Growing your cleaning business often means landing jobs that promise steady, recurring work. Knowing where to find clients, what to say, and how to make it official with a service contract can turn a one-time opportunity into reliable income.
This practical guide explains how to get cleaning contracts in five simple steps, so you can pitch local businesses, draft a solid contract of your own, and prepare for client requests, like proof of insurance.
📝 Quick Answer: How Do I Get Contracts for My Cleaning Business?
Follow these five steps to help you find and win cleaning contracts that fit your business:
- Choose the right cleaning jobs that match your business, capacity, and service area
- Gather your business details, including pricing, licenses, and proof of cleaning business insurance
- Search for potential clients via referrals, online platforms, or business connections
- Write a proposal that outlines your scope of work, schedule, and pricing
- Review the client’s contract, or write your own using our free cleaning contract template
*Disclaimer: This template is a starting point and is not legal advice. Always have a legal professional review your contract before use.
What is a Cleaning Contract?
A cleaning contract is a written service agreement between your cleaning business and your client. It includes:
- What cleaning services you’ll provide
- How often you’ll clean that space
- Your payment terms and cost of services
A solid cleaning service contract is the foundation of a good working relationship. It ensures everyone’s on the same page, and you can reference your contract if questions come up later.
Pro tip: Landing steady clients can feel like a big leap. Not sure where to begin? Start on the right foot with our guide to starting a janitorial business.
5 Steps to Getting Cleaning Contracts
Cleaning job contracts can range from weekly office cleanings for local businesses to janitorial contracts with property managers. For solo cleaners and small crews, the best place to start is with local, recurring jobs that match your schedule, services, and capacity.
Here are five steps to help you find the right opportunities, make a clear offer, and protect your business so it can grow safely.
Step 1. Decide Which Cleaning Jobs Fit Your Business
Start with spaces you know you can clean consistently and professionally. Small offices, salons, churches, local retail shops, and clinics are often more approachable than big commercial contracts.
Think about the type and level of cleaning needed and match that with your current skillset. You’ll need to think through:
- The potential clients in your area and their cleaning needs
- How often you can provide service (e.g., weekly, during,or after business hours)
- Whether you have the right equipment for the job
- What licenses, certificates, or insurance a client might require
Starting small helps you get familiar with client expectations, earn some reviews, and build steady income that you can reinvest in your business.
Step 2. Get Your Business Basics Ready
Clients want to know they’re hiring someone reliable, professional, and prepared. Prepare the following details so you can get the conversation started and respond quickly to potential jobs:
- A list of services you offer
- Your service area and availability
- Reviews and/or photos of your work
- A Certificate of Insurance (COI) showing you’re insured
- Your business license and certifications
- Your pricing process (Not sure what to charge? Use our cleaning business pricing guide.)
This information may be enough for a local business. Larger commercial jobs often require more, including a formal proposal, bonding information, and details about your janitorial insurance coverage.
Are you contract-ready? Many cleaning contracts and cities require businesses to carry liability insurance before they can get to work. Get a free quote to learn more.
Step 3. Find Cleaning Contracts Through Referrals & Marketing
Your first steady clients often come from people you already know, including friends, family, and neighbors with business connections. Leveraging your word-of-mouth marketing helps you find stronger leads from the start.
Whether or not those leads work out, here’s how to find a cleaning contract near you:
- Ask past or current clients for referrals
- Focus on small, locally-owned businesses and office spaces
- Join your local chamber of commerce and attend their networking events
- Post your services in community Facebook groups
- Claim your Google Business Profile and update it to reflect your services
- List your business on Thumbtack, Angi, or Yelp to get reviews and find leads
Word-of-mouth marketing opens the door, but a clear outreach plan helps keep it from closing. From building a website and posting on social media to emailing potential clients, how you market your cleaning business helps you stay visible and attract local interest.
Step 4. Send a Clear Quote or Proposal
Before giving a final price, learn what the client actually needs. A phone call or quick walkthrough helps you understand the space, schedule, and expectations before you commit.
Use this information to write a personalized cleaning proposal that outlines:
- Your qualifications
- Included services and add-ons
- Cleaning schedule/frequency
- Clear pricing and payment details
- Products and equipment used
- Testimonials from similar clients
While a small, local business might not ask for it, a Request for Proposal (RFP) is the standard for getting commercial cleaning contracts. Either way, it keeps your business professional and shows clients you’re the right fit, especially if you’re competing with other cleaners.
Pro tip: Tailor your proposal so it highlights the crucial services for that client, such as after-hours availability for offices, high-touch surface sanitizing for clinics, or move-in/move-out cleaning for realtors.
Step 5. Confirm the Details With a Service Agreement (or Contract)
Once the client accepts your quote or proposal, put the final details in writing with a cleaning service agreement. Use our free, downloadable cleaning contract template to help you draft your own!
Adjust this template to fit your business’ or client’s specific needs. Treat it as a starting point, not legal advice, and ask a legal professional who understands local requirements to review it.
Small, local businesses may not have their own contract process, so bringing your own helps keep both sides aligned and reduces misunderstandings. Clients who regularly hire contractors often provide their own contract for you to review instead.
How to Find Cleaning Contracts That Grow Your Business
Once you’ve started with referrals and local outreach, expand your search based on the type of cleaning contracts you’re ready to take on.
More ways to find a cleaning contract that fits your business include:
- B2B outreach: Cold-call or visit local businesses in person so you can speak with the general manager, provide a business card, and offer a free estimate
- Job-specific platforms: Turno connects cleaners with vacation rental hosts, while janitorial job platforms list commercial cleaning opportunities
- Networking: Ask for referrals from other cleaning businesses that provide different services, like carpet cleaners or window cleaners
- Real estate agencies: Real estate agents need house cleaning services for showings, open houses, and move-ins
- Healthcare facilities: Clinics, dental offices, and other spaces have strict sanitization standards and requirements, such as a medical cleaning endorsement
- Bid websites: Find and bid on commercial contracts for city, state, and government facilities
What to Look For (or Include) in a Cleaning Contract
Whether you’re drafting your own service agreement or reviewing a client’s contract, knowing what’s included helps you feel more prepared before signing the dotted line.
Here’s a quick overview of what cleaning contracts should cover:
- Scope of service: The cleaning tasks included, like vacuuming, mopping, dusting, restroom cleaning, kitchen cleaning, or window washing
- Schedule and frequency: When and how often cleaning will happen
- Supplies and equipment: What products and equipment you use for which services
- Quality standards: Checklists, inspections, or service expectations
Special instructions: Whether the client prefers specific products or methods of cleaning - Pricing and payment terms: Cost, billing schedule, payment methods, and invoice terms
- Contract length and termination: Start date, renewal options, cancellation terms, and how much notice is required
- Insurance and liability: COI requirements, additional insured information, and who’s responsible for damage or accidents
What Changes With Bigger Commercial Cleaning Contracts?
Understanding how to get commercial cleaning contracts with corporations, cities, and government entities means preparing for more formal requirements. Instead of a simple service agreement, you’ll need to bid on contracts, submit detailed proposals, and likely get a janitorial bond and higher limits of insurance.
These jobs come with stricter rules around staffing, scheduling, safety procedures, and the type of work you do. Before you bid, review the contract carefully and make sure the job fits your business, experience, and insurance coverage, since some services or locations may not be covered.
Ready to Quote, Contract, & Clean?
Cleaning businesses need insurance to meet contract requirements, whether you’re tidying up a local office or bidding on a big commercial gig. Insurance Canopy makes getting covered simple, quick, and affordable, so you can turn your next opportunity into a clean win.
FAQs About How to Get Cleaning Contracts & Insurance
Do I Need a Contract for a Small Cleaning Job?
Yes, cleaning business owners should use a written contract or service agreement for small cleaning jobs. While it may not be required, a contract outlines your services, schedule, payment terms, and client expectations in writing to help reduce confusion and make disagreements easier to resolve.
How Do I Get Cleaning Contracts with Offices?
To get cleaning contracts with offices, start by identifying local businesses that match your services, schedule, and service area. Ask for referrals from people you know, or simply call or visit those offices to introduce your services and offer a free estimate.
If the office manager is interested, send a proposal with your scope of work, pricing, and schedule, then confirm the final details with a written service agreement.
Do I Need Insurance to Get Cleaning Contracts?
Many cleaning contracts require cleaning business insurance before work can begin. Clients may ask for a Certificate of Insurance (COI) to confirm you have the right coverage.
Common types of insurance cleaners need for contracts include:
- General liability: Can cover third-party injuries or property damage related to your cleaning work
- Workers compensation: Often required if you have employees (depending on your state) and helps cover work-related injuries or illnesses
- Inland marine: Can help pay to repair or replace cleaning tools and equipment if they are stolen or suddenly damaged
- Commercial auto: Necessary if your business owns a vehicle or you drive for work-related tasks
What Does It Mean if a Cleaning Contract Says to Add the Client as an Additional Insured?
A cleaning contract may ask you to add the client or their business as an additional insured to help protect them from claims related to your work. Insurance Canopy lets you add unlimited additional insureds to your policy at checkout or any time via your online dashboard.
