Cost by profession
How Much Does Workers' Comp Insurance Cost for Cleaning Companies?
Typical workers' comp premiums for cleaning companies by payroll size, plus what drives the rate and how to lower it.
Workers' comp for a cleaning company typically ranges from about $1,000 to $8,000 a year, driven mostly by total crew payroll, whether work involves heavy lifting or ladder use, and the company's claims history.
Cleaning work involves a lot of repetitive bending, lifting, and reaching, from moving furniture to vacuum a room to lifting trash bags and supply buckets throughout a shift, and these repeated movements are a steady source of strain and back injury claims across the trade. Companies that provide proper lifting equipment and training tend to see fewer of these claims over time than those that don't.
Slip-and-fall injuries affect cleaning crews themselves, not just the building occupants they serve, since workers are often the ones standing on wet or freshly waxed floors for extended periods. Ladder use for high dusting or window cleaning adds a fall risk that carriers rate somewhat higher than ground-level tasks.
Cleaning companies also tend to run larger, higher-turnover workforces than many small service businesses, with crews working split shifts across multiple buildings, and that staffing pattern affects how payroll is tracked and reported for workers' comp purposes. Accurate payroll reporting across all sites and shifts matters both for pricing and to avoid a large adjustment at audit.
Typical cost at three business sizes
| Business profile | Typical annual premium |
|---|---|
Small — small crew serving a few accounts 3-5 employees, roughly $90,000 - $150,000 annual payroll Light office cleaning with minimal heavy lifting or ladder work. | $1,000 - $2,000 / yr |
Typical — established cleaning company 15-25 employees, roughly $400,000 - $650,000 annual payroll Mix of office, retail, and light industrial cleaning contracts. | $2,800 - $4,800 / yr |
Larger — cleaning company with floor care and window services 50+ employees, $1,200,000+ annual payroll, ladder and lift equipment used regularly Higher-hazard tasks like window and high-dusting work raise the rate per $100 of payroll. | $6,000 - $9,500 / yr |
These are typical ranges for planning, not quotes. Your actual premium depends on your state, limits, payroll or revenue, loss history and each carrier's appetite for your class of business.
Run your own numbers
Enter your payroll to see an illustrative range for cleaning companies, then start an application to get real carrier pricing.
$12,500 – $50,000
This is an estimate, not a quote. Real pricing depends on your exact class codes, loss history, experience mod and each carrier's appetite for your business.
What moves the price for cleaning companies
Lifting and repetitive motion tasks
Moving furniture, carrying supply buckets, and repeated bending throughout long shifts are a steady source of strain-related claims, and carriers weigh how physically demanding a company's typical job assignments are.
Ladder and elevated work
Tasks like high dusting, light fixture cleaning, or window washing that require ladders introduce fall risk that carries a higher base rate than ground-level cleaning duties.
Crew size and shift structure
Larger workforces spread across multiple buildings and shifts create more total payroll subject to rating, and accurate tracking of hours and locations matters for both pricing and audit accuracy.
Chemical handling and exposure
Crews using industrial-strength cleaning chemicals regularly face some risk of skin or respiratory irritation, which factors into how a company's overall claims experience develops over time.
Turnover and training consistency
Cleaning companies with high staff turnover sometimes struggle to maintain consistent safety training, which can show up in claims frequency and affect renewal pricing.
Three ways cleaning companies lower their premium
Provide lifting equipment and training
Dollies, proper bucket sizes, and basic lifting technique training reduce one of the most common cleaning industry claim types.
Limit and equip ladder work carefully
Providing stable, well-maintained ladders and training for elevated tasks reduces fall-related claims tied to high dusting and window work.
Track payroll accurately across shifts and sites
Consistent payroll reporting across all buildings and shifts reduces the risk of a large adjustment at audit and helps keep pricing predictable.
Worth quoting at the same time
- General Liability Insurance — Covers damage to a client's property or a customer injury separate from employee injury claims.
- Commercial Auto Insurance — Covers vehicles used to move crews and equipment between multiple cleaning sites each day.
- Commercial Umbrella Insurance — Adds an extra layer of protection above standard limits for a company managing many client contracts at once.
Frequently asked questions
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