How to Start a Cleaning Business in Michigan
Start a cleaning business in Michigan: $50 LLC fee, sales tax and license rules, local cleaner wages ($17.33/hr median) and a pricing example, with official Michigan sources.
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Michigan at a glance for cleaning businesses
| LLC filing fee | $50 |
|---|---|
| Ongoing state report fee | $25 (annual) |
| Sales tax on cleaning services | Check with the state |
| State cleaning license | Not required statewide |
| State minimum wage (2026) | $13.73/hr |
| Median janitor wage in Michigan | $17.33/hr |
| Median maid / housekeeper wage | $16.66/hr |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Fees and rules: official Michigan sources linked in each section. Verified October 18, 2026.
Step 1: Form your LLC in Michigan
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 Michigan the state filing fee is $50, filed with the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Corporations Division. After that, the ongoing state report fee is $25 (annual).
Michigan LLCs have a $25 Annual Statement fee in 2026; the Annual Statement is required each year. The Articles of Organization fee is $50, and no franchise-tax minimum or other universally required LLC cost is shown.
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 Michigan LLC cost breakdown · LLC costs in every state
Step 2: Licenses and registrations
The provided information does not establish whether Michigan requires a cleaning- or janitorial-specific state license; check with the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs and search the State License Search. County and local requirements may also 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 Michigan
Michigan's treatment of standalone residential or commercial cleaning services is unclear from the provided information; check with the Michigan Department of Treasury. Michigan imposes 6% sales tax on retail sales of tangible personal property, and property sold with a service may be taxable. (Michigan source)
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 Michigan, 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 Michigan wages
Price from labor hours. Here is a 10,000 sq ft office cleaned 5 nights a week, using the Michigan median janitor wage:
| Labor hours per visit | 4 (assumes 2,500 sq ft per hour) |
|---|---|
| Wage + 15% payroll costs | $17.33 → $19.93/hr |
| Labor + $5 supplies per visit | $84.72 |
| Direct cost per month (21.7 visits) | $1,838 |
| Price at 25% / 35% / 45% gross margin | $2,451 / $2,828 / $3,342 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 Michigan
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 Michigan
The Michigan minimum wage is $13.73/hr (Effective January 1, 2026; rises to $15.00 on January 1, 2027), but the going rate is higher: the median janitor in Michigan earns $17.33/hr and the median maid or housekeeper $16.66/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 Michigan?
The state LLC filing fee is $50. 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 Michigan?
The provided information does not establish whether Michigan requires a cleaning- or janitorial-specific state license; check with the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs and search the State License Search. County and local requirements may also apply.
Is cleaning taxable in Michigan?
The rules are not clear-cut; check with the state revenue department. Michigan's treatment of standalone residential or commercial cleaning services is unclear from the provided information; check with the Michigan Department of Treasury. Michigan imposes 6% sales tax on retail sales of tangible personal property, and property sold with a service may be taxable.
How much do cleaners make in Michigan?
The median wage is $17.33 an hour for janitors and building cleaners and $16.66 for maids and housekeepers (BLS, May 2025). The state minimum wage is $13.73.