Insurance for Janitorial Services

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Why Janitorial Services Need Insurance

A janitor is a person whose primary responsibility is to clean buildings such as hospitals, schools, and office buildings. In some cases, however, a janitor will also carry out security and maintenance duties.

Owning a janitorial services business or thinking about starting a cleaning business comes with many responsibilities including providing cleaning services, employing trustworthy individuals, and managing daily activities. Whether you clean hospitals, nonprofits, or offices, you face potential dangers in your janitorial or cleaning business that leave you open to lawsuits and claims. Having the right janitorial insurance protects you from these costly lawsuits. Most of your customers will want to know if you are licensed and bonded before hiring you.

Risks Janitorial Services Could Face

  • Auto Accidents. If your janitorial cleaning business has a company fleet that employees use to travel to jobs or if they use their personal vehicles, you risk vehicle accidents. Whether you damage just your vehicle or somebody else’s property, the expenses can quickly add up.
  • Property Damage. The use of cleaning chemicals and equipment are common. If an employee spills chemicals or breaks a window, your janitorial cleaning business is responsible to pay for it. If either of these causes the business to shut down temporarily, they can file a lawsuit for lost revenue.
  • Employee Theft. Having access to business property and valuables opens the door to temptation. If an employee steals from your customers, they can sue you because you are responsible for their actions.
  • Injury. Whether an employee is injured or a third-party falls on a wet floor, you are expected to pay medical expenses and lost wages for time off of work. If you don’t have the right insurance, they can file a lawsuit to collect payment.
  • Broken Equipment. Equipment is how you get your cleaning activities completed daily. If a machine breaks down and forces you to close temporarily, the bills won’t stop.

Types Coverage that Janitorial Services May Need

Whether you are experienced or just researching how to start a cleaning business or how much does it cost, insurance and bonding is a top priority. There are several insurance and bonding options you should consider including general liability, commercial property, and fidelity bonds. If you offer cleaning advice, professional liability is a good addition to your janitorial insurance portfolio.

  • General Liability: This insurance pays any costs that arise from third-party injury or property damage as well as the cost to defend any lawsuits.
  • Commercial Auto: Pays to fix your vehicle after an auto accident and cover damages you caused to another person’s property.
  • Commercial Property: Includes coverage for your building and business property if it is damaged, destroyed in a fire, stolen, or vandalized. Many businesses add loss of business income to cover fixed expenses if they have to close temporarily during repairs.
  • Fidelity Bond: Often overlooked in small business insurance, fidelity bonds are valuable. They cover your business when an employee steals from you or one of your customers.
  • Equipment Breakdown: Equipment breakdown is a smart small business insurance choice. It pays the costs associated with your equipment breaking down including lost revenue, the cost to repair and rent temporary equipment.

How much does it Cost to Get Janitorial Services Insurance?

As a janitorial or cleaning business, it may be difficult to find small business insurance. Every carrier looks at your risks differently. The majority will want to know insurance and bonding claims history, when did you start a cleaning business and safety protocols for your employees. If you are ready to find out how much does it cost to get small business insurance, fill out the form below.

What type of insurance does this industry need?

Policy What is it? Why get it Popularity in your industry Want free quotes?
General Liability 		This policy protects your business in case of third party claims, such as bodily injury or property damage. For example, the common "slip-and-fall" claim would be covered by your General Liability policy. General Liability insurance is often considered to be the core coverage, particularly for businesses that regularly physically interact with customers or sell physical goods. In addition, many businesses have a contract, like a loan or a lease, requiring that they have this coverage.

What is it: This policy protects your business in case of third party claims, such as bodily injury or property damage. For example, the common "slip-and-fall" claim would be covered by your General Liability policy.

Why get it: General Liability insurance is often considered to be the core coverage, particularly for businesses that regularly physically interact with customers or sell physical goods. In addition, many businesses have a contract, like a loan or a lease, requiring that they have this coverage.

Workers Compensation 		Workers Compensation covers an employee's lost wages and the cost of resulting medical treatment if they suffer a work-related injury or disease. It also covers services needed to help the employee recover and return to work. Workers Compensation coverage is mandatory in most states. The number of employees after which it's required differs by state, but you will generally need coverage once you have employees.

What is it: Workers Compensation covers an employee's lost wages and the cost of resulting medical treatment if they suffer a work-related injury or disease. It also covers services needed to help the employee recover and return to work.

Why get it: Workers Compensation coverage is mandatory in most states. The number of employees after which it's required differs by state, but you will generally need coverage once you have employees.

Commercial Auto 		Commercial Auto insurance provides coverages such as liability, collision, comprehensive, medical payments and uninsured motorist coverage. Any vehicle on the road must be insured, and any incidents that occur while a vehicle is being used for business purposes may not be covered by a personal auto policy. That's why it is so important to make sure you have Commercial Auto insurance for any vehicles owned by the business.

What is it: Commercial Auto insurance provides coverages such as liability, collision, comprehensive, medical payments and uninsured motorist coverage.

Why get it: Any vehicle on the road must be insured, and any incidents that occur while a vehicle is being used for business purposes may not be covered by a personal auto policy. That's why it is so important to make sure you have Commercial Auto insurance for any vehicles owned by the business.

Inland Marine 		Inland Marine insurance covers goods in-transit either on land or through shallow water, as well as certain types of movable property (such as medical equipment). If your business has valuable equipment which regularly needs to be moved, then this can be a core policy to protect your property.

What is it: Inland Marine insurance covers goods in-transit either on land or through shallow water, as well as certain types of movable property (such as medical equipment).

Why get it: If your business has valuable equipment which regularly needs to be moved, then this can be a core policy to protect your property.

Hired & Non-Owned Auto 		This insurance protects the business in the case of any incidents involving a vehicle that has been hired by the company to be used for business-related purposes. It also provides coverage in the case your business uses other vehicles which are not property of the business, such as having delivery drivers use their own vehicles. If your company hires vehicles or allows employees to use their own vehicles for business purposes, you will want to consider this insurance.

What is it: This insurance protects the business in the case of any incidents involving a vehicle that has been hired by the company to be used for business-related purposes. It also provides coverage in the case your business uses other vehicles which are not property of the business, such as having delivery drivers use their own vehicles.

Why get it: If your company hires vehicles or allows employees to use their own vehicles for business purposes, you will want to consider this insurance.

Umbrella Insurance 		Umbrella insurance offers excess liability protection in the case that your General Liability, Commercial Auto Liability, and/or Employer's Liability coverage is insufficient. It essentially acts as a "back-up" plan, providing additional financial protection in the case that your business faces a particularly large claim that exceeds a single policy's limits. This policy can be particularly valuable for a business that faces a variety of risks and has multiple liability policies.

What is it: Umbrella insurance offers excess liability protection in the case that your General Liability, Commercial Auto Liability, and/or Employer's Liability coverage is insufficient. It essentially acts as a "back-up" plan, providing additional financial protection in the case that your business faces a particularly large claim that exceeds a single policy's limits.

Why get it: This policy can be particularly valuable for a business that faces a variety of risks and has multiple liability policies.

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