A couple of other great sites that you might want to consult concerning your cleaning business are http://www.sba.gov/ and SCORE "Counselors to America's Small Business" It just might be that you won't be required to have to be licensed or bonded in order to do cleaning work where you will be working. Information about those and other things that you will need to do in order to start and run a small business are also available on those sites. So, having a license may not be an absolute. Being bonded, even if not required by the state, might make you look better in the eyes of potential customers.