How to Start a Cleaning Business in New Jersey
Start a cleaning business in New Jersey: $100 LLC fee, sales tax and license rules, local cleaner wages ($18.09/hr median) and a pricing example, with official New Jersey sources.
This guide contains partner links. We may earn a commission at no cost to you. How we make money
New Jersey at a glance for cleaning businesses
| LLC filing fee | $100 |
|---|---|
| Ongoing state report fee | $75 (annual) |
| Sales tax on cleaning services | Yes |
| State cleaning license | Not required statewide |
| State minimum wage (2026) | $15.92/hr |
| Median janitor wage in New Jersey | $18.09/hr |
| Median maid / housekeeper wage | $18.26/hr |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Fees and rules: official New Jersey sources linked in each section. Verified October 18, 2026.
Step 1: Form your LLC in New Jersey
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 New Jersey the state filing fee is $100, filed with the New Jersey Department of the Treasury, Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services (DORES). After that, the ongoing state report fee is $75 (annual).
LLCs have a $75 annual report fee, due on the last day of the formation-anniversary month. The source identifies a $100 LLC certificate-of-formation fee and no separate mandatory franchise-tax minimum or publication requirement for a general LLC.
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 New Jersey LLC cost breakdown · LLC costs in every state
Step 2: Licenses and registrations
The source does not conclusively establish whether New Jersey requires a cleaning-specific state license. Check with the state revenue department and the appropriate state agency, as well as municipal and county authorities, for applicable registrations, approvals, inspections, and local requirements. (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 New Jersey
New Jersey taxes all indoor and outdoor cleaning and janitorial services, whether performed regularly under contract or not. The general Sales Tax rate shown is 6.625%; the source does not distinguish residential from commercial cleaning. (New Jersey 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 New Jersey, 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 New Jersey wages
Price from labor hours. Here is a 10,000 sq ft office cleaned 5 nights a week, using the New Jersey median janitor wage:
| Labor hours per visit | 4 (assumes 2,500 sq ft per hour) |
|---|---|
| Wage + 15% payroll costs | $18.09 → $20.80/hr |
| Labor + $5 supplies per visit | $88.20 |
| Direct cost per month (21.7 visits) | $1,914 |
| Price at 25% / 35% / 45% gross margin | $2,552 / $2,945 / $3,480 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 New Jersey
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 New Jersey
The New Jersey minimum wage is $15.92/hr (Effective January 1, 2026, for most employees. Separate rates include $15.23 for seasonal and small employers, $14.20 for agricultural workers, $6.05 cash wage for tipped workers, and $18.92 for long-term-care facility direct-care staff), but the going rate is higher: the median janitor in New Jersey earns $18.09/hr and the median maid or housekeeper $18.26/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 New Jersey?
The state LLC filing fee is $100. 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 New Jersey?
The source does not conclusively establish whether New Jersey requires a cleaning-specific state license. Check with the state revenue department and the appropriate state agency, as well as municipal and county authorities, for applicable registrations, approvals, inspections, and local requirements.
Is cleaning taxable in New Jersey?
Yes, cleaning services are generally taxable. New Jersey taxes all indoor and outdoor cleaning and janitorial services, whether performed regularly under contract or not. The general Sales Tax rate shown is 6.625%; the source does not distinguish residential from commercial cleaning.
How much do cleaners make in New Jersey?
The median wage is $18.09 an hour for janitors and building cleaners and $18.26 for maids and housekeepers (BLS, May 2025). The state minimum wage is $15.92.