How to Start a Cleaning Business in Minnesota
Start a cleaning business in Minnesota: $155 LLC fee, sales tax and license rules, local cleaner wages ($19.04/hr median) and a pricing example, with official Minnesota sources.
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Minnesota at a glance for cleaning businesses
| LLC filing fee | $155 |
|---|---|
| Ongoing state report fee | $0 |
| Sales tax on cleaning services | Partly |
| State cleaning license | Not required statewide |
| State minimum wage (2026) | $11.41/hr |
| Median janitor wage in Minnesota | $19.04/hr |
| Median maid / housekeeper wage | $18.01/hr |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Fees and rules: official Minnesota sources linked in each section. Verified October 18, 2026.
Step 1: Form your LLC in Minnesota
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 Minnesota the state filing fee is $155, filed with the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State. After that, the ongoing state report fee is $0.
A Minnesota Department of Revenue minimum fee may apply to an LLC taxed as a partnership when its Minnesota property, payroll, and sales or receipts exceed the applicable threshold; the input does not state the current threshold or fee amount. A domestic LLC has a $0 online annual renewal fee, due by December 31; the fee does not apply to a single-member LLC reporting only on the member’s Form M1.
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 Minnesota LLC cost breakdown · LLC costs in every state
Step 2: Licenses and registrations
The input does not establish whether Minnesota requires a cleaning-specific state license; check with the Minnesota Department of Revenue and applicable local authorities. Ordinary entity and tax registrations are still required, and local requirements may 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 Minnesota
Minnesota generally taxes commercial and residential building-cleaning services, including janitorial, office, floor, restroom, carpet, window, and similar cleaning. Dishwashing, dusting knick-knacks, making beds, picking up, and room straightening are nontaxable; mixed contracts are fully taxable unless those services are separately stated. (Minnesota 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 Minnesota, 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 Minnesota wages
Price from labor hours. Here is a 10,000 sq ft office cleaned 5 nights a week, using the Minnesota median janitor wage:
| Labor hours per visit | 4 (assumes 2,500 sq ft per hour) |
|---|---|
| Wage + 15% payroll costs | $19.04 → $21.90/hr |
| Labor + $5 supplies per visit | $92.60 |
| Direct cost per month (21.7 visits) | $2,009 |
| Price at 25% / 35% / 45% gross margin | $2,679 / $3,091 / $3,653 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 Minnesota
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 Minnesota
The Minnesota minimum wage is $11.41/hr (Effective January 1, 2026, for all employers. Minneapolis and St. Paul may require higher local rates; Minnesota does not allow a tip credit), but the going rate is higher: the median janitor in Minnesota earns $19.04/hr and the median maid or housekeeper $18.01/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 Minnesota?
The state LLC filing fee is $155. 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 Minnesota?
The input does not establish whether Minnesota requires a cleaning-specific state license; check with the Minnesota Department of Revenue and applicable local authorities. Ordinary entity and tax registrations are still required, and local requirements may apply.
Is cleaning taxable in Minnesota?
Some cleaning services are taxable. Minnesota generally taxes commercial and residential building-cleaning services, including janitorial, office, floor, restroom, carpet, window, and similar cleaning. Dishwashing, dusting knick-knacks, making beds, picking up, and room straightening are nontaxable; mixed contracts are fully taxable unless those services are separately stated.
How much do cleaners make in Minnesota?
The median wage is $19.04 an hour for janitors and building cleaners and $18.01 for maids and housekeepers (BLS, May 2025). The state minimum wage is $11.41.