Why Insurance Coverage Is a Due-Diligence Item, Not a Courtesy
A commercial cleaning crew works in your facility after hours, often without supervision, with access to every room. The risk profile of that arrangement is not theoretical. Property damage happens — a cleaning product on the wrong surface, a cord pulled across a piece of equipment, a floor left wet without adequate signage. Theft happens, including by people who screen well on background checks. Crew injuries happen on commercial property.
Insurance coverage is the mechanism that determines who bears the cost when any of those events occur. A contractor without current, adequate coverage transfers that cost to you.
General Liability Insurance
General liability insurance covers bodily injury and property damage arising from the contractor's operations. For a commercial cleaning contractor working in Lakeville, MN, a policy in the range appropriate for the size of facilities being serviced is the standard. The certificate of insurance — a one-page document naming the policyholder, the insurer, the policy number and the coverage limits — is what you ask for. A contractor who cannot produce a current certificate within 24 hours of a request does not have current coverage.
Ask to be named as an additional insured on the policy. This means a claim arising from work in your facility can be filed directly against the contractor's policy rather than requiring you to pursue the contractor for indemnification separately.
Commercial Cleaning Bond
A commercial cleaning bond is a surety instrument that provides a financial backstop in the event of theft by a crew member. It is not the same as insurance — it is a line of credit against a defined maximum that the bonding company extends to cover losses, with the contractor obligated to repay the bonding company. The practical value for a facility manager is that a bonded contractor has passed the bonding company's underwriting review, which typically includes a background check on the business and its owners.
Ask for the bond number and the bonding company name. Verify the bond is current through the bonding company directly if the contract value warrants it.
Workers' Compensation
Workers' compensation is the coverage that matters most for your liability exposure. In Minnesota, an employer is required to carry workers' compensation for employees. If a cleaning contractor classifies their crew as independent contractors to avoid this requirement, and a crew member is injured in your facility, the workers' compensation claim may be redirected toward the property owner or tenant whose premises the work was performed on.
Ask specifically whether the crew members who will be working in your facility are classified as employees or independent contractors, and whether workers' compensation is in place. Request documentation of the workers' compensation policy, not just a verbal confirmation.
What to Request Before Signing
- Certificate of insurance for general liability, naming you or your property management company as additional insured
- Bond number and bonding company name
- Confirmation of workers' compensation coverage and crew classification (employee vs. independent contractor)
- Verification that coverage remains current for the duration of the contract, with notification if a policy lapses
We include a certificate of insurance with every written quote. Request a quote or call (866) 958-8773.