Janitorial Bond: What are They and Why Your Business Needs One

A Janitorial Bond is a type of surety bond, often known as service bonds, which serves a purpose much like a custodian of the customer’s security. It’s put in place to protect customers from theft by dishonest employees of a cleaning company. It acts as an indemnity against potential incidents such as employee theft or property damage. Essentially, the bond, or in some cases referred to as a deposit, is a legally binding agreement between the cleaning company, the bond provider or bondholder, and the customer.

Aiming to establish a firm bonding agreement with its customers, any professional cleaning or janitorial business should regard a Janitorial Bond as a crucial requirement. Understanding business insurance and bonding is essential for safeguarding against various risks, including employee misconduct and property damage. It’s an excellent demonstration of a cleaning company’s commitment to providing quality services to their customers. By obtaining a janitorial bond, a cleaning company exhibits its role as a responsible custodian, assuring that it is prepared to take responsibility for any maintenance issues or actions of its employees, and displaying a healthy credit stability.

Understanding Janitorial Bonds

When you're a professional adult in the cleaning or janitorial business, establishing trust with customers is paramount. A janitorial service bond are a type of  bond that provides protection and security to a cleaning or janitorial service's clients. They are legally binding agreements that assure reimbursement for any property loss caused by the cleaning company's employees.

What's a Janitorial Bond

How Janitorial Bonds Work

A janitorial service bond offers financial security, working by providing indemnity – financial protection – to the customer in event of damages or losses caused by the cleaning company’s employees. If a claim is brought against the cleaning company, the insurance company holding the bond is in place to investigate the claim and determine its validity.

Types of Janitorial Bonds

There are two main types of bonds custodian businesses can consider: fidelity bonds and surety bonds. Fidelity bonds act as a security against theft or dishonest acts committed by the company’s employees, while surety bonds protect the customer against any necessary maintenance or loss caused by the cleaning employees. Additionally, businesses that utilize company vehicles should consider obtaining commercial auto insurance to cover accidents, injuries, and property damage.

Benefits of a Janitorial Service Bond

Besides building customer trust, a janitorial service bond is advantageous to cleaning companies as well. They provide a competitive edge over other cleaning companies without such bonding agreements, giving them a professional creditability in the industry. Additionally, it is crucial for cleaning businesses with employees to carry workers compensation insurance to comply with state regulations and mitigate potential risks.

Janitorial Bond - Janitor cleaning with Swiftbonds name in background

Insurance for Cleaning Businesses

Insurance for cleaning businesses is essential to protect against potential risks and liabilities. Cleaning businesses face various risks, including employee injuries, property damage, and employee theft. Business insurance can help protect a cleaning business from financial loss in case of a covered event. There are several types of insurance that cleaning businesses should consider, including general liability insurance, workers’ compensation insurance, and commercial property insurance.

General liability insurance protects a cleaning business from third-party claims of bodily injury or property damage. For instance, if a client slips on a freshly mopped floor and gets injured, general liability insurance can cover the medical bills and any legal fees that may arise. Workers’ compensation insurance is crucial as it covers medical bills and lost wages for employees who get injured on the job, ensuring that your team is taken care of without putting a financial strain on your business. Commercial property insurance covers a business’s physical assets, such as equipment and supplies, in case of damage or theft, safeguarding your investments and ensuring business continuity.

The cost of business insurance for cleaning businesses varies depending on the type of coverage and the amount of coverage. On average, general liability insurance for a cleaning business can cost around $48 per month, or about $580 per year. Workers’ compensation insurance can cost around $136 per month, or about $1,627 per year. Commercial property insurance can cost around $67 per month, or about $801 per year. While these costs may seem significant, the protection they offer against unforeseen events can save your business from substantial financial losses.

Getting a Janitorial Bond

Getting a janitorial bond is an important step for cleaning businesses to protect themselves and their clients from potential risks. A janitorial bond, also known as a fidelity bond or business service bond, provides protection from dishonest employees. This bond involves two parties: the business and the surety. The surety will require a conviction in a court of law before settling a claim, ensuring that the process is fair and just.

The cost of a janitorial bond varies depending on the amount of coverage and the number of employees. On average, a janitorial bond can cost around $11 per month. This cost is a small percentage of the total coverage amount, making it an affordable option for most cleaning businesses.

To get a janitorial bond, cleaning businesses can submit an application to a surety agency. The agency will require basic information about the business, such as the name of the business, the state in which it operates, the number of employees, and the desired bond amount. Once the application is reviewed and the payment is confirmed, the surety bond is issued, providing the business with the necessary protection. Notably, there is no credit check required for janitorial service bonds, making them accessible to all cleaning businesses regardless of their credit history.

How Long Does a Janitorial Bond Remain Active?

A janitorial bond typically remains active for 1 year or 3 years, depending on the type of bond and the surety agency. As the bond nears renewal, the surety agency will assist in renewing the bond, requiring payment of the premium (or cost) again for the next term. This ensures continuous protection for both the business and its clients.

It’s essential to note that a janitorial bond is not the same as business insurance. A janitorial bond provides protection from dishonest employees, while business insurance provides protection from various risks and liabilities, such as property damage or employee injuries. Cleaning businesses should consider getting both a janitorial bond and business insurance to provide comprehensive protection. By having both, businesses can safeguard against a wide range of potential issues, ensuring peace of mind for both the business owners and their clients.

In summary, insurance for cleaning businesses is essential to protect against potential risks and liabilities. Getting a janitorial bond is an important step to protect against dishonest employees. The cost of business insurance and janitorial bonds varies depending on the type of coverage and the amount of coverage. Cleaning businesses should consider getting both business insurance and a janitorial bond to provide comprehensive protection.

Janitor cleaning, swiftbonds logo in background on wall. cleaning supplies, mopsCost of Janitorial Service Bonds

Much like making a security deposit, the cleaning business insurance cost and the cost of janitorial service bonds vary. Several factors, including the size of the cleaning business and the type of bond required, determine the cost. Janitorial service company costs typically fall between $125 and $500 per year, but it ultimately depends on the specific circumstances of the cleaning company.

Why Janitorial Bonds Are Necessary?

These surety bonds primarily provide peace of mind for customers. When the janitor or maintenance professional has a janitorial bond, it signifies their commitment to providing high-quality services and readiness to take responsibility for any damages. This helps to build a strong, bonding relationship between the cleaning service provider and the client, leading to repeat business and positive referrals. In fact, something as seemingly mundane as a cleaning business insurance can act as a kind of fidelity bond that ensures the coverage amount required, improving the credibility of your business. This can act as a form of compensation, providing a way to protect both your business and your clients. Social media platforms such as LinkedIn can further enhance the reputation and credibility of your business. Before engaging your services, clients may even perform a credit check just as an employer would before offering a job. It is essential to remain mindful of the law, as certain legal requirements may also dictate the necessity for such a bond.

Cleaning business insurance is also necessary because they can help to protect the cleaning service provider from legal liability. If a client sues a cleaning service provider for damages or losses that occurred during the cleaning process, the janitorial bond can help cover the costs of legal fees and any damages which are awarded by the court.

Overall, these business service bonds are an essential component of any cleaning service provider’s business, acting much like an efficient team that provides cover against theft and damages. They provide clients with peace of mind, help to establish trust between the cleaning service provider and the client, and can protect the cleaning service provider from legal liability. You might even consider creating an informative video that elaborates on how janitorial bonds work as a part of your cleaning service’s operations, and share it over your media channels.

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Facts about Janitorial Surety Bonds
  1. Janitorial bonds are a type of surety bond that guarantee the performance of janitorial services.
  2. Janitorial bonds are required by many states and municipalities in order to obtain a janitorial license.
  3. Janitorial bonds are a form of financial protection for customers in the event that a janitorial service fails to fulfill its contractual obligations.
  4. Janitorial bonds are typically required to be in the amount of $5,000 to $25,000, depending on the state or municipality.
  5. Janitorial bonds are issued by surety companies, which are responsible for paying out any claims against the bond.
  6. Janitorial bonds are typically valid for one year, and must be renewed annually.
  7. Janitorial bonds are typically purchased by the janitorial service, and the cost of the bond is typically a percentage of the bond amount.

Interesting Statistics about Janitorial Bonds

  • Janitorial bonds are a type of surety bond required by some states to protect customers from any damages or losses resulting from the janitorial services they receive.
  • The cost of a janitorial bond typically ranges from $500 to $5,000, depending on the state and the amount of coverage required.
  • The average cost of a janitorial bond is approximately $1,500.
  • The average janitorial bond term is 1 year, although some states may require longer terms.
  • Janitorial bonds are typically required for businesses that provide janitorial services to commercial or residential customers.
  • Approximately 80% of janitorial bonds are purchased by businesses in the United States.
  • Janitorial bonds are typically issued by surety companies, which are licensed and regulated by the state.

See more at our license and permit bond page for other bonds that we carry.