Do I need insurance for residential cleaning jobs?

You may not always be legally required to have it, but most property management companies require proof of GL before you can work in their properties. And even without a requirement, one claim from a homeowner can easily exceed a year's worth of premiums.

What if a homeowner accuses my employee of stealing something?

That's exactly what employee dishonesty coverage is for. It protects both you and the client if an employee is accused of theft or a dishonest act while working inside a home. GL alone doesn't cover this — it's a separate coverage we can add.

Can I add a homeowner as additional insured?

Yes — we can issue certificates naming specific homeowners or property managers as additional insured. This is common for rental property work and some HOA-managed communities.

Do I need insurance if I'm just helping a friend for cash?

If you're being paid for cleaning work, you're operating a business in the eyes of an insurance carrier — and you're exposed to claims. Coverage is typically affordable enough that it's worth having even for occasional paid work.

How quickly can I get coverage if I have a job starting tomorrow?

Same-day coverage is typically available. Fill out the quote form today and our agents will get you a quote quickly. Once you bind, your COI is issued instantly.

Residential Cleaner Insurance

You Have Keys. That Changes the Insurance Conversation.

Most residential trades finish a job and leave. Residential cleaners are different — you're often handed a garage code, a lockbox key, or a spare that lives with you between visits. That level of standing trust is exactly why more homeowners now ask "are you insured" before they'll hand over access, and it's why a spilled solution on hardwood or a dropped vase isn't the only exposure worth covering here.

The Coverage That Actually Matches How You Work

General Liability

Responds when something in the home is damaged or someone is hurt in connection with your work — a chemical reacts badly with a countertop finish, a rug is stained, a client trips over your vacuum cord in the hallway. This is the policy most homeowners are picturing when they ask if you're "insured."

Employee Dishonesty

The coverage most trades never need and residential cleaners specifically do. If you or an employee are ever accused of taking something while alone in a client's home, this is what protects both your business and the client's trust — separate from GL, and worth having before it's ever asked about rather than after.

Completed Operations

Built into your GL policy. Covers a claim that shows up after you've already left — a client notices streaking or discoloration hours later that traces back to a product used earlier in the day.

The One-Time Deep Clean vs. the Recurring Client

If most of your work is recurring weekly or biweekly clients, your risk profile looks different than a business built on one-time move-out or deep cleans for strangers found online. Recurring clients know you; one-time jobs carry more unknowns. Tell us your mix — it affects how your policy should be structured, not just what it costs. Just launching? here's what to have in place before your first job.

What Property Management Companies Ask For

If you clean turnover units or common areas for a property manager, expect a request for a certificate showing at least $1M per occurrence with the management company named as additional insured. Once bound, we issue that instantly.

What It Actually Costs

Most solo residential cleaners pay $350–$800/year for GL alone. Add employee dishonesty coverage and you're looking at $450–$1,000 total. Cleaners running a small crew see higher numbers tied to payroll, not the coverage type itself — our full pricing breakdown covers what drives that further.