Create Your Cleaning Subcontractor Agreement
Generate a professional subcontractor agreement between a general cleaning contractor and a cleaning subcontractor. Covers independent contractor classification, service location, property access, cleaning specialty, supplies responsibility, fidelity bonding, OSHA chemical safety, compensation terms, and insurance requirements. Built for all 50 states - ready to sign in minutes.
Trusted by cleaning companies and janitorial contractors across all 50 states
What's Included in This Agreement
This form generates a comprehensive cleaning subcontractor agreement covering party details, service location, property access, scope of work, compensation, insurance, bonding, and compliance - all structured for the GC-to-subcontractor relationship in the cleaning industry. The agreement includes independent contractor classification language aligned with the ABC test used by states like California and Massachusetts, plus a DTSA immunity notice for any confidentiality provisions.
Service Location & Access
Define the property type, square footage, service frequency, and access method. The agreement documents how the subcontractor enters the property and includes provisions for securing the premises after each visit. Fidelity bonding is tied to property access, ensuring every worker who enters the service location is covered against theft and dishonesty claims.
Compensation & Payment
Choose from three pricing models: fixed-price lump sum, time & materials with hourly rates, or unit price per visit. Includes configurable retainage, prompt payment protections aligned with state statutes, and a formal change order process. Pay-when-paid and pay-if-paid provisions are available where permitted by state law.
Bonding & Insurance
Fidelity bonding enabled by default protects against employee theft and dishonesty when subcontractor workers access client property. General liability and workers' compensation insurance requirements are included, plus optional auto, umbrella, and background check provisions. The agreement requires a Certificate of Insurance on file before work begins.
Scope & IC Classification
Detail the cleaning tasks, rooms or areas included, supplies responsibility, materials responsibility, permits, and cleanup duties. The agreement includes independent contractor classification safeguards - scope, control, and economic-reality factors that reinforce the subcontractor's independent status under the ABC test and the IRS common-law test.
Property Access Liability & Fidelity Bonding
Cleaning subcontractors access client property - often unsupervised and after hours. This creates significant liability exposure for both the GC and subcontractor. Fidelity bonding, insurance, and clear access provisions in this agreement help mitigate that risk, but both parties should verify their coverage meets the specific property's requirements.
State Registration & IC Classification
Some states require janitorial contractors to register with the state. California requires janitorial registration and workers' compensation for all cleaning businesses, and Illinois imposes strict classification rules. Check your state's specific requirements before finalizing the agreement.
Pricing Structures for Cleaning Subcontracts
Cleaning subcontracts typically use one of three pricing models. The right choice depends on the scope, frequency, and predictability of the cleaning work. All three structures include prompt payment protections aligned with state statutes, retainage options, and proper documentation for IRS Form 1099-NEC reporting.
Fixed-Price
Set one total price for the entire scope of cleaning work. Best for well-defined scopes with predictable requirements, such as a specific building cleaned to defined standards over a set period. Retainage helps ensure the sub maintains quality throughout the contract term.
Time & Materials
Pay the subcontractor by the hour plus supplies and materials. Optionally set a material markup and not-to-exceed cap. Best for variable-scope work like post-construction cleanup, specialty cleaning, or situations where the hours required are unpredictable.
Unit Price (Per-Visit)
Set a fixed price per visit or per unit of work. This is the most popular structure for recurring cleaning subcontracts because the total cost automatically adjusts with the number of visits. It reinforces independent contractor status because the sub controls how the work is performed during each visit.
Retainage & Prompt Payment
All three models include configurable retainage, payment terms from Net 15 to Net 60, and a change order process. Prompt payment protections prevent unreasonable withholding, and many states impose statutory deadlines and interest penalties for late payment to subcontractors.
Protecting the GC and the Client's Property
When you subcontract cleaning work, your company's reputation is on the line. The subcontractor is working on your behalf inside your client's property - often unsupervised, with access to sensitive areas. This agreement layers fidelity bonding, insurance, OSHA chemical safety compliance, background check provisions, and indemnification language to protect you, your client, and the subcontractor.
Fidelity Bonding
Enabled by default. A fidelity bond covers all subcontractor workers who access the service location. It protects against theft, dishonesty, and property damage - critical when workers have unsupervised access to homes, offices, medical facilities, and commercial spaces.
Insurance & Indemnification
General liability and workers' compensation are required by default. A Certificate of Insurance must be on file before work begins, and the GC should be named as additional insured on the sub's policy. Mutual indemnification clauses protect both parties.
Property Access & Background Checks
The agreement documents the access method - key, code, or building management - and includes provisions for securing the premises after each visit. The optional background check provision allows the GC to require screening for all subcontractor workers who will access the service location.
Chemical Safety & OSHA Compliance
Cleaning involves hazardous chemicals. Under OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard, the subcontractor must maintain Safety Data Sheets for all chemicals used and ensure workers are trained in proper handling and storage. The agreement requires all cleaning supplies to be safe and appropriate for the surfaces being cleaned.
Cleaning Subcontractor Agreement
- IC classification safeguards (ABC test)
- Per-visit, fixed-price and T&M pricing
- Fidelity bonding for property access
- OSHA chemical safety compliance
- All 50 states supported
- Instant PDF download
Did you know?
Did you know?
The commercial cleaning industry generates over $90 billion in annual revenue in the United States, and subcontracting is the backbone of how large cleaning contracts are fulfilled. Without a written subcontractor agreement, the GC has no documentation of who is responsible for what, who carries insurance, who provides supplies, and what happens if the sub's workers steal from or damage the property. Misclassification carries steep penalties in strict-test states like California and Massachusetts.
Featured — Spotlight
State-specific cleaning compliance built in.
California imposes the strictest cleaning subcontractor requirements in the country. AB5 codified the ABC test, janitorial employers must register with the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, and cleaning businesses must carry workers' compensation insurance. This agreement adapts to that compliance environment while still working across all 50 states.
What people are saying
Real cleaning companies, real protection
Join thousands who formalized subcontractor relationships with confidence
"We subcontract window cleaning and carpet care for our commercial accounts. Before this agreement, it was all handshake deals - no documentation of who carries fidelity bonding, who provides supplies, or who is liable if a subcontractor's worker damages property. Now every sub has a signed agreement with bonding requirements, access provisions, and clear scope."
James R., Janitorial Company Owner
Atlanta, GA
"The per-visit pricing and service frequency fields are exactly how we structure our deals. The property access documentation - keys, codes, building management contacts - was something our clients specifically requested after a security incident. Having fidelity bonding requirements spelled out in the agreement gives us leverage to ensure every sub maintains proper coverage."
Patricia L., Cleaning Service Manager
Phoenix, AZ
"Illinois requires janitorial registration and this agreement flagged that immediately. We also needed to make sure our subcontractor relationships were properly classified. The OSHA chemical safety provisions were a bonus - our medical facility clients require SDS documentation, and this agreement bakes that in."
Carlos M., Commercial Cleaning Contractor
Chicago, IL
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Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about our cleaning subcontractor agreement
A cleaning subcontractor agreement is a legal contract between a general contractor and a subcontractor who performs a portion of the cleaning work. It defines the scope, service location, property access, compensation, insurance, fidelity bonding, and compliance requirements, and includes classification language aligned with the ABC test.
Yes. This cleaning subcontractor agreement is designed for use in all 50 states. The governing law provision references the state you select, and state-specific banners alert you to requirements like California janitorial registration, Illinois classification compliance, Massachusetts ABC test requirements, and New York workers' comp mandates.
A fidelity bond provides financial protection if a subcontractor's employee steals from or acts dishonestly at the service location. It is enabled by default because cleaning subcontractors often have direct, unsupervised access to client property. It protects the property owner, the GC, and the subcontractor's reputation.
The agreement includes classification safeguards aligned with the ABC test used by California and Massachusetts, plus IRS common-law factors. The scope of work, payment structure, and control provisions are drafted to reinforce the subcontractor's independent status, and state-specific banners flag additional compliance steps where needed.
Cleaning subcontractors work with hazardous chemicals daily. OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard requires employers to maintain Safety Data Sheets for all chemicals, label containers properly, and train workers on safe handling and storage. This agreement requires the subcontractor to comply with OSHA standards and maintain SDS documentation on-site.
Instant PDF download · Updated for 2026
Instant PDF download · Updated for 2026