Insurance for Cleaners
Public Liability and Portable Equipment Cover
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Public Liability and Portable Equipment Cover
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What is cleaning insurance?
Cleaners’ insurance is designed to protect your small business finances against claims, lawsuits, and unexpected bills that could be financially devastating.
Commercial and residential cleaners face a variety of on-the-job risks, from accidentally damaging a client’s property and broken equipment to injuries that leave you unable to work. If something goes wrong during a job, the resulting claim could impact your business and finances.
Cleaners’ insurance helps cover the cost of claims, lawsuits, and some unexpected bills. Our Business Insurance Package offers a range of cover options in a single, flexible policy. It includes Public Liability, the most common cover taken by cleaners. Public Liability is often mandatory to work with a client and enter their business premises.
Why do cleaners need insurance?
Whether you’re a self-employed domestic cleaner or running a commercial cleaning service, everyday risks that can result in expensive claims and lawsuits for your business.
Public Liability is often required by clients and commercial landlords. Cleaning contractors may be asked to show proof of insurance to work on premises or lease space for their business. You may need insurance to:
Enter a jobsite
Lease an office or commercial space
Work as a contractor or sub-contractor
Cover lost income if you’re unable to work due to accidental injury
Pay legal costs if you face a liability claim
Let’s cover your small business on the go
Start a quote to see how much you can save and buy online in minutes.
What does cleaning business insurance cover?
Cleaners face many everyday risks that could result in a claim or unplanned expense. Here are some common risk scenarios that cleaning insurance can cover:
- Damaged client property: Such as knocking over and breaking a vase while cleaning, or a product you used discolouring a client’s rug.
- Client injury: Such as, a member of the public slips on wet tiles or trips over vacuum cords and is injured.
- Broken tools or lost equipment: If your tools or equipment break down or go missing while on the job, it could set you back time and money.
- Injuring yourself: Choose cover that provides a weekly benefit if you are injured or fall seriously ill and are unable to work.
The provision of the claims examples are for illustrative purposes only and should not be seen as an indication as to how any potential claim will be assessed or accepted. Coverage for claims on the policy will be determined by the insurer, not BizCover.
Who needs cleaning insurance?
Our cleaning insurance is designed to fit the needs of a wide range of cleaning services, whether you’re a sole trader or run a cleaning service with dozens of employees. Customise your business insurance to suit your specific cleaning service need, with options made for:
Commercial cleaners
Domestic Cleaners and Housekeepers
Janitors
Duct and Filter Cleaning Services
Street Cleaning and Road Sweeping Services
Drain Cleaning Services
Window Cleaning Services
Carpet and Upholstery Cleaners
Curtain Cleaners
Types of cleaning business insurance
We offer a combined Public & Products Liability policy, as well as a range of policies designed to cover your business, tools and stock. Build an insurance package that suits your business needs and buy in minutes, with cover for equipment, contents, and personal accidents.
Popular cover options for cleaners:
Cleaners may also consider:
How much does cleaning insurance cost?
Business insurance for cleaners costs $78 per month[SM2*.
Factors influencing cost
Risks of the industry
Cover level amount
Annual turnover
Number of employees
Claims history
*BizCover’s Customer Average Monthly Payment Report is based on 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025 and presented as a guide only. It may not reflect pricing for your particular business, as individual factors will apply.
Get cover that grows with your business
Public Liability up to $20 million and Personal Accident & Illness up to $4,000 weekly benefit.
Unsure how much to choose? Think about:
Statutory profession requirements
Cover required by contracts
Number of employees being covered
Your contract value
Worst-case scenario claim amount
Underinsurance
We know it’s tempting to select a lower level of cover to reduce premiums, but this can leave businesses shocked and insufficiently covered when making a claim.
Ways underinsurance catches business owners out:
Inflation
With inflation, the cost of living and doing business increases. Remember to over yourself, your tools and assets for the rising costs of replacing or covering them, not what you paid for them – you may be surprised at the difference.
Not covering the full cost of your risks
If you select cover levels for less than the value you may be found liable – left out of pocket when it comes to claims time. It’s important to review your risks and determine how much you will need to cover any claim that may come your way.
Factors influencing cost
Risk of the industry
Cover level amount
Annual turnover
Number of employees
Claims history
Get cover that works with the risks of your business
Select different cover amounts for each policy listed below.
This is the most you will be paid out if you need to make a claim
Unsure how much to choose? Think about:
Statutory professional requirements
Cover required by contracts
Number of employees being covered
Your contract value
Worst case scenario claim size
Underinsurance
We know it’s tempting to select a lower level of cover to reduce premiums, but this can leave businesses shocked and insufficiently covered when making a claim.
Ways underinsurance catches business owners out:
Inflation
With inflation, the cost of living and doing business increases. Remember to over yourself, your tools and assets for the rising costs of replacing or covering them, not what you paid for them – you may be surprised at the difference.
Not covering the full cost of your risks
If you select cover levels for less than the value you may be found liable – left out of pocket when it comes to claims time. It’s important to review your risks and determine how much you will need to cover any claim that may come your way.
How It Works – Buying Online
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5 Steps to get your biz insured:
- Enter Occupation
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- Choose Cover(s)
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- Business Details
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How To Make a Claim Online
We’ll assist you through the claims process & manage the claim directly with the insurer.
Let us know Fill out our
claims form and provide info
to support the claim
Receive extra support We
will assist you with your claim
Claim results We will notify
you of the claim outcome.
3 steps to get your biz insured:
- Let us know
Fill out our claims form and provide info to support the claim.
- Receive Extra Support
We’ll assist you with your claim.
- Claims Results
We’ll notify you of the claim outcome.
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See How Much Other Cleaners Have Saved By Purchasing a Policy Through BizCover
Kayleen
Domestic Cleaner from
QLD
Saved
$150
on
Public Liability insurance
Thomas
Window Cleaner from
VIC
Saved
$800
on
Public Liability insurance
Stephen
Window Cleaner from
NSW
Saved
$400
on
Public Liability insurance
^Savings made from February to August 2025. This information is provided as a guide only and may not reflect pricing for your particular business, as individual underwriting criteria will apply.
Frequently asked questions
Generally, cleaning businesses don’t need a licence to operate in Australia. However, there are some exceptions
For example, commercial cleaning businesses in Victoria must have a labour hire licence. In NSW, you will need a contractor licence to provide minor maintenance and cleaning in residential buildings if the project is “valued at more than $5,000 in labour and materials (including GST)”.
Check with your state or territory government to understand the licensing requirements for small businesses and the cleaning industry in your area.
Insurance is not required by law for residential cleaners, however, cover can play an important role in protecting and building your business. Business insurance helps protect you and your business from the cost of common claims, like accidentally damaging a client’s property or replacing damaged equipment. It can also build trust with potential clients, who may feel more comfortable hiring an insured cleaner than one who is not.
Yes, Portable Equipment insurance (an optional part of a Business Insurance Package) can protect your cleaning equipment and stock. It can help you replace these items if they are lost or damaged.
In Australia, cleaning businesses with employees are required to have workers’ compensation insurance (Please note: BizCover does not currently offer workers’ compensation cover.). Other types of insurance—such as Public Liability or Portable Equipment—are optional but can help cover some claims that arise due to your employees’ actions.
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It was very straight forward without too much jargon.
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I received multiple quotes along with spoke to multiple insurance companies. Rod was by far the most understanding and made me feel very comfortable making such a big business decision
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