What if I accidentally break something in a client's home?

GL covers property damage — but there is a critical exclusion called 'care, custody, and control.' If you break something while you're holding it or specifically cleaning it, the GL exclusion may apply (because it's in your care). To close this gap, add a property damage coverage endorsement (also called 'care, custody, and control coverage') to your GL policy. This specifically covers items you break while cleaning. Cost to add: typically $15–$30/month. Worth every dollar — breaking a high-end item (antique vase, TV, custom mirror) can cost $1,000–$10,000+ without coverage.

Do I need workers' comp for cleaning employees?

Yes — in virtually all states, WC is legally required once you have employees. Cleaning work has significant injury exposure: back and shoulder injuries from lifting and repetitive motion, slips and falls on wet surfaces, chemical burns or respiratory issues from cleaning products, and cuts from sharp objects encountered during cleaning. Without WC, you pay medical bills and lost wages directly — and in states without mandatory WC (only Texas is truly optional), you still lose tort defenses if sued by an injured employee. WC premiums for cleaning class codes run $5–$12 per $100 of payroll — a significant cost that must be factored into your pricing.

Does my personal auto policy cover driving to cleaning jobs?

Typically no — personal auto policies exclude commercial use. If you drive your personal car to client homes for cleaning jobs, this is a business activity. If you're in an accident driving to or from a cleaning job, your personal auto insurer may deny the claim citing business use exclusion. Solution: add a business use endorsement to your personal auto policy ($10–$25/month more) or get commercial auto coverage. If employees drive personal vehicles to cleaning jobs, you need hired and non-owned auto liability (HNOA) coverage on your business policy.

How much does cleaning business insurance cost per month?

Solo house cleaner (GL $1M + janitorial bond): $40–$80/month. This is the minimum viable coverage for a self-employed cleaner. Add property damage endorsement: $55–$100/month. Cleaning business with 3–5 cleaners (GL + WC + bond): $200–$400/month. Cleaning company with 10+ employees and vehicles: $600–$1,500/month (GL + WC + commercial auto + crime). Commercial janitorial (office/facility cleaning, which carries higher WC rates than residential): $400–$900/month for small operations. Residential cleaning is one of the lower-cost industries to insure at the solo level — affordability is no excuse for operating uninsured and unbonded.

What if I accidentally break something in a client's home?

GL covers property damage — but there is a critical exclusion called 'care, custody, and control.' If you break something while you're holding it or specifically cleaning it, the GL exclusion may apply (because it's in your care). To close this gap, add a property damage coverage endorsement (also called 'care, custody, and control coverage') to your GL policy. This specifically covers items you break while cleaning. Cost to add: typically $15–$30/month. Worth every dollar — breaking a high-end item (antique vase, TV, custom mirror) can cost $1,000–$10,000+ without coverage.

Do I need workers' comp for cleaning employees?

Yes — in virtually all states, WC is legally required once you have employees. Cleaning work has significant injury exposure: back and shoulder injuries from lifting and repetitive motion, slips and falls on wet surfaces, chemical burns or respiratory issues from cleaning products, and cuts from sharp objects encountered during cleaning. Without WC, you pay medical bills and lost wages directly — and in states without mandatory WC (only Texas is truly optional), you still lose tort defenses if sued by an injured employee. WC premiums for cleaning class codes run $5–$12 per $100 of payroll — a significant cost that must be factored into your pricing.

Does my personal auto policy cover driving to cleaning jobs?

Typically no — personal auto policies exclude commercial use. If you drive your personal car to client homes for cleaning jobs, this is a business activity. If you're in an accident driving to or from a cleaning job, your personal auto insurer may deny the claim citing business use exclusion. Solution: add a business use endorsement to your personal auto policy ($10–$25/month more) or get commercial auto coverage. If employees drive personal vehicles to cleaning jobs, you need hired and non-owned auto liability (HNOA) coverage on your business policy.

How much does cleaning business insurance cost per month?

Solo house cleaner (GL $1M + janitorial bond): $40–$80/month. This is the minimum viable coverage for a self-employed cleaner. Add property damage endorsement: $55–$100/month. Cleaning business with 3–5 cleaners (GL + WC + bond): $200–$400/month. Cleaning company with 10+ employees and vehicles: $600–$1,500/month (GL + WC + commercial auto + crime). Commercial janitorial (office/facility cleaning, which carries higher WC rates than residential): $400–$900/month for small operations. Residential cleaning is one of the lower-cost industries to insure at the solo level — affordability is no excuse for operating uninsured and unbonded.

Household & Personal Services

Business Insurance for Cleaners

You accidentally break a client's $2,000 vase. A cleaning chemical damages a hardwood floor. An employee pockets a piece of jewelry. Residential cleaning is trust-based work — and insurance and bonding are the foundation of that trust.

$40–$150/ monthSolo house cleaner (GL + bond only): $40–$80/month. Small cleaning business (2–5 cleaners, add WC): $150–$350/month. Residential cleaning company (10+ cleaners, multiple vans): $500–$1,200/month. Commercial cleaning/janitorial (higher WC rates): $400–$900/month for small commercial operations.

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Coverage Types for Cleaners

These are the key insurance policies most relevant to your business type — ranked by importance.

🛡️

General Liability

Required

The baseline coverage for any cleaning business. Covers property damage (accidentally breaking a client's belongings, chemical damage to floors or surfaces) and bodily injury (client trips over your equipment or bucket). Many homeowners and property managers require proof of GL insurance before allowing cleaners into their homes.

🔒

Janitorial Bond (Dishonesty Bond)

Required

A janitorial bond is a surety bond that protects your clients if an employee steals from them. It is NOT insurance — it's a financial guarantee. Clients regularly ask 'are you bonded and insured?' — bonding is the theft protection component of that question. Typically $5,000–$25,000 per employee, low annual cost.

🏠

Property Damage Coverage

Highly Recommended

Standard GL covers property damage but with a 'care, custody, and control' exclusion — if you're cleaning a client's home and break something you're handling, the GL exclusion may apply. A property damage endorsement specifically for items in your care closes this gap.

👷

Workers' Compensation

Required

Cleaning involves physical labor, chemical exposure, ladder use, repetitive motion, and slip-and-fall risk. WC is legally required in most states once you have employees. The #1 WC claim category for cleaning businesses is muscle strains from repetitive lifting and bending.

🚗

Commercial Auto

Recommended

If you drive to client homes in your personal vehicle, or if employees drive company or personal vehicles to cleaning jobs, commercial auto coverage (or business use endorsement) is necessary. Personal auto policies typically exclude business use.

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What You Need to Know

→The two most common questions from clients: 'Are you bonded AND insured?' — bonding covers employee theft, insurance covers property damage and liability. You need both.
→Chemical damage to floors, counters, or surfaces is the #1 property damage claim for house cleaners — use client intake checklists to document surface types and approved cleaning products to prevent claims.
→The 'care, custody, and control' exclusion in GL can leave cleaning businesses exposed when they break a client's items — a property damage endorsement specifically covers items you're handling.
→Misclassifying cleaners as independent contractors when they function as employees creates WC liability — many cleaning businesses face back-premium audits from state WC boards when cleaners are reclassified.
→If clients provide keys or access codes, document every access in writing and use a sign-in/sign-out log — security incidents involving cleaning businesses without access documentation are difficult to defend.

What Does It Cost?

$40–$150per month

Solo house cleaner (GL + bond only): $40–$80/month. Small cleaning business (2–5 cleaners, add WC): $150–$350/month. Residential cleaning company (10+ cleaners, multiple vans): $500–$1,200/month. Commercial cleaning/janitorial (higher WC rates): $400–$900/month for small commercial operations.

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Frequently Asked Questions

'Bonded and insured' refers to two different protections: (1) Insured means you carry GL insurance, which covers property damage and bodily injury claims. If your cleaner breaks a mirror or damages a floor, GL pays the claim. (2) Bonded means you carry a janitorial surety bond, which protects clients against employee theft. If a cleaner steals jewelry or electronics, the bond pays the client directly. Both are required for professional credibility in the residential cleaning market. Clients who ask this question are specifically asking about theft protection (bond) plus liability coverage (insurance). Solo cleaners can get GL + bond for $40–$80/month.

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