The policies a window cleaning business carries
Window cleaners work on ladders and near glass, so falls and broken panes are the claims to plan for. Water-fed pole systems lower the ladder risk.
| Policy | Average a month |
|---|---|
| General liability | $78 |
| Commercial auto | $250 |
| Workers' compensation | $114 |
| Surety or license bond | $9 |
| Business owner's policy | $81 |
| Commercial umbrella | $76 |
Averages are what Insureon's customers who are window 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 window cleaners plan for
- A ladder slips and cracks a window
- A scraper scratches tempered glass
- Water runs inside through a bad seal
- A screen is lost or bent
Ask your agent, in these words:
- Would my policy pay if a ladder slips and cracks a window?
- Would my policy pay if a scraper scratches tempered glass?
- Would my policy pay if water runs inside through a bad seal?
- Would my policy pay if a screen is lost or bent?
Name the work you sell
A policy covers the work you describe on the application. From the window cleaning services list, name each of these and ask whether any is excluded: window, inside and out; pane; third floor and up; commercial storefront; screen cleaning; tracks and sills; hard water stain removal; skylights; job minimum; recurring discount; gutter cleaning.
Water-fed pole systems and pure water tanks are worth listing. On the tools list, the items to list on the policy are water-fed pole, carbon fiber; pure water system: ro or di filters; hose reel and tank; screen cleaning setup; track cleaning brushes and a vacuum, and from the starter kit, professional squeegee and channels in two sizes; strip washer; glass scraper with spare blades; extension pole; bucket and window soap.
State rules in the license
Most states do not license window 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 window cleaners is $114 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
Commercial buildings and property managers ask for a certificate before the first visit. Keep a PDF on your phone so you can send it the day they ask.
Sources
- Insureon: Insurance cost for window 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.