How to Start a Cleaning Service in Georgia (2026)

Last updated: September 15, 2026

Georgia does not require a specialized state janitorial license for ordinary cleaning. Choose your business structure, check local occupation-tax and premises requirements, and understand taxes before accepting work. Hiring adds workers’ compensation, payroll, work-authorization and safety obligations.

Use this guide to identify state requirements and the local questions to resolve. Confirm the rules for your address and services, particularly before adding specialized work or employees.

Cleaning Service Requirements in Georgia at a Glance

Requirement	Agency	Cost	Timeline
LLC, if chosen	Secretary of State	$110 ordinary online total	Estimated seven business days
EIN, when required	IRS	Free	After forming a new entity
Occupation Tax Certificate	City or county	Ask issuing office	Check local requirements
Annual Registration (Secretary of State)	GA Secretary of State	$50 + $10 service fee	Due April 1 each year
Sales tax	Georgia DOR	Standalone cleaning generally nontaxable	Register if taxable activities require it
General liability	Licensed insurer	Business-specific quote	Check contract requirements
Janitorial bond	Surety provider	Quote for requested limit	If a customer requires it
Workers’ compensation	Licensed insurer	Assigned class and payroll	Generally three or more regular workers
State Cleaning License	N/A	Not required	–

How to Start a Cleaning Service in Georgia (Step by Step)

Step 1: Choose Your Business Structure

If you choose a Georgia LLC, file Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State. Current ordinary online filing totals $110 ($100 filing plus $10 service charge), with an estimated seven-business-day review. Processing estimates are not guarantees. You can also operate as a sole proprietor; an LLC does not eliminate all personal liability or replace insurance.

Your LLC name must include “LLC,” “L.L.C.,” or “Limited Liability Company” and must be distinguishable from existing entities on file with the Georgia Secretary of State. You’ll need a Georgia Registered Agent with a physical street address in the state – you can serve as your own registered agent if you have a Georgia address.

If you use a trade name requiring registration, file with the county Clerk of Superior Court and publish the notice once a week for two consecutive weeks. Obtain the actual county and newspaper fees. Georgia trade-name instructions.

Annual Registration: Georgia LLCs must file an annual registration with the Secretary of State by April 1 each year. Cost: $50 + $10 service fee. Missing this deadline can result in administrative dissolution of your LLC.

Step 2: Get an EIN When Required

Get an EIN free from the IRS when your entity or employment/tax situation requires one. Form a new entity before applying for its EIN. A sole proprietor without employees may be able to use a Social Security number; bank requirements are separate. An EIN does not create an LLC.

Step 3: Get Your Occupation Tax Certificate

Georgia uses Occupation Tax Certificates (sometimes called business licenses) instead of the “business tax receipts” used in other states. You apply at your local city or county government office.

• Cost and processing: ask the issuing office for the current fees and requirements for your activity.
• Start with the municipality if your business is inside city limits, or the county if it is unincorporated. Confirm any requirements for additional locations and activities; do not rely on a universal “never both” rule.
• Follow the local licensing office’s SAVE-affidavit and identification instructions. This public-benefit eligibility process is separate from verifying an employee’s work authorization. Employers with more than ten employees must participate in E-Verify as a condition of obtaining or renewing a business license. GDOL employer handbook.
• Home-based operation: confirm zoning, storage, employee reporting and customer-visit rules before using the property.
• Renewal: follow the issuing office’s current schedule.

Some municipalities may also require a zoning compliance letter or home occupation permit before issuing the certificate.

Step 4: Understand Georgia Sales Tax Rules for Cleaning

Separate service revenue from taxable product sales:

• Residential cleaning is NOT subject to Georgia sales tax
• Commercial cleaning is NOT subject to Georgia sales tax

Ordinary standalone residential and commercial cleaning services generally are not subject to Georgia sales tax. Taxable sales of products are separate; pay applicable tax on supplies consumed in the business and check bundles or additional services before assuming exemption. Georgia DOR sales/use tax guidance.

Keep receipts for supplies you consume. Selling products to customers is different from using them to deliver a cleaning service; invoice descriptions alone do not determine taxability.

Step 5: Get Insurance and Bonding

General Liability Insurance

General liability can cover specified third-party bodily injury and property-damage claims, subject to policy terms and exclusions. Damage to property in your care, custody or control may need specific coverage. Send the client’s insurance requirements to your agent; a certificate of insurance documents coverage but does not itself add an endorsement or additional-insured status.

• Cost: obtain a quote using revenue, crew size, services and the requested limits.
• Limits: use the client’s actual contract, including any required aggregate and endorsements.
• Coverage: review exclusions and deductibles, especially damage to property you are cleaning.

Janitorial Surety Bond

A janitorial service bond can protect customers against covered employee theft, subject to the bond’s covered people, exclusions and claim conditions. Some clients request one; it is not a universal legal requirement for ordinary cleaning. Obtain a quote at the limit your contract requires. A bond does not replace liability or workers’ compensation insurance.

• Price: obtain a surety quote; bond amount and premium are different figures.
• Limit: select the amount the customer actually requires.

Workers’ Compensation Insurance

Georgia generally requires workers’ compensation when a business regularly employs three or more workers, including regular part-time workers. Owner counting and permitted elections need separate review; do not assume an excluded officer reduces the coverage threshold. Arrange coverage before required work begins. State Board of Workers’ Compensation.

• Ask the insurer to classify your actual operations and payroll. Residential versus commercial customers alone do not determine the correct workers’ compensation code. Disclose height work, construction cleanup and specialized services, and keep any required payroll separation. Use your assigned classification and an actual quote, not a statewide assumed premium.
• Disclose all services and maintain the payroll detail the insurer requests.
• Compare quotes on the same payroll, scope, limits and deductible assumptions.
• Failure to maintain required coverage can cause penalties and injury liability. Use the Board’s current compliance guidance.
• Review owner elections with the Board and insurer; exemptions do not make employees independent contractors.

Compare cleaning business insurance in Georgia before you request a quote.

Step 6: Set Up OSHA Compliance (If Hiring)

Federal OSHA covers private cleaning employers in Georgia. Assess employee exposure to hazardous chemicals and the tasks performed. When the Hazard Communication Standard applies, maintain a written program, chemical inventory, accessible safety data sheets, compliant labels and effective hazard training. The consumer-product exemption depends on exposure comparable to normal consumer use; a household brand alone does not establish exemption. Portable containers for an employee’s immediate use have a specific labeling exception, and workplace labels need not always duplicate the full shipped-container label. Train at initial assignment and when new hazards are introduced. Select PPE through a hazard assessment; employer-payment rules have exceptions for ordinary clothing and certain footwear. OSHA Hazard Communication Standard; PPE standard.

Required elements:

1. Maintain the written program when the standard applies.
2. Keep safety data sheets for covered hazardous chemicals readily accessible during work.
3. Maintain an inventory of covered hazardous chemicals.
4. Use compliant labels, including the permitted workplace-label alternatives and immediate-use exception.
5. Provide training at initial assignment and when new hazards are introduced.

Choose PPE through a hazard assessment and follow the payment rules and their exceptions.

Consult current OSHA requirements and penalty guidance. Inspect work methods before adding height work, biological hazards or specialized cleanup.

Step 7: Handle Employer Requirements (If Hiring)

Pay covered, nonexempt workers at least the applicable minimum wage and overtime of 1.5 times the regular rate after 40 hours in a workweek. Count compensable travel between job sites, required training, setup and cleanup; paying by the job does not remove overtime obligations. Keep accurate time records. DOL hours-worked guidance. A 1099, LLC or contractor agreement does not decide worker status. Review the actual work relationship under each applicable wage, unemployment, workers’ compensation and federal tax standard. Cleaners performing regular company jobs under its direction may be employees. IRS classification guidance.

Georgia’s state minimum wage is $5.15, but covered employees under federal law must receive at least $7.25. Determine coverage rather than pay the lower state amount automatically. GDOL minimum-wage guidance.

• Register for Georgia unemployment insurance tax with the Georgia Department of Labor – new employers pay 2.7% on the first $9,500 of wages per employee
• Register for Georgia income tax withholding with the Georgia Department of Revenue
• Complete Form I-9 for each employee: the employee completes Section 1 by the first day of work for pay, and the employer generally completes Section 2 within three business days. Follow the shorter rule for employment lasting less than three business days. USCIS instructions.
• Report new hires to the Georgia New Hire Reporting Center within 10 days

Cost to Start a Cleaning Service in Georgia

Solo / Small Residential Cleaning Business

Build your own startup budget from the verified filing fees and written quotes above. Separate one-time purchases from monthly and annual costs. Include supplies, equipment replacement, transport, insurance, taxes, marketing and working capital. Hiring adds wages, employer taxes, paid time required by law, training and payroll administration. There is no single verified statewide launch total for a solo cleaner and a crew buying vehicles.

Item	Cost	Notes
LLC, if chosen	$110 ordinary online	Secretary of State filing and service charge
Trade name, if required	County and newspaper fees	Include two-week publication
Federal EIN	Free	Online at IRS.gov
Occupation Tax Certificate	Issuing-office fee	Check local renewal
Annual Registration (SOS)	$60	$50 + $10 fee, due April 1
General liability	Insurer quote	Client limits and policy terms
Janitorial bond	Surety quote	If required by client
Equipment and supplies	Supplier quotes	Setup and recurring consumption
Marketing	Your chosen test budget	Measure results

Small Commercial Operation (1-5 Employees)

Build your own startup budget from the verified filing fees and written quotes above. Separate one-time purchases from monthly and annual costs. Include supplies, equipment replacement, transport, insurance, taxes, marketing and working capital. Hiring adds wages, employer taxes, paid time required by law, training and payroll administration. There is no single verified statewide launch total for a solo cleaner and a crew buying vehicles. Tell your vehicle insurer how you use each vehicle, who drives it and whether it carries staff or equipment. Being a solo operator does not automatically make business driving covered by a personal policy. Ask about commercial auto and hired/non-owned coverage where relevant.

Item	Cost	Notes
LLC, if chosen	$110 ordinary online	EIN from IRS is free
Trade name, if required	County and newspaper fees	Include publication
Occupation Tax Certificate	Issuing-office fee	Check renewal
Annual Registration (SOS)	$60	Due April 1 each year
General liability	Insurer quote	Disclose all services
Workers’ compensation	Insurer quote using payroll	Generally required at three regular workers
Janitorial bond	Surety quote	Use client-required limit
Equipment	Supplier quotes	Include maintenance
Vehicle coverage	Insurer quote	Confirm business use
Marketing, uniforms and software	Supplier quotes	Separate one-time and recurring charges

Related Georgia Business Guides

• Starting a Business in Georgia: Complete Guide

← Back to all Georgia business guides

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a license to start a cleaning business in Georgia?

Georgia has no specialized state janitorial license for ordinary cleaning. Check the city or county Occupation Tax Certificate, zoning and trade-name requirements. Entity filings and employer duties are separate. If you use a trade name requiring registration, file with the county Clerk of Superior Court and publish the notice once a week for two consecutive weeks. Obtain the actual county and newspaper fees. Georgia trade-name instructions.

Is cleaning taxable in Georgia?

Ordinary standalone residential and commercial cleaning services generally are not subject to Georgia sales tax. Taxable sales of products are separate; pay applicable tax on supplies consumed in the business and check bundles or additional services before assuming exemption. Georgia DOR sales/use tax guidance.

Do I need insurance for a cleaning business in Georgia?

Georgia generally requires workers’ compensation when a business regularly employs three or more workers, including regular part-time workers. Owner counting and permitted elections need separate review; do not assume an excluded officer reduces the coverage threshold. Arrange coverage before required work begins. State Board of Workers’ Compensation. General liability can cover specified third-party bodily injury and property-damage claims, subject to policy terms and exclusions. Damage to property in your care, custody or control may need specific coverage. Send the client’s insurance requirements to your agent; a certificate of insurance documents coverage but does not itself add an endorsement or additional-insured status.

What’s the difference between bonded and insured?

General liability can cover specified third-party bodily injury and property-damage claims, subject to policy terms and exclusions. Damage to property in your care, custody or control may need specific coverage. Send the client’s insurance requirements to your agent; a certificate of insurance documents coverage but does not itself add an endorsement or additional-insured status. A janitorial service bond can protect customers against covered employee theft, subject to the bond’s covered people, exclusions and claim conditions. Some clients request one; it is not a universal legal requirement for ordinary cleaning. Obtain a quote at the limit your contract requires. A bond does not replace liability or workers’ compensation insurance.

How much does it cost to start a cleaning business in Georgia?

Build your own startup budget from the verified filing fees and written quotes above. Separate one-time purchases from monthly and annual costs. Include supplies, equipment replacement, transport, insurance, taxes, marketing and working capital. Hiring adds wages, employer taxes, paid time required by law, training and payroll administration. There is no single verified statewide launch total for a solo cleaner and a crew buying vehicles.

What is the SAVE Affidavit requirement in Georgia?

Follow the local licensing office’s SAVE-affidavit and identification instructions. This public-benefit eligibility process is separate from verifying an employee’s work authorization. Employers with more than ten employees must participate in E-Verify as a condition of obtaining or renewing a business license. GDOL employer handbook.

Comparing states? See our cleaning business guides for all 50 states.