Janitors and sanitation companies don’t always get the respect they deserve. They’re the cleaning business responsible for keeping our public spaces and businesses neat and beautiful. They often work long nights and early mornings. Few truly take the time to thank them for their efforts.
Similar to starting a laundromat business, one of the first steps in starting a janitorial business is purchasing business insurance. This will protect finances if something goes wrong, earn the trust of customers, and allow you to face liabilities with ease.
Below, we’ll answer some of the most commonly asked questions regarding janitorial insurance and bonding. Then, we’ll share our overview of some of the best and most popular insurance providers for janitorial and cleaning companies. Let’s take a look!
While most states don’t legally require cleaning companies to be insured, it’s always a smart idea. You never know what could go wrong while you’re working and cleaning. For instance, you could accidentally knock over an expensive vase, break a window, or cause a passerby to trip over your extension cord. All of these cases could result in you getting sued. That is unless you have liability insurance for janitorial services!
Insurance companies offer many types of liability insurance for janitors and other types of cleaning businesses such as window cleaners and gutter cleaners. However, the most useful ones are general liability and professional liability insurance. Let’s discuss these two in detail.
Think about the consequences of these things happen while you’re providing janitorial services to a client:
You mixed and used cleaning chemicals which in turn led to a chemical reaction that caused the client to be sick
You were moving objects and dropped an item by accident
The client came to check how you’re doing. The floor is wet. The client then slipped and fell
The above situations will deal personal injuries or property damage to the client. The client will surely file a claim to get compensation for suffering or reimbursement for losses.
Personal injury claims and property damage claims are never cheap. Paying will incur losses on your part. But this will never happen if you have general liability insurance.
The job of general liability insurance is to pay for personal injury claims and property damage claims on your behalf. Also, if things are taken to court, then general liability insurance will take care of your defense costs.
General liability insurance offers optional policies that protect you further from specific exposures. These optional policies are:
Advertising injury coverage
Products and completed operations coverage
Your client might file a personal injury claim or property damage claim after you’ve completed the janitorial service. Perhaps, something happened after you completed the project which injured the client or damaged property. The function of products and completed operations coverage is to cover defense costs if past clients sue you for personal injuries and property damage.
Other businesses might sue you for slander, libel, and copyright infringement. That’s why it’s smart you purchase advertising injury coverage. Advertising injury coverage covers defense costs and settlements if someone files slander claim, libel claim, or copyright infringement claim.
There’s another optional coverage in general liability insurance called rented premises liability coverage. Rented premises liability coverage covers a commercial space - but only those that you’re renting. This optional coverage in general liability insurance will reimburse the losses of the landlord.
A client might accuse you of causing economic/financial loss by being negligent or committing workplace mistakes. Of course, you’ll have to pay a hefty price if this happens. To avoid incurring losses, consider getting professional liability insurance.
Professional liability insurance protects you against negligence claims, violation of good faith, misrepresentation, and acts considered as errors and omissions. In practice, professional liability insurance will pay for attorney fees and other legal costs. In case you lose the legal battle, professional liability insurance will compensate the aggrieved party on your behalf.
There are two types of professional liability insurance occurrence and claims-made.
Claims-made professional liability insurance only provides coverage to claims made at the time a covered peril happened. On the other hand, an occurrence professional liability insurance covers claims regardless if the covered peril happened while the policy is active or has expired.
Between the two, it’s best to get professional liability insurance. It’s not really comprehensive. However, the protection it provides lasts for a long.
Janitorial liability insurance is relatively affordable. The small monthly fee you pay to insure your cleaning business is well worth the tens of thousands of dollars - or even more - that your policy could potentially save you later down the road!
If you’re someone who's running a growing janitorial service business, think about getting more protection aside from general liability and professional liability. Exposures become more prevalent as a business grows. And purchasing many insurance policies will ensure that you have adequate protection. That being said, your investment in premiums will be worth it.
So what other insurance policies do you need? Additional insurance products you should invest in are:
Workers compensation insurance
Commercial property insurance
Accidents are common in janitorial businesses. As a result, your employees might suffer from fatal injuries and will need treatment as well as lost income compensation. Before we discuss how workers' compensation insurance can help, take a look at these reports from OSHA that shows how devastating workplace accidents can be to janitorial business employees:
At 10: 45 a.m. on July 10, 2020, an employee was providing a cleaning service to a client. He mixedPure Bright Germicidal Ultra Bleach, NCL TP #15 Organic Acid HD Restroom Cleaner, NCL TP#17 HD Detergent/Disinfectant, and NCL EarthSense TP#16 pH Neutral All-Purpose Cleaner. The combination of these cleaning agents caused a chemical reaction that inflicted the employee in question with respiratory distress. Luckily, the employee was treated without needing professional medical care
At 6: 30 a.m. on July 23, 2021, an employee was cleaning material off a roof. Due to some unknown causes, the employee fell through a skylight. He was killed upon reaching the ground
You have to pay for treatment, rehabilitation, and lost income compensation if an employee of your janitorial business suffers from a work-related injury or sickness. And the job of workers compensation insurance is to pay for everything on your behalf. To be clear, workers compensation insurance will provide money you can use to pay for the employee’s hospitalization and treatment. Also, this policy will provide an allowance equal to two-thirds of the average weekly wage if the employee needs to take a break.
Getting workers compensation is required by law the moment your janitorial business has one or more employees. However, you don’t need to get this policy if you're operating in Texas.
The penalty for not getting workers comp varies and depends on which state your janitorial business is registered. Here are some examples of workers comp penalties:
Oklahoma -Failure to get workers' compensation insurance is subject to a penalty of up to one thousand dollars per day starting from the time coverage isn't purchased. Furthermore, this might be considered an offense disputable in a district court
Minnesota - The amount of penalty is calculated depending on how many instances a janitorial business didn’t provide workers comp coverage to an injured or sick employee :
First violation - warning
Second violation - $125
Third violation - $250
Fourth violation - $375
Fifth violation going onwards - $500
Kansas - A janitorial business that fails to get workers comp will pay $25,000 or twice the amount for premiums, whichever is greater
New Jersey - Failure to purchase adequate workers' comp insurance for your janitorial business is subject to administrative fines or criminal charges as severe as fourth-degree felonies. The financial penalties are up to $5,000 for the first 20 days of noncompliance and up to $5,000 for each 10-day period thereafter
Commercial property insurance covers the commercial space your janitorial business owns. This coverage will pay for reconstruction costs if the building is damaged by fire or extreme weather. Commercial property insurance will shoulder expenses if your business’s commercial space is damaged by theft, vandalism, riot, extreme weather, and other covered perils.
Of course, you have janitorial tools and equipment that needs to be insured too. That’s why you should add business equipment and tools coverage to commercial property insurance. This optional coverage will reimburse your losses if tools and equipment get lost or damaged by fire, extreme weather, vandalism, theft, and other covered perils. If covered tools and equipment are less than three years old, then business equipment and tools coverage will provide immediate replacements.
How about the cleaning agents and other substances you’re using to provide janitorial services? Business stocks and contents cover these things. Through this optional policy, the insurance company will provide money equal to the value of cleaning agents and other substances that were damaged or lost because of fire, theft, vandalism, and other covered perils.
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One of the lesser-known aspects of insurance is the concept of bonding. There are different types of bonds, but the most common type of janitorial bond is a contract bond. These are typically issued by banks or insurance companies.
Basically, they’re a type of contract designed to protect both parties. One part of the bond protects the customer and ensures that the janitorial service takes care of everything that they say they’re going to do. The other part of the bond protects the janitorial service and ensures that they get the money that’s owed to them (providing they fulfill their end of the contract).
Bonding insurance for a cleaning business like janitorial/commercial cleaning is relatively easy and low-cost to sign up for. The main benefit of janitorial bond insurance is that you’ll be able to get jobs faster and easier. It will make you appear more trustworthy and will help you to get higher-paying jobs where a higher degree of trust is necessary for both parties.
On average, janitorial businesses pay $35 a month or $420 a year for a $1 million general liability coverage. Factors that affect pricing are:
Policy limits - Having a higher limit means that your insurance premiums will be more costly as protection is more comprehensive
Deductibles - Deciding to have a $1,000 deductible means that your insurance premiums will be cheaper as compared to a $500 deductible or no deductible at all
Business history - Janitorial businesses operating for more than three years enjoy cheaper premiums than startups
Claims history - A janitorial business that has filed 4 or 3 claims will pay more for premiums than a janitorial business that hasn’t made a claim ever since
Location - Pricing also depends on which state your janitorial business is registered
For a more idea about the cost, here’s a table showing the pricing of the best janitorial business insurance companies:
| Cost per Month | Cost per Year | Best for |
---|---|---|---|
CoverWallet | $29 | $348 | Janitorial insurance quotes comparison online |
Thimble | $38 | $456 | Short-term general liability insurance for janitors |
Progressive | $45 | $540 | Janitorial company’s commercial auto insurance |
The Hartford | $60 | $720 | Small janitorial businesses with less than 10 employees |
Geico | $75 | $900 | Mid to large-sized janitorial and cleaning companies |
Now that you know a little bit more about how janitorial business insurance works, you’re probably wondering who some of the best janitor insurance providers are. If so, we’ve got you covered! Most insurance companies are capable of providing general liability insurance for small businesses. However, based on our research, we’ve found that the following insurers tend to be the most popular among cleaning and janitorial businesses. Read the reviews below to know their pros, cons, and cost for a $1 million general liability coverage.
Compare quotes and see the offers of different insurance companies
Stable rates
Cancel a policy anytime and anywhere
No need to call an agent to file a claim
Doesn’t underwrite its own janitorial insurance
Coverwallet is an insurance broker that offers liability insurance for businesses offering janitorial services. Use this company’s online quotes comparison platform to know the pricing and features of tailored janitorial liability insurance plans from different carriers. If you don’t want to do the legwork yourself, then CoverWallet’s customer service is ready to make everything straightforward, and they’ll choose the policies and amount of coverage you need.
CoverWallet customizes the quotes of its partners to give you these four insurance options-general liability only, general liability with commercial property, business owner’s policy with workers compensation, and a custom plan.
Decide to work with CoverWallet if you’re looking for a company that streamlines the whole insurance process for customers. CoverWallet allows you to get insured, pay premiums, and furnish a copy of proof of insurance online.
Best for: Janitorial insurance quotes comparison online
Average cost: $29 per month
Our rating: 10/10
Has a business insurance calculator for you to estimate rates
Decide to get covered for only hours, days, weeks, or months
No deductibles
You can only file a claim via the Thimble app
Small-time janitors will like Thimble. This insurance company offers janitorial service general liability insurance with optional equipment and tools coverage. The amount of insurance money you’ll get from Thimble’s general liability insurance is $1 million to $2 million. And since it’s available as short-term insurance, you can decide to get covered for only hours, days, weeks, or months.
There are many perks to working with Thimble. First, you can get insured online. The second is that you can choose not to have any deductible (though this will make premiums a bit pricey). Third, Thimble gives instant proof of insurance as soon as you finalize the purchase.
Best for: Short-term general liability insurance for janitors
Average cost: $38 per month
Our rating: 9/10
A long history of insuring businesses
Fair premiums and pricing
Friendly agents make handling claims a breeze
They’re not the cheapest insurance company
Progressive has been providing high-quality insurance to policyholders since 1937 and it has no plans of stopping. Although most know Progressive for the interesting tv commercials, Progressive also has a strong reputation in the business insurance sector. The company has garnered tons of positive reviews in terms of customer satisfaction and the overall friendliness of the agents.
Whether you just need a simple janitorial insurance program for your self-employed business or you own a larger cleaning company with multiple employees, Progressive allows you to build your own policy so that you don’t have to worry about paying for extra coverage that you don’t need.
Best for: Janitorial company’s commercial auto insurance
Average Cost: $45 per month
Our rating: 8/10
Tailor-made insurance policies for each business
Low-cost premiums
Honest, reliable insurer
Claims may take a bit longer to process
Although The Hartford doesn’t spend as much on TV advertising as its larger competitors, it has grown a strong following among business owners who are looking for a low-cost, honest insurance provider without the headaches and constant back-and-forth communication.
Like Progressive, The Hartford allows policyholders to build their own policies from the ground-up. This ensures that your janitor insurance policy is exactly what you need- nothing more, nothing less. Another key advantage of going with The Hartford is that monthly premium costs are a bit lower since you might qualify for numerous discounts.
The one drawback to The Hartford is that they can sometimes be slow when it comes to processing claims. Since they’re a smaller company, they often don’t have as many agents on-hand as larger insurers. Unless you foresee yourself using your insurance a lot, though, The Hartford should be just fine for most small janitorial businesses.
Best for: Small janitorial businesses with less than 10 employees
Average cost: $60 per month
Our rating: 7/10
Fair pricing for janitorial liability insurance
Fast, easy app makes billing and handling claims easy
Your business insurance isn’t quite as personal
Geico is one of the largest insurance companies in the nation and they provide everything from residential car and home insurance to liability business insurance for small cleaning businesses. Since they’re one of the larger insurance companies and have tons of policyholders, their pricing is quite fair. One of the top reasons why so many people use Geico is the company’s ease of use. They have a fast, up-to-date smartphone app where claims can be easily tracked and handled, and it’s never hard to speak with an in-person representative.
Best for: Mid to large-sized janitorial and cleaning companies
Average cost: $75 per month
Our rating: 6/10
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This place is an absolute joke of a company and should be ashamed of the way they conduct business. I was hurt on the job at the end of July and it took them just shy of 7 weeks to issue out a paycheck to me. Yes the amount was back dated but still. Not many have the luxury of not receiving a paycheck for almost 2 months. To top it all off, the original adjuster marked me down for the wrong state which caused a problem from the get go, I've had 3 different adjusters now since each one can't seem to figure out the simplicity of my claim. All my paperwork which includes, my job, house, and drs visits all are from the same state and city but yet some how I have been filed under a completely different state 1500 miles away. They do not answer your phone calls or emails no matter how many you leave. I've had to escalate my frustrations to the supervisors of each of these individuals in order to even get some kind of response. I've had more communication and information given to me about my claim from the customer service representatives then the actual adjusters.......... please tell me how that works?! A serious overhaul needs to happen here in order to serve your clients the way they deserve to be taken care of. 10/10 do not recommend this company to a single soul on earth
I have never had the displeasure of working with a more incompetent and disrespectful person in my life. I’m an injured worker and the adjuster that was assigned to my case was named Carrie Furgeson. In the past 6 weeks that I’ve been injured and out of work I have only been able to get ahold of her twice, not for lack of trying. I have left countless voicemails, countless emails, and she ignores them all. When I am finally able to get ahold of her I’m greeted with terrible customer service. She is rude, she talks over me and I’m hardly able to get a word in edgewise. She spelled my name wrong on my documents even after I spelled it for her properly countless times, this caused a whole new issue with my bank. I have bill collectors from the hospital calling me demanding payment and Carrie Furgeson won’t do a single thing to help, or to get them paid. All of my documentation is in Colorado, my job is in Colorado, my address is in Colorado, all my Dr offices and appointments have been in Colorado and Carrie still managed to hold my claim because she wasn’t sure what state she needed to file it under. It’s been 6 weeks since my Injury and my company still hasn’t received the wage paperwork to fill out so they can get me my correct wages. When she’s not ignoring me she’s answering my questions with “I don’t know” well I don’t know how she got this job, because apparently she doesn’t know anything about it. She is a disgusting morose individual inside and out and I genuinely wish her the worst in all of her future endeavors. I highly recommend you don’t use this company. Please if you are a business owner and your looking into this company please don’t use them. I’m sure they have the cheapest payment and that’s why companies use them in the first place, but you will be doing your employees a grave disservice by forcing them to venture into this absolute dumpster fire of a company. I would rate 0/5 if possible but 1 was the lowest I was allowed.
Their general liability insurance purchase process is simply the best online experience I've ever had in my life!
As long as they cover your line of business, you're literally covered! best rates, best coverage, best online experience, best professionals, can't be happier that I chose them!
It really can't get any better than this... wow