Florida's cleaning industry — commercial janitorial, residential cleaning, and specialty services — faces property damage claims, employee dishonesty exposure, and slip-and-fall liability. Getting properly covered is also a competitive requirement: most commercial clients and property managers require a COI before awarding contracts. Here's what every Florida cleaning business needs.
Cleaning GL covers property damage (broken items, chemical damage to surfaces, water damage from spills) and bodily injury (slip-and-fall injuries from wet floors, chemical exposure). Standard GL limits of $1M/$2M are required by most commercial contracts. Residential cleaning companies can often work with $300,000–$500,000 limits. GL premiums for Florida cleaning businesses run $800–$3,000/year for small operations and $3,000–$10,000 for larger commercial operations.
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Most commercial cleaning contracts require a janitorial surety bond — typically $5,000–$25,000. The bond protects clients against employee theft. The premium is modest ($50–$250/year for a $10,000 bond). Being bonded and insured is a standard marketing claim in the cleaning industry and often a contractual requirement for office buildings, healthcare facilities, and schools. Note: the bond does not cover the cleaning company's own losses — it's protection for the client.
Cleaning workers comp class code (9015 — janitorial) carries rates of $3–$7 per $100 of payroll — lower than many trades but meaningful for labor-intensive businesses. Chemical exposure injuries, slip-and-falls, and repetitive motion injuries are common claims. A cleaning company with $150,000 in payroll may pay $4,500–$10,500/year. Florida requires workers comp for cleaning companies with 4+ employees; below that threshold it remains strongly advisable.
Beyond the janitorial bond (which protects clients), your business may want employee dishonesty coverage under a commercial crime policy or BOP endorsement. This covers theft by your employees from your business — cash, equipment, or company assets. Cost: $300–$800/year depending on limits. Particularly relevant if employees handle client credit card information or access to client homes/offices.
Biohazard/trauma cleaning, carpet cleaning, pressure washing, and post-construction cleaning all carry higher risk profiles than standard janitorial work. Biohazard cleaning requires pollution liability coverage. Pressure washing companies face property damage risk from surface damage. Post-construction cleaning may be classified differently for GL and workers comp purposes — confirm your classification with your broker.
We help Florida cleaning companies get bonded and insured — fast quotes on GL, workers comp, and janitorial bonds.
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