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Start a cleaning business

Start your cleaning business.Get bonded and ready to bid.

Our office forms your cleaning or janitorial company in any state, gets the EIN, runs payroll and keeps your books, and our agency writes the liability coverage and janitorial bond your clients ask for.

Start my cleaning businessGet an insurance quote

Reviewed by Orkun Ozkaymak, CPA, MBAClients in all 50 states and abroad

$500company setup, EIN included
50 + DCstates we form companies in
1 officeformation, taxes and insurance
2011preparing taxes since
Step by step

How to start a cleaning business

  1. 1

    Form the company and get an EIN

    Our office forms your LLC or corporation in the state where you work and gets the EIN, so you can sign client contracts and open a business bank account in the company name.

  2. 2

    File your business license

    Most states have no license for cleaning services, but many cities and counties require a general business license. Check the rules where your company is located and where you clean.

  3. 3

    Get insured and bonded

    Our agency quotes general liability, a janitorial bond that protects clients against employee theft, commercial auto, and workers' compensation, which most states require once you hire.

  4. 4

    Set up payroll

    Register with your state for unemployment insurance and withholding. Our office runs payroll, so cleaners are paid on time and withholding is filed correctly.

  5. 5

    Keep clean books from day one

    Our office sets up QuickBooks Online, tracks each client contract, and prepares your quarterly estimates and year end tax return.

Filings and prices

What our office files for you.Prices shown before you send.

Pick what you need on the request form. Ozfield's fees are shown here; government fees are passed through at cost.

  • City of Chicago business license IllinoisThe city fee is $500 or $1,000 for 2 years depending on the license type, paid to the city.
    $179
  • Payroll and state unemployment setupPayroll accounts, state unemployment registration and your first payroll.
    Quoted by our office
Company setup is $500 plus the state fee, EIN included.
The request form adds your filings and shows the full estimate as you go.
Build my estimate
Insurance from the same office

Coverage in place on day one.Quoted by our agency.

Check the coverage you want on the request form and our insurance team sends quotes from multiple carriers. Nothing is bound without your OK.

Start my cleaning businessGet a quote only
  • General liability
  • Janitorial bond
  • Workers' compensation
  • Commercial auto
After you open

The filings that come every year.

Our office keeps these on your calendar so nothing is missed. How we work with cleaning companies →

Form 941 and state payroll

Quarterly. Withholding and unemployment returns.

W-2, 940 and 1099-NEC

January 31. Year-end payroll and contractor forms.

Business return

March 15 or April 15. Entity or Schedule C return.

Questions

What new owners ask us.

Something else on your mind? Call 773-536-9272 and our office will help, in English or Turkish.

Do I need a license to start a cleaning business?
Most states have no license for residential or commercial cleaning. Many cities and counties require a general business license, and some require registration for home based businesses. A few specialized services, such as mold remediation or pest control, have their own licensing. Our office forms your company and gets the EIN so you can apply for local licenses in the company name.
What is a janitorial bond and do I need one?
A janitorial bond pays your client if an employee steals from them, up to the bond amount. It is usually not required by law, but many offices, property managers and homeowners ask for it before they hire a cleaning company. Our agency writes janitorial bonds along with the general liability policy your contracts require.
Are my cleaners employees or independent contractors?
If you set the schedule, supply the products and direct how the work is done, your cleaners are most likely employees. Misclassifying them can lead to back taxes, penalties and unpaid unemployment contributions. Our office reviews your setup and runs payroll so withholding and payroll reports are filed on time.
What insurance does a cleaning company need?
Most cleaning companies carry general liability for property damage and injuries at client sites, a janitorial bond, and commercial auto if you drive to jobs in a company vehicle. Workers' compensation is required in most states once you have employees. Our agency quotes these together and issues certificates of insurance to your clients.

Ready to start your cleaning business?

Answer a few questions, see your estimate and send it to our office.

Start my cleaning business773-536-9272