Business insurance • Cleaning and janitorial
Cleaning Business Insurance: Coverage, Janitorial Bonds, and Cost
Cleaning business insurance usually starts with general liability, which pays if you damage a client’s property or someone is hurt by your work, plus a janitorial bond that reimburses clients if an employee steals. Insureon’s cleaning customers pay a median of about $59 a month for general liability and $9 a month for a janitorial bond.
This guide covers the policies house cleaners, janitorial services, and commercial cleaning companies commonly carry, what clients ask for, and what it costs.
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Coverage cleaning businesses need
| Coverage | What it covers | Median per month |
|---|---|---|
| General liability | Damage to a client’s property, slip-and-fall injuries from wet floors | $59 |
| Janitorial bond | Reimburses a client if an employee steals; you repay the surety | $9 |
| Workers’ compensation | Employee injuries, such as strains and chemical exposure | $114 |
| Business owner’s policy | General liability plus your equipment and supplies | $81 |
| Commercial auto | Vans and vehicles used for the business | $250 |
| Commercial umbrella | Extra liability above your other policies | $76 |
Source: Insureon cleaning business cost data (updated Oct. 2026). Medians, not quotes.
Janitorial bond vs. insurance
A janitorial bond, also called employee dishonesty coverage, protects your client, not you. If an employee steals from a customer, the surety reimburses the customer and you must repay the surety (Insureon cleaning business cost data (updated Oct. 2026)). Some contracts require a bond, and many customers prefer to hire cleaners who are “bonded and insured.” Bond cost is a small percentage of the bond amount. See janitorial bonds.
What commercial clients ask for
- A certificate of insurance with general liability limits, commonly $1 million per occurrence
- Additional insured status and sometimes a waiver of subrogation
- A janitorial bond of a stated amount
- Proof of workers’ comp if you have employees
How cleaning businesses can keep costs down
- Train staff on chemicals, ladders, and wet-floor signage, and document it.
- Screen and background-check employees, which also supports bonding.
- Bundle general liability and property in a BOP if you own equipment.
- Keep claims-free records and update payroll estimates so your workers’ comp audit isn’t a surprise.
Common claim scenarios and which policy responds
| Scenario | Policy that usually responds |
|---|---|
| A client slips on a floor you just mopped | General liability |
| An employee hurts their back moving furniture | Workers’ compensation |
| An employee steals jewelry from a client’s home | Janitorial bond or employee dishonesty coverage |
| Your van rear-ends another car on the way to a job | Commercial auto |
| Your floor machine is stolen from your vehicle | Tools and equipment coverage |
Coverage depends on the policy wording, so read exclusions and ask your agent how a claim like each of these would be handled.
Residential vs. commercial cleaning
- Residential: clients worry most about theft and broken belongings. A janitorial bond helps with theft, and you should ask whether your general liability covers damage to items you are cleaning, since many policies exclude property in your “care, custody, or control” unless an endorsement adds it back.
- Commercial: building owners and property managers usually require a certificate of insurance, additional insured status, sometimes a waiver of subrogation, and higher limits, which an umbrella policy can provide.
Hiring helpers: employees or contractors?
In Arizona, employers with employees generally must carry workers’ compensation (A.R.S. § 23-902). Calling cleaners “contractors” doesn’t settle it; if you set their schedules and supply the equipment, they may be treated as employees, and a workers’ comp audit can add premium for them later. See independent contractor insurance and Arizona workers’ comp.
Cleaning business insurance FAQs
What insurance does a cleaning business need?
Most start with general liability and a janitorial bond, then add workers’ comp once they hire and commercial auto for business vehicles.
How much is insurance for a cleaning business?
Insureon reports medians of about $59 a month for general liability, $81 for a BOP, and $114 for workers’ comp for cleaning businesses.
What does bonded and insured mean for cleaners?
Insured means you carry liability coverage; bonded means you have a janitorial bond that reimburses clients for employee theft.
Does general liability cover theft by my employee?
No. Employee theft from clients is what a janitorial bond is for.
Do I need insurance to clean houses as a sole proprietor?
It isn’t always legally required, but general liability and a janitorial bond are often expected by clients and protect your own assets.
Does my policy cover damage to items I’m cleaning?
Not always. Many general liability policies exclude property in your care, custody, or control unless an endorsement adds coverage.
Related guides
Important information
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Independent agency. Blake Insurance Group LLC is an independent insurance agency. Licensed insurance producer NPN 16944666. Licensed states: AZ, AL, TX, CA, NY, OH, FL, NC, VA, GA, OK, NM, IA, KS, MI, NE, SC, SD, WV, IL, NJ, PA, TN, and WA. Which insurance companies we can quote depends on our current appointments, the product, and your state. Mentioning a company on this page does not mean we represent it.
Cost figures. Published averages and ranges are cited from the sources named, as of the dates shown. They are not quotes and may not reflect your price, which depends on the insurer, your state, your business, your payroll and revenue, your limits, and your claims history.
Availability. Coverage, prices, discounts, and eligibility vary by insurer, state, and applicant, and are subject to underwriting. The issued policy controls.
Your next step
Tell us about your cleaning business, and a licensed agent will help you compare coverage and bonds from the insurers we offer in your state.
