The best cleaning business insurance companies offer convenience for quoting and policy management and 24/7 services when you need them. They also have a strong liability policy that can be customized to fit your job requirements.
After surveying over a dozen leading insurers by using our proprietary rubric focusing on financial stability (AM Best); customer satisfaction, including National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) complaint index and third-party review sites); convenience (quotes, applications, and policy management); and policies offered (not just the type but the specific endorsements), we’ve determined that these are the six best janitorial insurance companies:
- The Hartford: Best overall for cleaning business insurance
- Simply Business: Best for saving money by comparing quotes
- Next Insurance: Best for maid services
- Insurance Canopy: Best for home-based janitorial businesses
- Thimble: Best for new businesses
- Hiscox: Best for exterior cleaning companies
Best Cleaning Business Insurance Companies Compared
Company | Quote Process | Policy Purchase Process | Availability | Instant Certificate of Insurance (COI) | Financial Rating |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Online or via agent | Via agent | 24/7 call center | ✓ | A+ (Superior) | |
Online or via agent | Online or via agent | Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. | ✓ | A to A+ (Excellent to Superior) | |
Online or via agent | Online or via agent | Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central time | ✓ | A- (Excellent) | |
Online or via agent | Online or via agent | Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time | ✓ | A- (Excellent) to A+ (Superior) | |
Online or via app | Online or via app | Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET | ✓ | A- to A (Excellent) | |
Online or via agent | Online or via agent | Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET | ✓ | A (Excellent) | |
The Hartford: Best Overall for Cleaning Business Insurance
Pros
- Quick, online quotes
- Experienced provider
- Range of coverages available
Cons
- Usually have to call to purchase the policy
- Sometimes you’ll have to call to obtain a quote
- No mobile app for commercial customers
Standout Features
- Experienced provider with more than 1 million small businesses insured
- Multiple coverages available depending on the size and need of your cleaning business
- Ability to adjust limits to meet the higher risks associated with some lines of cleaning
- 24/7 call center available for loss reporting and customer service needs
Financial stability: With over one million small business customers, The Hartford has proven financial strength. AM Best rated The Hartford A+ (Superior).
The Hartford is our best overall provider for cleaning company insurance. It scored the highest because of its strong financial position, high customer satisfaction scores, convenient online options, and the variety of policies it offers.
While The Hartford and Simply Business scored the same, The Hartford won because it is a provider. This means that coverage, customer service, and claims are handled by it, making it a one-stop shop for the life of your policy. However, if what you’re looking for is a way to shop and compare prices on insurance, then check out Simply Business.
While The Hartford provides online quotes, we could not get one for this review. To request a quote, you can also call and speak with an agent. Customers pay about $88 monthly for a general liability policy.
The Hartford offers a wide variety of policies for your cleaning business. It provides general liability for cleaning businesses, covering property damage, bodily injury, and personal injury, such as slander. If you have any property you wish to insure, it offers a business owner’s policy (BOP) that combines property with liability. Additional policies, such as auto and umbrella, are also available.
The Hartford has lower-than-average complaints with the NAIC. It also placed third in J.D. Power’s Independent Agent Satisfaction Survey for 2022, meaning independent agents prefer working with The Hartford.
It has a great digital experience for insurance: online quotes, online policy management, and instant COI. When you visit its cleaning services landing page, there is a simple three-question quiz to help you determine which coverage is right for your business.
Simply Business: Best for Saving Money by Comparing Quotes
Pros
- Compare quotes online
- Purchase insurance 7 days a week
- Same-day COIs available
Cons
- No 24/7 call center
- No mobile app for customers
- Not all coverages available online
Standout Features
- Works with multiple top-rated carriers
- Get a quote and purchase a policy entirely online
- Adjust coverages during the quote process and get an updated price in real-time
- Targeted audience are new and microbusinesses with one to five employees.
Financial stability: Simply Business works with multiple top-rated providers that have a rating between A (Excellent) and A+ (Superior) from AM Best.
Simply Business is an online insurance brokerage that specializes in helping small businesses find insurance. It works with more than 15 different providers for cleaning business insurance. Its strength is in its ability to generate multiple quotes with coverage details that you can compare. You can also adjust limits on the quotes, and it will regenerate the updated cost in real time. You can purchase a policy online or call and speak with an agent.
If you prefer to have one source for your policy, customer service, and claims needs, then you should consider a provider like The Hartford or Next Insurance.
We received four quotes to compare, and the monthly prices ranged from $108 to $152. You can pay monthly or annually. When it generates the quotes, the system lays out each quote for you to compare side by side with the details of coverage available. All of the quotes were for a general liability policy with $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate limit along with tools and equipment available.
After making your selection, you can purchase the policy online or call and speak with an agent before finalizing anything.
Simply Business offers insurance in all 50 states, and you can purchase the policy online or over the phone. Once you purchase insurance, you’ll have access to an online account where you can manage your policy. To file a claim, you will need to contact the provider that handles the policy directly.
Simply Business is owned by Travelers but works with multiple carriers. For this article, the cheapest quote came from American Builders Insurance Company, and the most expensive one was from Harborway Insurance.
Its customers are happy with their experience. On Trustpilot[1], there are almost 1,000 reviews with 4.8 out of 5 stars as the average rating.
Next Insurance: Best for Maid Services
Pros
- Quick, online quotes
- Instant access to policy
- Purchase insurance online
Cons
- No 24/7 call center
- Limited specialized coverage
- Coverage availability may be limited in some states
Standout Features
- Tiered quotes let you choose the right coverage at the right price
- In-house claims are handled directly by Next Insurance
- Mobile app to manage your policy, claims, and even create and share an instant COI
- No fee for monthly payments
Financial stability: Next Insurance’s AM Best rating is A- (Excellent).
Operating a cleaning business in someone’s home carries a unique set of risks. Fortunately, dedicated small business insurer Next Insurance has customized coverage specifically for residential and maid service cleaning businesses.
Its coverages are in line with the type of risk your business is exposed to, and if there is a loss, Next Insurance has done a lot to emphasize a convenient claim experience. It is also committed to 48-hour decisions on claims and has developed a mobile app that allows you to file a claim and check the claim status.
If your primary interest is in saving money, then check out Simply Business where you can compare quotes from multiple providers. If you want to stick with one provider but prefer one that is always available, then you should consider The Hartford with its 24/7 loss services.
Next Insurance has three levels of insurance for a cleaning business—Basic, Premier, and Deluxe—and we received quotes for each. The difference among each tier came down to whether there was coverage for your tools and equipment and how much coverage was available.
- The Basic tier was liability-only, with a $2 million aggregate limit and a cost of $210.17 monthly.
- The Premier tier’s quote had the same level of liability but included $5,000 for tools and equipment and cost $250.59 monthly.
- The Deluxe tier had the same liability limit but included $10,000 for tools and $10,000 for office space property, costing $337.59 monthly.
In terms of maid services, it has the appetite for this line of business and can provide the necessary coverages, like workers’ compensation, that a business with employees is going to need.
Overall, it has lower than the national average complaints with the NAIC.
An insurtech company, Next Insurance has put the digital experience at the forefront. You can do everything via the website and the app: get a quote, buy and manage a policy, file a claim, and get instant COIs. Adding an insured to your policy is also quick and easy, and no matter how many you add, it doesn’t cost anything.
Insurance Canopy: Best for Home-based Janitorial Businesses
Pros
- Quick, online quote
- Instant access to policy
- Broad industry coverage
Cons
- Unavailable 24/7
- Does not handle claims directly
- Commercial property insurance not offered
Standout Features
- Affordable insurance that can be purchased online quickly
- Coverage package designed specifically for cleaning businesses
- Easily stack coverage for a simple shopping experience
- Online account portal to access policy documents instantly
Financial stability: Insurance Canopy partners with Great American Insurance Group (GAIG), and Fortegra. AM Best rated Fortegra A- (Excellent) while GAIG’s AM Best rating is A+ (Superior).
Of all the insurers we evaluated, Insurance Canopy is the most affordable option and is the best janitorial insurance company. It offers a cleaning business insurance package, starting at $26.67 monthly. The low cost, however, doesn’t translate to less quality, as the services are comparable with the larger legacy carriers.
Insurance Canopy is a natural fit for businesses that operate out of their home or rent an office space. It doesn’t offer commercial property coverage to protect your building, but through inland marine, you can insure your tools and equipment and with general liability, you can purchase protection for any rented space.
Its coverage lets you operate your business safely from your home. Plus, the lack of overhead, coupled with its affordability, can translate into great savings for your cleaning business.
Similar to Thimble, Insurance Canopy allows you to manage your policy, but claims will be handled by the carrier that underwrites the policy. If you’d prefer one place for all of these services, then consider Next Insurance, The Hartford, or Hiscox.
We received a quote for cleaning business insurance for $63.08 monthly. This was for a policy that included liability and property coverage. It had $1 million per occurrence, $2 million aggregate liability coverage, $5,000 for equipment coverage, and $10,000 for tools coverage. The property had a deductible of only $250, and inland marine is offered in tiered limits of $3,000, $6,000, and $10,000.
Exclusions are clearly explained during the quoting process.
The quoting process is quick and easy: answer a few questions, and in less than 10 minutes, you get a quote and purchase coverage.
While it only has weekday availability, you have 24/7 online access to your policy and COIs. Through the dashboard, you can also file a claim.
Thimble: Best for New Businesses
Pros
- Flexible policy terms
- Easy-to-use website
- Affordable policies
Cons
- No 24/7 call center
- No in-house claims department
- Can be very hard to speak with anyone
Standout Features
- Commercial app to manage your policy and claims easily
- Get a quote and purchase a policy online or through the app
- Short-term liability coverage available
- Create a COI in 60 seconds
Financial stability: As a managing general agent (MGA), Thimble’s policies are through several providers: Benchmark Insurance, Employee Insurance Group, Markel Insurance, National State Insurance, and Spinnaker. AM Best ratings range from A- to A, according to Thimble’s website.
Finding insurance as a new business can be challenging because insurers use the history of your business to assess the risk of insuring you. Unlike other insurers, however, Thimble does not review information on when the business was founded, previous years’ revenue, years of experience, and payroll.
This makes it an ideal provider if your cleaning business is brand-new. Its model is to partner with new businesses, including offering short-term liability. You can upgrade policies as the business grows.
Thimble is similar to a broker in that it doesn’t handle any claims once you purchase the policy. If you want a one-stop shop for all of your policy needs, a carrier like Hiscox is a great option and similar to Thimble in its hours of operation, quick quote, and COI generation.
We were provided a quote for $196.10 monthly, with $392.20 due on the first day. This coverage was for a BOP that included $1 million in total liability, $100,000 in property for a building, $5,000 for the contents, and $2,500 for equipment.
There is no coverage for businesses that do commercial floor waxing during business hours or exterior cleaning 30 feet or higher.
Since Thimble is an MGA, there are no complaints with the NAIC. On Trustpilot, Thimble has 4.4 stars with nearly 1,500 reviews.
It offers short-term liability so that you can conveniently get insurance by the hour, day, or month. Quotes are available online or on its mobile app, which is available on both iOS and Android devices. You can also manage your policy and get instant COIs online or through the app.
Hiscox: Best for Exterior Cleaning Companies
Pros
- Online quotes
- Purchase insurance online
- Small business resources
Cons
- No 24/7 call center
- Lower limits for some online quotes
- Liability limit capped at $2 million
Standout Features
- Fast and easy online quoting system that lets you purchase insurance online
- Same-day coverage is often available for businesses
- Dedicated small business insurer
- Available coverages for cleaning businesses continue to expand with workers’ comp recently added
Financial stability: AM Best’s rating of Hiscox is A (Excellent).
Dedicated small business insurer Hiscox is a great option for cleaning businesses that are focused on exterior cleaning. Dryer vents, power washing, power washing, and window cleaning are some of the eligible classes that it wants to insure. An advantage of using Hiscox is it is a dedicated small-businesses insurer, meaning all of its employees, such as underwriters, customer service specialists, and claims adjusters, are focused on small businesses.
One downside to Hiscox is when you are getting a quote online, it will often present lower limits than if you call. It also doesn’t operate a 24/7 call center. If you’d prefer to work with a carrier that can generate online quotes with higher limits and is available 24/7, then check out The Hartford.
After answering a few simple questions, we received a quote for a general liability policy for a cleaning business that costs $233.25 monthly or one annual payment. If you choose the monthly option, Hiscox requests two months down and then there will be 10 monthly payments. It does not charge fees for the monthly payment option.
The limit for this policy was $300,000 in total general liability (both occurrence and aggregate limit). If you wish, you can add business property as an endorsement to its general liability.
Hiscox is available in all 49 states (no coverage in Alaska), though coverage does vary by state. Online, you can manage your policy, file a claim, and generate an instant COI. Conveniently, for some industries, same-day coverage is available and can be purchased online.
Its customer service has been on a journey of improvement. Historically, it has experienced a high level of complaints. However, it should be noted that in the most recent data from the NAIC, its complaints are now lower than expected for a company of its size. This data is reinforced by customer reviews on its website[3], where it has 4.6 out of 5 stars from nearly 1,000 verified customer reviews.
How We Evaluated the Best Cleaning Business Insurance Companies
We determined which insurer would be the best for your cleaning business through our in-house proprietary evaluation system. In our evaluation, we focused on the customer’s needs. We paid particular interest to convenience, financial ratings (AM Best), customer service, types of policies offered, and the overall experience as a policyholder for a specific provider.
Most people only care about insurance when they need it. We wanted to ensure that we recommend something that, should that moment come, you’ll feel comfortable with purchasing.
Bottom Line
Helping your customers present a clean and orderly space is where your cleaning company shines, and having quality insurance for a cleaning business keeps your operation running even if something goes wrong. Cleaning business insurance combines policies that protect your business from negligence claims and safeguard your assets from named perils. When it comes to the best janitorial insurance companies, The Hartford is the best overall.
User review references:
1Trustpilot | Simply Business
2Trustpilot | Thimble
3Hiscox