Hi, Aubrey!I clean small offices and have friends who do residential. You may or may not need a license. It is usually used to open a business bank account for your business, but mostly it is for the government so it can keep track of you and tax you. But, call your local city or county clerk s office and ask if a license (or fictitious name) or permit is required to have a cleaning business. If it isn t absolutely required, skip it for now.But, having some liability insurance is a must. It will protect you against claims of damage and theft. These are usually false claims, but it s better to have the insurance company deal with than you. The price varies, so call a lot of insurance agencies and get quotes. Start with the lowest amount available, or that you are comfortable with. The agent can help you. Liability insurance is also a great selling tool in getting customers, and the agency you select may be able to give you leads.I have more tips and resources on my Squidoo lens and blog. The links are in My Profile.Good Luck!!
Check out your states website and look up LLC license. The website should give you step by step instructions for setting up of a low liability company. It s only $50 where I live, but has to be renewed every year. Also check that it doesn t effect your disability benefits.