Insurance Requirements · United States · 2026

Do cleaning services need insurance?

Yes — in nearly every U.S. state. Most states require licensed cleaning services to carry Commercial Auto, General Liability, Workers' Compensation before they can operate. Here's what to buy, what it costs, and which carriers serve the trade.

Coverage checklist

Coverage	Requirement	Annual cost
Commercial AutoCA	Required	$1100.00–$2400.00/yr
General LiabilityGL	Required	$400.00–$900.00/yr
Workers' CompensationWC	Required	$1500.00–$4500.00/yr
Inland Marine / Tools & EquipmentIM	Recommended	$200.00–$700.00/yr
Business Owner's PolicyBOP	Optional	$500.00–$1400.00/yr
Commercial PropertyCP	Optional	$500.00–$1800.00/yr
Professional Liability / E&OPL/E&O	Optional	$400.00–$900.00/yr

SOURCE · National carrier filings · BLS labor statistics · Updated 2026

Cost breakdown

Commercial Auto

$1100.00–$2400.00/yr

Cost factors

·Fleet size

Required for cleaning crews traveling between client locations.

General Liability

$400.00–$900.00/yr

Cost factors

·Residential vs. commercial
·Crew size
·Revenue

Covers damage you cause to a client's property and slip-and-fall claims; commercial clients often require it by contract.

Workers' Compensation

$1500.00–$4500.00/yr

Cost factors

·Payroll
·Crew size

Required once you have employees; slip/fall and chemical exposure injuries are common.

Inland Marine / Tools & Equipment

$200.00–$700.00/yr

Cost factors

·Equipment value

Covers vacuums, extractors, and equipment kept in vehicles.

Business Owner's Policy

$500.00–$1400.00/yr

Cost factors

·Office/storage

If you lease an office or supply storage.

Commercial Property

$500.00–$1800.00/yr

Cost factors

·Office/storage ownership

If you own/lease a workspace.

Professional Liability / E&O

$400.00–$900.00/yr

Cost factors

·Commercial contracts

Rare; mainly for firms offering specialized cleaning consulting.

Best carriers for cleaning service

Embroker

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Simply Business

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Thimble

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Requirements by state

State	Coverage	Required?	Notes
Alabama	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Alaska	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Arizona	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Arkansas	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
California	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Colorado	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Connecticut	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Delaware	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
District of Columbia	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Florida	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Georgia	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Hawaii	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Idaho	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Illinois	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Indiana	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Iowa	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Kansas	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Kentucky	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Louisiana	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Maine	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Maryland	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Massachusetts	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Michigan	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Minnesota	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Mississippi	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Missouri	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Montana	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Nebraska	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Nevada	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
New Hampshire	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
New Jersey	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
New Mexico	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
New York	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
North Carolina	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
North Dakota	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Workers' comp is purchased through the state fund (monopolistic state).
Ohio	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Workers' comp is purchased through the state fund (monopolistic state).
Oklahoma	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Oregon	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Pennsylvania	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Rhode Island	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
South Carolina	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
South Dakota	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Tennessee	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Texas	Workers' Compensation	Optional	Statutory — Texas is the only state where workers' comp is optional for private employers.
Utah	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Vermont	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Virginia	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Washington	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Workers' comp is purchased through the state fund (monopolistic state).
West Virginia	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Wisconsin	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Wyoming	Workers' Compensation	Required	Statutory — Workers' comp is purchased through the state fund (monopolistic state).

Frequently asked questions

Do cleaning services need insurance?+

Yes. General liability covers damage to a client's property (a common claim), and workers' comp is required once you have employees. Commercial cleaning contracts also require insurance by contract.

How much does cleaning business insurance cost?+

General liability runs $400–$900 per year, workers' comp $1,500–$4,500 depending on payroll, and commercial auto $1,100–$2,400 per vehicle. Total for a small crew is often $3,500–$8,000 per year.

Does general liability cover damage I cause to a client's home?+

Yes — accidental damage to a client's property (like a broken fixture or stained flooring) is the core claim general liability covers for cleaners.

Related professions

Other cleaning & maintenance businesses

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