Janet from Computer World -

My husband told me that one of his friend's wife is selling her cleaning company. She basically cleans offices at night. I would think you'd need to be licensed, bonded, and insured? What about the people that work for you? Are they employees or independent contractors. Can anyone give me some feedback? Obviously my husband didn't ask very many questions. I've called to ask her about her company and she hasn't returned my call!!

Comment #1 John from Johnstown -

I think it's all up to you if you want the people who work for you to be employees or subcontractors. I know some people who have even paid workers under the table...shh...

Comment #2 Cinnamon from The Kitchen -

Janet, I have my own cleaning company that I started from the ground up. I have two employees, but I debated whether or not I should make them IC's. We are liscenced, but when I started I wasn't because I wasn't an actual company, it was just me cleaning. I just kept a tally for tax purposes. You may call around to get more information about getting liscenced.

Comment #3 jadarose from down south -

I would think that even if you didn't have any employees you would still be considered an Independent Contractor. You will have to pay self employee tax. I would definitely keep a record of all of your expenses and income.

Comment #4 rowena105 from Anywhere You Want -

First of all if you are hiring employees you want to make sure that they are bondable. If you are doing it on your own you are okay but once you hire employees you do not normally know them all that well and you will want them bonded in case they do damage or steal something from where you are cleaning.

It is very easy to get bonded and you can find out easily if they are bondable. All you need to do is check to see if they have any kind of record on file with the police and the police can tell you if they are bondable.

Remember, once you start hiring people you don't know all the people they come in contact with and who they know. They could very easily be involved with some strange people who will "drop" by to see them when they are working. Especially if they are doing night cleaning in offices.

In that kind of business you want to be safe not sorry.

Comment #5 sundance from smallville -

You just brought up a good point. I don't think anyone can be too safe when it comes to their employees especially when it involves possibly going into personal homes and/or offices.

Comment #6 Tracy Rogers (205.188.117.73) -

I started cleaning my neighbors houses. I want to further my business. Is getting bonded you have to have a business license?

I work alone and only have a couple customers. I don't even know where to go to get bonded? And do I really have to be insured if it is just the neighbors I work for? Does anyone have an answer for me?

Comment #7 jeffrey gentry (70.253.125.1) - Wed Jul 9 15:19:20 2008

Me and my wife clean doctor offices and houses we want to know how to get insured and bonded for more business.

Comment #8 Subcontractor (69.253.104.87) - Thu Aug 7 09:49:22 2008

Come join our free subcontractors forum. Look for jobs or post comments and questions. All subcontractors and contractors are invited.

• Subcontractor Forum

Name:           
E-Mail:         

Optional (please add to our directory first)
Web Link:       
Link Title:     

Message:

Note: once you register your email address with OfficenMore.com it is used across our whole network of forums and blogs. You can create seperate profiles for each forum or blog, but use the same login.