How to start a commercial cleaning business
Registering, bonding, bidding your first building and finding contracts — a plain checklist for cleaning offices and commercial space, without the income promises.
Who it suits
Commercial cleaning suits someone who can work nights, run a crew they do not watch, and sell to businesses rather than households. The work is steady once a contract is signed; winning that contract is the hard part.
1.Pick the buildings you want to clean
Small offices, medical practices, retail, schools and industrial space each want different hours, different products and different paperwork.
Many start with small offices, where one or two people can cover a building in an evening and the buyer is the owner rather than a procurement department.
2.Register the business
Choose a structure — sole proprietor or LLC are the usual starting points — get an EIN, and open a business bank account. Commercial clients pay invoices, not cash.
Check your city and county for a general business licence. Some states and cities have their own rules for janitorial work; ask before you bid.
3.Insurance, bonding and certificates
General liability is the minimum, and most commercial clients will ask for a certificate of insurance naming them before they sign. A janitorial bond covers the client if something goes missing.
Workers’ compensation is required in most states once you hire.
4.Equipment for the buildings you chose
A commercial backpack or upright vacuum, a mop system, microfibre, restroom chemicals and a supply cart cover most offices.
Floor machines — auto-scrubbers, buffers, carpet extractors — can wait until a contract needs one. Renting for the first jobs is common.
5.Learn to bid from a walk-through
Walk the building. Record square footage, floor types, restrooms, what is in scope and how many nights a week.
Estimate the hours a visit really takes, then multiply out to a monthly figure. Clients compare monthly charges, not hourly rates.
Time your first contracts against the bid. An under-priced contract loses money every night for as long as it runs.
6.Find your first contracts
Claim a free Fixerlane listing so businesses searching for commercial cleaning nearby can find and message you.
Property managers, office parks and medical practices near where you already clean are the shortest drives. Ask each happy client for a reference you can show the next one.
7.Hire and keep a crew
Night work has high turnover. Clear checklists per site, regular hours and paying on time keep good cleaners longer than anything else you control.
The trade in numbers
2,432,600 people work as janitors and building cleaners in the US; employment is projected to grow 2% from 2025 to 2035, with about 321,800 openings a year.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025
About 35% of janitors and building cleaners work for companies that provide services to buildings and dwellings — cleaning contractors rather than in-house staff.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025
67,799 janitorial-services businesses with employees (NAICS 561720) employ 1,088,193 people between them.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023
Your first customers, free
List your commercial cleaning business on Fixerlane at no cost. Homeowners searching for commercial cleaning in your area can find you and send enquiries, and replying is free. When the work picks up, the tools to quote, schedule and invoice are a 7-day free trial away.
Common questions
- Do I need a licence to start a commercial cleaning business?
- Usually a general business licence from your city or county rather than a trade licence. Rules vary, so check locally — and expect clients to ask for proof of insurance before anything else.
- How do I bid a commercial cleaning contract?
- Walk the building, list what is in scope and how often, estimate the hours per visit, and turn that into a monthly price. Show the monthly charge and the number of visits a week on the quote — that is what the client compares.
- How much does it cost to start?
- We do not publish a figure. Insurance, bonding and equipment vary by state and by the buildings you take on. Price each one locally before you commit.
- Should I start with offices or homes?
- Homes are easier to start — daytime hours, individual clients. Offices pay on contract and work at night, and usually want insurance certificates and references before they sign.
- How do I find commercial cleaning clients?
- A free listing where businesses already search, direct approaches to property managers and offices near your existing sites, and references from every early client.
- How much do commercial cleaners earn?
- We do not promise earnings. The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage figures for janitors and building cleaners by state and metro area.