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Cleaning Service Owners

Certification, Licensing, and Special Requirements

Certification or Licensing

Certification isn't required to run a cleaning service, but it can help you attract business. You should either belong to a regional professional association or seek certification with the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC), the Restoration Industry Association (RIA), and ISSA Residential. Nearly 30 different categories of cleaning, restoration, and inspection certification credentials are available from the IICRC, including carpet cleaning technician, commercial carpet maintenance technician, upholstery and fabric cleaning technician, and house cleaning technician. The RIA offers disaster restoration-related certifications such as water loss specialist and certified restorer. Because of the special skills required for removing smoke and water from property, restoration certification involves a demanding program of training and testing. ISSA Residential offers the professional house cleaning certification, and the program is available in both English and Spanish.

Most states and municipalities require cleaning service firms to have a business license, or have other types of licensing.

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