You have probably seen the phrase "bonded, licensed and insured" in a janitorial company's marketing. It sounds reassuring, but many facility managers do not know what each term actually covers — or why the distinctions matter when something goes wrong.
Licensed
A business license means the company is legally registered to operate. It is the baseline requirement for any legitimate business, not a mark of quality on its own.
Insured
General liability insurance covers property damage caused by the cleaning crew — a broken window, a knocked-over monitor — and third-party injuries resulting from their work.
Workers' compensation insurance covers a cleaning employee's medical costs and lost wages if they are injured in your building. Without it, your business could be exposed to those costs even though the employee is not yours. This is the coverage most often missing from underpriced providers.
Bonded
A surety bond is financial protection against employee theft. If a cleaning employee steals from your premises and the company is bonded, you can file a claim to recover the loss.
How to Verify
Always ask for a certificate of insurance before signing anything. It lists the insurer, policy numbers, coverage types and expiration dates. Ask to be named as an additional insured so you are notified if coverage lapses.
Our own coverage is explained on our Insured & Bonded page — policy numbers and dollar amounts are available on request via certificate of insurance rather than published publicly.