Best General Liability Insurance in California (2023)

MoneyGeek evaluated various factors to determine the best general liability insurance in California. Our analysis included affordability for limited liability companies (LLCs), affordability for sole proprietors, customer satisfaction, financial stability and the online quote process. Thimble is the best and cheapest general liability insurance provider in California, offering highly competitive rates. For sole proprietors with no employees, Thimble provides the cheapest monthly premiums at $22 on average, while rates for LLCs with 20 employees are approximately $45 per month.

Thimble is the best overall company for general liability insurance in California, earning a MoneyGeek score of 94 out of 100. You can compare the MoneyGeek scores and pricing for all the companies we evaluated in the table below.

Thimble is the cheapest insurance provider in California, based on our analysis. For sole proprietors, premiums cost an average of $22 per month, while the average cost for LLCs is $45 per month.

Our rankings were determined by an affordability score that combines the monthly costs for sole proprietors and LLCs, with both categories weighted equally at 50%. The company ranked as the cheapest option overall may not have the most affordable rates for sole proprietors and LLCs individually.

Thimble is the top-ranked company for employers, with a MoneyGeek score of 94 out of 100. These rankings are based on the average monthly rate for LLCs with 20 employees.

Thimble charges an average monthly cost of $45 for LLCs. However, businesses with fewer than 20 employees can expect to pay less than the average cost mentioned, while those with more employees can anticipate higher premiums.

biBERK is our top-ranked company for sole proprietors in California, with a MoneyGeek score of 97 out of 100. These rankings are based on the average rates for sole proprietors with no employees. biBERK offers affordable rates for sole proprietors, with an average monthly cost of $23. Costs may increase for sole proprietors in riskier industries, including construction.

Purchasing general liability insurance in California offers protection against risks, even if it's not legally required for basic operation like other types of business insurance. In the event of a lawsuit, it protects businesses from claims related to bodily injury, property damage, personal injury and advertising injury. General liability insurance might also be required for obtaining licenses or winning contracts in certain industries.

In California, workers' compensation insurance is mandatory for businesses with any number of employees, and it provides coverage for work-related injuries or illnesses. In terms of commercial auto insurance requirements, this state mandates minimum coverage of $15,000 per person, $30,000 per accident for bodily injury and $5,000 for property damage.

In California, the average monthly cost of general liability insurance is $195 for LLCs and $30 for sole proprietors. We set policy limits of a $2 million aggregate limit and a $1 million occurrence limit with a $0 deductible.

The aggregate limit of $2 million refers to the maximum amount the insurance company will pay for all claims during the policy period. The occurrence limit of $1 million specifies the maximum amount the insurance company will pay for each individual claim. The deductible is the amount the business owner is responsible for paying out of pocket before the insurance coverage kicks in to pay for a claim.

Premiums for general liability insurance vary for each business based on a few factors.

To help you choose the best general liability insurance for your California business, we’ve answered some frequently asked questions about this type of coverage.