What to ask for and what it actually covers — for facility managers evaluating commercial cleaning contractors.
Most commercial cleaning contracts are signed on price. Insurance and bonding are mentioned in the sales conversation, requested as a checkbox item, and then not looked at again. That works fine until there is a claim — at which point the gap between what was described and what the policy actually covers becomes visible in the worst possible way.
General liability insurance covers property damage and bodily injury caused by the cleaning contractor during the performance of their work. If a crew member breaks a glass partition, knocks over a piece of equipment, or leaves a wet floor that causes a slip and fall, general liability is the coverage that applies.
What it does not cover: theft by crew members (that is bonding), injuries to crew members on your property (that is workers’ compensation), and claims arising from your own negligence rather than the contractor’s. A certificate of insurance showing general liability coverage should be a minimum requirement before any cleaning contractor sets foot in your building.
Ask specifically for a certificate naming your organization as an additional insured. This gives you direct standing with the insurer if a claim arises, rather than depending on the contractor to file and pursue it on your behalf.
Workers’ compensation coverage is the one most commonly overlooked by facility managers evaluating cleaning contractors — and the one with the most direct financial exposure if it is absent. If a crew member is injured on your property and the cleaning contractor does not carry workers’ comp, the injured worker may be able to pursue a claim against your general liability policy as the property owner.
Minnesota requires workers’ compensation coverage for employers with one or more employees. However, sole proprietors and small operations sometimes operate without it — either through misclassification of crew members as independent contractors or through coverage lapses. Verify that the workers’ comp certificate is current before the first visit, not at contract signing.
A surety bond in the cleaning context is a dishonesty bond — it covers theft by employees while on the client’s premises. If a crew member steals property from your building, the bond provides coverage for the loss. General liability insurance does not cover intentional theft; the bond is the specific instrument for that risk.
Bond amounts vary. Ask what the bond covers per-incident and in aggregate. A $10,000 bond for a crew working in a building with significant equipment or valuables may not be adequate. The question to ask is: if the worst case happened, what is the maximum the bond would pay out, and does that number match your risk exposure?
Any reputable commercial cleaning contractor provides these without hesitation. A contractor who delays, offers verbal assurances in place of documentation, or cannot name their insurer should not be given building access.
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