How to Start a Cleaning Business in California
Start a cleaning business in California: $70 LLC fee, sales tax and license rules, local cleaner wages ($19.75/hr median) and a pricing example, with official California sources.
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California at a glance for cleaning businesses
| LLC filing fee | $70 |
|---|---|
| Ongoing state report fee | $20 (every 2 years) |
| Sales tax on cleaning services | Partly |
| State cleaning license | Not required statewide |
| State minimum wage (2026) | $16.90/hr |
| Median janitor wage in California | $19.75/hr |
| Median maid / housekeeper wage | $20.51/hr |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Fees and rules: official California sources linked in each section. Verified October 18, 2026.
Step 1: Form your LLC in California
An LLC keeps business debts and lawsuits separate from your personal assets, which matters in a job where you work inside other people's homes and buildings. In California the state filing fee is $70, filed with the California Secretary of State. After that, the ongoing state report fee is $20 (every 2 years).
An $800 annual LLC tax is due on the 15th day of the fourth month after the tax year begins. An additional income-based LLC fee applies when California income is $250,000 or more, ranging from $900 to $11,790; the Statement of Information costs $20 and is biennial, not annual.
You can file yourself on the state website, or have ZenBusiness or Northwest Registered Agent file it and track your report deadlines. Then get your free EIN at IRS.gov.
Compare: full California LLC cost breakdown · LLC costs in every state
Step 2: Licenses and registrations
No general statewide cleaning-business license is identified. Commercial janitorial service providers and contractors generally must register annually with the California Labor Commissioner under the Property Service Workers Protection Act, including certain providers without employees; businesses that only clean residential dwellings are exempt, and local licenses or permits may still apply. (source)
Also check your city and county. Many require a general business license or tax registration even when the state does not.
Step 3: Sales tax on cleaning in California
Janitorial and cleaning services are generally not subject to California sales tax when the true object is the service, and the provider is the consumer of supplies used. Separately sold tangible personal property is taxable; the input does not establish a residential-versus-commercial distinction. (California source)
If your services are taxable, register for a sales tax permit before your first invoice and build the tax into your quotes, so it isn't coming out of your margin. Bookkeeping software like QuickBooks can track tax collected per invoice.
Step 4: Insurance and bonding
Commercial clients will ask for a certificate of insurance before you start. Cleaning businesses nationally pay a median of $59/month for general liability and about $9/month for a janitorial bond (Insureon). Once you hire in California, check the state's workers' compensation rules. You can get a quote and download your own certificate from NEXT Insurance, or compare several insurers at once through Insureon.
Step 5: Price your work with California wages
Price from labor hours. Here is a 10,000 sq ft office cleaned 5 nights a week, using the California median janitor wage:
| Labor hours per visit | 4 (assumes 2,500 sq ft per hour) |
|---|---|
| Wage + 15% payroll costs | $19.75 → $22.71/hr |
| Labor + $5 supplies per visit | $95.84 |
| Direct cost per month (21.7 visits) | $2,080 |
| Price at 25% / 35% / 45% gross margin | $2,773 / $3,200 / $3,782 per month |
Walk the building before you quote: restrooms, kitchens and hard floors take longer than open carpet. See the full pricing walkthrough.
Step 6: Get your first clients in California
Residential: set up a Google Business Profile, ask every client for a review, and lead with recurring weekly or biweekly pricing. Let clients book online with BookingKoala. Google Local Services Ads and Facebook ads can bring calls in the first month, as long as you answer leads within minutes.
Commercial: build a list of offices, medical practices and churches in your area, then use cold email, calls and drop-ins to book free walkthroughs. Send a written proposal within 48 hours; Jobber turns a walkthrough into a quote the client approves online. If you'd rather have walkthroughs booked for you, Redbird Leads runs cold email for commercial cleaning companies.*
*LocalBizDesk and Redbird Leads share an owner.
Step 7: Hiring in California
The California minimum wage is $16.90/hr (Effective January 1, 2026, for all employers unless a higher industry-specific or local minimum wage applies), but the going rate is higher: the median janitor in California earns $19.75/hr and the median maid or housekeeper $20.51/hr. If you set schedules and supply equipment, your cleaners are likely employees, not contractors (IRS rules). Gusto handles payroll tax filings and new-hire paperwork.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to start a cleaning business in California?
The state LLC filing fee is $70. Add supplies and equipment (about $1,000 to $3,000 for residential, more for commercial) and insurance, which runs a median of $59 a month for general liability.
Do you need a license to clean houses or offices in California?
No general statewide cleaning-business license is identified. Commercial janitorial service providers and contractors generally must register annually with the California Labor Commissioner under the Property Service Workers Protection Act, including certain providers without employees; businesses that only clean residential dwellings are exempt, and local licenses or permits may still apply.
Is cleaning taxable in California?
Some cleaning services are taxable. Janitorial and cleaning services are generally not subject to California sales tax when the true object is the service, and the provider is the consumer of supplies used. Separately sold tangible personal property is taxable; the input does not establish a residential-versus-commercial distinction.
How much do cleaners make in California?
The median wage is $19.75 an hour for janitors and building cleaners and $20.51 for maids and housekeepers (BLS, May 2025). The state minimum wage is $16.90.