Cleaning and Property Services Insurance in Tennessee

Business types with their own guide

• House Cleaning Insurance Breaking a vase, TV, or other valuable while dusting, and more. Read the house cleaning insurance guide.
• Janitorial Business Insurance Slip-and-fall injuries on freshly mopped floors, and more. Read the janitorial business insurance guide.
• Carpet Cleaning Insurance Over-wetting that leads to mold or damaged pads, and more. Read the carpet cleaning insurance guide.
• Window Cleaning Insurance Falls from ladders or lifts, and more. Read the window cleaning insurance guide.
• Pressure Washing Insurance Damage to siding, paint, and wood from too much pressure, and more. Read the pressure washing insurance guide.
• Pest Control Insurance Customers or pets exposed to chemicals, and more. Read the pest control insurance guide.

More cleaning and property services businesses

These business types share many of the same risks. Each has a short overview below.

Floor waxing and refinishing

Floor care crews strip, wax, and buff floors in offices and stores, often after hours. Slip-and-fall claims on freshly treated floors and damage to finishes are common, so general liability, a janitorial bond, and equipment coverage for buffers and burnishers are worth reviewing.

Upholstery and furniture cleaning

Cleaning sofas, chairs, and rugs can lead to color bleeding, shrinkage, or tears. If you take items back to your shop, ask about coverage for customer property in your care, since general liability often excludes it.

Linen supply and uniform services

Linen services pick up, wash, and deliver linens for restaurants, salons, and offices. Delivery vehicles, equipment breakdown on industrial washers, and customer property in your care are the main things to insure.

Coverages common in cleaning and property services

• General liability Helps if your business is blamed for injuring someone or damaging their property, and usually pays for a legal defense.
• Surety bonds Guarantee you’ll meet license rules or finish a job. Some licenses and contracts require them.
• Tools and equipment (inland marine) Covers tools and gear that travel to job sites or customer locations, or sit in your truck.
• Commercial auto Covers vehicles used for the business. Personal car insurance policies often exclude or limit business use.
• Workers’ compensation Pays medical bills and lost wages if an employee is hurt on the job, and includes employer’s liability.
• Hired and non-owned auto Liability for when you or employees drive personal or rented cars on business errands.

All coverage is subject to underwriting and policy terms. Not every business needs every coverage.

Tennessee rules to know

Workers’ comp. Most Tennessee employers outside construction and coal mining must carry workers’ compensation once they have five or more employees, full- or part-time, per the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Even below that number, many owners choose to carry it.

We can review your requirements and help you shop workers’ compensation and other coverages, subject to underwriting.

Certificates of insurance

Landlords, clients, venues, and general contractors often ask for a certificate of insurance before you start. If they want to be an additional insured, the policy usually needs an endorsement. Our certificate of insurance checklist explains what to check.

Related guides

• All business types
• Business insurance in Middle Tennessee
• General liability insurance
• Small business insurance checklist (PDF)
• Starting a business in Tennessee