Updated: January 29, 2026

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Business Insurance in Alaska: Key Takeaways
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NEXT offers Alaska's best small business insurance, ranking first with competitive rates and the state's top customer service scores.

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Small business insurance in Alaska costs an average of $91 per month or $1,088 per year across four main coverage types.

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Finding the right small business insurance coverage requires assessing risks, comparing quotes and maximizing discounts.

Best Small Business Insurance Companies in Alaska

NEXT leads Alaska business insurance with top-ranked customer service, competitive rates and solid coverage options. Simply Business and Coverdash also provide reliable coverage for business owners throughout the state.

NEXT Insurance4.64$9112
Simply Business4.49$8931
Coverdash4.41$9242
biBERK4.39$9623
Progressive Commercial4.33$9053
Thimble4.31$8663

Note: This data represents a small business with 2 employees, $150,000 in payroll and $300,000 in annual revenue. All scores were calculated for four of the most common coverage types in the industry across 79 industries in the United States.

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RESEARCH THE BEST BUSINESS INSURANCE IN ALASKA BY COVERAGE TYPE

Discover the best or cheapest business insurer in Alaska for your desired coverage type in our resources below:

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ERGO NEXT

Best Alaska Business Insurance

MoneyGeek Rating
4.6/ 5
4.5/5Affordability
4.7/5Customer Experience
4.8/5Coverage Points
  • Average Monthly Cost of General Liability Insurance

    $94
  • Average Monthly Cost of Workers' Comp Insurance

    $63
  • Our Survey: Claims Process

    3.9/5
  • Our Survey: Likely to Be Recommended to Others

    4.8/5
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Simply Business

Best Commercial Coverage Options in Alaska

MoneyGeek Rating
4.5/ 5
4.5/5Affordability
4.2/5Customer Experience
4.9/5Coverage Points
  • Average Monthly Cost of General Liability Insurance

    $83
  • Average Monthly Cost of Workers' Comp Insurance

    $70
  • Our Research: Policy Management

    3.7/5
  • Our Survey: Likely to Be Recommended to Others

    4.2/5

How Much Does Business Insurance Cost in Alaska?

Business insurance costs in Alaska vary significantly depending on coverage type. Monthly premiums range from as low as $65 for workers' compensation to as high as $132 for business owner's policy (BOP) coverage.

Industry and risk factors drive these price differences. Below you can compare average rates for the four most common business insurance types in the Last Frontier:

We found average business insurance costs for Alaska companies for commonly needed coverage are as follows:

BOP$132$1,586
General Liability$95$1,143
Professional Liability (E&O)$70$840
Workers Comp$65$784

Note: We analyzed rates for your two-employee business across 79 industries, focusing on general liability, professional liability, workers' compensation and business owner's policies. Our Alaska research covers the companies we surveyed and won't include every rate available to your specific business.

Alaska Business Insurance Cost by Industry and Coverage

Business insurance costs in the state vary dramatically by industry and coverage selection, ranging from $5 to $1,162 monthly. Compare Alaska commercial insurance costs for your specific coverage type and industry below.

Data filtered by:
General Liability
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AccountantsGeneral Liability$20$246
Ad AgencyGeneral Liability$38$455
Auto RepairGeneral Liability$151$1,809
AutomotiveGeneral Liability$49$592
BakeryGeneral Liability$85$1,015
BarberGeneral Liability$47$562
Beauty SalonGeneral Liability$62$749
Bounce HouseGeneral Liability$63$756
CandleGeneral Liability$50$599
CannabisGeneral Liability$60$720
CateringGeneral Liability$96$1,147
CleaningGeneral Liability$114$1,368
Coffee ShopGeneral Liability$85$1,017
Computer ProgrammingGeneral Liability$32$379
Computer RepairGeneral Liability$41$492
ConstructionGeneral Liability$184$2,209
ConsultingGeneral Liability$21$252
ContractorGeneral Liability$225$2,699
CourierGeneral Liability$173$2,079
DJGeneral Liability$27$322
DaycareGeneral Liability$30$354
DentalGeneral Liability$20$241
Dog GroomingGeneral Liability$57$679
DroneGeneral Liability$15$179
EcommerceGeneral Liability$65$779
ElectricalGeneral Liability$83$994
EngineeringGeneral Liability$41$486
ExcavationGeneral Liability$428$5,134
FloristGeneral Liability$39$464
FoodGeneral Liability$97$1,165
Food TruckGeneral Liability$104$1,244
Funeral HomeGeneral Liability$56$677
GardeningGeneral Liability$89$1,070
HVACGeneral Liability$219$2,634
HandymanGeneral Liability$230$2,762
Home-basedGeneral Liability$23$272
Home-basedGeneral Liability$42$505
HospitalityGeneral Liability$66$790
JanitorialGeneral Liability$111$1,326
JewelryGeneral Liability$46$554
Junk RemovalGeneral Liability$147$1,767
Lawn/LandscapingGeneral Liability$108$1,291
LawyersGeneral Liability$21$254
ManufacturingGeneral Liability$83$996
MarineGeneral Liability$25$298
MassageGeneral Liability$97$1,162
Mortgage BrokerGeneral Liability$21$257
MovingGeneral Liability$119$1,422
NonprofitGeneral Liability$32$389
PaintingGeneral Liability$128$1,536
Party RentalGeneral Liability$71$857
Personal TrainingGeneral Liability$23$281
Pest ControlGeneral Liability$29$347
PetGeneral Liability$52$622
PharmacyGeneral Liability$59$705
PhotographyGeneral Liability$24$288
Physical TherapyGeneral Liability$153$1,839
PlumbingGeneral Liability$344$4,131
Pressure WashingGeneral Liability$809$9,710
Real EstateGeneral Liability$41$490
RestaurantGeneral Liability$141$1,695
RetailGeneral Liability$61$733
RoofingGeneral Liability$341$4,087
SecurityGeneral Liability$141$1,691
Snack BarsGeneral Liability$107$1,289
SoftwareGeneral Liability$28$338
Spa/WellnessGeneral Liability$88$1,059
Speech TherapistGeneral Liability$30$355
StartupGeneral Liability$29$344
Tech/ITGeneral Liability$28$330
TransportationGeneral Liability$33$397
TravelGeneral Liability$20$234
Tree ServiceGeneral Liability$124$1,483
TruckingGeneral Liability$90$1,079
TutoringGeneral Liability$32$385
VeterinaryGeneral Liability$39$468
Wedding PlanningGeneral Liability$30$356
WeldingGeneral Liability$151$1,812
WholesaleGeneral Liability$41$488
Window CleaningGeneral Liability$147$1,758

Note: We analyzed rates for your two-employee business across 79 industries, focusing on general liability, professional liability, workers' compensation and business owner's policies. Our Alaska research covers the companies we surveyed and won't include every rate available to your specific business.

What Factors Affect Alaska Business Insurance Costs?

Multiple cost considerations unique to Alaska's environment influence your commercial insurance premium:

  • Alaska Workers' Compensation Status: Alaska requires workers' compensation coverage with just one employee, eliminating small business exemptions found in other states. Penalties reach $1,000 per employee per day for non-compliance, making continuous coverage financially critical for avoiding devastating fines. Private industry employers reported 6,400 nonfatal workplace injuries in 2023, resulting in an incidence rate of 3.1 cases per 100 workers, 29% higher than the national rate of 2.4. Industries like manufacturing reached 6.6 cases per 100 workers, significantly increasing sector-specific premiums.
  • Seismic Activity and Natural Disaster Exposure: The Alaska Earthquake Center detects an earthquake every 15 minutes on average, though most are minor in magnitude. Alaska produced 75% of all earthquakes in the United States with magnitudes larger than 5. Standard property policies typically exclude earthquake coverage, requiring separate endorsements. Coastal businesses near earthquake-prone zones like Anchorage pay elevated property insurance rates, while standard commercial policies often exclude seismic damage without specific riders.
  • Commercial Auto Insurance Requirements: Alaska requires commercial vehicle policies with minimum liability limits of 50/100/25: $50,000 per person for bodily injury, $100,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $25,000 for property damage. These requirements exceed most state minimums and apply to all business-owned vehicles in Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau. Transportation incidents accounted for 62% of Alaska's fatal work injuries in 2023 compared to 37% nationally, increasing commercial auto premiums for trucking companies and delivery services operating across Alaska's vast distances.
  • Geographic Isolation and Regional Cost Variations: Businesses in Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau, where vehicle registration and insurance are mandatory, see different rate structures than remote locations. Alaska's vast distances and limited road systems increase claims severity for commercial auto policies. Emergency response times, repair costs and replacement part availability vary dramatically between urban centers and rural areas, directly affecting property and casualty underwriting. Insurance isn't required in areas without mandatory registration, though drivers with six or more points in the last five years must maintain liability coverage.

Alaska Business Insurance Quotes

Getting multiple quotes from Alaska insurers reveals which companies offer competitive rates for your industry and coverage needs. Compare equivalent coverage levels across companies because a $1 million liability policy from one insurer may cost significantly more than the same coverage elsewhere. Use MoneyGeek's quote tool below to match with Alaska business insurance providers.

Get Alaska Business Insurance Quotes from the Best Insurers

Select your industry and state to get a customized quote for your Alaska business.

Industry
State

Alaska Business Insurance Requirements

Alaska enforces stringent business insurance requirements compared to most states. The state mandates workers' compensation coverage from the first employee, requires commercial auto insurance with higher-than-average liability limits and mandates professional liability insurance for real estate licensees.

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    Alaska workers' comp insurance requirements

    Alaska requires workers' compensation insurance for all employers with one or more employees under AS 23.30, eliminating small business exemptions found in other states. Penalties reach $1,000 per employee per day for non-compliance, making continuous coverage financially critical. Limited exemptions exist based on work type including professional hockey players covered under health plans, qualified real estate licensees under specific contracts and transportation network company drivers.

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    Alaska commercial auto insurance requirements

    Alaska law requires minimum liability limits of 50/100/25 for business vehicles: $50,000 per person for bodily injury, $100,000 per accident and $25,000 for property damage under AS 28.22.101. These requirements exceed most state minimums and apply to all business-owned vehicles in Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau. Failure to maintain coverage results in driver's license suspension and potential vehicle impoundment in Anchorage.

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    Alaska errors and omissions insurance requirements

    Alaska requires active real estate brokers, associate brokers and salespersons to maintain errors and omissions insurance as a licensing condition under 12 AAC 02.530. Minimum coverage includes $100,000 per wrongful act or claim plus $300,000 annual aggregate limit per licensee, with claims expenses in addition to liability limits. Maximum deductible cannot exceed $5,000 per covered wrongful act for every $300,000 aggregate limit.

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    Alaska unemployment insurance requirements

    Employers must register with Alaska's Employment Security Tax program and pay unemployment insurance taxes under AS 23.20 to provide covered employment for workers. Businesses register online through the TaxWeb system by creating a myAlaska account and applying for an Alaska Employer Account number. Covered employment status determines worker eligibility for unemployment benefits based on wages earned during base period quarters.

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    Alaska contractor surety bond requirements

    Alaska requires licensed contractors to post surety bonds under AS 08.18.071: general contractors need $25,000, residential contractors $20,000, specialty contractors $10,000 and handyman contractors $5,000. Bonds cover taxes owed, labor and material payments and claims from negligent work or contract breaches. Contractors with employees must also maintain workers' compensation insurance regardless of bond status.

What Business Insurance Coverage Is Recommended For Alaska Companies?

Alaska takes a hands-off approach to business insurance regulation beyond workers' comp and commercial auto requirements, giving you the freedom to select coverage that matches your specific business needs. We've analyzed what works best for the major industries driving business in the state.

Marine

Marine general liability, hull and machinery, protection and indemnity, commercial fishing vessel, crew coverage, pollution liability, catch coverage, business interruption    

 

Alaska's commercial fishing fleet operates in the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska where vessel accidents, crew injuries and equipment failures occur frequently during short seasonal windows. Weather-related accidents and pollution incidents create substantial liability exposure while catch losses from mechanical breakdowns impact annual revenue, requiring specialized marine coverage beyond standard business policies.

Construction/Contractor

General liability, workers' compensation, commercial auto, equipment coverage, builder's risk, environmental liability, cold weather coverage, business interruption    

 

Permafrost complications, extreme cold and short building seasons create unique challenges for Alaska contractors working on remote project sites with limited emergency response. Winter temperatures damage tools and materials while equipment breakdown costs money and worker injuries from cold exposure require specialized coverage beyond standard commercial policies.

Food

General liability, commercial property, business interruption, spoilage coverage, commercial crime, cyber liability, equipment breakdown, supply chain interruption    

 

Supply chain disruptions from weather and transportation delays affect Alaska food businesses regularly since remote locations mean limited backup suppliers. Business interruption insurance protects revenue when storms prevent deliveries or force temporary closures while spoilage coverage pays replacement costs during power outages or equipment failures.

Veterinary

Professional liability, general liability, cyber liability, commercial property, medical evacuation coverage, emergency transport coverage, equipment coverage, business interruption    

 

Rural veterinarians serve vast territories with limited specialist referral options, increasing malpractice exposure from emergency care decisions made in isolated conditions. Extreme weather damages expensive diagnostic equipment and emergency animal evacuations during natural disasters create unique liability risks not found in lower-48 practices.

Excavation

General liability, workers' compensation, commercial auto, equipment coverage, environmental liability, permafrost coverage, cold weather operations, underground utility damage    

 

Underground utility damage, permafrost complications and contaminated soil disturbance create specialized liability exposures for Alaska excavation companies working in challenging conditions. Environmental liability coverage protects against cleanup costs from disturbing contaminated sites common in older Alaska developments while equipment coverage pays for weather-related damage to expensive machinery.

Retail

Professional liability, general liability, cyber liability, workers' compensation, animal bailee coverage
 

Weather-related transportation delays disrupt inventory shipments for retailers more frequently in Alaska than other states while heating system failures during winter damage temperature-sensitive inventory and force store closures. Remote locations make emergency repairs expensive and time-consuming, requiring business interruption coverage to protect revenue during extended closures that standard policies don't cover.

Welding

General liability, workers' compensation, commercial auto, equipment coverage, cold weather operations coverage, fire damage liability, completed operations coverage    

 

Cold weather creates specialized risks for Alaska welding operations including increased fire hazards from heating equipment and quality issues from temperature effects on welds. Transportation difficulties to remote job sites and expensive equipment failures in extreme cold require coverage beyond standard commercial policies for operations serving rural communities.

Courier

Commercial auto, cargo coverage, general liability, workers' compensation, extreme weather coverage, aircraft liability, emergency response coverage    

 

Courier services rely on aircraft and snow machines for remote deliveries, creating unique liability exposure from crashes and mechanical failures that standard commercial auto policies don't cover. Extreme weather delays delivery schedules while emergency rescue operations during breakdowns in remote areas increase operational costs significantly.

How to Get the Best Cheap Business Insurance in Alaska

Getting business insurance in Alaska requires navigating one of America's most challenging business environments with limited insurer options and high premiums. Follow these steps to secure coverage that protects your business without breaking your budget:

  1. 1
    Determine risks specific to your Alaska business

    Evaluate your business exposures including Alaska-specific hazards like earthquakes (Alaska leads the nation in earthquake frequency), extreme winter storms and severe cold that disrupts operations. Consider whether you have employees (workers' compensation is mandatory from your first hire), own vehicles (Alaska requires 50/100/25 liability limits), store customer data or welcome customers to your location since each creates distinct liability risks requiring specific coverage.

  2. 2
    Compare companies and Alaska insurance programs

    Match your identified risks to specific policies and appropriate limits based on contracts, leases and actual exposure in Alaska's high-risk environment. Review lease requirements (typically $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate for general liability in Anchorage and Fairbanks commercial properties), client contract demands and asset values to set coverage levels that protect your finances without over-insuring given Alaska's higher premium costs.

  3. 3
    Choose providers based on service, not just price

    Get quotes from top business insurers in Alaska including NEXT, Simply Business and Coverdash, prioritizing companies with strong remote claims handling since Alaska's isolated locations make in-person service difficult. Given Alaska's limited insurer options and higher-risk environment, evaluate claims response times and digital policy management capabilities alongside premium costs since cheap coverage costs more when claims aren't handled efficiently.

  4. 4
    Take advantage of discounts and Alaska incentives

    Bundle policies into a business owner's policy for 20% to 30% savings, essential for affordable business insurance in Alaska's expensive market. Implement safety programs including cold weather and earthquake preparedness to reduce workers' compensation premiums 5% to 15%, pay annually (saves 5% to 10%) and increase deductibles from $250 to $1,000 to cut premiums 10% to 20%.

  5. 5
    Review coverage annually

    Reassess needs every 12 months when revenue, employees, equipment or services change since each requires immediate coverage adjustments in Alaska's high-risk environment. Shop two to three competitors annually even if satisfied, monitor your workers' compensation experience modification rating and update policies within 24 hours when hiring employees, purchasing equipment or signing contracts with different insurance requirements since coverage gaps expose you to financial liability.

Best Business Liability Insurance Alaska: Bottom Line

NEXT, Simply Business and Coverdash rank highest in our Alaska business insurance analysis. Your best choice depends on your industry risks, employee count and Alaska-specific exposures like earthquakes and extreme weather. Compare service quality alongside rates, maximize available discounts and choose coverage that protects your finances while staying within budget.

Business Insurance Alaska: FAQ

Small business owners in the Last Frontier face unique challenges when selecting business insurance coverage, from harsh weather risks to remote locations.

What business insurance is required by law in Alaska?

How much does business insurance cost in Alaska?

Which company has the cheapest business insurance in Alaska?

What business insurance do I need for my small business in Alaska?

How We Scored the Best Business Insurance Companies in Alaska

Small business owners in Alaska need reliable coverage that protects their operations without breaking their budgets. We designed our methodology to help Alaska entrepreneurs navigate challenges like hurricane risks and the state's optional workers' compensation laws.

We studied thousands of quotes from 79 industries across four coverage types for a two-employee firm with $300,000 annual revenue and $150,000 payroll. All policies included $1 million per occurrence and $2 million total per year, with BOPs adding $5,000 business property coverage.

  • Affordability (50% of score): We compared company rates across all coverage types to identify the most cost-effective options for small businesses that need comprehensive financial protection without overpaying.
  • Customer experience (30% of score): We analyzed J.D. Power satisfaction ratings, NAIC complaint data, online review sites and independent agency feedback to assess real-world service quality when you need claims handled quickly.
  • Coverage options (15% of score): We evaluated the breadth of coverage types, policy limits and add-on options available to accommodate growing businesses and Alaska's diverse industry needs.
  • Financial strength (5% of score): We reviewed AM Best ratings, Moody's assessments and company financial reports to ensure insurers can reliably pay claims, especially important given Alaska's frequent weather disasters.

This approach helps Alaska small business owners compare insurers on what matters most: affordable premiums, reliable service, adequate coverage and financial stability.

About Mark Fitzpatrick


Mark Fitzpatrick headshot

Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research for insurance shoppers. His insights have been featured in CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.

Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!

He writes about economics and insurance, breaking down complex topics so people know what they're buying.


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