Get Quotes from Top Cleaning Services in Austin, TX

Are You Licensed to Practice as a Cleaning Service in Austin?

It is critical to ensure that any cleaning contractor you choose complies with all relevant government regulations before you hire them. Austin does not require a particular permit or license for a small-scale residential or commercial cleaning business. However, cleaning services still have to fulfill certain requirements as any business would. Such requirements include selecting a business structure, paying business filing costs, and appointing a registered agent. A registered agent is a legal contact person for the cleaning entity who can be served with any process, notice, or demand that is necessary or permitted by law. The registered agent must consent to act in that role and must be available during regular business hours in a Texas office.

After those are all taken care of, the cleaning contractor has to settle on a legal company name. This entails performing a Google search for the suggested business name to confirm that it is not already in use by another company. The cleaning company would also need to check with the Texas Secretary of State and the US Patent and Trademark Office's TESS - the Trademarks Electronic Search System. If the business name passes these, it can be registered and trademarked. Registration involves downloading the appropriate form and submitting it to the Texas Secretary of State SOSDirect portal. The Internal Revenue Service will also require an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the cleaning contractor for taxation purposes.

For more information on how to open a cleaning business in Austin, Texas, please contact the Austin Department of Economic Development at (512) 974-7800 or visit its office at:

How Much Do You Charge Compared to Other Cleaning Services in Austin?

It should be mentioned that the cost of cleaning and maintenance services in Austin is primarily determined by a number of factors. The size of the home or facility that needs cleaning, the type of cleaning required, and the existing state of the area that needs cleaning are all factors to consider. Similarly, some cleaning companies may charge hourly rates for their services, while others may charge a flat fee. As a result, before making any employment arrangements with your desired cleaning contractor, you should always seek clarification on their billing structure. You should also seek quotations from several cleaning contractors in Austin to get a good idea of the going rate for cleaning services in your area.

A cleaning contractor in Austin earns an average wage of $30,830 annually. A comparison of the average hourly wages of workers in Austin's building and grounds cleaning and maintenance industry against those of workers in the rest of Texas and five other major cities in the country is provided below:

What Types of Cleaning Services Do You Offer?

The sort of cleaning service you require should determine which cleaning professional you employ. Deep house or spring cleanings, moving in/moving out cleanings, and regular room or complete apartment cleanings are just a few of the services that cleaning firms in Austin provide to the city's people. Enhanced disinfection services, live-in housekeeping and maid services, green cleaning services, and holiday cleaning services are all offered by some cleaning companies that focus on specialized services. As a result, it's critical to learn about the services that your desired cleaning provider offers and ensure that these services are compatible with your home's cleaning requirements.

Before agreeing to any cleaning service contract, determine what types of cleaning supplies will be used for the work and how much the cleaning contractor's services will cost. The following are some typical Austin cleaning service cost estimates:

Do You Comply with Austin's COVID-19 Regulations?

The Austin has seen over 1300 deaths since the pandemic began in 2020. As of February 2022, Austin had an infection rate of 0.57, a positive test rate of 10.3 percent, and a vaccination rate of 78 percent. While this vaccination rate has positively impacted the city's Community Transmission Rate, which is a combination of the number of total new cases and the percentage of positive COVID-19 tests in a county over a seven-day period, it is comparatively lower than some other US cities.

As part of measures to contain the coronavirus, a set of guidelines for businesses are in place to protect consumers and employees, preserve adequate workforce capacity, help residents understand the stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, and provide recommendations on what they should do to keep safe in business spaces. As such, ensuring your cleaning contractor is conversant with Austin's COVID-19 regulations is extremely important. To get more information about COVID-19 and vaccination in Austin, contact Austin Public Health via email or visit their administrative office at:

Do You Provide Commercial Cleaning Services for Non-Residential Buildings in Austin?

Unlike residential cleaning contractors, who primarily handle the cleaning and disinfection of houses and domestic dwellings, commercial cleaning contractors typically specialize in the cleaning and disinfection of offices, workspaces, fitness and daycare centers, industrial and medical facilities, and whatnot. Cleaning contractors who want to offer exclusively commercial cleaning services in Austin do not currently need an occupation-specific license. Businesses in Austin that collect, remove, or transport waste, recycling, or organic compost from commercial premises, on the other hand, must get a Private Hauler License from the Austin Code Department.

You should always ensure that your prospective contractor meets these requirements before employing them. For inquiries about the licensing requirements for commercial cleaning contractors, you can reach the Austin Development Services at (512) 974-2747 or (512) 974-2380 or by visiting the department's office at:

Queries related specifically to the city's Private Hauler License can be directed to the Austin Code Department at 311 or (512) 974-2633.

Do You Engage Unionized Cleaners for Non-Residential Buildings in Austin?

When cleaning a commercial building in Austin, finding out if your cleaning company uses union members is crucial. This is particularly helpful in avoiding disruption of your project by such unions or losing money on non-unionized janitors who wouldn't be allowed to work. Other benefits of employing a union cleaning service include regular training and certifications of members and proper insurance coverage for workers.

While there are currently no unions in Austin specifically for cleaning workers and janitors, the Texas AFL-CIO is a state labor federation made up of 235,000 connected union members who speak up in support of working families in Texas. They work in the legislative and political spheres to ensure that all workers, union, and non-union, have a fair opportunity. They also assist unions in recruiting new members and manage community service, volunteer, and educational activities.

Do You Offer Covid-19 Disinfecting Services in Austin?

To prevent the coronavirus from spreading further, you must clean and disinfect your home properly and professionally as soon as a COVID-19 infection is confirmed among residents or regular visitors of your home. As not all Austin cleaning providers offer COVID-19-related cleaning and disinfecting services, it is your obligation to ensure that your desired contractor does so in accordance with the United States Environmental Protection Agency guidelines. These prerequisites for properly cleaning a COVID-19 home are as follows:

• Follow the rules set forth by the CDC, Texas, and Austin Public Health.
• Clean surfaces with soap and water on a regular basis.
• Use EPA-registered disinfectants as directed on the label.
• Use caution when fogging, fumigating, or spraying electrostatically large areas.

Always confirm that your cleaning contractor is not only aware of these regulations, but actually follows them when cleaning and sanitizing your house or business. You should also pay close attention to the disinfectants that will be used for the task and double-check that they are on the list of disinfectants permitted by the EPA.

What Cleaning Supplies Do You Use?

Cleaning supplies vary depending on the cleaning technique and the item, surroundings, and surface to be cleaned. While an acid-based cleaning solution is required in an industrial setting, residential buildings demand a nontoxic, dissolvable, easy-to-use, and odorless cleaning solution. In general, there are four types of cleaning chemicals that are frequently used:

• Abrasives
• Acids
• Degreasers
• Detergents

Abrasives are substances or chemicals that clear debris from hard surfaces by rubbing or scrubbing. Acid cleansers are the most potent cleaning agents and should be handled with caution as they can be extremely dangerous and corrosive if not properly diluted. Degreasers, also known as solvent cleaners, are used to remove grease from surfaces. Methylated spirits were routinely employed in the past, but non-toxic, non-fuming degreasers are now utilized to avoid chemical contamination. Detergents are the most popular cleaning agent used to break up dirt or soil, making it easier to wash away.

Cleaning alone may not be enough to eliminate bacteria, viruses, and fungi from your home or office. Sanitizing, using bleach, iodine or quaternary ammonium compounds (quats or QAC), after deep cleaning is advised to help avoid cross-contamination, bug infestations, and allergic reactions.

Do You Carry the Necessary Insurance Policy for Cleaners in Austin?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, building cleaning and maintenance employees in the United States suffered 307 fatal occupational injuries and 64,790 nonfatal occupational injuries in the year 2020 alone. While your cleaning project is ongoing, there is a possibility that the contractor you engage or a third party, will be hurt. As a result, it's critical to ensure that the cleaning service you are considering is fully insured. Similarly, no matter how professional and attentive these contractors are, there is always the danger of damage being done to your property during the job.

If any of the work-related incidents mentioned above occur during the cleaning of your house or facility, it will be to your benefit if the cleaning contractor you employ is properly insured, as this will cut down on the number of unbudgeted charges you will have to pay. Working with properly insured cleaning experts also provides you with a sense of assurance about their professionalism.

While cleaning services in Austin are not required to carry insurance, it is a great idea to make sure yours does, whether it is Commercial General Liability or Workers' Compensation. You should request a copy of your landscaper's insurance certificate to ensure that the professional is completely insured for any injuries or unintentional property damage that may occur during the project. These documents should also be confirmed with the appropriate insurance carrier. Call the Texas Department of Insurance's customer service line at (800) 252-3439 for more information on insurance policies for cleaning services.