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Tax, books and insurance for cleaning companies

Your team works inside other people's homes and offices. We keep payroll correct and coverage ready for every client contract.

Residential and commercial cleaning companies work with our office for payroll, worker classification, bookkeeping, and liability and workers compensation coverage.

Reviewed by Orkun Ozkaymak, CPA, MBA·Clients in all 50 states and abroad

Cleaning and janitorial

A people business in other people's spaces

Cleaning companies run on labor. Payroll is the largest cost, turnover is high, and commercial clients often require certificates of insurance before your team can start.

Our office runs payroll, keeps your books and places the coverage your contracts require, so growing from one crew to ten is simple.

Special needs

What makes cleaning different, and how we help

Where cleaning owners most often need support.

01

Employee or contractor

Paying cleaners as 1099 contractors while you set their schedules and supply the equipment can lead to payroll tax and workers compensation assessments.

How we helpWe review how your team works and set up payroll that fits the rules.

02

Damage and liability

A broken item or a slip in a client's home or office can turn into a claim.

How we helpOur agency quotes general liability built for cleaning companies and issues certificates for client contracts.

03

Staff driving to jobs

Employees driving their own cars between jobs can expose your business if there is an accident.

How we helpWe review hired and non-owned auto coverage and commercial auto for company vans.

04

Recurring billing

Weekly and monthly service plans need clean invoicing and collections.

How we helpWe set up recurring invoices and payments in QuickBooks so cash comes in on time.

Calendar

Filings we keep on schedule

The recurring deadlines cleaning companies face most often. We track them for you and send reminders before anything is due.

  1. QuarterlyForm 941 and state payrollWithholding and unemployment returns.
  2. January 31W-2, 940 and 1099-NECYear-end payroll and contractor forms.
  3. March 15 or April 15Business returnEntity or Schedule C return.

Dates shown are for calendar-year filers. When a due date falls on a weekend or holiday, it moves to the next business day.

QuickBooks Online

Books built for cleaning companies

Your QuickBooks tracks revenue by client and labor by crew, so you know which accounts are profitable.

Our office sets up QuickBooks Online with a chart of accounts designed for your industry and your entity type, mapped line by line to your tax return. Your books are ready for filing season all year.

Questions

What cleaning companies ask us

Can my cleaners be independent contractors?

Only if they truly control how and when they work. If you set schedules, train them and supply equipment, they are usually employees. We help you set it up correctly.

What insurance do commercial clients ask for?

Most ask for general liability with a certificate naming them, and proof of workers compensation. Our agency can issue those quickly.

Should my cleaning company be an S corporation?

Once profit is steady, an S corporation can lower self-employment tax, but it adds payroll and a separate return. We compare the numbers for you.

Next step

Let's talk about your business

Request an insurance quote, or start your company with our office. Prefer to talk first? Book a time, virtual or in person.

Call the office773-536-9272Mon to Fri, 9:00am to 5:00pmtax@ozfield.cominsurance@ozfield.com