How to Register a Commercial Cleaning Business
A commercial cleaning service, with the appropriate business plan, commitment to customer service and finances, can provide a lucrative business opportunity. Commercial cleaning offers a wide range of services in several niches, such as disaster restoration or office and forensics cleaning. In order to get started, the business must be registered with the appropriate federal, state and local government agencies. Several steps -- business structure and name selection, for example -- should take place prior to the registration process.
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Instructions
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Select a business structure that has the most advantages for your tax, financial and partnership situation. For example, a Limited Liability Corporation, or LLC, can protect a sole proprietor or partners from liabilities associated with cleaning homes, offices or other structures. Consult a tax accountant and attorney to gain a solid understanding of how different business structures can affect you financially and legally.
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Conduct a name search by contacting your state's Secretary of State (see Resource section). Prior to registering a business, you must ensure the business name does not already exist in the state or states of registration. Trademark law prohibits the use of another business's brand or identity, and this can hinder the registration process. Most Secretaries of State have an online system for conducting a search. Furthermore, you should also conduct a domain name search prior to registration to ensure the domain name you want is available.
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Go to the website for the state and/or local government entity that regulates business registration. Search for the "Register a Business" or "Forms" link under the "Business" sub-heading. Locate and click the link for the "Application for Trade Name Registration," "Fictitious Name Registration" or a similar document. Complete the form, which typically requests basic contact information, business name and the names of the persons involved, and submit it to the appropriate entity with the required fee. Typically, the fee is for administrative purposes, including searching for the requested business name.
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Request your federal tax identification number if required. Businesses that have employees or are partnerships are required to complete this step with the Internal Revenue Service (see Resource section).
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Register the business with the state's taxation department. Some states require a sales tax for specific cleaning services. For example, in Florida, custodial cleaning, housekeeping and office cleaning are taxable services. Furthermore, if you plan to sell cleaning products, you must request a sales and tax use license, or its equivalent, from the state of registration.
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References
Resources
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