How to Start a Cleaning Business in Florida
Start a cleaning business in Florida: $125 LLC fee, sales tax and license rules, local cleaner wages ($16.58/hr median) and a pricing example, with official Florida sources.
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Florida at a glance for cleaning businesses
| LLC filing fee | $125 |
|---|---|
| Ongoing state report fee | $138.75 (annual) |
| Sales tax on cleaning services | Partly |
| State cleaning license | Not required statewide |
| State minimum wage (2026) | $15/hr |
| Median janitor wage in Florida | $16.58/hr |
| Median maid / housekeeper wage | $16.28/hr |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Fees and rules: official Florida sources linked in each section. Verified October 18, 2026.
Step 1: Form your LLC in Florida
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 Florida the state filing fee is $125, filed with the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations (Sunbiz). After that, the ongoing state report fee is $138.75 (annual).
The annual-report fee is $138.75, and a $400 late charge applies after May 1. No publication requirement or minimum franchise tax appears in the supplied results.
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 Florida LLC cost breakdown · LLC costs in every state
Step 2: Licenses and registrations
A general state-issued license is not required for an ordinary residential or commercial cleaning business. State business and tax registrations and local city or county business tax receipts may still be required, and specialized activities or personnel may require professional licenses. (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 Florida
Nonresidential interior cleaning and janitorial services are taxable at Florida’s 6% state sales tax rate plus any applicable county discretionary surtax. The tax treatment of residential cleaning services is unclear; check with the Florida Department of Revenue. (Florida 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 Florida, 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 Florida wages
Price from labor hours. Here is a 10,000 sq ft office cleaned 5 nights a week, using the Florida median janitor wage:
| Labor hours per visit | 4 (assumes 2,500 sq ft per hour) |
|---|---|
| Wage + 15% payroll costs | $16.58 → $19.07/hr |
| Labor + $5 supplies per visit | $81.28 |
| Direct cost per month (21.7 visits) | $1,764 |
| Price at 25% / 35% / 45% gross margin | $2,352 / $2,714 / $3,207 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 Florida
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 Florida
The Florida minimum wage is $15/hr (Since September 30, 2026. Florida adjusts it for inflation each September 30 starting in 2027), but the going rate is higher: the median janitor in Florida earns $16.58/hr and the median maid or housekeeper $16.28/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 Florida?
The state LLC filing fee is $125. 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 Florida?
A general state-issued license is not required for an ordinary residential or commercial cleaning business. State business and tax registrations and local city or county business tax receipts may still be required, and specialized activities or personnel may require professional licenses.
Is cleaning taxable in Florida?
Some cleaning services are taxable. Nonresidential interior cleaning and janitorial services are taxable at Florida’s 6% state sales tax rate plus any applicable county discretionary surtax. The tax treatment of residential cleaning services is unclear; check with the Florida Department of Revenue.
How much do cleaners make in Florida?
The median wage is $16.58 an hour for janitors and building cleaners and $16.28 for maids and housekeepers (BLS, May 2025). The state minimum wage is $15.