Best Small Business Liability Insurance Providers for Cleaning Companies

Do You Have to Have Insurance for a Cleaning Business?

Generally, you are not legally required to have cleaning business insurance. However, as in any other line of business, it is highly recommended to have insurance for your company.

There are inherent unforeseen events in running a cleaning business. For example, imagine a client hires you to clean their home and wax their floors. After you finish the job, you forget to warn your client or put up a wet floor sign, and as a result, they slip and hurt their ankle.

This is where general liability insurance comes in to cover their medical bills. Without insurance, you may lose tens of thousands of dollars in a situation like this, according to The Hartford.

As you grow your cleaning business and accept more cleaning projects, you subject yourself to different liability risks. To make an informed decision about your insurance coverage, keep reading and learn how to choose the right insurance policy.

Top 5 Cleaning Business Insurance Providers

Cleaning business insurance providers are designed to protect you from risks that may arise as you scale and acquire more cleaning jobs. Learning about the best providers can guide you in choosing one that will help you stay in business and remain profitable.

Below are the top 5 cleaning business insurance companies that offer essential coverage.

CoverWallet Cleaning Business Insurance

CoverWallet is an insurance broker platform that allows cleaning company owners to get quotes from different insurance companies and compare them at once. They offer four types of cleaning business insurance: general liability, general liability with property insurance, employee compensation, and a customized insurance plan.

Pros

• Centralized business insurance coverage
• Free quote comparison across a wide field of insurers
• Personalized help
• General liability with a $300,000 limit

Cons

• Quotes don’t always generate instantly
• They are only broker-sellers, meaning insurance is only available from chosen third parties

State Farm Cleaning Insurance

One of the most reliable insurance providers for a home cleaning business is State Farm. It is known for its great customer service and fewer complaints compared to other large competitors.

It offers several types of coverage through a network of agents across the country, so it is easy to connect with an agent to be accommodated instantly. Best yet, many representatives are business owners themselves, so they understand the nuts and bolts of running a small business like yours.

Pros

• High customer satisfaction ratings
• Easy to get connected to agents nationwide
• Wide selection of customizable insurance coverage
• User-friendly mobile app for quotes, paying bills, and filing claims

Cons

• Does not market actively in Massachusetts and Rhode Island
• Claims may take a while to process as many agents are not licensed to write across state lines

Thimble Cleaning Business Insurance

Thimble is known for its fast, flexible, and affordable insurance services. They provide financial insurance assistance for third-party bodily injury, property damage, and personal and advertising damages. Plus, they offer a fee as low as $38 monthly.

Pros

• They offer monthly, daily, and even hourly coverage
• Can cancel insurance policy at no cost
• Contractors can use Certificate Manager to verify that insurance is contractually dependable

Cons

• Claims filing and accessing customer support can only be done online
• Filing and following up on a claim requires calling or emailing the company insuring the policy

GEICO Cleaning Insurance

Generally, GEICO is popular among car insurance, but the company also provides self-employed cleaning business insurance. This includes workers’ compensation and even pressure washing business insurance.

Pros

• Highly rated and easy-to-use app
• Known for fair insurance coverage pricing
• Insurance premiums are affordable, offering a usage-based discount
• Strong history in car insurance, which is great for insuring a window cleaning van or any other type of transportation needed for your cleaning company

Cons

• Not always the cheapest for clients with poor credit
• Have fewer local agents than other insurance companies

USAA Cleaning Insurance

If you’re in the military or planning to retire from the military and want to start a lucrative house cleaning or a larger commercial cleaning business, then USAA is the best insurance provider for you. They have been consistently ranked as the cheapest insurer in the country, providing comprehensive and low-cost plans unmatched by other competitors.

Pros

• Known for their respectful customer representatives and below-average complaints
• Available rewards (such as points for gas and dining out discounts) for long-term members
• Excellent financial strength rating, which means USAA should have no issue covering liabilities long-term

Cons

• Only available to the military (active or retired)
• Limited access to local branches

What Kind of Business Insurance Do I Need?

The insurance coverage you need for your cleaning business is highly dependent on the size of your business, the regions you plan to serve, and how many team members you want to employ.

Running a business requires being proactive to look for ways to protect your assets and lower the risks of potential bigger issues caused by unforeseen events. Below are different types of insurance policies you may need to protect your cleaning business.

General Liability Insurance

General liability insurance is the most recommended starting policy for any small business as it provides a great foundation for business protection.

It protects your cleaning business from claims and lawsuits stemming from accidents or damage caused while at a client’s premises.

Commercial Property Insurance

According to Insuranks, commercial property insurance, also known as commercial general liability, is one of the most sought-after business insurance.

This is because it covers what general liability insurance does — plus repairs and replacements from fire, smoke, burglary, and certain natural disasters.

Workers’ Compensation Insurance

If you have a team of cleaners, worker’s compensation insurance will give you peace of mind knowing that medical bills for employees who get injured or sick on the job will be covered.

Worker’s compensation insurance can also cover some of an employee’s salary while they’re on recovery leave, including financial assistance if they acquired a disability caused by a work-related accident or illness.

Commercial Auto Insurance

If you have a van you utilize for your cleaning business, commercial auto insurance can cover auto repair or replacement, as well as medical bills if your vehicle is involved in a road accident.

Commercial auto insurance can also cover robbery, weather damage, and vandalism.

Errors and Omissions Insurance

According to Nationwide, errors and omissions (E&O) insurance “protects you and your business from claims if a client sues for negligent acts, errors or omissions committed during business activities that result in a financial loss.”

To avoid potential legal problems, such as legal defense fees, court dates, or having to pay a settlement, this type of insurance can help.

Frequently Asked Questions About Small Business Liability Insurance

What is the best general liability insurance for independent contractors?

Fit Small Business shares that the best general liability insurance for independent contractors is Hiscox, which has provided reliable liability insurance for more than 100 years.

It’s a complete package for janitorial and landscaping contractors, as it offers equipment coverage, professional liability, protective indemnity, and more.

What is the best insurance for small business owners?

According to The Balance Small Business, State Farm is the best insurance provider for small business owners.

One reason for this is that their customer representatives are known to be very helpful in getting the best custom coverage options and applicable discounts for your cleaning business.

What is the best place to get business liability insurance?

Small businesses like yours have plenty of options when it comes to choosing business insurance.

Any one of the five top cleaning business insurance providers listed above will help you get your cleaning company well protected and running smoothly. Be sure to do your own research too to select the best option based on your needs, budget, location, and more.

What are typical insurance rates for a new business?

Insurance rates for a new business vary depending on the type of coverage you need. Insureon has reported the following rates based on national averages:

• General liability insurance: $65 per month
• E&O insurance: $97 per month
• Business owner’s policy (BOP): $99 per month
• Worker’s compensation: $111 per month
• Commercial umbrella insurance: $129 per month

Protect and Secure Your New Cleaning Business’s Growth

A client slipping on a freshly waxed floor or the theft of a cleaning vehicle may be enough to put a small cleaning company in the red. Obtaining proper insurance coverage will help your cleaning business get through any unprecedented times.

Now that you have learned the top insurance companies that offer quality coverage at fair rates, you are one step closer to securing your business at any stage of its development.

For more ways to easily manage the efficiency and success of your cleaning business, download the Taskbird app now.