Start your own company
Start your own housekeeping company in Florida
Florida doesn't require a state license to run a housekeeping or cleaning business — the barrier to entry is paperwork, insurance, and a reputation you build one spotless home at a time. This guide covers the whole setup, honestly. And when the work is ready to scale past word of mouth, the Blue Trade Alliance is built to send booked jobs to owners like you.
What it takes
What it takes in Florida
Decide what you'll offer
Recurring residential cleaning, deep cleans, move-in/move-out, vacation-rental turnovers — each has different pricing, scheduling, and customers. Pick a starting lineup you can deliver flawlessly and write it down; a clear service list makes every later step (insurance, pricing, your website) easier.
Register your business with Sunbiz
File an LLC with the Florida Division of Corporations at sunbiz.org. It's an online filing, the fee is a bit over a hundred dollars, and approval usually comes back within a few business days. The LLC separates the business's risks from your personal savings — worth it from day one, even solo.
Get your EIN from the IRS
A federal Employer Identification Number is free and takes minutes on the IRS website. It lets you open a business bank account, and you'll need it the day you hire your first cleaner.
Pick up your local business tax receipt
Most Florida counties and many cities require a business tax receipt to operate there — in Tampa Bay, sometimes both. It's a short application and a modest annual fee. Check with your county tax collector and city hall for what a cleaning business needs where you'll work.
Get insured — and bonded
General liability insurance covers the accidents (the broken heirloom, the slip on a wet floor), and a janitorial bond covers the thing customers quietly worry about: theft by someone working in their home. Neither is required by the state; both are strongly recommended, because "insured and bonded" is what unlocks the front-door key and the recurring contract.
Know the rules before you hire
Solo, you're simple. The day you bring on help, two things change: Florida's workers' compensation rules for non-construction businesses kick in once you reach four or more employees, and you'll need to run payroll properly — cleaners working your schedule with your supplies are generally employees, not contractors. Talk to an accountant before the first hire, not after.
A BTA specialist walks you through every one of these steps, on the phone, in order — you never file anything alone.
Our specialists walk you through the steps and point you to the right agencies — they don't give legal, tax, or insurance advice. For decisions about your specific situation, talk to your own attorney or CPA.
Information reviewed July 2026
Free guide
Get the free housekeeping startup guide
Everything above, plus the full step-by-step for Florida — sent straight to your inbox and yours to keep, whether you join the alliance or not.
Ready now? Apply to join the alliance.
Skip the guide and talk to a real person — we'll walk you through the rest, no sales script.