Get Quotes from Top Cleaning Services in Nashville, TN

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

Cleaning companies that operate in Nashville are typically required to possess either a standard business license or a minimal activity license issued by the Davidson County Clerk's Office. Minimal activity licenses are required for cleaning companies with annual gross receipts of more than $3,000 but less than $10,000, while standard business licenses are required for cleaning companies with annual gross receipts of $10,000 or more. These licenses can be obtained by completing and mailing an Application for Business Tax License or Minimal Activity License Form to:

The completed form can also be submitted in person at the county clerk's office located at:

In addition to obtaining a business tax license or a minimal activity license, cleaning companies that operate in Nashville may also need to meet other requirements. This includes registering their businesses with the Tennessee Department of Revenue for tax purposes. This registration can be carried out online via the department's TNTAP platform. Similarly, cleaning companies that wish to operate their businesses from residential homes will be required to obtain a home occupation permit from the Metro Nashville Department of Codes & Building Safety. Also, cleaning companies with up to five employees must obtain workers' compensation insurance, regardless of whether these employees are full-time or part-time.

You can get more information on the licensing and registration requirements for cleaning companies in Nashville by contacting the Davidson County Clerk's Office at (615) 862-6254. You can also contact this office via the aforementioned number to find out whether your intended cleaning company possesses a valid business tax or minimal activity license.

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

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, building cleaning workers in the Nashville area earn approximately $15 per hour. However, the amount of money you will be charged for cleaning services in the city usually depends on several factors, such as the nature of the service and the type and size of the room, building, or facility that needs cleaning. Other factors that may influence cleaning costs include the types of cleaning supplies that will be used for the job, the current state of the space that has to be cleaned, and the labor intensity of the job.

Note that cleaning companies utilize different fee structures when charging for their services, the most common of which are hourly and square footage fee structures. As such, you should always find out the specific type of fee structure that will be applied to your service. It is also a good idea to get cost estimates from different cleaning companies for the job and compare them before deciding which cleaning company to hire. Doing this gives you an idea of the going rate for your required cleaning service and also helps you spot cleaning companies that overcharge clients for their services.

Building and grounds cleaning workers in Nashville earn an average wage of $31,230 annually. A comparison of the average hourly wages of workers in Nashville's building and grounds cleaning and maintenance industry against those of workers in the rest of Tennessee and five other major cities in the country is provided below:

What Types of Cleaning Services Do You Offer?

An essential factor to consider when searching for suitable cleaning companies in Nashville is finding out whether the company offers the specific types of cleaning services that you need. Cleaning companies in the city typically offer a wide range of services, which include one-time or recurring cleaning, deep house cleaning, enhanced disinfection services, standard cleaning, moving-in/moving-out cleaning, office cleaning, apartment cleaning, green cleaning, and housekeeping services.

Always confirm that the cleaning company you hire is equipped to provide the particular type of service you need at the moment. It is also a good idea to find out the types of cleaning products used for the job and ensure that they have been duly registered by the EPA. Finally, make sure that the cleaning company provides you with an estimate of the cost of the job before they commence the cleaning. Listed below are cost estimates of some common cleaning services offered by cleaning companies in Nashville:

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

Contracting a cleaning company with cleaners that do not adhere to relevant COVID-19 regulations when providing their services not only compromises your health but that of your loved ones and members of the general public as well. More than 205,770 cases of COVID-19 have been recorded in the Nashville-Davidson area since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, with approximately 1,555 of these cases resulting in deaths. According to data published by the Tennessee Department of Health, as of February 2020, less than 70 percent of Davidson County residents had received at least one COVID-19 vaccine, with about 62 percent being fully vaccinated.

To this end, compliance with community guidance provided by the state's Department of Health is important to prevent infection and also avoid a resurgence of cases in the area. This guidance adopts federal guidelines and recommendations for cleaning and disinfecting homes, workplaces, community buildings, and other facilities designed to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus in the Nashville-Davidson area. These recommendations include the use of approved cleaning products and proper personal protective equipment, as well as the procedure for carrying out cleaning and disinfecting activities and the frequency of these activities.

You can contact the Tennessee Department of Health at (877) 857-2945 between the hours of 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., Mondays to Fridays, to get information on COVID-19 guidance and regulations and other coronavirus-related matters. Queries can also be directed to the Metro Public Health Department at:

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

While cleaning companies in Nashville typically offer a wide variety of services, some of these companies may decide to focus on either residential or commercial services. Cleaning companies that focus on residential services typically specialize in cleaning and disinfecting homes and residential buildings; this type of cleaning does not usually require specialized tools or training.

On the other hand, commercial cleaning companies typically focus on the cleaning and disinfection of commercial spaces and facilities like offices, schools, and apartment complexes, as well as medical and industrial facilities like hospitals, laboratories, and factories. Cleaners that provide these commercial cleaning services generally use specialized supplies and equipment suited to the specific nature of the facility that is being cleaned and also undergo work-related training on how to handle this equipment properly.

Nashville does not require commercial cleaning companies to obtain any special licenses before offering their services to interested parties. However, per local laws, if these companies also offer services that involve collecting or transporting construction, demolition, or industrial waste by means of a vehicle, then they will be required to obtain a city-issued private collection permit. This permit can be obtained by completing and submitting a Private Collection Permit Application Form to:

Queries concerning the private collection permitting process can be directed to (615) 862-2410 or (615) 862-4600. Note that cleaning companies may also have to obtain additional state-issued permits from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC). These permits are usually required for businesses involved in handling and disposing of environmentally significant materials, such as sludge, medical wastes, hazardous wastes, pesticide wastes, industrial wastes, and friable asbestos wastes. Queries concerning state-issued environmental permits and the requirements for obtaining these permits can be directed to the TDEC either online or by calling (888) 891-8332.

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

Many owners and facility managers of commercial properties in Nashville have recently begun to lean towards hiring union cleaning services due to the advantages that come with contracting with these services. These advantages include access to a steady stream of cleaners with up-to-date training certifications and are adequately insured and bonded. These unions, which include the SEIU Local 205, also afford cleaners several benefits, such as better working conditions, fairer wages, and access to scholarship programs, all of which translate to happier cleaners and, in turn, better cleaning services.

As such, even though contracting a union cleaning service may cost you more than hiring non-union cleaners, the advantages of these union cleaning services typically make up for this cost difference. In addition, you may face pressure from unions and other external sources to discontinue any arrangements that you have with non-union cleaning services if you hire non-union cleaners, which can lead to an interruption of your business activities and ultimately result in financial losses.

Do You Offer Covid-19 Disinfecting Services in Nashville?

It is important to make sure that your home or workspace is properly cleaned, sanitized and disinfected after a COVID-19 infection has been confirmed within its space. This cleaning and disinfection should ideally be done before people are allowed to re-enter the contaminated space. Note that it is your responsibility to let any cleaning company you contact know the specific reason for reaching out to them and get confirmation that they offer enhanced disinfection services designed to rid contaminated areas of the coronavirus effectively. You should also ensure that the cleaning company you hire follows the recommendations of the Tennessee Department of Health's community guidance to ensure the proper cleaning and disinfection of your home or workspace after a COVID-19 outbreak. These recommendations include:

• Using only EPA List N Disinfectants for the job. These are disinfectant products that have been determined to be effective against all strains and variants of the coronavirus SARs-CoV-2
• Following the label directions on all cleaning products used
• Wearing face masks, disposable gloves, and other appropriate personal protective equipment during the cleaning, sanitization, and disinfection activities
• Ensuring that the cleaning and disinfection focuses on areas that were occupied by the individual diagnosed with COVID-19. Special attention should also be given to high-touch surfaces in the home or workspace. These include but are not limited to, doorknobs and handles, sinks, toilets, faucets, light switches, phones, keyboards, and tables
• Cleaning visibly dirty surfaces with detergents before sanitizing and disinfecting these surfaces
• Make sure that the area is properly ventilated when disinfectants are being used, especially if any of the occupants are prone to asthma attacks
• Making sure that gloves are worn when any trash is being handled and disposed

What Cleaning Supplies Do You Use?

Using appropriate cleaning supplies and equipment is necessary for effective cleaning and disinfection. The types of supplies that will be suitable for a cleaning job generally depend on factors like the item or surface to be cleaned, the method of cleaning, and the environment of the area being cleaned. For example, acid-based cleaning solutions are best suited for cleaning industrial facilities, while medical facilities usually require nontoxic, odorless, and easy-to-use cleaning agents. Generally, four types of cleaning agents are used in Nashville, and these are:

• Abrasives
• Acids
• Degreasers
• Detergents

Abrasives typically come in powder or liquid form, and they are chemicals that are used to scratch off stains from hard surfaces like floors and toilets. Acids are the most potent cleaning agents typically used for descaling or removing mineral and hard water deposits on surfaces. Acid cleaning agents must be diluted correctly before use, and they can be dangerous if not handled carefully. Degreasers are solvents used to remove grease and organic stains from different surfaces, commonly used for cleaning commercial kitchens.

Finally, detergents are water-soluble cleaning agents that have a wide range of residential and commercial applications. Detergents are the most commonly used type of cleaning agent, and they typically come in powder, gel, liquid, or crystal form.

In addition to the cleaning agents, cleaning companies commonly use tools and equipment like vacuum cleaners, mops, disposable rags, and brooms for their activities. Likewise, the use of supplies like sanitizers and disinfectants may also be required to properly rid your home or workspace of bacteria, fungi, viruses, and other microbes. It is a good idea to inform your cleaning company of any allergies you may have so they know to avoid using products that can trigger these allergies.

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

Per state requirements, any cleaning company that operates in Nashville and has five or more employees must secure workers' compensation insurance coverage for these employees. However, in addition to this state-mandated insurance, it is advisable to ensure that the cleaning company you hire has additional liability insurance coverage to cover third-party accidents and injuries, theft, or property damage that may occur during your project. Failing to do this can make you liable for any detrimental work-related events that occur during your cleaning job, and this usually leads to unwanted out-of-pocket expenses as well as possible legal issues.

To this end, before hiring any cleaning company, always request a copy of their insurance certificate and make sure this insurance covers you and your property. The insurance plan should include general liability insurance to cover the cost of any injuries that happen on-site or damage to your property caused by the company's cleaners and employee dishonesty insurance to cover theft and other dishonest employee acts. It is advisable to contact the insurance company that issued the insurance certificate to validate them and to find out the extent of the cleaning company's coverage.