Nationwide emerged as the top contender for New York’s best general liability insurance in MoneyGeek’s analysis with a score of 96 out of 100. However, The Hartford, Thimble, NEXT and Hiscox are also great options for general liability policies.
Best General Liability Insurance in New York
Updated: June 20, 2025
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Key Takeaways
Due to its balance of affordable rates and strong customer service, Nationwide is the top overall general liability insurance provider for LLCs in New York.
The cheapest general liability insurance for sole proprietors in New York is offered by Thimble at $24 per month. For LLCs, NEXT is the most affordable option at $48 a month.
General liability insurance costs in New York depend on your industry, and we found they can range from $34 to $15,932 per month on average.
Best Cheap General Liability Insurance in New York
| Nationwide | 96 | $45 | $97 |
| The Hartford | 94 | $42 | $171 |
| Thimble | 94 | $24 | $74 |
| NEXT | 90 | $36 | $48 |
| Hiscox | 83 | $32 | $613 |
*Rates were based on a $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate limit for a software development company.
Nationwide: Best Overall
pros
Low rates for LLC businesses
Large coverage selection
Low customer claims frequency
cons
Higher rates for sole proprietors
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Nationwide takes home our endorsement for New York's finest general liability insurance by expertly combining reasonable premiums with outstanding customer support. The company shares the top spot for lowest NAIC claims ratio and achieves third place for LLC value, with businesses paying around $97 monthly on average for comprehensive liability coverage.
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 earns our designation as New York's cheapest general liability insurance provider. Sole proprietors benefit from excellent pricing at $27 monthly while LLCs secure coverage at $31 per month. Though their claims ratio runs higher than other New York insurers we've examined, the company excels through its streamlined purchasing process and same-day proof of insurance availability.
How Much Is General Liability Insurance in New York?
An average general liability insurance policy in New York typically costs around $34 per month for sole proprietors and $201 per month for LLCs. However, this only represents software development companies and the costs can vary widely by industry.
| Cleaning | $11,716 | $311 |
| General Contractor | $15,932 | $263 |
| Software Development | $201 | $34 |
*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 New York
General liability insurance costs can fluctuate based on a number of different factors in New York. In the list below, you can see these factors and their impacts on your coverage costs: location, industry type, business size, claims history, and coverage limits.
Policy limits
Coverage limits have a significant impact on insurance premiums. Higher limits lead to increased costs, while lower limits generally result in more affordable premiums.
Number of employees and payroll costs
Businesses with a large workforce and high payroll expenses can expect an increase in general liability insurance costs. This trend is evident in our analysis of LLCs and sole proprietorships.
Business location
The location of your business plays a crucial role in determining insurance costs. It's important to note that state-level average rates can differ between cities, so keep these variations in mind when assessing your coverage needs.
Claims history
A business with a history of multiple claims is seen as riskier by insurance providers, leading to higher premiums.
Industry
Industries with higher risks, like construction, often incur higher general liability insurance costs.
New York 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 New York, 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
Determine your liability risk by taking into account your industry, products or services, customer types, business size and market impact. Measure the frequency and costs of common claims in your industry to evaluate coverage options better.
- 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
You'll likely be able to get recommendations from your business community that are better for your specific needs and an understanding of what claims are common within your industry.
- 4
Compare multiple options through different means
Comparing multiple companies using brokers or online will give you a more comprehensive view of pricing and provide more opportunities for advice.
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 New York?
Like in most states, general liability insurance isn't expressly required by state law. If you are looking 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 yearly. This will likely cover your business for a year. 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 in health care and building industries, face more risks. This means they might have to pay more for general liability insurance. If your company is in one of these areas, or if you sell lots of products you may need to get more insurance.
Best General Liability Insurance in New York: Bottom Line
Overall the best general liability insurance companies in New York are Nationwide, The Hartford, and Thimble. We recommend getting plenty of quotes to ensure you get the best deal possible.
General Liability Insurance in New York: FAQ
Below, we address frequently asked questions regarding general liability insurance in New York: Learn about coverage and requirements.
Which company has the best general liability insurance in New York?
MoneyGeek's leading choice for general liability insurance in New York is Nationwide, which earned an overall score of 96 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 New York?
For sole proprietors, Thimble offers the cheapest rates at $24 per month ($288 annually). For LLCs, NEXT Insurance provides the most affordable coverage at $48 per month ($576 annually).
Does New York require businesses to have general liability insurance?
New York does not mandate general liability insurance for businesses, but protecting against third-party claims is a prudent choice.
How We Chose the Best General Liability Insurance Providers in New York
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 A.M. 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.