Cleaning Business Insurance in Australia: What You Actually Need
Public liability insurance is the one every cleaning business in Australia needs, and for most solo operators it's also the only one required to start working. Beyond that, what you need depends on whether you employ staff, own valuable equipment, or take on higher-risk contract work.
Key takeaways
- Public liability is a baseline commercial expectation even where it is not universally mandated.
- Workers' compensation obligations begin when the business employs workers and vary by jurisdiction.
- Review tools, vehicles, contracts and higher-risk services separately with a licensed adviser.
Public liability insurance is the one every cleaning business in Australia needs, and for most solo operators it's also the only one required to start working. Beyond that, what you need depends on whether you employ staff, own valuable equipment, or take on higher-risk contract work.
Public liability insurance
This covers you if you damage a client's property or someone is injured because of your work: a spilled cleaning chemical that damages flooring, a slip caused by a wet surface you didn't sign, an accidentally broken item. For a sole trader with no claims history, premiums typically run somewhere between A$500 and A$1,200 a year, depending on your cover level. Most cleaners choose A$5 million or A$10 million in cover; commercial contracts and strata work sometimes require A$20 million.
Many commercial clients and agencies will ask for a Certificate of Currency, a one-page document from your insurer proving your cover is active. Keep a current one on hand if you're pursuing commercial or agency work.
Tools and equipment cover
Public liability covers damage to a client's property, not your own gear. If your vacuum, floor polisher or steam cleaner is stolen or damaged, that's a separate policy, usually called portable equipment or tools of trade cover. Worth adding if you've invested in commercial-grade equipment you'd struggle to replace out of pocket.
Workers' compensation
Mandatory in every Australian state and territory the moment you employ staff, even part time or casual. This isn't optional and isn't something to skip to save money: it covers your employees if they're injured on the job, and operating without it when required carries serious penalties.
Professional indemnity
Only relevant if you're advising clients on cleaning specifications or processes beyond simply doing the work, for example consulting on a cleaning program for a facility. Most residential and small commercial cleaners don't need this.
What happens without insurance
As a sole trader, you carry every liability personally. If something goes wrong on a job and you're not covered, you're paying legal costs and any compensation out of your own pocket, not a policy's. Given that a routine claim (a damaged appliance, a minor injury) can run into the thousands, the cost of a year's premium is small by comparison.
The bottom line
As a sole trader, you carry every liability personally. If something goes wrong on a job and you're not covered, you're paying legal costs and any compensation out of your own pocket, not a policy's. Given that a routine claim (a damaged appliance, a minor injury) can run into the thousands, the cost of a year's premium is small by comparison.
Frequently asked questions
Short answers to common questions about this topic.
It's not universally mandated by law for every cleaner, but most clients, agencies and commercial contracts require proof of it before they'll engage you, which makes it standard practice rather than optional in reality.
Sources and further reading
We prioritise official, primary, and current sources. Links were last checked on the dates shown.
- Types of business insurance — Australian Government business.gov.au. Checked 27 July 2026.
- Workers' compensation — Safe Work Australia. Checked 2 August 2026.
- Work health and safety — Australian Government business.gov.au. Checked 27 July 2026.
About the author
Tidyly Editorial Team
The Tidyly Editorial Team creates practical guidance for Australian cleaning businesses using product experience, first-party examples, and current primary sources.
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