General Liability Insurance Cost for Cleaning Businesses (2026)
Cleaning businesses: $500-$1,200/yr for residential. $800-$2,000/yr for commercial janitorial. Specialty cleaning runs higher.
Cost by Cleaning Type
| Cleaning Type | Annual Cost |
|---|---|
| Residential House Cleaning | $500 - $1,200 |
| Commercial Janitorial | $800 - $2,000 |
| Carpet Cleaning | $600 - $1,400 |
| Window Cleaning | $700 - $1,800 |
| Pressure Washing | $600 - $1,500 |
| Post-Construction Cleanup | $800 - $2,200 |
| Specialty / Biohazard | $1,200 - $3,000 |
Bonding vs Insurance
Many clients require cleaning businesses to be "bonded and insured." These are two different things:
Surety Bond
Protects the client if your business fails to fulfill a contract or commits theft. Cost: $100-$500/yr for most cleaning businesses. Does not cover bodily injury or property damage.
GL Insurance
Covers bodily injury, property damage, and advertising injury caused by your operations. Cost: $500-$2,000/yr. Required by most commercial clients.
Most cleaning businesses need both. The combined cost is typically $600 to $2,500/yr depending on the type of cleaning and number of employees.
Property Damage Scenarios
Chemical damage to surfaces
Using the wrong cleaning product on a client's hardwood floor, granite countertop, or stainless steel appliance. Average claim: $2,000-$8,000.
Broken items
Knocking over a vase, breaking a window, or damaging electronics while cleaning. Average claim: $500-$5,000.
Water damage
Overflowing mop bucket, leaving a faucet running, or using excessive water on hardwood. Average claim: $3,000-$15,000.
Scratched floors
Moving furniture without pads, using abrasive cleaning tools, or dragging equipment. Average claim: $1,000-$6,000.
Employee Dishonesty Coverage
Theft by cleaning staff is a primary concern for clients, especially in residential cleaning and commercial office cleaning. Standard GL does not cover employee theft. You need a separate janitorial bond or employee dishonesty endorsement, which typically costs $150 to $500/yr depending on the number of employees and coverage limit. Many commercial clients require this as a condition of their cleaning contract.
Related pages
Updated 11 April 2026