Yes, ISSA membership is worth it for many cleaning businesses, especially commercial contractors and owners who will use its education, certification discounts and trade show. ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association, now prices membership by business type and size, so the value depends on which benefits you will actually use.
The Original Tip Still Worth Joining? Then vs. Now What Membership Includes Is It Worth It? Other Associations Quick Summary FAQ
Editor's note: This article first appeared in June 2013 as Tip #11 in CBT's Guerrilla Marketing series by CBT co-founder Derek Christian. We've kept the original tip below and added an October 2026 update on ISSA membership and other cleaning associations today. The original's link to ARCSI has been removed because that association is now part of ISSA.
The Original 2013 Tip: Join Your Cleaning Association
Participate in cleaning industry associations nationally and locally to enhance your presence.
Nearly every major profession in the US has at least one national association. Many are surprised to learn that the cleaning industry has several because the profession is so large and pervasive in every area of our lives.
Affiliating with one or more national trade association helps to validate your business to your customers in several ways:
- national associations are perceived as authorities, standard-setters, so when you are a member, your customers recognize you and your business as following industry standards. When you're approaching customers new to the idea of cleaning in their life or business, that can help you to break the ice about the quality of your services.
- national associations often present business and technical education opportunities on a regular basis; participating and sharing that activity with your clients helps you to show clients that you are always working to improve the great service you already deliver to them.
- national associations often offer awards and certifications, which help to separate your business from others in your market.
Learn more about the different cleaning associations available to you!
Is Joining a Cleaning Association Still Worth It?
Yes, for most owners the credibility argument Derek made still holds. Membership signals that you follow industry standards, gives you access to training and opens the door to certifications that set you apart in a crowded local market.
What changed is the landscape. Several of the associations available in 2013 have since consolidated under ISSA, and membership is no longer one flat package. Our verdict: the tactic still works, but it has evolved, and the real question for most owners is now which ISSA level fits their business.
Then vs. Now: How Cleaning Association Membership Has Changed
The biggest shift is consolidation. Residential owners who once joined ARCSI on its own now join ISSA.
Cleaning Associations in 2013 vs. ISSA Membership Today
| Factor | 2013 | Today |
|---|---|---|
| Residential association | ARCSI as an independent group | ISSA Residential, part of ISSA |
| Membership structure | Separate dues for each association | Tiered ISSA levels priced by quote |
| Education | Mainly conventions and seminars | In-person events plus an on-demand course library |
| How customers see it | A logo on brochures and the website | A badge on your website, Google listing and proposals, backed by certifications |
ARCSI members voted overwhelmingly to merge with ISSA in 2016. According to ISSA, the merger took effect in 2017, and ARCSI rebranded as ISSA Residential in 2023, keeping its member resources and core values.
What ISSA Membership Includes: Levels, Cost and Benefits
ISSA offers several membership levels, and it does not publish a single price. Its membership FAQ says dues are based on business type, company size, corporate location and the benefits you choose. You pay one year of dues with your application, and dues are billed annually and are non-refundable once approved.
ISSA Membership Levels Compared
| Level | Positioned For | Examples of Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | Businesses just getting started | Career development training, member discounts and industry newsletters |
| Plus | Businesses that are building | Group discounts on workshops and certifications, plus member networking events |
| Premium | Businesses ready to grow | A complimentary consultation and three subscriptions to ISSA's on-demand course library |
| Industry Partner | Suppliers and partners | Discounted advertising and seats on ISSA committees and councils |
The details above come from ISSA's membership levels page. Request a quote for your exact business before deciding, since two companies at the same level can pay different dues.
CIMS Certification and Member Pricing
The clearest dollar benefit is the Cleaning Industry Management Standard (CIMS). ISSA's CIMS application page lists a $1,495 certification fee for ISSA members in good standing versus $1,995 for non-members. Non-members also pay a $2,300 application package that includes two years of membership, compared with a $500 application fee for members.
The ISSA Show and Education
ISSA Show North America runs November 16–19, 2026, at Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. Derek's insider's guide to the ISSA trade show still offers useful advice on planning seminars and vendor visits.
Is ISSA Membership Worth It for Your Cleaning Business?
It depends on your business model and whether you will use the benefits. Owners who pursue certification or attend the show get the most return.
ISSA Membership Decision Guide by Business Type
| Business Type | Worth It? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial or janitorial contractor | Usually yes | CIMS savings and credibility with facility managers who compare bids |
| Established residential company | Often yes | ISSA Residential peer networking, training and a recognizable badge |
| Startup or solo operator | Maybe later | Start at the Basic level only if you will use the training |
Membership alone rarely wins a job. Display it where prospects compare you, such as your website, proposals and Google Business Profile, and explain what it means in one plain sentence.
Other Associations and Local Options
ISSA is not the only option, and local groups often produce more referrals. Commercial contractors can look at BSCAI, which represents more than 1,000 building service contractor companies.
Locally, your chamber of commerce, networking groups and regional business organizations put you in front of buyers rather than peers. Membership also creates chances to speak, as covered in our tip on speaking at association events, and to meet reliable backup partners, the idea behind our tip on building relationships with competitors.
Quick Summary
- ISSA membership is worth it for many cleaning businesses, particularly those that will use CIMS discounts, training or the ISSA Show.
- ARCSI merged with ISSA and now operates as ISSA Residential.
- Dues are quoted by business type, size and location across several levels.
- Pair a national membership with local groups such as your chamber of commerce for referrals.
Frequently Asked Questions
ISSA doesn't publish a single price for membership. Dues are quoted based on your business type, company size, corporate location and the benefits you choose, and they're billed annually. Request a quote from ISSA to see the cost for your company and level.
ISSA is the worldwide association for the cleaning and facility solutions industry. Its members include manufacturers, distributors, building service contractors, in-house facility teams and residential cleaning companies. It's a different organization from the cybersecurity and fitness-trainer groups that share the ISSA name.
ARCSI, the residential cleaning association, merged with ISSA after its members approved the move in 2016, and the merger took effect in 2017. In 2023 it rebranded as ISSA Residential, keeping its member resources and core values.
Most residential customers won't know the name, so membership works best when you explain it in one plain sentence on your website and proposals. Commercial buyers and facility managers are more likely to recognize it, especially when it's paired with a certification such as CIMS.
Author
Recommended Reading
There's more where that came from — a few related picks below.
We'd start with CIMS: The Gold Standard in Cleaning Business Management, which looks at the management sections of ISSA's CIMS standard and how certification can lower turnover and costs.
Along the same lines, check out Networking Tips to Help You Build Your Business, that dives into practical in-person networking tactics, from choosing the right local groups to crafting an elevator pitch.
We'd also suggest The roots of ARCSI and the growth ahead, that unpacks the story of how residential cleaning owners founded ARCSI and why it later merged with ISSA.
Our last pick is 8 Ways to Take Advantage of the ISSA Tradeshow, which looks at eight planning steps for getting more value from seminars and vendor visits at the ISSA show.
