How to Start a Cleaning Business in Louisiana
Start a cleaning business in Louisiana: $125 LLC fee, sales tax and license rules, local cleaner wages ($13.91/hr median) and a pricing example, with official Louisiana sources.
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Louisiana at a glance for cleaning businesses
| LLC filing fee | $125 |
|---|---|
| Ongoing state report fee | $35 (annual) |
| Sales tax on cleaning services | Check with the state |
| State cleaning license | Not required statewide |
| State minimum wage (2026) | $7.25/hr |
| Median janitor wage in Louisiana | $13.91/hr |
| Median maid / housekeeper wage | $12.79/hr |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Fees and rules: official Louisiana sources linked in each section. Verified October 18, 2026.
Step 1: Form your LLC in Louisiana
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 Louisiana the state filing fee is $125, filed with the Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division. After that, the ongoing state report fee is $35 (annual).
The $35 LLC annual-report fee and $125 Articles of Organization fee take effect October 1, 2026; fees before that date are not provided. The annual report is due under Louisiana law, and no reliable result specifies an online-processing surcharge or other mandatory formation costs.
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 Louisiana LLC cost breakdown · LLC costs in every state
Step 2: Licenses and registrations
The input does not establish a general cleaning-business license requirement from a current official licensing page. Janitorial services do not require a Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors license; use the Secretary of State checklist to identify other possible state and local permits. (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 Louisiana
The Louisiana Department of Revenue lists cleaning services as taxable, but the supplied official information does not clarify whether routine residential or commercial janitorial cleaning is included. Check with the Louisiana Department of Revenue. (Louisiana 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 Louisiana, 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 Louisiana wages
Price from labor hours. Here is a 10,000 sq ft office cleaned 5 nights a week, using the Louisiana median janitor wage:
| Labor hours per visit | 4 (assumes 2,500 sq ft per hour) |
|---|---|
| Wage + 15% payroll costs | $13.91 → $16.00/hr |
| Labor + $5 supplies per visit | $69.00 |
| Direct cost per month (21.7 visits) | $1,497 |
| Price at 25% / 35% / 45% gross margin | $1,996 / $2,303 / $2,722 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 Louisiana
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 Louisiana
The Louisiana minimum wage is $7.25/hr, but the going rate is higher: the median janitor in Louisiana earns $13.91/hr and the median maid or housekeeper $12.79/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 Louisiana?
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 Louisiana?
The input does not establish a general cleaning-business license requirement from a current official licensing page. Janitorial services do not require a Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors license; use the Secretary of State checklist to identify other possible state and local permits.
Is cleaning taxable in Louisiana?
The rules are not clear-cut; check with the state revenue department. The Louisiana Department of Revenue lists cleaning services as taxable, but the supplied official information does not clarify whether routine residential or commercial janitorial cleaning is included. Check with the Louisiana Department of Revenue.
How much do cleaners make in Louisiana?
The median wage is $13.91 an hour for janitors and building cleaners and $12.79 for maids and housekeepers (BLS, May 2025). The state minimum wage is $7.25.