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Cleaning business insurance · California

Insurance for cleaning and janitorial businesses in Los Angeles

Cleaners work in clients' homes and offices, around things that break and floors people slip on. General liability pays when an accident hurts someone or damages a client's property. You can buy it online for one job or a whole year.

$1,000,000General liability limit on Thimble's janitorial and cleaner policy
1 employeeis enough to need workers' compensation in California
By the houror the day, month or year: Thimble's coverage terms

Start a coverage review Call Billy

What cleaning business liability covers

Usually covered

Bodily injury: someone other than your workers is hurt because of your cleaning, like a slip on a floor you just mopped.
Property damage: you or your crew damage a client's or someone else's property.
Legal defense: lawyers and court costs if you are sued over a covered claim.
Medical payments: small medical bills for someone hurt at your work, without a lawsuit.

Usually not covered

Injuries to your own employees (that is workers' compensation)
Your own tools, equipment or vehicles
Theft by your own workers (a janitorial bond covers that)

How Thimble coverage works

Coverage when you need it. Thimble sells these policies by the hour, the day, the month or the year, so a one-off job can be covered on its own.
Proof for your client. After you buy, you can download a certificate of insurance to show a client, landlord or venue.
You stay in control. Thimble lets you change, pause or cancel a policy online or in its app.

What a policy covers, its limits and its price depend on your business, your ZIP code, your crew size and how long you buy for. The policy itself is what decides a claim.

Bonds and workers' comp for cleaners

Janitorial bond: many clients want this as well as liability. It helps pay a client back if one of your workers steals from them. Billy can look for one through other companies.
Workers' compensation: required once you hire your first employee, family members included. General liability does not cover your own crew's injuries.

Get a quote online

Get a price and buy online below. Billy is the broker on these Thimble policies, so you can call him with questions before or after you buy.

Open the Thimble quote in a new tab

This quote tool is run by Thimble Insurance Services. What you type into it goes to Thimble and is covered by Thimble's privacy policy, not ours. Rather talk it through? Use the form on this page or call (323) 393-5077.

Cyber coverage

Thimble can add cyber coverage to its yearly general liability policy, with up to a $100,000 limit for a data breach, cyber crime or cyber extortion. It is not available in every case; see the business insurance guide for what it covers and leaves out.

What to have ready

Homes, offices or both
Your ZIP code and where you clean
How many people are on your crew
How long you need coverage: one job, a month or a year
Any client who needs to be listed on the certificate

Other trades

Billy also has pages for other trades Thimble covers:

Contractors and handymen

Liability for remodels, repairs and handyman jobs, plus the bond and workers' comp rules California contractors face.

See contractors and handymen coverage

Landscaping and gardening

Liability for gardeners, lawn care and landscape crews, with notes on tree work and equipment.

See landscaping and gardening coverage

Event vendors and entertainers

General and professional liability for DJs, performers and vendors, with free additional insureds for venues.

See event vendors and entertainers coverage

Photographers

General and professional liability for portrait, event and wedding photographers.

See photographers coverage

Need something else, such as workers' compensation, a business owner's policy or commercial auto? The small business insurance guide covers those, and Billy can compare other companies for you.

Common questions

Do house cleaners need insurance?

No state law requires general liability for every house cleaner, but you work around other people's floors, furniture and belongings every day. Offices and property managers often ask for a certificate of insurance before you start.

What if one of my cleaners breaks something?

General liability is built for accidental damage to a client's property, like a broken lamp or a scratched floor, and for injuries to people who are not your workers. Theft by a worker is a different risk that a janitorial bond can cover.

Do I need workers' compensation for my cleaning crew?

Yes, once you have even one employee. California employers must carry workers' compensation, and general liability does not cover your own workers' injuries.