How does General Liability insurance protect cleaning businesses?
General liability insurance helps to protect cleaning businesses from a variety of common risks that can occur when cleaning other people’s property. It’s the most common type of insurance for small businesses and self-employed workers.
A number of different professionals in the cleaning industry can benefit from general liability coverage, including carpet cleaners, floor waxes, garbage collectors, janitors, housekeepers, pressure washers and window cleaners. All of these jobs involve working on someone else’s property, but if that property is damaged or a client gets hurt, general liability insurance can help cover related expenses.
What does General Liability cover for cleaners?
General liability insurance helps cover the costs of accidents that cause damage to someone else’s property. It also provides financial support if your cleaning work accidentally results in an injury. This doesn’t include employees who get hurt on the job — a workers’ compensation insurance policy is required to cover those types of incidents.
In most cases, clients require cleaning services to have general liability insurance before they’ll consider hiring them. You may need to show a certificate of insurance to prove that you have sufficient coverage.
General liability insurance for cleaning businesses can help cover a variety of costs, such as:
- Damage to someone else’s property
- Injuries to people who are not employees
- Court and legal fees
- Accusations of libel and slander
Learn more about what general liability insurance covers.
Why do cleaning services need General Liability insurance?
If you have a cleaning business, you likely spend a lot of time working on other people’s property, whether it’s a residential home, an office building or a retail store. This creates an increased risk of accidental damage to that property.
For example, you might spill some bleach on a client’s expensive rug, leaving a noticeable stain. General liability insurance can help cover the costs to repair or replace the rug.
Working on other people’s property also creates a risk of accidentally hurting someone. If that happens, your general liability coverage can help pay for their medical expenses.
Most clients require general liability insurance for cleaning services that they hire, so you may need this type of insurance in order to secure jobs
What are some common risks faced by cleaning companies?
Cleaning business insurance offers you protection from a wide range of unexpected events and accidents. Some of the common risks that cleaners could be exposed to at work include:
Damage to someone’s property
After cleaning a bathroom at a client’s home, you accidentally leave a sink faucet running. The sink overflows, which causes some water damage. General liability insurance can cover the costs to fix the damages.
Accidents that hurt someone
While cleaning an office building, one of the client’s employees slips and falls on a freshly mopped floor. Their medical expenses can be covered by your general liability insurance.
Court and legal fees
A client claims that you cleaned their marble countertops with the wrong product, causing irreversible damage. Your general liability insurance can help to pay for the legal fees to defend your business.
Libel, slander and defamation
You share an image of a client’s dirty retail store on social media as part of a before-and-after example of your cleaning work. The client is upset with the portrayal of their business and sues you for defamation. General liability insurance can help cover the legal costs.
How much is liability insurance for a cleaning business?
At NEXT, every general liability insurance policy is customized to meet your needs so you get the right coverage for your business.
Overall, 44% of NEXT customers pay $66 to $85 monthly for general liability insurance. Because cleaning is considered a relatively low-risk industry, the cost of general liability insurance for this type of business can cost about $45 per month.**
Some of the factors which affect the cost of general liability insurance for cleaners include:
- The types of cleaning services you offer
- The kinds facilities you clean
- How many employees you have
- How long you’ve been in business
- The state where you work
- Your claims history
- How high you set your limit
NEXT offers tailored business insurance for cleaning services
NEXT makes it easy to get affordable insurance for cleaning businesses, including house cleaners, carpet cleaners, floor waxers, window cleaners, pressure washers and more.
You can do everything directly from your computer or mobile device. It only takes a few minutes to compare your insurance options, purchase the coverage you need and get a certificate of insurance to instantly share with your clients.
Get a quote online today.
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