Thimble emerged as the top contender for Hawaii’s best general liability insurance in MoneyGeek’s analysis with a score of 91 out of 100. However, NEXT, Hiscox, and other providers also offer great options for general liability policies.
Best General Liability Insurance in Hawaii
Updated: June 20, 2025
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Key Takeaways
Overall, the best general liability insurance company in Hawaii is Thimble, which has a great balance of affordable rates for LLCs and good customer service.
The cheapest general liability insurance for sole proprietors in Hawaii is offered by Thimble at $24 per month. For LLCs, NEXT is the most affordable option at $27 a month.
General liability insurance costs in Hawaii depend on your industry, and we found they can range from $27 to $3,416 per month on average.
Best Cheap General Liability Insurance in Hawaii
| Thimble | 91 | $24 | $56 |
| NEXT | 90 | $27 | $27 |
| Hiscox | 83 | $32 | $157 |
*Rates were based on a $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate limit for a software development company.
Thimble: Best Overall
pros
Low rates for sole proprietor businesses
Flexible coverage options
Fast online process
cons
Third-party claims handling
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Thimble earned our spot for the best overall general liability insurance in Hawaii due to its unique blend of flexible coverage options and exceptional convenience for modern businesses. The company offers innovative short-term coverage by the hour, day, or month alongside traditional annual policies, with same-day coverage available online making it ideal for Hawaii's diverse business landscape including freelancers, contractors, and seasonal operations.
NEXT: Cheapest Overall
pros
Easy fast buying process
Very cheap rates overall, regardless of business size
Business-insurance-only focus
cons
Higher customer complaint frequency
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
NEXT is our pick for the cheapest overall general liability insurance in Hawaii. The company has excellent rates for sole proprietors and LLCs at $27 monthly each. While its claims ratio was higher than other companies we've reviewed in the state, their overall buying process was smooth, and you can get proof of insurance within the same day.
How Much Is General Liability Insurance in Hawaii?
An average general liability insurance policy in Hawaii typically costs around $27 per month for sole proprietors and $80 per month for LLCs. However, this only represents software development companies and the costs can vary widely by industry.
| Cleaning | $3,416 | $60 |
| General Contractor | $3,261 | $123 |
| Software Development | $80 | $27 |
*Rates are based on a $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate coverage policy for general liability.
Factors That Impact General Liability Insurance Costs in Hawaii
General liability insurance costs can fluctuate based on a number of different factors in Hawaii. In the list below, you can see these factors and their impacts on your coverage costs:
Policy limits
Coverage limits can greatly influence insurance premiums. Opting for higher limits typically leads to increased costs, whereas choosing lower limits often results in more affordable premiums.
Number of employees and payroll costs
Businesses with a large workforce and high payroll expenses usually see a rise in general liability insurance costs. This trend is evident in both LLCs and sole proprietorships.
Business location
Your business's location can significantly affect your insurance expenses. It's important to consider that state-level average rates may differ across cities, so keep these variations in mind when assessing your coverage needs.
Claims history
A record of multiple claims can make a business seem riskier to insurers, leading to higher premiums.
Industry
Industries with higher risk levels, such as construction, often encounter elevated general liability insurance costs.
Hawaii General Liability Insurance: Buyer's Guide
Business insurance is a complicated industry and can be difficult to navigate. So, to simplify your understanding of general liability insurance, we've created a short guide detailing how to get the best coverage, defining what it covers, listing requirements in Hawaii, and explaining how much coverage you should consider getting.
How to Find the Best General Liability Insurance Company
To help ensure that you get the best small business insurance regardless of your industry, we've created a step-by-step guide to simplify your coverage search.
- 1
Define your coverage needs
Find out your liability risk by considering your industry, products or services, customer types, business size and market impact. To evaluate coverage options better, measure the frequency and costs of common claims in your industry.
- 2
Research average costs for your business
To understand how good of a deal you're getting from business insurance companies, you need to research average costs for your particular business.
- 3
Consult similar businesses
Check with your business community for recommendations that are better for your specific needs and an understanding of what claims are common within your industry. They may also provide ways to mitigate risks associated with general liability insurance, so you don't need more coverage than necessary.
- 4
Compare multiple options through different means
You can judge which insurance option suits you best by comparing multiple companies. You can also choose multiple ways to compare, like online comparisons or using brokers. This can provide a comprehensive view of pricing.
What Does General Liability Insurance Cover and How Does It Work?
General liability insurance coverage consists of two parts: per occurrence and aggregate limits. Per occurrence refers to the maximum a single claim can go up to, while the aggregate limit is the total coverage you can get per year. In terms of covered items, this type of policy includes the following:
Bodily injuries or property damage on business property
Legal fees for bodily injury or property damage that your company may be responsible for
Damages to leased or rented business property
Bodily injury or property damage caused by your product or service
Libel, slander, or reputational harm legal defense
Legal fees for copyright infringement accusations
Is General Liability Insurance Required in Hawaii?
Like in most states, general liability insurance isn't required by state law and instead varies by your industry. However, if you want to apply for a professional license, sign a contract with a larger company, or sign an office lease, some form of general liability insurance may be required. While not an exhaustive list, the following industries tend to fall into these categories:
- Medical
- Accounting
- Real estate
- Insurance
- Contracting
- Engineering
- Marketing
- Law
- Consulting
- Media/Communications
How Much General Liability Insurance Do I Need?
Most small businesses will only need a standard policy with 1 million dollars of protection per occurrence and a 2 million limit per year. This will likely cover most or all damages caused over a year for most business types. Even so, your particular industry's risks and the size of your operation may require a larger coverage limit than standard.
WHO MAY NEED MORE COVERAGE
Certain businesses, like those offering health services, building things, or selling food and products, often face bigger risks. This means they might need to pay more for insurance that protects them if something goes wrong. If your company does any of these, you should think about getting more insurance.
Best General Liability Insurance in Hawaii: Bottom Line
Overall the best general liability insurance companies in Hawaii are Thimble, NEXT, and Hiscox. Thimble leads with an MoneyGeek Score of 91 and a low monthly premium of $24 for sole proprietors. NEXT and Hiscox follow closely, offering competitive rates and strong customer satisfaction. However, we recommend comparing around yourself and getting plenty of quotes to ensure you get the best deal possible.
General Liability Insurance in Hawaii: FAQ
Below, we address frequently asked questions regarding general liability insurance in Hawaii:
Which company has the best general liability insurance in Hawaii?
MoneyGeek's top choice for general liability insurance in Hawaii is Thimble, which earned an overall score of 91 out of 100. However, the ideal insurance for you depends on various details, including your business size, number of employees, and specific coverage requirements.
Which company has the cheapest general liability insurance in Hawaii?
For sole proprietors, Thimble offers the cheapest coverage at $24 per month ($288 annually). For LLCs and larger businesses, NEXT provides the most affordable option at $27 per month ($324 annually).
Does Hawaii require businesses to have general liability insurance?
Hawaii does not legally require general liability insurance for businesses, but it is a smart move to protect against potential claims.
How We Chose the Best General Liability Insurance Providers in Hawaii
We broke down our scores into these categories and weights:
- LLC cost (55% of score)
- Sole proprietor cost (5% of score)
- Customer satisfaction (25% of score)
- Financial strength (10% of score)
- Quote process time (5% of score)
For all business insurance companies, we assumed software development industry LLCs with 20 employees. We based customer satisfaction and financial strength scores on NAIC and AM Best ratings. Quote process scores came from our MoneyGeek experts' personal experiences.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. With over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, he conducts original research and creates tailored content for all types of buyers. His insights have been featured in publications like 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!
Passionate about economics and insurance, he aims to promote transparency in financial topics and empower others to make confident money decisions.