Best General Liability Insurance for Small Business

Our analysis found that The Hartford offers the best general liability insurance for small businesses with a 4.64 MoneyGeek score. You'll pay $83 monthly, which is $21 below the $104 industry average. Nationwide and Simply Business are solid alternatives for businesses seeking reliable coverage.

Note: We analyzed rates for businesses with $300,000 annual revenue and $1 million coverage limits. Your costs vary based on your industry, location and specific business factors, so expect some variation when you get quotes.

The Hartford offers the best general liability insurance for small businesses in 42 states, while NEXT Insurance leads in nine. Your public liability rates will depend on how often businesses get sued in your state and local insurance regulations.

We evaluated 10 providers to find the best general liability insurance for your small business. Here are detailed reviews of our top picks for affordability, customer service and coverage options:

Finding the right general liability insurance requires understanding your business's liability risks, from customer slip-and-falls to property damage claims. So below we created a comprehensive guide to getting the best deal on coverage for your needs.

The Hartford, Nationwide and Simply Business lead our rankings for general liability insurance, but your ideal provider depends on your industry and location. You'll get the best deal by optimizing your payment structure, assessing your specific risks and comparing providers strategically instead of focusing only on price. This approach helps you find comprehensive protection that fits both your budget and business needs.

Small business owners have many questions about general liability insurance coverage, costs and providers. We've answered the most frequently asked questions to help you make informed decisions:

We gathered thousands of quotes from 79 industries across four coverage types: professional liability, general liability, workers' compensation and business owner's policies.

Our research used a two-employee business with $300,000 annual revenue and $150,000 payroll for accurate rate comparisons. Coverage included $1 million per claim and $2 million aggregate limits.

Our Scoring Model

• Affordability (50%): Cost drives most small business decisions. Using our research, we compared each company's rates across all four insurance types.
• Customer Experience (30%): When filing claims, service quality matters. We used J.D. Power ratings, National Association of Insurance Commissioners complaint data, review sites and independent agency ratings.
• Coverage Options (15%): Business needs vary, so flexibility counts. We assessed coverage breadth, policy limits and customization options each company offers.
• Financial Strength (5%): Great rates don't help if companies can't pay claims. We evaluated stability using AM Best and Moody's ratings, financial reports and business longevity.

This approach reflects real priorities: affordable coverage from stable companies that handle claims smoothly. By testing identical business profiles, you can see how rates and services compare for businesses like yours.