How to Start a Cleaning Business in New York
Start a cleaning business in New York: $200 LLC fee, sales tax and license rules, local cleaner wages ($20.02/hr median) and a pricing example, with official New York sources.
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New York at a glance for cleaning businesses
| LLC filing fee | $200 |
|---|---|
| Ongoing state report fee | $9 (every 2 years) |
| Sales tax on cleaning services | Yes |
| State cleaning license | Not required statewide |
| State minimum wage (2026) | $16/hr |
| Median janitor wage in New York | $20.02/hr |
| Median maid / housekeeper wage | $20.17/hr |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Fees and rules: official New York sources linked in each section. Verified October 18, 2026.
Step 1: Form your LLC in New York
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 York the state filing fee is $200, filed with the New York Department of State, Division of Corporations. After that, the ongoing state report fee is $9 (every 2 years).
A $50 Certificate of Publication filing fee applies; the separate newspaper publication cost is not stated. The input also lists a $9 Biennial Statement fee.
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 York LLC cost breakdown · LLC costs in every state
Step 2: Licenses and registrations
New York identifies no cleaning-specific occupational license and has no general statewide business license. Entity registration, a sales-tax Certificate of Authority for taxable cleaning services, and applicable local licenses or permits may be required; verify through New York Business Express and the relevant locality. (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 York
New York taxes charges for interior cleaning and ordinary janitorial or maintenance services, for both residential and commercial customers and under short- or long-term contracts. State and local sales tax applies. (New York 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 York, 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 York wages
Price from labor hours. Here is a 10,000 sq ft office cleaned 5 nights a week, using the New York median janitor wage:
| Labor hours per visit | 4 (assumes 2,500 sq ft per hour) |
|---|---|
| Wage + 15% payroll costs | $20.02 → $23.02/hr |
| Labor + $5 supplies per visit | $97.08 |
| Direct cost per month (21.7 visits) | $2,107 |
| Price at 25% / 35% / 45% gross margin | $2,809 / $3,242 / $3,831 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 York
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 York
The New York minimum wage is $16/hr (The rate is $17.00 in New York City, Long Island, and Westchester County; $16.00 in the remainder of New York State, effective January 1 through December 31, 2026), but the going rate is higher: the median janitor in New York earns $20.02/hr and the median maid or housekeeper $20.17/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 York?
The state LLC filing fee is $200. 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 York?
New York identifies no cleaning-specific occupational license and has no general statewide business license. Entity registration, a sales-tax Certificate of Authority for taxable cleaning services, and applicable local licenses or permits may be required; verify through New York Business Express and the relevant locality.
Is cleaning taxable in New York?
Yes, cleaning services are generally taxable. New York taxes charges for interior cleaning and ordinary janitorial or maintenance services, for both residential and commercial customers and under short- or long-term contracts. State and local sales tax applies.
How much do cleaners make in New York?
The median wage is $20.02 an hour for janitors and building cleaners and $20.17 for maids and housekeepers (BLS, May 2025). The state minimum wage is $16.