Cleaning business loans are financing for janitorial companies, commercial and residential cleaning services, carpet and floor care, pressure washing and laundromats. The most common options are equipment financing for machines and vans, invoice factoring for businesses that bill commercial clients on net terms, lines of credit and short-term working capital loans for payroll gaps, and SBA loans for larger projects or buying an existing business. The right choice depends on what you are paying for and how quickly the spending pays back.
This hub sits under our business loans by industry guide and links to the pages that go deeper on each part of the cleaning sector. Below: the main financing types, what lenders publish, what they look at and the trade-offs to weigh.
Guides in this section
- Janitorial and commercial cleaning factoring: turning unpaid invoices from commercial clients into cash.
- Laundromat loans: financing to buy, open or renovate a laundromat.
- Laundromat equipment financing: washers, dryers and payment systems.
The cleaning industry at a glance
Cleaning is a labor-heavy business, which shapes how it borrows. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that janitors and building cleaners “held about 2.4 million jobs in 2025,” and that 35% worked in services to buildings and dwellings (BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook). BLS puts 2025 median pay for the occupation at $36,840 per year, or $17.71 per hour, and projects about 321,800 openings each year over the decade, even though employment is projected to grow only 2 percent from 2025 to 2035.
For a cleaning company, that means payroll is usually the largest recurring cost and has to be met every week or two, while commercial customers may pay monthly or later. Most cleaning-business financing is about bridging that gap or buying the equipment and vehicles needed to take on new contracts.
Financing options for cleaning businesses
Figures on this page were checked on September 21, 2026.
| Need | Common financing | How it works | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payroll while waiting on commercial invoices | Invoice factoring | A factoring company advances most of an invoice’s value and collects from your customer | Fees reduce your margin on each invoice; your customer pays the factor |
| Uneven cash flow, supplies, small repairs | Business line of credit | Draw what you need, pay interest on the balance | Online lines can be costly; limits may be modest at first |
| Floor machines, carpet extractors, pressure washers | Equipment loan or lease | The equipment usually secures the financing | You carry maintenance and resale risk if you buy |
| Vans and trucks | Commercial vehicle loan or lease | The vehicle secures the loan | Insurance and down payment requirements |
| Buying a cleaning company or laundromat | SBA 7(a) or bank acquisition loan | Long-term loan secured by the business’s assets; ask about personal guarantee requirements | Paperwork and a longer timeline |
| Winning bonded contracts | Surety bonds (not a loan) | A surety guarantees your performance to the customer | Bonding capacity depends on your finances and track record |
Invoice factoring for janitorial contracts
Commercial cleaning companies often bill offices, property managers and facilities once a month and wait weeks to be paid. Factoring lets you sell those invoices for cash now instead of waiting. Factoring companies usually look closely at your customers’ payment history, which can help newer companies with strong commercial clients. Our janitorial factoring guide explains the costs and contract terms, and our introduction to invoice factoring covers the basics.
Working capital and lines of credit
National Funding, an online lender, publishes a cleaning services page offering “Cleaning business loans to help you cover payroll, vehicles, and commercial-grade supplies,” with amounts “up to $500,000” (marked with an asterisk referring to its terms). It lists uses including hiring workers for new contracts, business vehicles, marketing and cleaning chemicals, and says funds “may be deposited into your business checking account as soon as the next business day.” It does not list rates on that page, so ask for the APR in writing.
The APR (annual percentage rate) is the yearly cost of borrowing including fees. Some short-term products quote a factor rate instead, a multiplier (1.2, as a made-up example) applied to the amount you receive to set the total repayment. A factor rate does not account for how quickly you repay, so convert any offer to an APR before you compare it with a line of credit or bank loan. See our guide to business lines of credit.
Equipment and vehicle financing
Commercial cleaning runs on equipment: auto scrubbers, burnishers, carpet extractors, pressure washers, and vans to carry them. Equipment lenders generally finance this kind of equipment the same way as other business machinery. As an example of published terms, Ameris Bank Equipment Finance (Balboa Capital, a division of Ameris Bank) lists on its equipment financing page minimums of “2+ years in business,” “$100,000+ in annual revenue” and a “FICO® score of 640 or more,” with most deals “written for 24, 36, 48, or 60 months.” It says businesses with 6 months to less than 2 years in operation “may qualify for equipment financing up to $50,000 through select programs.”
Buying equipment may also bring a tax benefit. For tax years beginning in 2026, the Section 179 expensing limit is $2,560,000, phasing out once qualifying purchases exceed $4,090,000 (IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32). Ask your tax adviser how it applies to you. For more, see our equipment financing and equipment financing for startups guides.
SBA loans and microloans
SBA loans suit larger, longer-term needs, such as buying a competitor, consolidating debt or funding a laundromat build-out.
- SBA 7(a). Up to $5 million for uses including working capital, equipment and “Changes of ownership (complete or partial)” (SBA 7(a) loans).
- 7(a) Small and SBA Express. 7(a) Small loans go up to $350,000 and SBA Express loans up to $500,000. For 7(a) Small loans of $50,000 or less, the SBA says it “does not require collateral, except for International Trade loans” (types of 7(a) loans).
- Microloans. Up to $50,000 through nonprofit intermediaries, with an average of about $13,000, a maximum term of seven years and rates “Generally, between 8%-13%” (SBA microloans). Microloans cannot be used to pay existing debts or buy real estate.
See SBA 7(a) vs. 504 vs. microloans to compare the programs.
Surety bonds for cleaning contracts
Some public and commercial cleaning contracts require bonds. A bond is not a loan, but it can decide which contracts you can bid. The SBA’s Surety Bond Guarantee program guarantees bid, payment, performance and ancillary bonds issued by participating surety companies, for contracts up to $9 million (non-federal) or $14 million (federal). The SBA says it “guarantees contract bonds, but doesn’t guarantee commercial bonds,” so check which kind of bond a contract requires. If you bid on public contracts, see our government contractor business loans guide.
What lenders look at
- Contract quality. Commercial contracts with creditworthy customers, and how long they run.
- Customer concentration. Whether one building manager or client makes up most of your revenue.
- Bank statements. Have several months of business bank statements ready.
- Time in business, revenue and credit. Published minimums vary; the Ameris figures above are one example.
- Payroll and tax compliance. Keep payroll tax filings current; lenders may ask about them.
Pitfalls to weigh
- Stacking short-term advances. Taking several daily- or weekly-payment products at once can consume the cash you need for payroll.
- Financing supplies with long-term debt. Chemicals and consumables are used up in weeks; pay for them from operating cash or a line of credit.
- Factoring contract terms. Check minimum volume requirements, notice periods and whether you must factor all invoices from a customer.
- Buying equipment for one contract. If the contract ends early, the payments continue. Match the term to the contract where you can.
FAQ
Can a new cleaning business get a loan?
Options are narrower in the first year. Some equipment lenders work with businesses in operation for 6 months or more, SBA microloans are meant to help small businesses “start up and expand,” and factoring depends mostly on your customers’ credit rather than your own history.
Is factoring better than a loan for a janitorial company?
It depends on your customers and margins. Factoring suits companies with steady commercial invoices and slow-paying clients; a line of credit can cost less if you qualify and only need occasional help.
Can I use an SBA loan to buy a cleaning business?
Yes, 7(a) loans can fund changes of ownership. Expect the lender to review the seller’s financial records, the customer contracts and whether they transfer to you.
What credit score do I need?
There is no single minimum. Each lender sets its own; the Ameris equipment program above lists 640. Ask each lender for its requirements.
Next step
Before you apply, list what you need to pay for, when the money comes back in and which customers the new work depends on. Our business loans page explains how we compare lines of credit, equipment financing and SBA options from the lenders we work with.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Janitors and building cleaners
- National Funding: Cleaning services business loans
- Ameris Bank Equipment Finance: Equipment financing
- IRS: Rev. Proc. 2025-32
- U.S. Small Business Administration: 7(a) loans
- U.S. Small Business Administration: Types of 7(a) loans
- U.S. Small Business Administration: Microloans
- U.S. Small Business Administration: Surety bonds
About this page. Written by Ezra Cabrera, Content Team Lead at SMB Compass. Figures were checked against the primary sources listed above on September 21, 2026; lenders change their terms, so confirm current terms before you apply, and let us know if you spot a figure that has changed. SMB Compass is a business financing broker: we don’t lend our own money, and we are paid by the lenders we place loans with. This page is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice.