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Cleaning Business Insurance in North Carolina
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Cleaning business insurance and bonding in North Carolina
Learn about business insurance requirements and the most common policies for cleaning businesses in North Carolina.
Find the right coverage
Insureon helps cleaning businesses find insurance and bonds that match their unique risks.
Get free expert advice and peace of mind knowing you have the right property and liability coverage for your small business.
What are the most common policies for North Carolina cleaning businesses?
Cleaning companies may need different types of insurance coverage depending on the work they do, client contracts, partnerships, and other factors. These policies offer the best coverage for cleaning professionals in North Carolina.
General liability insurance
A general liability policy covers common cleaning risks, such as client property damage and bodily injuries. It's often the first insurance policy purchased by a cleaning business.
BEST FOR
- Clients slipping on wet floors
- Damage to customer property
- Advertising injury lawsuits
Workers' compensation insurance
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.
BEST FOR
- Employee medical bills
- Disability benefits
- Lawsuits over employee injuries
Commercial auto insurance
Commercial auto insurance provides property and liability coverage in an accident involving your business vehicle. It also covers vehicle theft and vandalism.
BEST FOR
- Car accidents
- Weather damage
- Vandalism and theft
Business owner's policy
Small cleaning businesses are often eligible for a business owner's policy. A BOP bundles general liability and commercial property insurance at a discount.
BEST FOR
- Client injuries
- Accidents that damage a client's property
- Damaged or destroyed cleaning equipment
Commercial umbrella insurance
Commercial umbrella insurance boosts business insurance coverage for general liability insurance, commercial auto insurance, and employer's liability insurance.
BEST FOR
- Multi-vehicle accidents
- Employee injury lawsuits
- Lawsuits over customer injuries
Janitorial bonds
Janitorial bonds are a type of surety bond. They protect cleaning and janitorial businesses against employee dishonesty, such as theft of client property.
BEST FOR
- Employee dishonesty
- Theft of money from a client
- Stolen property
Looking for different coverage? See more policies.
What insurance do you need for a cleaning business in North Carolina?
Depending on the specifics of your North Carolina business, you may be required to hold several different types of business insurance policies before you can take on clients or secure commercial cleaning contracts.
Workers' compensation insurance
To meet state requirements in North Carolina, every small business with three or more employees must provide workers’ compensation insurance, which covers medical costs and disability benefits when an employee is injured on the job or develops an occupational illness.
Sole proprietors may not need North Carolina workers' compensation coverage for their cleaning business license, but it's still a good idea to carry this insurance. Personal health insurance doesn't cover work-related injuries, so it can save you from out-of-pocket medical expenses.
Commercial auto insurance
According to North Carolina state law, business vehicles must be covered by a commercial auto policy.
Commercial auto insurance protects vehicles owned by your cleaning services business. It covers property damage and medical bills in an accident, along with vehicle theft, weather damage, and vandalism.
Though it's not required, personal vehicles driven for work purposes should be covered by hired and non-owned auto insurance (HNOA), as personal auto policies usually exclude business use. It can be added to general liability insurance or a business owner's policy (BOP).
General liability insurance
General liability insurance is the foundation of a cleaning professional's protection. It covers legal fees related to accidents that damage a client's property or cause a bodily injury, along with libel and other advertising injuries.
Cleaning businesses in North Carolina may be required to have a general liability policy depending on the counties they work in and the professional services they provide. They also might need it to sign a commercial lease or meet the terms of a client's contract.
Adding commercial umbrella insurance can boost the coverage limits on commercial general liability (CGL) insurance and other policies.
Janitorial bonds
A janitorial bond is a type of surety bond that reimburses your clients for employee theft. Unlike insurance, your bond carrier will expect reimbursement when it pays for a claim. Your clients might request your residential cleaning or janitorial company to secure this coverage.
Protect your cleaning business with the right coverage
How much is insurance for a small cleaning business in North Carolina?
Small business owners in North Carolina who buy cleaners' insurance policies from Insureon pay an average of:
General liability: $42 per month
Business owner's policy: $58 per month
Workers' compensation: $100 per month
Insurance companies look at several factors when calculating your cleaning business insurance costs, including:
- Type of cleaning services offered (maid services, Airbnb, etc.)
- Business equipment and property, such as vacuum cleaners, cleaning supplies, etc.
- Annual business revenue
- Where your business operates
- How many employees you have
- Coverage limits, deductibles, and endorsements
When do you need a cleaning business license in North Carolina?
In North Carolina, there are almost 950 occupational licenses and permits at the state level alone. Plus, your local county or city might have their own unique requirements. For example:
- Cary requires cleaning businesses who want to run a store front to ensure their building is properly zoned before they can sign a lease or buy the property.
- Charlotte may require your business to carry additional permits to comply with environmental regulations.
- Raleigh requires a Business Privilege License from the city, and if you plan on running your cleaning business from your home, you'll need to obtain a Home Occupation Permit.
If your business offers specialized services like carpet cleaning, you'll likely need to get additional licenses or permits, such as a dry cleaning or water discharge permit. Also, if you deal with hazardous materials or provide janitorial services to commercial buildings, you may be required to carry extra permits or certifications.
Different than a janitorial bond, your cleaning business may be asked to carry license or permit bonds. These bonds assure local agencies and your clients that your business will complete a project in accordance with the law, building codes, and other regulations.
Looking at your municipality's requirements before starting your cleaning services business is a key step, as they'll be able to tell you which licenses, bonds, permits, and fees you need to acquire or pay.
How to get insurance for a cleaning business
Whether you're looking for cleaning liability insurance for self-employed professionals or a multi-person operation, you'll need to have some basic info about your business on hand to get free quotes. This includes your annual revenue, years of experience, and number of employees.
You can buy a policy online and get a certificate of insurance with Insureon in three easy steps:
- Complete a free online application
- Compare business insurance quotes and choose a policy
- Pay for your insurance policy and download a certificate of insurance
Insureon's licensed insurance agents work with top-rated U.S. providers to find the right types of coverage options for your business insurance needs, whether you work independently or have several employees working for you.