Do You Need Insurance to Start a Cleaning Business?

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Starting a cleaning business can be an exciting venture, but it's essential to consider the potential risks involved. You might be wondering if you need insurance to start a cleaning business, and the answer is yes, it's highly recommended.

Typically, cleaning businesses require liability insurance to protect themselves against accidents or damages caused to clients' properties. This type of insurance can help cover medical expenses or property repairs if something goes wrong.

As a cleaning business owner, you'll be responsible for hiring employees, and workers' compensation insurance is often required by law to cover work-related injuries or illnesses. This insurance can help ensure your employees receive the medical attention they need without financial burden.

Having the right insurance coverage can give you peace of mind and help you build trust with your clients, who will appreciate knowing you have a plan in place to handle unexpected situations.

Types of Insurance

You'll want to consider various types of insurance for your cleaning business, including commercial auto insurance if you own a vehicle. This is a must-have, regardless of your location.

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You might be required by law to have specific types of insurance, depending on your state. Research your state's requirements using an online tool to ensure you're complying with regulations.

Even if you're not required to have certain types of insurance, it's still a good idea to have them. Insurance is protection, and it's better to be safe than sorry.

Some types of insurance policies you may want to consider include those that safeguard your company at any level of its development. This can include general liability insurance, business owner's policy, and workers' compensation insurance.

A fidelity bond, also known as an employee dishonesty bond, is a type of insurance that protects your customers from property theft. This bond pays your client directly in the event of a theft or property loss, up to the maximum amount purchased.

Benefits of Having Insurance

Having insurance for your cleaning business is a no-brainer. Business insurance comes with significant benefits, including protecting your business and personal finances from unexpected losses.

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You need business insurance to minimize potential loss and avoid taking unnecessary risks. Every time you go to a client site, there's a chance something could go wrong, putting you and your staff at risk of personal harm or property damage.

Insurance can help you avoid costly expenses, including those associated with non-compliance with state laws that require certain types of insurance. You certainly don't want to incur unnecessary expenses due to non-compliance.

A good workers' compensation policy is essential for protecting your staff. They know they'll be protected if anything happens on the job, making them more likely to feel secure and valued in their role.

Having business insurance gives you peace of mind, knowing that your company is protected against unexpected events. Accidents can happen, and business insurance is your protection against costly losses.

Getting the Right Insurance

As a cleaning business owner, you'll need to protect yourself from potential liabilities and financial losses.

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Liability insurance is a must-have for cleaning businesses, covering damages to customers' property and injuries to workers or customers.

You can expect to pay around $500 to $2,000 per year for liability insurance, depending on the size and scope of your business.

It's essential to choose an insurance policy that covers both general liability and workers' compensation, as these are the most common types of claims for cleaning businesses.

A good insurance policy will also include a business umbrella policy, which provides additional protection beyond the limits of your standard policy.

Remember to review and update your insurance policy regularly to ensure you're adequately covered as your business grows.

First Steps

If you're sold on the idea of insurance for your cleaning business, you can start the process right away. You can use a free online tool to see what business insurance you're required to carry.

First, take stock of your initial assets. Do you have a work vehicle or equipment that you've invested in? Knowing what you'd be protecting with insurance makes it easier to decide if it's warranted.

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Conduct a little competitive analysis by browsing your competition's websites. If they mention being bonded, potential customers in your area may expect that too.

Review your business plan to see if you've already budgeted for minimal coverage. If you have, that can make this decision easy.

Here are some key questions to ask yourself as you get started:

  • What business insurance, if any, am I required to carry?
  • What assets do I need to protect with insurance?
  • Does my competition offer bonded services?
  • Is there room in my business plan for minimal coverage?

Policy Details

A business owner's policy can bundle general liability coverage with commercial property insurance at a lower rate than buying these policies separately. This can help protect your business against the most common liability and property lawsuits.

The cost of a business owner's policy mostly depends on the value of your business property, as well as your business's size and location.

General liability insurance is a must-have for all businesses, paying out to clients, vendors, and other third parties who suffer property damage or bodily injury caused by your company. Workers' compensation insurance is also required in most states for employees, and some may also need to provide coverage for contractors.

Here are the top insurance policies bought by cleaning businesses and contractors, along with their average monthly costs:

Auto

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Auto insurance is a must-have for cleaning businesses, especially if you have company vehicles or employees who drive to job sites. For example, if your cleaning business has a work van or truck to transport employees and cleaning supplies, you'll need a commercial auto policy.

The average cost of commercial auto insurance for cleaning businesses is $173 per month, or $2,075 per year. This coverage helps pay for medical expenses, property repairs, and legal fees in case of an accident.

Most states require commercial auto insurance for vehicles owned by a business. If you get into an accident, it can help pay for damages and other expenses. Keep in mind that sole proprietors and independent contractors who drive their own vehicle for work will need extra coverage as well.

Hired and non-owned auto insurance (HNOA) is an additional coverage that provides liability protection for personal, leased, and rented vehicles driven for work purposes. This is important to consider, as your personal auto policy won't cover work-related accidents.

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Here are some key factors that insurance companies consider when determining the cost of a commercial auto policy:

  • Employees' driving records
  • Policy limits and deductibles
  • Number of vehicles owned and their value
  • Coverage options chosen

By understanding these factors and the importance of commercial auto insurance, you can better protect your cleaning business and assets.

Interruption

Interruption can be a major setback for your business. Business interruption insurance covers lost wages, lost revenue, and bills if you have to stop operations due to an event like a fire or natural disaster.

You're protected against covered events such as wind, lightning, fire, and theft. This type of insurance can also be bundled with your general liability policy.

What Is Covered?

Cleaning business insurance protects your company and assets in case of the unexpected, including natural disasters and claims of property damage. Most businesses need several policies, which you can purchase separately or all at once.

Some common risks that cleaning companies face include employees getting hurt or sick on the job, accidentally breaking or damaging client possessions, employees stealing from clients, and company vehicles getting involved in traffic accidents.

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Here are some common types of business insurance that your cleaning business may need to protect against those risks:

A business owner's policy typically includes general liability insurance, commercial property insurance, and business interruption insurance coverage.

Insurance for Your Business

Starting a cleaning business can be an exciting venture, but it's essential to consider the financial risks involved. You'll want to protect your business from potential lawsuits and financial losses.

General liability insurance is a must-have for cleaning companies, covering property damage or bodily injury claims made against your business. This type of insurance also protects your business from libel, slander, and lawsuits.

If you're just starting out, you can start with general liability and workers' comp insurance. Estimated premiums for general liability insurance vary between $400 and $800 each year.

Having general liability insurance can also help you get hired by vendors who require a certificate of liability. This can be a major selling point for your business, demonstrating to clients that you're reliable and trustworthy.

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Some cleaning services that should review their risk include carpet cleaners, commercial cleaning services, housekeeping services, janitorial services, laundry services, maid services, moving cleaners, and office cleaners.

To get an accurate picture of how much insurance coverage could cost for your company, you can request a quote from a local insurance professional. They may ask questions about your business, such as how many employees you have, your claims history, and what state you operate in.

Here are some common coverage types for cleaning professionals:

  • General liability insurance
  • Workers' comp insurance
  • Bonding insurance

By considering these insurance options, you can protect your cleaning business from potential risks and financial losses.

Policy Costs and Options

Policy costs for cleaning businesses vary based on the size of the company and the type of work they do. For example, window cleaning is likely to be riskier than house cleaning.

The median price of general liability insurance for a cleaning business is less than $45 per month or $530 per year. You can also bundle policies to save money, such as adding commercial property and business interruption insurance to your general liability policy.

Here are the top insurance policies bought by cleaning businesses and contractors, along with their average monthly costs:

  • General liability insurance: $48 per month
  • Business owner's policy: $76 per month
  • Workers' compensation insurance: $136 per month
  • Commercial auto insurance: $173 per month
  • Commercial umbrella insurance: $67 per month
  • Janitorial bonds: $11 per month

Policy Costs

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Policy costs can be a significant expense for cleaning businesses, but there are ways to save. Bundling policies can be cheaper than buying individual policies.

The average monthly cost of general liability insurance is $48, while business owner's policy costs an average of $76 per month. Workers' compensation insurance is the most expensive policy, with an average monthly cost of $136.

You can save money by shopping around and comparing insurance quotes from different providers. This can help you find the best rates for your business.

Here are some average monthly costs for different types of insurance policies:

The cost of a business owner's policy depends on the value of your business property, as well as your business's size and location. Janitorial bonds are relatively inexpensive, with a median price of $8 per month.

Nationwide: Best for

Nationwide is a great option for cleaning businesses that need fidelity bonds. They offer business service bonds that can pay out if an employee is accused of stealing from a client.

Nationwide also allows you to add equipment breakdown coverage to a Business Owners Policy (BOP), which is especially useful if your business uses valuable equipment.

You can get a quote from Nationwide, but you'll need to call your agent or the company directly to buy coverage online.

Starting Your Business

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You can get affordable business insurance and bonding in just three easy steps with TechInsurance. Fill out their free online insurance application with details about your business.

First, see what business insurance, if any, you're required to carry. You can use TechInsurance's convenient, free tool to do the legwork for you.

Take stock of your initial assets, such as a work vehicle or equipment, to decide if insurance is warranted.

To get started, you can also conduct a little competitive analysis. Browse some of your competition's websites to see if they mention being bonded, which may be expected by potential customers in your area.

You can get insured within 24 hours of applying for quotes with TechInsurance.

First Steps

Starting a business can be a thrilling but overwhelming experience. You're not alone if you're feeling a bit lost. To get your business up and running, you need to take care of the basics first.

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First, check if you're required to carry business insurance. You can use a free tool to do the legwork for you and find out what's necessary.

Next, take stock of your initial assets. This includes any work vehicles, equipment, or other valuable items you've invested in. Knowing what you'd be protecting makes it easier to decide if insurance is warranted.

Conduct a little research on your competition. Browse their websites and see if they mention being bonded. If they do, potential customers in your area may expect that from you too.

Review your business plan to see if you've already budgeted for minimal coverage. If you have, that can make this decision easy.

How to Start

To start your business, you'll want to get insured. You can find affordable business insurance and bonding in just three easy steps with TechInsurance.

First, fill out a free online insurance application with details about your business. This will give you a chance to customize your insurance quotes.

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Next, compare custom business insurance quotes from top-rated U.S. companies in real-time. This way, you can choose the best policies for your business.

You can even download a certificate of insurance for peace of mind and proof of insurance once you've bought a policy. Small business owners usually get insured within 24 hours of applying for quotes.

Here are the three steps to get insured with TechInsurance:

  1. Fill out a free online insurance application.
  2. Compare custom business insurance quotes.
  3. Choose the best policies and pay the premiums.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is required to start a cleaning business?

To start a cleaning business, you'll need a website, social media presence, Google Business account, insurance, and basic cleaning equipment. With these essentials in place, you can begin accepting bookings and serving customers.

How much does insurance cost for a cleaning business?

For a cleaning business, the average cost of general liability insurance is around $525 per year, which is approximately $44 per month. This type of insurance helps protect against accidents and damages to clients' properties.

Richard Harvey-Nolan

Junior Writer

Richard Harvey-Nolan is a rising star in the world of journalism, with a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling. With a background in economics and a love for finance, he brings a unique perspective to his writing. As a young journalist, Richard has already made a name for himself in the industry, covering a range of topics including precious metals news.

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