The Eva team
Your AI general manager
Cleaning business insurance is the unglamorous purchase that separates a real business from a hobby, and it is the one thing you should never skip. One broken antique, one slip on a wet floor, one missing piece of jewelry, and you can face a claim that wipes out a year of profit. The right coverage costs less than you think and does more than protect you: being insured and bonded is often what wins you the contract over a cheaper competitor. Here is exactly what you need and why.
General liability: the non-negotiable
General liability insurance is the foundation. It covers the everyday accidents of cleaning: the vase your cleaner knocks over, the hardwood you scratch, the client who slips on a floor you just mopped. Without it, those costs come straight out of your pocket, and they can be large.
For a solo cleaner, general liability often runs 40 to 80 dollars a month, or a few hundred dollars a year. That is cheap insurance against a claim that could end your business. Carry it from your very first paid job, not from when you feel established. Most policies offer one to two million dollars in coverage, which is also the amount many commercial clients require before they will hire you.
Bonding: trust you can prove
A janitorial bond, often called being 'bonded,' protects your client if an employee steals from them. It is not insurance for you, it is a guarantee for them, and that is exactly why it matters. When a client lets you into their home or office with no one watching, being bonded tells them they are protected if something goes wrong.
Bonds are inexpensive, often 100 to 300 dollars a year for a small business. The real value is in marketing: 'licensed, bonded, and insured' is a phrase that closes hesitant clients and is frequently required to even bid on office and commercial work.
Workers comp: the moment you hire
As long as you are solo, you generally do not need workers compensation. The moment you hire your first employee, that changes. Most states legally require workers comp once you have employees, and cleaning is physical work: strained backs, slips, and chemical exposure are real risks.
Workers comp covers your employee's medical bills and lost wages if they are hurt on the job, and it shields you from being sued personally for that injury. The cost varies by state and payroll, but skipping it where it is required can mean steep fines on top of the claim. Factor it into your numbers before you hire, and read hiring your first cleaner so the whole step goes smoothly.
What else you might need
A few additional coverages come up as you grow:
- Commercial auto insurance once you use a vehicle for the business, since personal policies often exclude business use
- Equipment coverage if you invest in expensive machines like extractors or buffers
- A business owners policy (BOP) that bundles liability and property coverage, often cheaper than buying separately
Why insurance wins you contracts
Here is the part owners miss: insurance is not just protection, it is a sales tool. Property managers, offices, real estate agents, and discerning homeowners almost always ask if you are insured and bonded before they hire. A cheaper, uninsured competitor cannot answer yes. You can.
Put 'licensed, bonded, and insured' on your quotes, your website, and your Google Business Profile. It signals professionalism, removes the client's biggest fear, and routinely justifies a higher price. The coverage that protects you also helps you charge more.
How to buy it without overpaying
Get quotes from two or three insurers that specialize in small business or janitorial coverage, and ask specifically about a BOP to bundle. Match your coverage to your real risk: start with general liability and a bond, add workers comp when you hire, and layer the rest as you grow. Do not over-insure on day one, but never under-insure on the basics.
Let Eva handle the back office
Insurance protects the downside. Eva builds the upside: she quotes leads, books jobs, fills your schedule, messages clients, sends reminders, invoices, and chases payment, and she can carry your 'bonded and insured' message right into every quote so it works as the selling point it is. You can try Eva free and let her run the business side while your coverage handles the risk.