If you file a claim and discover you’re not actually protected, it’s too late to fix the problem.

Before choosing a professional business name and launching your services, make sure you understand exactly what your personal policies do and don’t cover. Then purchase commercial insurance to fill the gaps.

2. Buying Too Little Insurance to Save Money

Going with the absolute bare minimum coverage to save $10 or $20 per month often backfires.

A $500,000 general liability limit might be cheaper than $1 million, but many clients won’t hire you without at least $1 million in coverage. You’ll lose out on better-paying jobs to save a few dollars on insurance.

Or consider workers’ comp. Some business owners try to classify employees as independent contractors to avoid buying coverage. When one of those workers gets injured and sues, you’ll spend $50,000 defending yourself to save $1,200 in annual premiums.

3. Forgetting to Update Policies as Your Business Grows

Your insurance needs change as your business evolves. You start as a solo operator, then hire employees, then add commercial vehicles, and then expand your service offerings.

Each change increases your risk exposure and often requires additional coverage. Review your insurance annually and update your policies to reflect your current operations.

Adding two employees without updating your workers’ comp policy could leave you exposed to six-figure liability. Purchasing a cargo van without adding it to your commercial auto policy means it’s uninsured.

4. Not Reading Policy Exclusions Before Signing

Every insurance policy has exclusions—specific situations or types of damage that aren’t covered. If you don’t know what’s excluded, you can’t plan around those gaps.

For example, most general liability policies exclude mold damage. If you use improper cleaning techniques that lead to mold growth in a client’s property, your claim might be denied.

Similarly, pollution exclusions mean that certain types of chemical contamination aren’t covered. Cyber liability exclusions mean data breaches aren’t covered by your general liability policy.

Read your policy documents, understand the exclusions, and purchase additional coverage if needed to fill important gaps.

Conclusion

Getting proper insurance for your cleaning business isn’t complicated, but it is essential. The five coverage types we’ve covered form the foundation of financial protection you need.

Start with general liability insurance before taking on your first client, then you can add workers’ comp as soon as you hire employees. And as your business grows and your needs expand, include commercial auto, equipment coverage, and bonding to ensure you’re fully financially protected from uninsured incidents. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need insurance to start a cleaning business?

Legally, it depends on your situation. If you’re a solo operator with no employees, most states don’t require you to carry insurance. However, practically speaking, you need insurance to run a legitimate, professional cleaning business. Most clients—especially commercial clients—require proof of insurance before they’ll hire you. 

How much does cleaning business insurance cost per month?

Monthly insurance costs vary based on your specific situation, but solo operators pay $40 to $65 per month for general liability insurance alone. Small businesses with one to three employees typically spend $250 to $350 per month for general liability, workers’ comp, and commercial auto coverage combined. 

Larger operations with five to ten employees might spend $600 to $1,000 per month for comprehensive coverage. So, your actual costs depend on your location, revenue, claims history, and the specific types of cleaning services you offer.

What’s the difference between being bonded and insured?

Insurance protects your business from financial loss when accidents happen—like property damage, injuries, or lawsuits. You pay premiums, and the insurance company accepts the risk and pays claims. 

Bonds, on the other hand, protect your clients from loss caused by your business—specifically from theft or fraud committed by you or your employees. 

When a bond claim is paid, you’re responsible for reimbursing the bonding company, and being “bonded and insured” signals to clients that you’re a trustworthy, professional operation that takes both accident prevention and theft prevention seriously.

Can I get insurance for my cleaning business if I work alone?

Absolutely. Solo cleaning business owners should carry at least general liability insurance to protect against property damage and injury claims. Commercial auto insurance is also important if you drive to client locations. 

While you’re not legally required to carry workers’ compensation insurance for yourself in most states, it’s worth considering because your personal health insurance might deny claims for work-related injuries. 

Many insurance providers specialize in coverage for self-employed cleaners and sole proprietors with policies starting around $40 to $60 per month.