What insurance limits should I require from a cleaning subcontractor?

General liability of $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate is standard for commercial cleaning subcontractors. Workers' compensation must meet your state's statutory requirements. Request a certificate of insurance before the first service date and require the carrier to give you 30 days' notice if the policy is cancelled.

How do I prove independent contractor status to the IRS?

IRS Publication 15-A says the worker must control the means and methods of the work, furnish their own tools and supplies, be responsible for their own taxes including self-employment tax, and work under a non-exclusive arrangement. Document these terms in writing and do not set the contractor's schedule or supervise their crew directly.

What termination notice period is typical for cleaning subcontractors?

Fourteen days' written notice is common for non-exclusive cleaning subcontractor agreements. This gives both parties time to reassign accounts or find replacement coverage without leaving buildings unserviced. Shorter notice periods create operational risk; longer periods reduce flexibility when performance issues arise.

Independent Contractor Agreement

Misclassification risk costs more than a W-2.

Inputs

State

Contractor name

Scope summary

Payment terms

Require GL + WC certificates

Include non-solicit (clients / staff)

Generates a clause checklist for independent contractor agreements with 1099 cleaning subcontractors. Enter the contractor's name, state, scope of work, payment terms, and insurance requirements to produce a numbered list covering IRS status, indemnification, termination rights, and certificate-of-insurance minimums.

Instruction

Enter the contractor name, select the state, and describe the scope of work.
Pick payment terms (Net 15, Net 30, or per clean) and check whether to require general liability and workers' comp certificates.
Read the numbered clause list covering independent-contractor status, payment, tools, taxes, termination, indemnification, and state compliance.

Worked example

A Texas contractor named ABC Cleaning providing commercial janitorial services, paid Net 30, with GL and WC certificates required.

The checklist returns 10 clauses including IRS Pub 15-A independent-contractor language, Net 30 payment terms, $1M per occurrence GL minimum, WC per Texas law, COI required before first service, and 14-day termination notice.

Questions operators ask

What insurance limits should I require from a cleaning subcontractor?: General liability of $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate is standard for commercial cleaning subcontractors. Workers' compensation must meet your state's statutory requirements. Request a certificate of insurance before the first service date and require the carrier to give you 30 days' notice if the policy is cancelled.
How do I prove independent contractor status to the IRS?: IRS Publication 15-A says the worker must control the means and methods of the work, furnish their own tools and supplies, be responsible for their own taxes including self-employment tax, and work under a non-exclusive arrangement. Document these terms in writing and do not set the contractor's schedule or supervise their crew directly.
What termination notice period is typical for cleaning subcontractors?: Fourteen days' written notice is common for non-exclusive cleaning subcontractor agreements. This gives both parties time to reassign accounts or find replacement coverage without leaving buildings unserviced. Shorter notice periods create operational risk; longer periods reduce flexibility when performance issues arise.