You clean houses. You don't clean up payroll classification errors after a state UI audit. We track COGS right, classify staff legally, and run §179 on the equipment you already need.
Cleaning businesses get audited on two fronts: misclassified workers and weak COGS tracking. We have to fix both before the IRS or the state knocks. Once you cross 3 employees, the structure question gets real.
High-volume cleaners burn through cleaning chemicals, paper goods, mop heads, vacuum bags, gloves, masks. Properly tracked as cost of goods sold (Schedule C line 36 to 42), not Other Expenses. That positioning protects the QBI calculation and audit posture under §263A small-business exception.
IRC §471, §263A(b)(2)The IRS targets residential cleaning hard. You set the schedule, you supply chemicals, you set the route, you check the work. That looks like an employer. Misclassification = back payroll tax + FICA + FUTA + state UI + penalties under §3509. We run the §3121(d) control test before you onboard staff.
IRC §3121(d), §3509Carpet extractors, pressure washers, commercial-grade vacuums, floor scrubbers, branded box trucks: all §179 eligible up to $1,160,000 in 2024. SUVs over 6,000 lbs (Tahoe, Suburban, Transit, Sprinter) get $30,500 §179 plus 60 percent bonus on the rest. We time purchases to the strongest tax year.
IRC §179, §168(k), §280FOperating a Maid Brigade, Molly Maid, or Two Maids franchise? Royalty fees deductible §162. Initial franchise fee amortized 15 years §197. Multi-location: each crew/territory can be its own LLC under a holding S-Corp for liability separation and clean P&L tracking per market.
IRC §162, §197, §1361WC premium is deductible §162 and required in most states for cleaning crews. General liability + bond required for commercial contracts. Health insurance for staff: §106 fully deductible if structured under a written plan, and may qualify for the §45R Small Employer Health Insurance Credit.
IRC §162, §106, §45RAbove ~$80K net, S-Corp election typically saves SE tax. Pay yourself reasonable comp (benchmark with BLS data for cleaning supervisor in your metro), distribute the rest. Owner spouse can be on payroll too if performing real work.
IRC §1361, §1402(a); Rev. Rul. 59-2213-employee residential cleaning company, $280K gross, all crew on 1099. Florida UI audit threatened. We converted crew to W-2 with proper §3121 documentation, set up COGS books, and ran §179 on a new branded Transit van and commercial extractors.
$7,000 savedFederal income tax + SE tax savings from S-Corp election on owner, plus first-year §179 deduction on van and equipment, plus avoided state UI back-assessment. State savings on top.