Why Insurance and Bonding Are Your Safety Net When Hiring a Cleaning Service
When searching for professional cleaning services, you’ll often see companies advertise themselves as “licensed, bonded, and insured.” While these terms might sound like industry jargon, they represent crucial protections that every customer should understand before inviting cleaners into their home or business. Understanding what insurance and bonding mean—and why they matter—can save you from costly headaches and give you the peace of mind you deserve.
What Does It Mean When a Cleaning Service Is Insured?
Insurance for cleaning services acts as a financial safety net that protects both the business and its customers from unexpected incidents. General liability insurance protects against basic third party risks, such as a customer injury, or damage to their property. This means if a cleaner accidentally breaks your valuable vase or spills cleaning solution on your hardwood floors, the insurance company covers the repair or replacement costs.
Almost every state requires workers’ comp for cleaning businesses that have employees. It also protects sole proprietors from work injury costs that health insurance might deny. This coverage ensures that if a cleaning professional gets injured while working in your home, you won’t be held financially responsible for their medical bills.
For customers, hiring an insured cleaning service means you’re protected from potentially devastating financial liability. It is highly recommended to obtain cleaning business insurance as soon as you start your cleaning business. Without insurance, you will be liable for any mishaps that occur on a job site. Having insurance coverage can save you thousands of dollars in damages and other legal fees.
Understanding Bonding: Your Protection Against Employee Dishonesty
While insurance covers accidents and property damage, bonding provides a different type of protection. Janitorial bonds are a type of surety bond. They reimburse clients in the event of employee dishonesty, such as a housekeeper who steals from a home. This three-party agreement involves the cleaning company, the bonding agency, and you as the customer.
Bonding is a type of guarantee that protects your clients from financial loss if you fail to complete a job as agreed upon in your contract. For example, if a cleaning business is bonded, their client is protected if the cleaning business fails to complete the job as agreed or causes damage to the client’s property.
The key difference between insurance and bonding lies in how claims are handled. A bond is different from insurance because it involves three parties: the business, the surety or bond agency, and your customer. When an incident happens, your customer files a bond claim, similar to an insurance claim, collecting payment from the bond agency. Your business then has to pay back the bond agency.
Why These Protections Matter for Customers
While it is not required by state law to get surety bonds for cleaning services, most customers actively look for bonded cleaning services to protect themselves. This is especially true for new customers who are using a cleaning service for the first time. By purchasing a bond, you give customers a reason to trust you even more.
When you hire a cleaning service that’s both insured and bonded, you’re getting comprehensive protection. Having your cleaning company insured and bonded shows clients that they will be protected from accidents, theft, and other incidents while your team is cleaning their property. Bonding and insurance will also protect your business from lawsuits that customers might file due to unsatisfactory work from your cleaning service. Additionally, bodily injuries and property damage can happen during cleaning business operations, so being insured and bonded can help you cover costs incurred by such accidents.
What to Look for in Coverage Amounts
Not all insurance and bonding coverage is created equal. If you work in residential homes and small spaces, $10,000–$25,000 will likely cover your needs. If you service large commercial or public spaces, $50,000–$100,000 bonds may be more adequate. For general liability insurance, clients may require $1M+ per occurrence and aggregate limits.
The cost of these protections is relatively modest compared to the security they provide. Janitorial bonds are usually inexpensive. The average bond cost is about $11 per month, and 78% of cleaning businesses pay between $100-$150 annually.
A Local Example: Clarita’s Cleaning Sets the Standard
In Waltham, Massachusetts, cleaning services waltham residents trust demonstrate the importance of proper insurance and bonding. Our team of bonded and insured professionals is committed to delivering exceptional results every time. Whether it’s a one-time deep clean or an ongoing cleaning schedule, we provide consistent quality and unmatched customer service you can rely on.
For over a decade, Clarita’s Cleaning has been dedicated to transforming spaces in Waltham, MA, with our comprehensive, environmentally responsible cleaning services. As a family-owned and operated business, we take pride in providing personalized care and meticulous attention to detail for every client. Our mission is to create healthier, happier environments for your family or business by using non-toxic cleaning products and proven methods.
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
Before hiring any cleaning service, ask these essential questions:
- Can you provide proof of current general liability insurance?
- Are your employees covered by workers’ compensation insurance?
- Do you carry bonding to protect against employee theft?
- What are the coverage amounts for each type of protection?
- Can you provide certificates of insurance upon request?
List on your website and social accounts that you are licensed and insured, and that you can provide proof upon request. Reputable companies will readily provide this documentation and should be transparent about their coverage.
The Bottom Line
Hiring a cleaning service that’s properly insured and bonded isn’t just about protecting your property—it’s about ensuring you’re working with a professional, responsible business. A bond gives you an edge over competitors. Being fully licensed, bonded, and insured can help you promote your business. For customers, these protections provide invaluable peace of mind and financial security.
Don’t let the lower prices of uninsured services tempt you into taking unnecessary risks. The small premium you might pay for properly protected services is minimal compared to the potential costs of accidents, theft, or property damage. When it comes to inviting strangers into your most personal spaces, comprehensive insurance and bonding aren’t luxuries—they’re necessities that protect everyone involved.