The policies a hood cleaning business carries
Hood cleaners spray hot water and degreaser in a working kitchen and climb onto roofs at night. A kitchen fire later blamed on a missed section of duct, water damage in the kitchen and slips on greasy roofs are the claims to plan for.
| Policy | Average a month |
|---|---|
| General liability | $83 |
| Tools and equipment | $42 |
| Commercial auto | $270 |
| Workers' compensation | $160 |
| Surety or license bond | $9 |
Averages are what Insureon's customers among contractors as a group (it publishes no separate figures for hood cleaning) 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 hood cleaners plan for
- A kitchen fire starts in a duct section you were meant to clean
- Water from the hood floods a kitchen floor
- A technician slips on a greasy roof
- A fan is not reconnected and the kitchen fills with smoke
Ask your agent, in these words:
- Would my policy pay if a kitchen fire starts in a duct section you were meant to clean?
- Would my policy pay if water from the hood floods a kitchen floor?
- Would my policy pay if a technician slips on a greasy roof?
- Would my policy pay if a fan is not reconnected and the kitchen fills with smoke?
Name the work you sell
A policy covers the work you describe on the application. From the hood cleaning services list, name each of these and ask whether any is excluded: hood, duct and fan cleaning; first cleaning of a neglected system; hood filter exchange; fan hinge kit; access panel; grease containment; exhaust fan belt; service sticker and report; before and after photos.
Hot water pressure washers, trailers and containment gear are the items to list. On the tools list, the items to list on the policy are trailer or truck rig with water tank and hose reels; fan hinge kits; access panel tools; camera for before and after photos; wastewater recovery setup, and from the starter kit, hot water pressure washer; gas pressure washer as a backup or for rooftops; plastic sheeting, tape and hood wrap; grease containment funnels and buckets; scrapers and brushes.
State rules in the license
Most states do not license hood cleaning as a trade of its own. Local fire codes set how often kitchens must be cleaned and what the service report must show, so check with your fire marshal.
Cities, commercial customers and your contracts can still ask for more than any state rule.
Workers' comp and bonds
The SBA says every business with employees must carry workers' compensation, unemployment and disability insurance. Insureon's average for contractors as a group is $160 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
Restaurants, landlords and fire marshals ask for a certificate, and many owners ask for it before every contract renewal. Keep a PDF on your phone so you can send it the day they ask.
Sources
- Insureon: Insurance cost for contractors as a group, 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.