NeedBizInsurance
Insurance Requirements · United States · 2026

Do janitorial services need insurance?

Yes — in nearly every U.S. state. Most states require licensed janitorial 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.

01

Coverage checklist

CoverageRequirementAnnual cost
Commercial AutoCARequired$1000.00–$2400.00/yr
General LiabilityGLRequired$350.00–$900.00/yr
Workers' CompensationWCRequired$1200.00–$4000.00/yr
Inland Marine / Tools & EquipmentIMRecommended$200.00–$700.00/yr
Business Owner's PolicyBOPOptional$500.00–$1400.00/yr
Commercial PropertyCPOptional$500.00–$1800.00/yr
Professional Liability / E&OPL/E&OOptional$400.00–$900.00/yr
SOURCE · National carrier filings · BLS labor statistics · Updated 2026
02

Cost breakdown

Commercial Auto
$1000.00–$2400.00/yr
Cost factors
  • ·Fleet size
  • ·Driving radius

Required for cleaning crews traveling between locations.

General Liability
$350.00–$900.00/yr
Cost factors
  • ·Residential vs. commercial
  • ·Crew size
  • ·Revenue

Covers damage to a client's property — the most common claim in cleaning.

Workers' Compensation
$1200.00–$4000.00/yr
Cost factors
  • ·Payroll
  • ·Crew size
  • ·Chemical exposure

Required once you have employees; slip 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 or lease a workspace.

Professional Liability / E&O
$400.00–$900.00/yr
Cost factors
  • ·Commercial contracts

Rare — mainly for firms offering cleaning consulting.

03

Best carriers for janitorial service

Embroker
AM Best: A
direct
professional-liabilitygeneral-liabilityworkers-compensationcyber-liability
Hiscox
AM Best: A
direct
professional-liabilitygeneral-liabilitycyber-liabilitybusiness-owners-policy
NEXT Insurance
AM Best: A-
direct
general-liabilityworkers-compensationcommercial-autobusiness-owners-policy
Simply Business
AM Best: A
direct
general-liabilityprofessional-liabilityworkers-compensationcommercial-auto
Thimble
AM Best: A
direct
general-liabilitycommercial-autoinland-marineworkers-compensation
04

Requirements by state

StateCoverageRequired?Notes
AlabamaWorkers' CompensationRequiredStatutory Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
AlaskaWorkers' CompensationRequiredStatutory Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
ArizonaWorkers' CompensationRequiredStatutory Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
ArkansasWorkers' CompensationRequiredStatutory Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
CaliforniaWorkers' CompensationRequiredStatutory Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
ColoradoWorkers' CompensationRequiredStatutory Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
ConnecticutWorkers' CompensationRequiredStatutory Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
DelawareWorkers' CompensationRequiredStatutory Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
District of ColumbiaWorkers' CompensationRequiredStatutory Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
FloridaWorkers' CompensationRequiredStatutory Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
GeorgiaWorkers' CompensationRequiredStatutory Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
HawaiiWorkers' CompensationRequiredStatutory Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
IdahoWorkers' CompensationRequiredStatutory Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
IllinoisWorkers' CompensationRequiredStatutory Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
IndianaWorkers' CompensationRequiredStatutory Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
IowaWorkers' CompensationRequiredStatutory Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
KansasWorkers' CompensationRequiredStatutory Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
KentuckyWorkers' CompensationRequiredStatutory Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
LouisianaWorkers' CompensationRequiredStatutory Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
MaineWorkers' CompensationRequiredStatutory Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
MarylandWorkers' CompensationRequiredStatutory Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
MassachusettsWorkers' CompensationRequiredStatutory Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
MichiganWorkers' CompensationRequiredStatutory Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
MinnesotaWorkers' CompensationRequiredStatutory Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
MississippiWorkers' CompensationRequiredStatutory Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
MissouriWorkers' CompensationRequiredStatutory Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
MontanaWorkers' CompensationRequiredStatutory Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
NebraskaWorkers' CompensationRequiredStatutory Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
NevadaWorkers' CompensationRequiredStatutory Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
New HampshireWorkers' CompensationRequiredStatutory Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
New JerseyWorkers' CompensationRequiredStatutory Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
New MexicoWorkers' CompensationRequiredStatutory Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
New YorkWorkers' CompensationRequiredStatutory Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
North CarolinaWorkers' CompensationRequiredStatutory Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
North DakotaWorkers' CompensationRequiredStatutory Workers' comp is purchased through the state fund (monopolistic state).
OhioWorkers' CompensationRequiredStatutory Workers' comp is purchased through the state fund (monopolistic state).
OklahomaWorkers' CompensationRequiredStatutory Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
OregonWorkers' CompensationRequiredStatutory Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
PennsylvaniaWorkers' CompensationRequiredStatutory Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
Rhode IslandWorkers' CompensationRequiredStatutory Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
South CarolinaWorkers' CompensationRequiredStatutory Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
South DakotaWorkers' CompensationRequiredStatutory Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
TennesseeWorkers' CompensationRequiredStatutory Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
TexasWorkers' CompensationOptionalStatutory Texas is the only state where workers' comp is optional for private employers.
UtahWorkers' CompensationRequiredStatutory Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
VermontWorkers' CompensationRequiredStatutory Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
VirginiaWorkers' CompensationRequiredStatutory Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
WashingtonWorkers' CompensationRequiredStatutory Workers' comp is purchased through the state fund (monopolistic state).
West VirginiaWorkers' CompensationRequiredStatutory Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
WisconsinWorkers' CompensationRequiredStatutory Required once you have W-2 employees; statutory limits apply.
WyomingWorkers' CompensationRequiredStatutory Workers' comp is purchased through the state fund (monopolistic state).
05

Frequently asked questions

Do janitorial services need insurance?+

Yes. janitorial services typically need general liability, workers' comp, and commercial auto. Most states require some or all of these policies to operate legally or by contract.

How much does janitorial service insurance cost?+

A typical janitorial service can expect to pay general liability runs $350–$900 per year, professional liability $400–$900, workers' comp $1200–$4000 depending on payroll, and commercial auto $1000–$2400 per vehicle. Total annual premiums for a small operation usually range from $1,500 to $8,000 depending on coverage choices, revenue, and number of employees.

Is workers' comp required for janitorial services?+

Yes, in nearly every state — once you have W-2 employees. Texas is the only state where workers' comp is optional. Even sole-proprietor janitorial services often carry it because the physical nature of cleaning work makes injuries common.

What does general liability cover for a janitorial service?+

General liability covers third-party bodily injury and property damage — for example, if a customer is injured on site or you accidentally damage a client's property. It does not cover your own injuries or professional errors (those need workers' comp and professional liability).

Do janitorial services need professional liability insurance?+

In many cases, yes — professional liability covers claims that a mistake or omission in your work caused a client financial harm. It's worth considering if you have contracts with defined deliverables.

Does my personal auto insurance cover my janitorial service business?+

No — personal auto policies typically exclude business use. If you drive a vehicle for work (transporting equipment, visiting clients, making deliveries), you need a commercial auto policy.

06

Related professions

Other cleaning & maintenance businesses

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