Get Quotes from Top Cleaning Services in San Jose, CA

Are You Licensed to Practice as a Cleaning Service in San Jose?

Cleaning contractors who wish to conduct business in San Jose must register for a Business Tax Certificate with the city's Finance Department. However, business tax exemptions are typically made for cleaning contractors who are small business owners with business gross receipts of less than $25,760 or annual household incomes of less than $51,520. Note that these figures are based on current poverty income levels as established by the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

Cleaning contractors can obtain business tax certificates by completing a registration form online or by contacting the San Jose Finance Department in person at:

Registrants will be required to pay a fee and also provide certain information, such as their Tax Identification Number, business ownership names and addresses, contact information, and a valid government-issued photo ID. Queries concerning the San Jose business tax registration process can be directed to the city's Finance Department at (408) 535-7055.

Note that, in addition to obtaining a city-issued business tax certificate, cleaning contractors in San Jose that provide post-construction cleanup services must also obtain a separate state-issued D-63 Construction Clean-up Contractor License from the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB). Certain requirements must be met before this license can be obtained, and they include having at least four years of verifiable journeyman-level work experience, providing proof of insurance and bonding, and passing a CSLB-administered licensing examination. Inquiries related to state-issued post-construction cleanup contractor licenses can be directed to the CSLB at (800) 321-2752.

It should be noted that providing post-construction cleanup services in San Jose without possessing a state-issued contractor license is considered a misdemeanor offense and can result in jail time of up to six months as well as fines of up to $5,000. You can confirm state-issued contractor licenses in San Jose online via the CSLB's Check a License portal. Similarly, you can confirm that your intended cleaning contractor has duly registered their business with the city via the San Jose Finance Department's Business Tax Lookup portal or by contacting this department at (408) 535-7055.

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

When searching for cleaning contractors in San Jose, it is necessary to find out how much you will be required to pay for these professionals' services. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, cleaning contractors in the city earn an hourly wage of close to $21. However, the overall cost of your cleaning job will be affected by other factors, excluding the contractor's estimated labor fees. These factors include:

• The cleaning contractor's level of experience and reputation
• The type and quality of cleaning supplies and equipment that will be used
• The nature and scope of the cleaning job
• The urgency of the job
• The size of the space that requires cleaning

It is always a good idea to get and compare estimates from multiple cleaning contractors in the city instead of just hiring the first contractor you come in contact with. Comparing multiple estimates gives you a better gauge of the cost of your requested service and also ensures that you do not get overcharged by a fraudulent cleaning contractor.

Building and grounds cleaning workers in San Jose earn an average wage of $43,460 annually. A comparison of the average hourly wages of workers in San Jose's building and grounds cleaning and maintenance industry against those of workers in the rest of California and five other major cities in the country is provided below:

What Types of Cleaning Services Do You Offer?

Finding out the types of services that a cleaning contractor offers and the supplies and equipment that will be used to provide these services is necessary to ensure that you hire the best fit for the job. Professional cleaning contractors in San Jose provide several general and customized cleaning services tailored to suit their customers' individual needs. These services include apartment cleaning, office cleaning, enhanced cleaning and disinfection services, move-in/move-out cleaning, green cleaning, housekeeping, and maid services.

Always confirm that your intended cleaning contractor is experienced and properly equipped to satisfactorily provide the specific cleaning service that you require before finalizing any agreements with this individual. The list below provides cost estimates for cleaning services commonly offered by professional cleaning contractors in San Jose:

Do You Comply with San Jose's COVID-19 Regulations?

According to data published by the Santa Clara County Public Health Department, more than 76 percent of the recorded COVID-19 cases in the area were transmitted by either unknown means or via community transmission. Also, as of February 2022, overall seven-day case rates amongst vaccinated residents of the area stood at 22 per 100,000, while that of unvaccinated residents stood at 173.5 per 100,000 residents.

Considering these numbers, the importance of working with a cleaning contractor that complies with the Santa Clara Public Health Department's Business and Workplaces Guidances cannot be overemphasized. These guidances stipulate work-related regulations and guidelines that are necessary for protecting the health and welfare of business owners in San Jose as well as their employees and customers and reducing the spread of the coronavirus in the city.

Note that, in addition to encouraging vaccination amongst residents of the city, these guidances focus on several other key coronavirus-related areas. These include providing guidelines and recommendations for maintaining clean and sanitary work environments, disinfecting facilities with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases, and providing mask and face-covering requirements. Always confirm that the cleaning contractor you wish to hire is conversant with and also adheres to the relevant provisions of these guidances, as failing to do so can severely compromise the health of you and your loved ones.

You can direct inquiries concerning the Santa Clara Public Health Department's Business and Workplaces Guidances and other local COVID-19 regulations to this department's COVID-19 Business Call Center at (408) 961-5500 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Mondays to Fridays. COVID-19-related queries can also be directed to the Santa Clara Public Health Department via an online request form.

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

San Jose does not have any licensing requirements that are specific to commercial cleaning contractors. The key difference between residential cleaning contractors and commercial cleaning contractors is that the former focuses mainly on homes and residential dwellings, while the latter specializes in the cleaning of commercial buildings, premises, and facilities. These include, but are not limited to, medical and healthcare facilities, schools and universities, offices and workspaces, and research and development facilities.

When searching for commercial cleaning services in San Jose, it is important to ensure that the cleaning company you contract has the necessary cleaning equipment for the job and employees who have been adequately trained to handle these types of equipment.

Nevertheless, any cleaning contractor who wishes to remove or clean up debris generated during construction projects in the city must obtain a state-issued contractor license if the value of the cleanup job is more than $500. This licensing requirement covers both residential and commercial construction projects, and cleaning contractors that fail to meet it can face statutory and administrative penalties of up to $15,000 in fines, six months in jail, or a combination of fines and jail time.

In addition to this state-issued license, San Jose cleaning contractors may be required to obtain locally-issued permits before performing some types of cleaning jobs. For example, cleaning contractors that clean septic tanks and chemical toilets are typically required to register with and obtain a permit from the Santa Clara County Department of Environmental Health. Queries concerning this department's registration and permitting process can be directed to:

You can also contact the California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development either online or by calling (877) 345-4633 to direct queries concerning required permits for cleaning contractors in San Jose.

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

A large number of cleaners in San Jose belong to unions like the SEIU Local 521, the AFSCME California, and the SEIU: United Service Workers West, due to the benefits that these union memberships provide, like higher wages and access to better healthcare and pension options. Many commercial property owners and building managers lean towards hiring cleaning companies with union cleaners because, even though the wages of their cleaners are usually higher than those of non-union cleaners, these companies typically have less employee turnover.

This, in turn, negates the time and cost that is usually spent on constantly re-familiarizing new cleaners with your facility's layout and specific cleaning needs. Union cleaners also have the advantage of receiving regular training and certifications and being adequately insured, thereby ensuring that they perform their jobs as professionally as possible.

It should be noted that some unions have been known to employ methods like picketing and strikes to get commercial property owners and building managers to employ union cleaners or cancel their existing contracts with non-union cleaning companies. In many cases, these actions disrupt services for the facilities involved in the situation. Nonetheless, the decision on whether or not to hire a union cleaning service for your commercial property or building ultimately lies with you.

Do You Offer COVID-19 Disinfecting Services in San Jose?

Specialized cleaning, sanitization, and disinfection services are necessary to mitigate the spread of infection in residential and commercial buildings where there have been confirmed COVID-19 cases. However, when looking to undertake cleaning and disinfection efforts to rid your home or office of the coronavirus, you need to make sure that the cleaning contractor you hire is qualified to provide this specialized service.

The first step to take when doing this is to let the contractor know why you require their services and find out the type of cleaning products they will use for the job. Make sure that these products are not only EPA-registered but have also been approved for use against the coronavirus. Also, confirm that the cleaning, sanitization, and disinfection process will be carried out per local guidances and CDC recommendations.

Areas of these guidances and recommendations that should strictly be adhered to include:

• Using masks, gloves, and other necessary personal protective equipment during the cleaning, sanitization, and disinfection
• Opening outside doors and windows and using fans and HVAC settings to increase air circulation
• Using lined bags to trash all disposable items used during the job
• Using only EPA-registered and approved cleaning products for the job
• Focusing on high-touch surfaces during the cleaning, sanitization, and disinfection. These surfaces include light switches, doorknobs, door handles, tables, and phones. Extra attention should also be placed on any areas, items, or equipment that may have been used by the individual who tested positive for COVID-19

Finally, it is advisable to request a list of cleaning products that the cleaning contractor intends to use for the cleaning, sanitization, and disinfection job to ensure that they do not contain any components that you may be allergic to.

What Cleaning Supplies Do You Use?

The types of cleaning supplies used for a cleaning job affect the outcome of this job and whether or not you will be satisfied with the service provided by the cleaning contractor. Common cleaning supplies used by San Jose cleaning contractors include vacuums, mops, disposable rags, brooms, dustpans, and scrubbing brushes.

Depending on the nature of the required service, cleaning products like cleaners or cleaning agents, sanitizers, and disinfectants will also have to be used. Cleaners are the most common types of cleaning products, and they are used to remove dirt and stains through wiping, mopping, or scrubbing action. These cleaners can further be subcategorized into four groups which are:

• Abrasives: Abrasives are cleaners that are used to remove dirt and stains from hard surfaces like floors. These cleaners require scouring action to work and are not suitable for surfaces that are prone to scratching.
• Acids: Acids are potent cleaning agents that require professional handling. They are typically used for descaling and removing mineral deposits from surfaces. Note that acids must be properly diluted before use due to their highly corrosive nature.
• Degreasers: Degreasers are commonly used in kitchens to remove grease, fats, and other types of organic statins, and they are suitable for a wide variety of surfaces
• Detergents: Detergents are the most commonly used types of cleaners, and they are suitable for a wide range of residential and commercial building surfaces. Detergents generally come in powder, gel, liquid, or crystal form, and they typically need to be dissolved in water for effective use.

Similarly, sanitizers are cleaning products that reduce the presence of microorganisms on surfaces and are also typically used to avoid cross-contamination or allergic reactions to environmental allergens and other cleaning agents. On the other hand, disinfectants completely destroy or inactivate infection-causing microorganisms and are mostly used for hospitals, healthcare facilities, and other cleaning services that involve infection control.

To avoid any misunderstandings down the road, you should always find out the types of cleaning supplies and products that cleaning contractors intend to use for your job and make sure that they are suitable for the nature of your required service.

Do You Carry the Necessary Insurance Policy for Cleaners in San Jose?

In 2020, 4,764 work-related fatalities and 2.7 million work-related injuries were reported across the United States. The risk of injury and death is present in every occupation, including the cleaning industry, where workers face several on-the-job hazards, such as slips, trips, and falls, and exposure to chemicals and pathogens.

Hiring a cleaning contractor who has an active insurance plan insulates you from the financial implications of a work-related injury occurring during the execution of your cleaning service. This insurance coverage also spares you from the legal liabilities that are typically involved with these injuries and covers the cost of on-the-job damage caused to your home or property by the cleaning contractor.

As such, you should always hire cleaning contractors who are adequately insured and also take steps to confirm this coverage with the necessary insurance providers. Ensure that this coverage includes general liability insurance to cover the cost of on-the-job injuries and property damage and employee dishonesty insurance to cover the cost of theft or other dishonest acts by the cleaning contractor or their employees.

Note that, per state requirements, all cleaning contractors in San Jose that have at least one employee must carry valid workers' compensation insurance. Also, cleaning contractors that possess a state-issued post-construction cleanup license must maintain surety bonds of $15,000 during the validity period of these licenses.