in people’s homes every day
Insurance for carpet cleaning businesses
I’m Chris, an independent broker in Hudson, Florida. I help carpet cleaners compare general liability, workers’ comp and coverage for expensive cleaning equipment.
FL License #G193830
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The basics
Damage to a home
A wet carpet can mean stained flooring or a ruined chair leg. General liability is where I’d start.
Slips and falls
If a customer or visitor slips on a damp floor you just cleaned, that’s a general liability question.
Your machine
A truck-mounted unit costs real money to replace. Ask me about covering your equipment.
Paperwork for work
Landlords, offices and property managers may want a certificate before you clean for them.
What can go wrong on a carpet cleaning job
Water, chemicals and heavy machines are part of the job. That’s where trouble starts.
- Moisture seeps into hardwood next to the carpet and warps it. Ask about general liability.
- A cleaner leaves a mark on a customer’s sofa. Ask about general liability.
- Someone walks across the wet floor and falls. Ask about general liability.
- A tech strains a back dragging hoses up stairs. Ask about workers’ comp.
- Your truck-mounted machine is stolen or damaged. Ask about equipment or property coverage.
Coverage to ask me about
The right mix depends on how big your crew is and what you own. In Florida, construction businesses generally need workers’ comp once they have one or more employees, and other businesses generally need it at four or more employees. The Florida Division of Workers’ Compensation has the official rules.
- General liability. It may help when your work hurts someone or damages their property.
- Workers’ compensation. It covers medical care and lost wages for employees hurt on the job.
- Equipment and tools. Ask me how your extractor, hoses and truck-mounted gear might be covered.
- Commercial auto. Your work truck is on the road all day, so ask me about it.
What I’ll ask you
Here’s what I’ll want to know before I look at options.
- Which services you offer, and which ones you skip, like water damage restoration.
- Your yearly sales.
- How many employees you have and what you pay them.
- Whether you use subcontractors or part-time help.
- If you’ve filed claims before.
- What a landlord, builder or customer needs on a certificate.
- How soon you need to start.
Questions I get
Does my truck-mounted machine need its own coverage?
Often it’s treated differently from a regular business policy. It depends on the company, so ask me.
Who pays if a customer slips on a wet floor?
General liability may respond, depending on the policy and what happened. Putting out signs helps, but it doesn’t change your coverage.
Will insurance cover damage to a customer’s furniture?
It can under general liability if you caused it. Some policies limit this, so I’d check the wording.
Do I need workers’ comp for one part-time tech?
It depends on your business and Florida’s rules. The state’s workers’ comp division has the official answer, and I can go over it with you.
Official sources
Coverage, eligibility and price depend on the company and your business. This page is general information, not a quote.
Have a question? Just ask.
Call me or send a quote request. You’ll hear back from a real person.