The policies a carpet cleaning business carries
Carpet cleaners plan for shrinkage, color bleed and furniture damage, plus slips on wet floors.
| Policy | Average a month |
|---|---|
| General liability | $73 |
| Commercial auto | $214 |
| Workers' compensation | $117 |
| Surety or license bond | $9 |
| Business owner's policy | $83 |
| Commercial umbrella | $76 |
Averages are what Insureon's customers who are carpet and upholstery cleaners pay, from Insureon's cost page; most of its customers have fewer than five employees. Across all its small business customers, general liability runs $265 to $3,030 a year.
Claims carpet cleaners plan for
- A carpet shrinks after cleaning
- Dye bleeds from a rug
- A customer slips on a damp floor
- A wand scuffs a baseboard
Ask your agent, in these words:
- Would my policy pay if a carpet shrinks after cleaning?
- Would my policy pay if dye bleeds from a rug?
- Would my policy pay if a customer slips on a damp floor?
- Would my policy pay if a wand scuffs a baseboard?
Name the work you sell
A policy covers the work you describe on the application. From the carpet cleaning services list, name each of these and ask whether any is excluded: hot water extraction; low moisture cleaning; stairs; job minimum; pet odor treatment; carpet protector; furniture moving; upholstery cleaning; tile and grout cleaning; area rugs.
A truckmount is worth listing on the auto or equipment policy. On the tools list, the items to list on the policy are truckmount system; low moisture machine; rotary scrubber; tile and grout tool; moisture meter, and from the starter kit, portable hot water extractor; floor wand and upholstery tool; pre-spray pump sprayer; carpet rake or grooming brush; commercial vacuum.
State rules in the license
Most states do not license carpet cleaning work as a trade of its own, so there is usually no state insurance minimum tied to a license. Cities and commercial customers can still set their own.
Workers' comp and bonds
The SBA says every business with employees must carry workers' compensation, unemployment and disability insurance. Insureon's average for carpet and upholstery cleaners is $117 a month, priced per $100 of payroll. A bond protects the state or the customer, not you; Insureon puts its yearly cost at a share of the bond amount:
| Bond amount | Estimated yearly cost |
|---|---|
| $5,000 | $25 to $500 |
| $10,000 | $50 to $1,000 |
| $50,000 | $250 to $5,000 |
Certificates of insurance
Property managers and commercial clients ask for a certificate. Keep a PDF on your phone so you can send it the day they ask.
Sources
- Insureon: Insurance cost for carpet and upholstery cleaners, checked October 9, 2026
- Insureon: General liability insurance cost, checked October 9, 2026
- Insureon: Workers' compensation insurance cost, checked October 9, 2026
- Insureon: Surety bond cost, checked October 9, 2026
- SBA: Get business insurance, checked October 9, 2026
Last checked October 9, 2026. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change and differ by state and city, so confirm with the agency named before you act.