I am trying to start up a house cleaning business and I was just wondering if you have to be bonded? Because the few people I have answered, tell me different things and I am kind of confused.
120039
You don't have to be bonded (or insured, for that matter), but it's better if you have employees working for you.  I know that if I were to hire a cleaning company to clean my home, I wouldn't hire them unless they were bonded.  It's an added "trust factor" for your clients.  It also helps you if damage occurs while cleaning (insurance), or a case of theft with one of your employees arises (bonding).\n\nGood luck!
39211
You might talk to a lawyer, but unless you can prove you paid for some of it you are probably going to lose everything. "Cleaning and decorating" can range from a bimbo he picked up in a bar one night doing his dishes to someone who was his wife in everything but name being a full partner in his life.
468283
No.\n\nUS law dictates that any sale of goods or services over $500 has to be in writing.  If I remember my real estate law class from university correctly, it's called the UCC (Uniform Commercial Code). Verbal contracts are non-binding in this case.  \n\nThe written contract takes precident.  And here, most real estate sales contracts are worded so that they can back out anytime they want to.  \n\nI learned this the hard way where the same thing happened to me, where a seller backed out on a verbal contract after promising to sell a house to us.  My wife and I quit our apartment in the Bay Area and were effectively homeless unless we could find a new house.  We ended up tracking them down, begging them to reconsider.  Contacted a lawyers, but as you already know - didn't have a leg to stand on. \n\nIt all worked out in the end.  I didn't go homeless. If you believe in Karma, then what comes around goes around.  Don't get pissed, just know that bad things eventually happen to people who don't live an honest life.
220671
It depends on the state laws; where are you?  \nDid they sign a contract when they joined the association?\nDid the assocation get included on the title of the house at some point?  \n\nYou may need to consult an attorney specializing in real estate law.
616492
You need an attorney.  If you just have a title company do it, how do you know that everything is up-and-up?  There are tons of things about inspections and warranties and state laws and who has to pay for what repairs and FHA loans and assuming loans and stuff.  \nOnce i sold a house and didn't have an attorney and it turned out later that the people who bought it never actually promised to pay the payments in writing.  (i let them assume the loan).  \nHow is the closing office/title company getting paid?
524292
It is a lot of work, but you can hire people to do the things you don't know how to do or don't want to do.  It is much cheeper to build your own than to buy a new one.   Make sure to check backgounds of all contractors, and only hire ones who are bonded.   Have regular inspections by someone who is knowledgable to make sure the building codes are met.
465186
No, but an HR dept isn't REQUIRED regardless.  However, the term "independent contractor" implies that they are NOT your employees.  They are working for themselves (contracting their services out to you) at jobs/leads you provide for them.
648762
not at all.first of all there are a couple of very important steps to follow to begin a parternship.\n1.-make a contratc through a lawyer.\n2.-have your partner give you the 50% of the total costs of your business and let him be aware of all responsibilities for a partnership.\npaying the first month of the rent does not entitle anyone for partenrship in someone else's business.Hope this can help you.
88048
If you don't even know if you'll need a footer, I'd recommend passing this one up. You're looking at a lot of liability, not to mention possibly running afoul of contractor laws if you're unlicensed to perform the work.
131304
This is difficult with friends involved. I was in a situation similar, except I was the roommate that moved out. I continued to pay rent as well as the ultilities since it was a <i>contracted</i> agreement. The moved-out roommate should still have to pay for the utilities only if he was there when you first signed up for the utilities, therefore making him responsible for the utilities just the same with the rest of the roommates. If you wanna be soft with him, just ask him to pay for the non-usage based utilities since it's still somewhat of his responsibility.
343042
well, it depends--do you live together?  do you already have an agreement where you both equally share the household bills and responsibilities?  If yes, then you should've been consulted beforehand and the two of you could've discussed it and come up with a suitable solution together.\n\nHowever, you say "i need help with the bills"  It sort of makes it sound like they are "your" bills to pay and you haven't previously had a sharing agreement.  If that's the case, it's really up to her what she does.
268494
Unless you feel the amount owed to you is worth upward of $500, don't waste your time. I was screwed out of my deposit and billed $700 for an apartment I had cleaned after I moved out and took pictures.  I left a telephone and a mirror the assistant manager asked I not put into the trash ( he said when the dumpsters were emptied they would remove it for me).  I was charged $400 for trash removal, and carpet cleaning $125 ( have a receipt my carpet was cleaned 30 days before I moved out) and they didn't clean the carpet they replaced it.  My time was worth more then the headache I went through, I fought it based on the principal.  My manager had been a good friend and then pulled this crap on me.  I would let it go. It made the joy of buying my first home more of a nightmare trying to fight my old landlord.  We finally agreed to disagree.  She kept my $550 ( oh I am getting mad just thinking about it) and I wasn't charged the additional money they tried to milk me for.
621772
I own my own commercial cleaning service and yes, there is great money in it, let alone you are your own boss. I got started with an ebook that you can find on this site under the service business. It helped me with bidding jobs, how to secure a contract, some great cleaning tips and lots more. It may be what would help you. \n\nI went from cleaning one office once per week to now, cleaning them as well as an industrial account or two, every night of the week and sometimes on the weekend.\n\nCongratulations on making a decision to start your own business.
97544
In this day and age, anybody can litigate anything, it is often humorous in what is litigated today. Whether they will have a successful lawsuit is iffy. Before they litigate, they must allow you to remedy the problem. If it was not stated that the painting would be done by a licensed and bonded painter, then you have no problem. I would write the new owners a letter, stating that you will be over on a specific date to paint the house. Send the letter return receipt requested. Then be there on that stated date and just finish the job as professionally as you can. I would also have witness's/helpers go along. I would photograph the start and completed job. I would also have another letter pre-typed, releasing liability for not completing the paint job in case she asks you to leave the property for not bending to her whims on the choice of paint she picked out. But, your best bet is to talk to an attorney, most don't charge for inital consultations, talk to one and get direction. Best of Luck
553832
They should have, but are not required to, provide you with the information on who they are insured/bonded with.\n\nRegardless of who it is...their insurance and bonding agreements are between the company you dealt with and the insurer/bonder...not you.  So you don't have an automatic right to know who they are and you don't have an automatic right to file a claim directly with the insurer/bond agent.\n\nThe appropriate process is for you to take court action against the company and win a judgment.  The company you dealt with can then either pay you directly or file a claim with the insurer/bonder.
49835
Consider this. If you are good at being a custodian, why work for someone else. Start your own cleaning business. (Stay in school too!). I own my own cleaning service and work about 50 hours per month and make a full time income. I have a helper but who do you think is making more? I'm sure you are smart enough to figure that one out. \n\nSo maybe you own it to yourself to learn more. After all the big players in this industry started out as a one man show. Click now on my link below and you can decide for yourself.  It's a real business and the money is in the bank.
403296
Depending on the amount of time you have you can meet with these people more than once. Have a questionaer for them to fill out. LEt people know ahead of time about doing there part in cleaning the place up and keeping it that way. Have them sign a "will not be a slob" contract.