Trades and home services · LLC guide · updated
How to start a commercial cleaning business and form its LLC
A commercial cleaning LLC usually needs only a local business license, plus the janitorial bond and insurance certificate most office clients require. Crews cleaning medical offices need OSHA bloodborne pathogens training. As of October 2026.
To start a commercial cleaning business, form an LLC in your state and get its EIN. Then line up what this business needs on top of that: business license, janitorial bond, general liability, and workers' comp.
Registered agent service, provided through our partner Registered Agents Inc, is optional: $74.25 a year, the same at renewal. Questions first? Ray or Vinny picks up at (954) 470-8356.
- EIN
- Business license
- Janitorial bond
- General liability
- Workers' comp
Commercial Cleaning Business businesses in the U.S.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 561720) and U.S. Census Bureau, Nonemployer Statistics 2022 (NAICS 56172), the latest U.S. totals.
Why commercial cleaning business owners form an LLC
Commercial cleaners clean offices, medical suites, schools and retail space after hours, usually with keys and alarm codes. Clients sign written contracts and ask for insurance certificates and a bond before you start. An LLC is the name on those contracts and keeps a claim with the company.
Theft accusations
After-hours access to offices means missing-item claims. A janitorial bond helps.
Medical and restroom waste
Cleaning medical offices can expose staff to blood and sharps.
Chemical injuries
Floor strippers and disinfectants can injure staff if mixed or misused.
An LLC keeps the company's debts and claims away from your personal assets when you run it as its own business: its own bank account, contracts signed in its name, and no mixing of money. It does not cover your own negligence, and lenders often ask for a personal guarantee. Insurance comes first.
Licenses and registrations for a commercial cleaning business
Federal items link to the agency's own page. State and local rules vary, so pick your state at the top for your state's business portal. Tick items off as you go; the list remembers your progress on this device.
- We do thisForm the LLC and get its EINAlmost every registration above asks for the company's legal name and EIN, so this comes first. We file the LLC with your state for $123.75 plus the state fee, and can get the EIN for $41.25; the IRS also issues it free online.
Insurance and taxes to plan for
Insurance
- General liability
Covers damage and injuries at client sites.
- Janitorial bond
Pays the client if an employee is convicted of theft; many commercial contracts require it.
- Workers' compensation
Required with employees.
Taxes
- Payroll
Crews are usually employees; budget employer payroll taxes into your bids.
- Sales tax on cleaning
A few states tax janitorial services.
Office and medical clients often ask for a certificate of insurance naming them, a janitorial bond and a signed agreement. Get all three in the LLC's name first. This is a common pattern, not advice for your situation; an attorney in your state can tell you whether it fits.
Forming the LLC itself: 7 steps in every state
- 1. Check the name
- 2. Name a registered agent
- 3. File with the state
- 4. Sign an operating agreement
- 5. Get an EIN
- 6. Open a bank account
- 7. Keep it in good standing
The filing office, fee and yearly report change by state. Open your state's step-by-step guide.
What it costs to form a commercial cleaning business LLC
| Cost | File it yourself | With Vermilion Vitez |
|---|---|---|
| State filing fee (paid to the state) | $35 to $520 | $35 to $520 |
| Filing service, operating agreement included | $0 | $123.75 |
| EIN from the IRS | $0 | $0 yourself, or $41.25 if we get it |
| Registered agent service through our partner Registered Agents Inc, per year (optional) | $0 if you serve yourself | $74.25 |
State fees as charged at our checkout. Industry licenses, permits, bonds and insurance above are separate and set by each agency. Checkout shows the card processing fee before you pay.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a license to start a commercial cleaning business?
Usually only a local business license. Commercial clients will ask for insurance and often a janitorial bond.
What is the difference between commercial and residential cleaning?
Commercial cleaning runs on written contracts with businesses, often after hours, with insurance and bond requirements set by the client.
Do office cleaners need bloodborne pathogens training?
Employees who may contact blood or sharps, such as in medical offices, are covered by OSHA's standard.
Can my cleaners be 1099 contractors?
Usually not if you set their schedules, supply the equipment and direct the work.
How much does it cost to form an LLC for a commercial cleaning business?
Your state's filing fee ($35 to $520 depending on the state) plus $123.75 if we file it, with the operating agreement included. Industry licenses, bonds and insurance are extra and set by each agency.
Is this page legal or tax advice for my commercial cleaning business?
No. It summarizes public rules in general terms, with links to the agencies that set them. For your situation, talk to a licensed attorney or CPA. For help with the filing itself, book a free call with us.
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Have us file your Commercial Cleaning Business LLC
$123.75 plus your state's filing fee, with the operating agreement included. Checkout shows the full total, card processing fee and all, before you pay.
Rather talk first? Call Ray or Vinny at (954) 470-8356.