The best line of credit for a cleaning company is the one that bridges the gap between paying your crew every week and collecting from commercial clients in 30 or 60 days. If you have a year in business and 625+ credit, Bluevine and OnDeck publish lines up to $250,000 and $200,000. If you need capital today to start a contract, Merchant Fund Express is our recommended funder; and if your real problem is slow-paying invoices, factoring may fit better than a line.
In cleaning, money rarely runs short because there is no work: it runs short because the work gets paid late. A new contract with an office building or a school means hiring, outfitting and buying supplies weeks before the first check. This guide compares the options using what each one publishes and helps you choose based on how you get paid. Leer en español.
Key takeaways
- Our recommended funder fits when you need to start a contract now: FICO 500+, $5,000 to $5,000,000 and Spanish-speaking support.
- Bluevine (up to $250,000) and OnDeck ($6,000 to $200,000) ask for 1 year and FICO 625; Bluevine also requires an LLC or corporation.
- The SBA 7(a) working capital line fits large contracts and receivables, if every owner is a U.S. citizen or national.
- If your problem is clients who pay in 60 or 90 days, compare invoice factoring.
- Open the line before you win the contract, while your numbers look strong.
- Deposit every payment, including cash, so the funder can see it.
The best lines of credit for cleaning companies, ranked
Our criteria: speed, minimum time in business, minimum credit, ITIN acceptance, documents, amounts and collateral. No made-up ratings; see the method in how we rank business funding options.
- Merchant Fund Express, recommended funder. It reviews your sales and deposits, not just your credit, with amounts from $5,000 to $5,000,000, credit from FICO 500 and decisions that often arrive in 2 to 4 hours. In most cases it does not require collateral; it offers Spanish-speaking support and accepts applicants with an ITIN (no SSN needed). It fits when you win a contract and have to start next week, or when you do not yet meet the requirements for a line.
- Bluevine, line of credit. Publishes lines up to $250,000. It asks for $10,000 in monthly revenue, FICO 625+, 12+ months in business, an LLC or corporation, no bankruptcies and good standing with the Secretary of State. It accepts an SSN or ITIN plus an EIN. It does not operate in Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota or U.S. territories; sole proprietors do not qualify for this line.
- OnDeck, line of credit. Publishes lines from $6,000 to $200,000 with 12-, 18- or 24-month repayment terms. It asks for at least one year in business, $100,000 in annual revenue, FICO 625 and a business checking account. Useful for covering weekly payroll while client payments are on the way.
- SBA 7(a) working capital line. The SBA publishes a working capital program with lines up to $5 million, designed for businesses with at least a year of history that want to fulfill large contracts or borrow against receivables. It asks for up-to-date financial statements and receivables and payables reports. It usually costs less, but it is slow and, since March 2026, requires owners who are U.S. citizens or U.S. nationals.
- Invoice factoring. Not a line, but it solves the same problem: you sell or advance your invoices to a funder and receive most of the money before the client pays. It fits if you work with solid commercial clients who pay late but do pay.
Requirements compared
| Option | Amounts | Minimum time | Minimum credit | Based on | Best if |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merchant Fund Express | $5,000 to $5,000,000 | Based on your sales | FICO 500+ | Sales and deposits | You need capital now |
| Bluevine (line) | Up to $250,000 | 12 months | FICO 625+ | Revenue and credit | You are an LLC with good credit |
| OnDeck (line) | $6,000 to $200,000 | 1 year | FICO 625 | Revenue and credit | You bill $100,000+ a year |
| SBA 7(a) working capital | Up to $5,000,000 | 1 year | Set by the bank | Financials and receivables | You have large contracts |
| Factoring | Based on your invoices | Set by the funder | Your client's credit matters more | Your invoices | Your clients pay late |
If you have an ITIN, Bluevine is one of the few lenders that mentions it explicitly for its line. This guide is not immigration advice; talk to an immigration attorney if you have questions about your situation. To go deeper on this product in your industry, see business lines of credit for cleaning businesses.
What fits based on how you get paid
Not every cleaning company gets paid the same way. Your model decides what fits:
| Model | How you get paid | What usually fits |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial cleaning (offices, schools, clinics) | Monthly invoice on 30- or 60-day terms | Line of credit or factoring |
| Recurring residential cleaning | Per visit, by card, Zelle or cash | A small line or working capital |
| Short-term rental turnovers | Per turnover, sometimes through a platform or property manager | A line for peak season |
| Post-construction cleaning | Per project, sometimes with retainage | Project working capital or a line |
| Government contracts | Invoices with long payment terms | SBA line or factoring |
The underlying rule: the cost of the money has to be lower than what you earn on the contract. If a new commercial contract leaves a healthy margin, using a line to launch it makes sense. If the margin is razor-thin, expensive financing eats all of it. For invoice-based options, see invoice factoring for cleaning businesses.
What it costs to start a new contract
You just won a contract with an office building. Before the first payment arrives, you will need, for example:
- To hire and train staff, and cover several weeks of payroll.
- To buy chemicals, carts, commercial vacuums and floor machines.
- Uniforms, ID badges and, sometimes, background checks for your crew.
- To increase your general liability insurance or your bond, which many commercial contracts require.
- Transportation for equipment and staff.
All of that comes out of your pocket weeks before the client pays. A line of credit opened before you win the contract lets you say yes without fear. That is why it pays to apply while your numbers look strong, not on the day you need it. If the floor machine is a big purchase, also compare equipment financing.
A quick test before you accept the contract: write down how many weeks pass between your start date and the first payment, multiply that crew's weekly payroll by those weeks, and add supplies and insurance. That figure is what you need to have available. If your line or capital does not cover it with room to spare, negotiate with the client for an upfront payment, twice-monthly billing or shorter payment terms. Many commercial clients agree if you ask in the proposal, not after you sign.
Documents and common mistakes
Get these ready before you apply for any line:
- Business bank statements. The last three to six months, with every payment deposited, including cash from residential clients.
- Client and contract list. With the monthly amount and payment terms; commercial contracts show recurring revenue.
- Accounts receivable report. Who owes you, how much and since when. For the SBA line it is essential.
- LLC or corporation and EIN. Some lines do not accept sole proprietors.
- Insurance and bond. Current certificates; some funders ask for them and your clients almost always do.
Common cleaning-business mistakes: taking cash and not depositing it (the funder cannot see those sales), using the line to cover a client who is not paying instead of collecting from them, and accepting contracts with margins so thin that no financing makes them profitable. Another mistake is applying with statements from a slow month; if you can, wait until you can show your strong months.
Our recommendation
If you have a year in business, an LLC and 625+ credit, open a line with Bluevine or OnDeck while your numbers are strong; if your contracts are large and you qualify, compare the SBA line. If you need capital today to start a contract, Merchant Fund Express, our recommended funder, decides based on your sales and deposits: applying is free, does not affect your credit and support is available in Spanish.
And if your real problem is commercial clients who pay in 60 or 90 days, compare factoring: sometimes it closes the gap without adding debt that depends on your credit. For a full picture beyond lines of credit, see cleaning and janitorial business funding.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best line of credit for a cleaning company?
It depends on your profile. If you have a year in business, an LLC and FICO 625+, Bluevine (up to $250,000) and OnDeck ($6,000 to $200,000) publish lines that fit weekly payroll. If you have large contracts and qualify, the SBA 7(a) working capital line usually costs less. If you need capital now, a sales-based funder is faster.
Can a new cleaning business get a line of credit?
The lines that publish requirements ask for at least 12 months: Bluevine, OnDeck and the SBA line. With less time, your options are financing based on sales and deposits, like our recommended funder, or factoring if you have invoices from commercial clients. Once you hit one year, apply for a line.
Line of credit or invoice factoring for my cleaning company?
If your problem is commercial clients who pay in 30, 60 or 90 days, factoring targets exactly that, and your client's credit matters more than yours. If your needs vary (payroll, supplies, repairs), a line is more flexible. Many companies use both, depending on the client.
Do I need an LLC to get a business line of credit?
For some, yes. Bluevine says its line is only for LLCs or corporations and that sole proprietors do not qualify. Other options can accept sole proprietors with an EIN and a business account. For commercial contracts, an LLC also tends to give clients more confidence.
How do I make payroll if my client pays in 60 days?
With a line of credit opened before the contract starts, by factoring that client's invoices or with fast working capital. The key is to check whether the contract's margin covers the cost of the financing. And negotiate shorter payment terms from the start whenever you can.
Does Merchant Fund Express work with cleaning companies?
Yes. It reviews your sales and deposits, not just your credit, from FICO 500 and with amounts from $5,000 to $5,000,000. It offers Spanish-speaking support, applying is free and does not affect your credit, and decisions often arrive in 2 to 4 hours. Deposit every payment so it shows up.