General Liability Insurance for Cleaning Businesses
You’re in the business of making places shine, not paying surprise bills. General liability insurance for cleaning businesses covers the cost of slips and breaks, letting you tackle every job with confidence.
What Is General Liability Insurance for Cleaning Businesses?
General liability insurance protects cleaning professionals from claims that arise while performing cleaning services. It covers things like injuries to clients and bystanders, property damage, and legal expenses if you’re sued for accidents that happen during your work.
For cleaners, this insurance acts as a financial safety net. It is designed to ensure you’re not personally paying out of pocket if something goes wrong on the job, whether you’re cleaning a home, office, or commercial space.
What Does It Cover?
If your work leads to unexpected damage or someone gets hurt, your policy helps cover the repair costs or medical bills. General liability insurance for cleaning services typically covers:
- Bodily injury: Covers third-party injuries that occur as a result of your business operations
Example: A customer trips and falls over your vacuum cord and breaks their wrist
- Property damage: Pays for accidental damage to a client’s belongings or space
Example: You knock over and break an expensive vase while dusting
- Personal and advertising injury: Covers things like libel, slander, or copyright infringement in your marketing
Example: A competitor claims your website content copied theirs and sues you
What Does It Not Cover?
There are several things that general liability insurance won’t cover. For example:
- Injuries to you or your employees (only third-party injuries are covered)
- Exterior work over three stories
- Claims involving subcontractors, unless specific risk transfer controls are in place
- Use of tainted drywall, flooring, or similar products
- Work on condominium, townhouse, or tract home construction projects
- Operations involving scaffolding or debris removal from construction sites
- Specialized services like mold remediation, water extraction, fire, or flood cleanup
- Drone use or unmanned aircraft operations
What Are the Coverage Limits?
Coverage limits are the maximum amounts your general liability policy will pay for each claim and over the life of your policy. There are two main types of limits:
- Per occurrence: The most your policy will cover for one individual incident.
- Aggregate: The most your policy will cover for all claims combined during the policy period.
For cleaning businesses, a common choice is $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate
Maximum Cleaning Liability Insurance Limits
The most your policy will pay in a 12-month policy period for bodily injury and property damage claims that you become legally obligated to pay due to your business services.
$2,000,000
The maximum amount your policy will pay in a 12-month period for bodily injury and property damage claims that result from the products you use to perform your services. However, it does not cover products that are sold, or distributed.
$2,000,000
The maximum your policy will pay for a bodily injury or property damage claim that you become legally obligated to pay due to your business services.
$1,000,000
The amount that your policy will pay for claims arising out of one or more of the following offenses:
- False arrest, detention or imprisonment
- Malicious prosecution
- Wrongful eviction or wrongful entry
- Oral or written publications that slander or libels a person or organization
- Oral or written publication or material that violates a person’s right of privacy
- The use of another’s advertising idea in your advertisement
$1,000,000
Applies to damage by fire to premises rented to the insured and to damage regardless of cause to premises (including contents) occupied by the insured for 7 days or less.
$100,000
How it works: A client slips on a wet tile, fractures their leg, and sues you. Between medical expenses and legal fees, the total hits $12,000. With general liability insurance, your policy can cover up to $1,000,000 per incident (occurrence). If you face multiple claims over the year, each claim reduces your annual policy limit (aggregate) of $2,000,000.
Why Cleaning Businesses Need General Liability Insurance
Cleaning professionals work in other people’s homes and workplaces, naturally exposing them to liability risks. One misstep, like leaving a slippery floor unmarked, can lead to a costly accident that could bankrupt your business.
General liability insurance helps you stay protected against these risks. It also shows clients that you’re a professional who takes your business and their property seriously.
Legal Requirements vs. Client Contract Requirements
General liability insurance is not always required by law, especially for solo cleaners or small businesses. However, many commercial clients require proof of insurance before signing a contract.
You’ll need to list property managers or homeowners associations (HOAs) as an additional insured on your policy. Having coverage can help you win more jobs and meet vendor or landlord requirements, especially for janitorial or commercial cleaning contracts.
Liability Risks Cleaning Businesses Face
Cleaning services come with hands-on, physical work in spaces you don’t own. A small mistake can lead to expensive repairs or lawsuits if you’re not covered. Some of the most common risks include scenarios like:
- A client slips on a freshly mopped floor with no warning sign
- You accidentally knock over and damage a client’s television or decor while cleaning
- A strong cleaning chemical damages a client’s flooring or furniture
- Your vacuum cord creates a trip hazard in a busy hallway, and a customer or passerby trips over it
These situations happen more often than you think, and general liability coverage is designed to help protect you when they do.
Real Liability Claims Cleaners Face
Liability claims are real situations cleaning professionals deal with regularly. Here’s how general liability insurance has helped others stay in business when the unexpected happened:
A slippery floor leads to a fall
A client slipped on a recently cleaned tile floor that was not marked with a “wet floor” sign. They suffered a sprained ankle and sent a $1,100 medical bill. General liability insurance helped pay for the medical treatment.
While cleaning a home office, a cleaner accidentally knocked over a $900 computer monitor with a vacuum hose. The homeowner demanded that it be replaced. The claim was covered by the cleaner’s policy, saving the cleaner from paying out of pocket.
Chemical spill damages a carpet
A new cleaning tech spilled bleach on a custom rug during a residential service, causing $700 in damage. The client filed a complaint, and the cleaner’s general liability policy covered the repair costs.
How Much Does General Liability Insurance Cost?
General liability insurance for cleaning businesses starts at $39 per month or $435 per year with Insurance Canopy. That’s lower than the national average of $48 per month or $576 per year, making it a smart investment in protecting your business.
| Coverage | Starting Cost |
|---|---|
|
$500K per incident / $1M per year |
$435 per year / $39 per month |
|
$1M per incident / $2M per year |
$470 per year / $41.67 per month |
Your exact rate depends on factors like the size of your business, the type of cleaning services you provide, where you operate, and whether you work solo or have employees. Even if you’re part-time, it’s wise to carry coverage.
How to Get General Liability Insurance
Insurance Canopy makes it easy to insure your cleaning business.. Fill out our online form, answer a few questions about your services, select your coverage, and check out online — no phone calls or long applications.
Once payment is complete, your policy is active. You’ll get instant access to your Certificate of Insurance (COI) and can manage everything from your dashboard, including updates or cancellations.
Safety Tips to Reduce General Liability Claims
The best way to avoid claims is to prevent accidents from happening in the first place. Simple, consistent safety steps can protect clients and your bottom line.
- Perform job site walkthroughs: Always do a quick sweep of the area before starting a job. Look for obstacles, pets, fragile items, or hazards that might cause injury or damage.
- Maintain proper client communication: Let clients know when you’ll be arriving, what areas you’ll be cleaning, and any prep they should do. Clear communication helps avoid misunderstandings or unwanted surprises.
- Observe proper chemical labeling and handling: Store all chemicals in labeled containers and handle them according to manufacturer guidelines. Wear gloves and PPE (personal protective equipment), and train your team to do the same.
- Place mats and signage on wet areas: Use caution signs and mats on freshly mopped floors or wet areas. This simple habit helps prevent slip-and-fall claims from clients or building staff.
- Provide proper training and certifications: Provide routine training on safe cleaning techniques, emergency procedures, and handling client property. Well-trained staff are less likely to make costly mistakes.
Additional Coverage Cleaning Businesses May Need
General liability covers a lot, but it doesn’t cover everything. You may need more protection if you use equipment, drive for work, or hire employees. These cleaning business insurance coverages fill in the gaps so you don’t get stuck with out-of-pocket costs.
- Tools and equipment insurance (inland marine): Protects vacuums, carpet extractors, or other cleaning gear if they’re stolen or damaged
- Workers compensation: Covers medical bills and lost wages if an employee gets hurt while cleaning
- Janitorial bonds: Covers dishonest acts like employee theft of client property (often required in large contracts)
- Cyber liability insurance: Steps in if your client data is stolen or you get hit by a cyberattack or data breach
- Commercial auto insurance: Covers work vehicles used to transport supplies, equipment, or employees
Common Questions About General Liability Insurance
What are typical liability limits for cleaning businesses?
Most general liability policies for cleaners include a $1 million per occurrence limit and a $2 million annual aggregate limit. That means each covered claim can be paid up to $1 million, and all claims combined can be paid up to $2 million per year.
Do I need coverage if I’m a solo cleaner?
Yes. Even solo cleaners face risks like property damage or slip-and-falls. General liability coverage helps protect you from legal and medical expenses that could otherwise come out of your own pocket.
Can I add a property manager as an additional insured?
Yes. You can add landlords or property managers as additional insureds for just $10 per year, per person. This extends your coverage to them while you’re working on their property, and it’s often required in cleaning contracts.
Many Airbnb hosts and commercial property managers also require it as part of their insurance terms.
How do I file a general liability insurance claim as a cleaner?
You can file a claim through your Insurance Canopy dashboard. Provide details about the incident, upload supporting documents or photos, and a claims adjuster will follow up with the next steps.
Is there a deductible for general liability claims?
No, Insurance Canopy’s general liability policy comes with a zero deductible. If you’re covered, you won’t have to pay anything upfront before your coverage applies.
Clean With Confidence
A single claim could cost thousands, but general liability insurance starts at just $39 per month. It’s a smart investment that protects your business, keeps your contracts moving, and helps you avoid expensive lawsuits.
Get reliable coverage without breaking your budget. Apply now and get covered in minutes!
