[F][/font]I want to start a cleaning business and would like to get info about getting licensed and bonded. Ive been all over the internet but there is never a direct answer. What site or who do I call for a license?

tombb25

I believe you would start this like a normal business, I didn't know there was a special license that you need. I have a couple people that go to my church that run this type of business and when they were recently unavailable the youth pastor's wife did the job for them for a month, so I'm not sure if there is any type of special license or certification is necessary.

derrick22894

Im tring to do the same thing but having the hardest time.

Clough

Where I live, and that would be in Illinois, you do not need a license to clean businesses or homes or any place else. Being bonded is also not a necessity. But, it is something nice to put on a business card. It may be possible that you do need some sort of license to clean where you live. But, I don't know.

One thing that you absolutely must have would be insurance. Find an insurance agent that has many carriers in order to find the one that has the best coverage and is also reasonable in price.

I am entirely self-employed in various ways. Have been self-employed since 1974. Also, have never had anyone ask me if I was bonded. There have been times when people have asked me if I had insurance for the type of work that I was doing.

Recently, I asked my attorney about how to be bonded. He said to talk to an insurance agent. Again, I have never been bonded. It has never been an issue. Almost all of my work is done in people's home.

What really does matter is your reputation and the references that you have. And, I don't necessarily mean references geared exclusively to what you have done in your cleaning business. Do an excellent job for someone, and the word will spread. Ask customers if you may use them as a reference.

I know that you have not asked about it, but another thing that really matters is advertising. One way that you can advertise for free is on the Internet. If you do a Google search for Clough Quad Cities, you will see my ads dominating the first three or four pages in the search. All of the ads are free.

I wish you well in starting your business! Anymore questions, please let me know. One of the things that I also do is clean houses.

HBF

you can go to SBA: WHERE TO OBTAIN BUSINESS LICENSES, scroll down to your state and browse around or call about the license. Most times, cleaners do not need a license, but they do need to file a DBA with the state. This is essentially used to let the government know you are opening a business.

Good luck!
Stacy
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Clough

If you look at the date of the original post, I would think that the original poster has probably found an answer to their question by now. I'm not meaning to say that the answers that people give from here on out are bad in any way. But, chances are that the original poster will never see them, especially if they have only posted once.