Last Updated on October 22, 2026 by Syed Sarim Naqvi
Cleaning business insurance is a bundle of small-business policies, mainly general liability for accidental damage and injuries, workers’ compensation once you have staff and a janitorial bond for theft, with general liability averaging about $42 to $60 a month and workers’ compensation $89 to $143 a month depending on the dataset. A bond, not insurance, is what repays a client if an employee steals.
Key Takeaways
- General liability medians range from about $30 to $60 a month across Simply Business, Insureon and TechInsurance datasets, depending on whether the business is a house cleaner or a janitorial firm
- Workers’ compensation is the largest line, typically $89 to $143 a month for janitorial firms and about $92 to $116 for house cleaners
- A janitorial bond costs roughly $9 to $10 a month and reimburses clients for theft, which liability insurance does not
- A BOP bundling liability and property averages about $76 a month in one guide
- Many commercial cleaning contracts require additional insured endorsements and sometimes umbrella limits
What Is Cleaning Business Insurance?
It protects maid services, janitorial companies and similar firms against the everyday risks of working inside other people’s property. Insureon explains that general liability pays legal fees if a client slips on a wet floor or if a cleaner damages furniture or flooring.
Insurance or Bond: What Is the Difference?
Insurance pays for accidents and negligence. A janitorial bond, sometimes called a fidelity bond, reimburses clients if a cleaner steals money or property. Connecteam notes that if you cannot repay a bond claim, the bonding company compensates the client up to an agreed amount and then you repay the bonding company, so a bond is a form of client assurance, not protection for you.
| Coverage | Protects | Reported Cost per Month |
|---|---|---|
| General liability | Client injury and property damage | About $30 to $60 depending on dataset |
| Workers’ compensation | Staff injuries and lost wages | About $89 to $143 |
| Janitorial bond | Client reimbursement for theft | About $9 to $10 |
| Commercial auto | Company vehicles | About $165 in one janitorial dataset |
| Commercial umbrella | Higher liability limits | About $67 |
| BOP | Liability plus property | About $76 in one guide |
How Much Does It Cost?
Insureon reports janitorial general liability at $60 a month ($725 a year) and workers’ compensation at $114 a month, and house cleaning at $51 a month ($608) and $100 a month ($1,204). TechInsurance reports $50 a month for janitorial general liability, $143 for workers’ compensation and $165 for commercial auto, and $44 and $116 for house cleaners. Simply Business reports lower medians of $42 and $89 for janitorial, and $30 and $92 for housekeeping, with a whole-package median of $33 a month for cleaning businesses. Connecteam estimates $320 to $675 a month for a full package. The spread comes from different datasets and business sizes, so use these as benchmarks.
- Type of cleaning: pressure washing costs more than house cleaning in one guide ($75 against $44 a month)
- Number of employees and subcontractors
- Limits chosen: $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate is the common choice
- Additional insured endorsements required by client contracts
What About Workers’ Compensation?
Insureon notes workers’ compensation covers medical expenses and disability benefits for work-related injury or illness. Insureon’s cleaning guide says it is required in almost every state for businesses with employees, though thresholds vary.
Do You Need Insurance If You Work Alone?
Connecteam says even if you work alone you need general liability to protect yourself from accidental damage or injuries. The same logic applies to sole traders cleaning offices or homes, where one broken item can exceed a year of premiums.
How Does This Fit With Other Small-Business Cover?
Compare it with Landscaping and Lawn Care Insurance Explained, Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance Explained and Business Interruption Insurance Explained.
FAQ
How much does cleaning business insurance cost?
General liability is typically about $30 to $60 a month, and a full package including workers’ compensation can run several hundred dollars a month.
What is a janitorial bond?
A guarantee that reimburses clients if an employee steals, usually costing about $9 to $10 a month.
Does general liability cover theft by employees?
Generally no. Employee theft is addressed by a bond or crime cover.
Do house cleaners need workers’ compensation?
If you have employees, in most states yes, with house cleaning averages around $92 to $116 a month in the datasets cited.
Why do clients ask for additional insured status?
Commercial contracts often require it so the client is protected under your policy, and it can slightly raise cost.
Is a BOP worth it?
For businesses with a physical location, a BOP bundles liability and property at a lower rate than buying them separately.
Glossary
- Janitorial Bond: client protection against employee theft.
- General Liability: cover for third-party injury and property damage.
- Additional Insured: a client named on your policy.
- BOP: business owner’s policy.
Sources
- Insureon: Janitorial Insurance Costs (janitorial medians)
- Insureon: House Cleaning Insurance Costs (house cleaning medians, bond cost)
- TechInsurance: Janitorial Business Insurance Costs (alternative dataset, auto and umbrella)
- TechInsurance: House Cleaner Business Insurance Costs (house cleaning dataset)
- Simply Business: Janitorial Insurance Cost and Coverage (lower medians)
- Simply Business: Cleaning Insurance Cost and Coverage (housekeeping medians)
- Connecteam: Complete Guide to Cleaning Business Insurance (bond mechanics, full-package range)
- ContractorPlus: How Much Is Insurance for a Cleaning Business? (BOP average)
Published October 2026. Prices and state rules vary; confirm with an insurance professional and refresh this article periodically.
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