Insurance for cleaning businesses in Pennsylvania

Learn about business insurance requirements and the most common policies for janitors and maids in Pennsylvania.

Which policies are required for cleaning businesses in Pennsylvania?

Depending on the specifics of your cleaning business, you may be required to hold several different types of business insurance.

If you use a company car to visit customers’ properties, you may need to purchase commercial auto insurance to meet state requirements.

If you have a physical location with a commercial lease, your property manager may require you to purchase general liability insurance. Commonly purchased by janitors and maids in Pennsylvania, general liability insurance can protect your business from expenses associated with common mishaps, such as customer property damage and injuries.

To meet state requirements in Pennsylvania, every small business (from Pittsburgh to Erie) with employees must provide workers’ compensation insurance, which covers lost wages and medical bills for work injuries.

Depending on your clients, you may also need to purchase a janitorial bond to fulfill the terms of a contract. This bond protects your clients from property loss due to employee theft.

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What are the most common policies for Pennsylvania cleaning businesses?

The most common policies for cleaning businesses in Pennsylvania vary depending on revenue, client contracts, partnerships, and other factors.

General liability insurance

General liability insurance is the foundation of a cleaning business’s protection, with coverage that extends to client injuries, client property damage, and advertising injuries. Most commercial leases require you to have this coverage.

Business owner's policy (BOP)

Small cleaning businesses might qualify for a business owner’s policy. This package helps your business save money by bundling commercial property insurance with general liability insurance at an affordable rate.

Commercial auto insurance

Commercial auto insurance protects vehicles owned by your cleaning company. It covers property damage and medical bills in an accident, along with vehicle theft, weather damage, and vandalism.

Pennsylvania workers' compensation

If you own a cleaning company in Pennsylvania that has employees, your business is required to have workers’ compensation coverage. If you are a sole proprietor, coverage is optional. However, if you slip and break an arm while mopping, or develop carpal tunnel syndrome after years of cleaning, you can turn to your workers’ compensation policy to help pay your medical bills and lost wages.

Janitorial bonds

Janitorial bonds are a type of surety bond that protect against losses caused by an employee’s dishonesty. If one of your maids or janitors steals from a client, a janitorial bond will reimburse your client.

Commercial umbrella insurance

Your clients might require commercial umbrella insurance to ensure protection against expensive lawsuits. This policy provides additional coverage on your general liability insurance, commercial auto insurance, and employer's liability insurance (part of workers' comp) once their limits are reached.

What do cleaners in Pennsylvania pay for insurance?

According to an analysis of Insureon applications, the typical janitor or maid in Pennsylvania can expect to pay less than the national median for most types of business insurance.

For example, the median annual cost of commercial auto insurance for janitors and maids in Pennsylvania is $998, far less than the national median of $2,127. On the other hand, the median annual premium for workers’ compensation insurance is $2,879, slightly more than the national median of $2,834.

Median insurance costs for Pennsylvania janitors and maids.

Save time and money with Insureon

Insureon’s industry-leading technology helps cleaning professionals in Pennsylvania save time and money shopping for insurance by comparing policies from top U.S. providers. Start a free online application to review quotes for the policies that best fit your business. Our insurance agents are licensed in Pennsylvania and can answer your questions as you consider coverage.

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