You’ve built your client list, your crew’s ready, and your calendar’s full. But one slip, spill, or shattered vase could cost more than your entire month’s revenue. The question is: How much liability insurance do I need, and how do I know it’s enough?
Vague and overly generic answers aren’t super helpful when your contracts need numbers and your bank account needs protection. Walk away with a real coverage range based on your business type, contracts, and risk level (plus an easy way to get covered) today.
TL;DR: How much general liability insurance do cleaners need?
Most small cleaning businesses carry $1,000,000 per accident (occurrence) or $2,000,000 total per year (aggregate) in general liability insurance. But your needs can change quickly if you take on larger contracts, higher-value properties, or riskier jobs.
| Business Type | Risk Level | Suggested Liability Limit |
|---|---|---|
|
Solo residential cleaner |
Low |
$500,000 to $1,000,000 |
|
Two to five crew commercial cleaners |
Medium |
$1,000,000 to $2,000,000 |
|
Established cleaning business |
High |
$2,000,000 |
Why Having the Right Coverage Limits Matters for Cleaners
The amount of liability insurance you carry isn’t just a number on paper; it’s the difference between a small bump in the road and a full-on business breakdown.
But what is a coverage limit? A coverage limit is the maximum amount your insurance policy will pay for a covered claim. Your policy typically has two limits: one for every individual incident and one for the whole policy period.
For example:
- A $1,000,000 “occurrence” limit means the most your insurer will pay for a single claim is $1,000,000.
- A $2,000,000 “aggregate” limit means the most your insurer will pay during the entire policy period is $2,000,000.
The right coverage limit protects three things that keep your cleaning business thriving:
- Client trust: Many clients, especially commercial ones, won’t hire you without a Certificate of Insurance (COI) that proves you’re insured.
- Contract compliance: Large jobs often require a minimum amount of coverage. If your limits fall short, you can lose the contract before you even start.
- Financial survival: If a cleaning claim costs more than your policy covers, the leftover bill comes straight from your pocket.
Imagine this: You win a contract to clean a chain of high-end retail stores. The contract requires $2,000,000 per occurrence in liability coverage, but you only have $1,000,000. Midway through the job, a cleaning chemical spill ruins a collection of designer merchandise totaling $1.6 million in value.
Since your insurer only pays $1,000,000, you owe $600,000 personally. That’s not just a bad day at work; it’s a business-ender.
Fortunately, ensuring you have appropriate liability limits for your cleaning work can prevent problems like these and give you peace of mind, so you can focus on creating satisfied clients.
The Core Policies That Shape Your Coverage Amount
Cleaning liability limits are shaped by the mix of coverage types you carry. Here are the core coverages most cleaning businesses need, how they work, and how much you might need based on your size and risk level.
| Coverage Type | Solo Cleaner | Small Business (2 to 5 employees) | Established Business (6+ employees) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
$1,000,000 to $2,000,000 |
$2,000,000+ |
||
|
Tools and Equipment (also known as Inland Marine Insurance) |
$1,000 to $3,000 |
$2,000 to $6,000 |
$5,000 to $10,000 |
|
$250,000 to $500,000 |
$500,000 to $1,000,000 |
$1,000,000+ |
|
|
N/A |
$1,000,000 |
$1,000,000+ |
|
|
Optional or $500,000 combined single limit (CSL) if using a work vehicle
|
$500,000 to $1,000,000 CSL |
$1,000,000+ |
|
|
$10,000 to $25,000 |
$25,000 to $50,000 |
$50,000+ |
|
|
Optional (helps with client trust) |
$10,000 to $25,000 |
$25,000+ |
General Liability Insurance
General liability insurance covers third-party injuries, property damage, and legal costs if your cleaning work causes harm. This is the foundation of most cleaning business insurance packages.
How does it work? You knock over an expensive vase in a client’s entryway. The replacement costs $3,500. Your general liability covers the damage, saving you from paying out of pocket.
Insurance Canopy liability insurance for small cleaning businesses starts at $39 per month. This includes protection for personal and advertising injury, damage to rented premises, and medical expenses in addition to general liability.
Tools and Equipment Insurance
Tools and equipment insurance, also known as inland marine insurance, covers theft or accidental damage to your mobile cleaning tools, whether they’re stored at your location, on the job site, or in your vehicle.
Instead of guessing based on business size, calculate the total replacement value of all the cleaning tools you rely on. Your coverage limit should at least match that number.
| Equipment Type | Example Items | Suggested Limit |
|---|---|---|
|
Basic hand tools only |
Mops, brooms, buckets, and spray bottles |
$1,000 to $3,000 |
|
Portable cleaning machines |
Vacuums, floor buffers, and carpet extractors |
$2,000 to $6,000 |
|
Specialized or high-value equipment |
Ride-on floor scrubbers, commercial-grade steam cleaners, and pressure washers |
$5,000 to $10,000 |
|
Full-scale commercial setup |
Multiple large machines, backup units, specialty attachments, and storage shelving
|
$10,000+ |
If your equipment is spread across multiple vehicles or job sites, make sure your limit covers the total value, not just what’s in one location.
How does it work? Your $4,000 carpet extractor is stolen from your van. The client’s Ring camera caught the theft but police were unable to recover your gear. Tools and equipment coverage helps pay for the replacement so you can keep working without missing a step.
Professional Liability Insurance
Professional liability insurance covers claims that your work was done incorrectly or that it caused financial loss because of an error, like using the wrong cleaning method on a delicate fabric. Below are common professional liability limits for different types of cleaning businesses.
- Solo cleaner: $250,000 to $500,000
- Small business (2 to 5 employees): $500,000 to $1,000,000
- Established business (6+ employees): $1,000,000
How does it work? You use the wrong polish on a hardwood floor, leaving a permanent stain. The client demands $12,000 for refinishing. Professional liability steps in to cover the cost.
Workers Compensation
Workers compensation covers medical bills, lost wages, and rehabilitation costs if your employees get hurt on the job. This is required in most states when you have employees.
Coverage requirements vary by state, but a common benchmark is:
- Bodily injury by disease: $1,000,000 policy limit for all claims of occupational disease, even if it affects multiple employees
- Bodily injury by accident: $1,000,000 limit for each accident, regardless of how many employees are involved in the accident
- Bodily injury by disease: $1,000,000 limit for each employee
Be sure to follow your state requirements, but aim for generous coverage if you have multiple crew members.
How does it work? An employee slips while mopping a lobby and fractures their wrist. Workers comp covers their medical treatment and missed income, so they can recover without financial stress (and you avoid footing the bill yourself).
Commercial Auto Insurance
Commercial auto insurance covers damage to your work vehicle if you cause an accident while driving for business. It can also pay for property or bodily injury done to others in an accident. Below are standard commercial auto limits for different types of cleaning businesses.
- Minimum: $500,000 combined single limit for vehicles in low-risk areas
- Safer choice for fleets or high-traffic areas: $1,000,000 combined single limit
How does it work? On the way to a client site, you rear-end another car. Commercial auto covers repairs to both vehicles and medical costs for the other driver.
Cyber Liability Insurance
Cyber liability insurance protects your cleaning business from financial losses caused by data breaches, cyberattacks, or accidental exposure of client information. Below are typical cyber liability limits for different types of cleaning businesses.
- Solo cleaner: $10,000 to $25,000
- Small business (2 to 5 employees): $25,000 to $50,000
- Established business (6+ employees): $50,000+
How does it work? If a hacker accesses your client database or your email is compromised, cyber liability insurance helps cover notification costs, legal fees, and any damages you owe due to the breach.
Janitorial Bond
A janitorial bond is a type of surety bond that protects your clients if one of your employees steals their property while on the job. It’s not the same as insurance (it doesn’t cover accidental damage or mistakes), but it’s a financial guarantee to your clients that they’ll be compensated if theft occurs. Below are common limits for different types of cleaning businesses.
- Solo cleaner: $10,000 (optional)
- Small business (2 to 5 employees): $10,000 to $25,000
- Established business (6+ employees): $25,000+
How does it work? A client claims a $5,000 watch is missing after a cleaning. If the bond investigation finds an employee responsible, the bond company pays the client for the loss, and you later reimburse the bond company.
Pro tip: Even if your state or city doesn’t require it, getting bonded and insured can make your business more competitive, especially when bidding for large contracts. It signals that you take honesty, trust, and client protection seriously.
5 Factors That Determine Your Ideal Coverage
Every cleaning business is different, which means your policy should be, too. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to “how much liability insurance do I need?” because your risk level, client base, and even your state laws can change the numbers.
That’s why Insurance Canopy makes it simple to customize your coverage. In minutes, you can set limits that match your real-world risks — no guesswork, no overpaying.
| Factor | Impact on Insurance Needs |
|---|---|
|
Business size |
A one-person operation has fewer moving parts (and fewer people who could cause damage), while a 10-person crew increases the odds of accidents. More employees often mean higher liability limits and mandatory workers’ compensation coverage.
|
|
Cleaning type |
Residential cleaning usually carries less risk than large commercial jobs, while specialty work, like post-construction clean-up or biohazard removal, often requires higher limits due to greater exposure and more expensive client property. |
|
Risk exposure |
Working with harsh cleaning agents, luxury furnishings, or wide-open high-traffic areas means a single incident could cost more. Your limits should reflect that potential payout. |
|
Client contracts |
Many contracts dictate exactly how much coverage you need. If their required limit is higher than what you currently carry, you’ll need to raise your coverage before work begins. |
|
State laws |
Many states require cleaning businesses to carry workers comp once they have a certain number of employees. These minimum limits vary, so it’s important to know your state’s rules. |
Here are examples of workers compensation requirements in several states:
- California (CA): Required if you have one or more employees
- Texas (TX): Not required unless you hold government contracts
- Florida (FL): Required if you have four or more employees (or one or more in construction)
- Georgia (GA): Required if you have three or more employees
- Illinois (IL): Required for all employees regardless of number
When looking for insurance, ask yourself this question. How much can my business afford to pay out in the event of an accident without it affecting our operations? Any incident has the possibility of costing you your livelihood, with insurance, you are protecting yourself and your business's future.
How to Get the Right Coverage Instantly
Getting insured with Insurance Canopy is fast and affordable. You don’t need to guess how much liability insurance you need, our application walks you through it. Or, you can contact our licensed team for guidance.
- Apply online: Fill out a quick application and answer some questions about your business, services, and equipment
- Choose your coverage: Pick your coverage limits and add-ons based on your needs or contract requirements
- Pay and get an instant Certificate of Insurance (COI): Receive your COI instantly, ready to upload anywhere
With your COI in hand, you can bid jobs with confidence, meet contract minimums, and show clients you’re serious about protecting their property.
Common Questions About Cleaning Business Insurance Coverage
What Happens if I Don’t Have Enough Insurance?
If you don’t have enough insurance, you could be personally responsible for additional costs. This can include property damage, medical bills, or legal fees that quickly add up and threaten your business’s financial stability.
Do I Need General Liability Insurance for My Cleaning Business?
Yes, you need general liability insurance for your cleaning business. It protects against costly lawsuits and claims, and most clients and contracts require proof of coverage before they hire you.
Do I Need Different Coverage for Residential vs. Commercial Cleaning?
Not necessarily! But depending on the type of commercial cleaning you do, you may need higher coverage limits than you would if you only did residential cleaning.
Insurance Canopy covers a variety of cleaners whose work could be considered residential or commercial. Including:
- Janitorial cleaning
- Building and office cleaning
- Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Retail cleaning, excluding facilities open 24 hours
- Laundry services, excluding dry cleaning facilities
- Medical facilities cleaning (with the medical cleaning endorsement), excluding hospitals and facilities open 24 hours
Commercial work Insurance Canopy does not cover includes:
- Industrial cleaning; cleaning machinery, chemicals and other industrial solvents
- Hazardous waste cleaning or removal
- Construction, maintenance, repair, renovation, or property preservation services
- Cleaning of locations open 24 hours a day (other than personal residences)
- Cleaning of facilities involved with:
- Air, auto, and train travel or travel services
- Healthcare or allied healthcare services or housing
- Product manufacturing or warehousing
- School buildings or dormitories and other mass housing facilities such as hotels and motels (this exclusion does not apply to offices contained within such facilities as long as those offices are not open to the general public)
Is $1,000,000 Enough Coverage for a Cleaning Business?
$1,000,000 can be enough coverage for many self-employed cleaners or small residential cleaning businesses, but it may be insufficient for larger or commercial operations. Higher-risk jobs and bigger contracts often require limits of $2,000,000 or more to ensure adequate protection.
What Is Standard General Liability Coverage?
Standard general liability coverage protects against third-party bodily injury, property damage, and related legal costs. It’s the foundation of insurance for cleaning businesses, covering accidents like slips, falls, or damage caused during cleaning.
