Part of: Cleaning Business Growth
To get bonded, you buy a bond from a licensed insurance agent or surety company. For most cleaners that means a fidelity bond, which Florida's Department of Financial Services says guards against theft or dishonest acts by employees. Bigger commercial and public jobs may also ask for contract bonds, which the SBA says many public and private contracts require.
This guide is part of our Cleaning Business Growth hub. It explains the bond types and how to buy one, not exact prices, since those depend on the bond amount, your history and the company.
What does it mean to be bonded?
A bond is a guarantee from a third party. Florida's regulator splits bonds into two groups, fidelity and surety. A surety bond has three parties: the obligee who asks for the bond, the principal who must get it (you), and the surety that guarantees you will meet the obligation.
Here are the bonds a cleaning business is most likely to see:
| Bond | What it guarantees | When a cleaner sees it |
|---|---|---|
| Fidelity bond (often sold as a janitorial bond) | Covers theft or dishonest acts by employees | When clients or property managers ask for proof |
| License and permit bond | That you follow the rules of your business license | When a state or city license requires one |
| Bid bond | That you will sign the contract and get further bonds if you win | Public or large commercial bids |
| Performance and payment bonds | That you finish the job and pay for labor and materials | After you win a bonded contract |
The SBA calls license and permit bonds commercial bonds, and calls bid, performance and payment bonds contract bonds.
Is bonded the same as insured?
No. They cover different risks, and clients often ask about both. The NAIC, the national group of state insurance regulators, says general liability covers bodily injury and damage to other people's property. It also lists crime insurance for burglary, theft and malicious damage, such as employee embezzlement.
A bond is a separate guarantee with its own terms. Before you buy, ask the agent two things: whose losses the bond pays, yours or your client's, and what proof a claim needs. Our cleaning business insurance guide covers the policies most cleaners start with.
Do I need to be bonded to clean houses?
It depends on where you work and who you work for. Rules are set by states and cities, and many bond requests come from clients and contracts rather than a license.
Oregon shows how narrow the rules can be. Its labor bureau says anyone who recruits, supplies or employs workers for janitorial services needs a property services contractor license, but that definition does not include residential house cleaning. Licensed janitorial contractors only need a bond or deposit in certain cases, such as recent wage and hour violations. Sole owners working alone are exempt.
Check your state labor and licensing offices and your city before you assume either way. Our cleaning business license guide shows where to look.
How do I get bonded?
- Find out what is required. Ask the client, property manager or contract for the bond type, the amount and who should be named as the obligee. Get it in writing.
- List who the bond must cover. Fidelity bonds are built around employees. If you clean alone, ask whether the bond covers you as the owner.
- Get quotes from a licensed agent or surety. Compare the bond amount, the yearly price, the term and what a claim requires.
- Verify before you buy. Florida's regulator tells buyers to check the license of the agent and the company before signing. Your own state insurance department can do the same.
- Read the contract and keep copies. Keep the bond certificate ready to send, and store a copy in a second place.
- Renew and update. Review the bond when you hire, add commercial clients or the required amount changes.
What about bonds for commercial contracts?
Public bids and larger commercial jobs may ask for bid, performance or payment bonds. The SBA guarantees these contract bonds for qualified small businesses through SBA-authorized surety agencies. Contracts can be up to $9 million for non-federal work and $14 million for federal work. The SBA charges a fee of 0.6% of the contract price on performance and payment bond guarantees and no fee for bid bonds. You still have to meet the surety's credit, capacity and character requirements.
If you are starting out, our how to start a cleaning business guide puts bonding in order with your license, insurance and first clients.
How Momyntum helps
If you are bonded and insured, say so clearly on your website and in your quotes. Get your free website check to see what to fix first, or start a 14-day trial of Momyntum for help with your website, Google and AI search, and outreach.
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Questions
What does bonded mean for a house cleaner?
It means a bonding company has issued a bond that backs a promise about your business. For cleaners that is usually a fidelity bond, which Florida's Department of Financial Services says covers theft or dishonest acts by employees. Ask the agent whose losses the bond pays, yours or your client's.
Is being bonded the same as being insured?
No. The NAIC says general liability insurance covers injuries and damage to other people's property, and lists crime insurance for theft, including employee embezzlement. A bond is a separate guarantee. Many cleaners carry liability insurance first and add a bond when clients ask for one.
Do I need to be bonded to clean houses?
It depends on your state, your city and your clients. Oregon, for example, licenses janitorial labor contractors but says that license does not cover residential house cleaning, and it only requires a bond in certain cases. Check with your state and city before you buy.
Can the SBA help me get bonded?
For contract bonds, yes. The SBA guarantees bid, performance and payment bonds from certain surety companies for contracts up to $9 million, or $14 million for federal work. It does not guarantee commercial bonds such as license bonds.
By Momyntum Team. Updated November 1, 2026. For: House cleaning.
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