Q: What insurance does a cleaning business actually need?

Three things, in order: General liability ($1M minimum) for property damage and third-party injury — required by virtually every commercial contract; a janitorial/dishonesty bond ($10K–$25K) for theft protection when employees are in client homes or offices; and workers comp as soon as you hire anyone (mandatory in almost every state). Tools/equipment coverage and commercial auto are smart add-ons once you scale.

Q: How do I price residential vs commercial cleaning?

Residential : flat rate per home is cleanest ($120–$300 for a 2,000 sqft house, biweekly). Hourly ($30–$50) is common starting out but penalizes efficiency. Commercial : bid by square footage ($0.05–$0.25/sqft monthly for office; $0.15–$0.45/sqft for medical or restaurant) or per-cleaning. Read how to bid commercial cleaning jobs for the full pricing framework.

Q: What's the fastest way to land my first 10 cleaning clients?

Three channels do 90% of the work: Google Business Profile with 5+ reviews ranks for 'cleaning service near me' faster than you'd expect; Nextdoor posts in your service area (single helpful answer per week, never spam); and flyers in your immediate neighborhood (literal door hangers in the 10 closest streets to your house). Skip Yelp ads — the ROI is terrible for cleaning. See our first-10-clients playbook .

Q: How do I deal with damaged property claims (broken vase, scratched floor)?

Three-step process: 1) Tell the client immediately — never wait for them to find it. 2) Document with photos and a written incident note in your records. 3) Decide whether to pay out of pocket or file a claim. For damage under $500, paying directly preserves your insurance rate. Above that, file with your GL. Carry a 'small breakage fund' of $500–$1,000 in your business account specifically for this.

Question 1

What insurance does a cleaning business actually need?

Accepted Answer

Three things, in order: General liability ($1M minimum) for property damage and third-party injury — required by virtually every commercial contract; a janitorial/dishonesty bond ($10K–$25K) for theft protection when employees are in client homes or offices; and workers comp as soon as you hire anyone (mandatory in almost every state). Tools/equipment coverage and commercial auto are smart add-ons once you scale.

Question 2

How much does cleaning business insurance cost?

Accepted Answer

Solo residential cleaners typically pay $400–$700/year for $1M GL. Add a janitorial bond for about $100/year. Workers comp varies by state and payroll but starts around $1,500/year for a 2-person crew. Commercial accounts often require $2M GL ($600–$1,200/year) and proof of workers comp before they'll let you in the door.

Question 3

Do I need a license to start a cleaning business?

Accepted Answer

In most states, no specific cleaning license — but you do need: a general business license from your city or county (usually $50–$200/year), sales tax registration if your state taxes cleaning services (varies widely — check your state department of revenue), and possibly an EIN if you'll hire employees or want a business bank account. Pressure-washing and carpet-cleaning sometimes need additional environmental permits.

Question 4

How do I price residential vs commercial cleaning?

Accepted Answer

Residential: flat rate per home is cleanest ($120–$300 for a 2,000 sqft house, biweekly). Hourly ($30–$50) is common starting out but penalizes efficiency. Commercial: bid by square footage ($0.05–$0.25/sqft monthly for office; $0.15–$0.45/sqft for medical or restaurant) or per-cleaning. Read how to bid commercial cleaning jobs for the full pricing framework.

Question 5

What's the fastest way to land my first 10 cleaning clients?

Accepted Answer

Three channels do 90% of the work: Google Business Profile with 5+ reviews ranks for 'cleaning service near me' faster than you'd expect; Nextdoor posts in your service area (single helpful answer per week, never spam); and flyers in your immediate neighborhood (literal door hangers in the 10 closest streets to your house). Skip Yelp ads — the ROI is terrible for cleaning. See our first-10-clients playbook.

Question 6

Should I structure my cleaning business as an LLC or sole proprietor?

Accepted Answer

LLC, almost always. Cleaning involves chemical exposure, slip-and-fall risk, and home access — all of which create liability that can pierce personal assets if you're a sole prop. LLC filing is $50–$300/year depending on state, and a single avoided lawsuit makes it worth decades of premiums. Read our breakdown: LLC vs sole proprietor.

Question 7

How do I deal with damaged property claims (broken vase, scratched floor)?

Accepted Answer

Three-step process: 1) Tell the client immediately — never wait for them to find it. 2) Document with photos and a written incident note in your records. 3) Decide whether to pay out of pocket or file a claim. For damage under $500, paying directly preserves your insurance rate. Above that, file with your GL. Carry a 'small breakage fund' of $500–$1,000 in your business account specifically for this.

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