Nationwide emerged as the top contender for North Carolina’s best general liability insurance in MoneyGeek’s analysis with a score of 94 out of 100. However, NEXT, The Hartford, Hiscox and Thimble are also great options for general liability policies.
Best General Liability Insurance in North Carolina
Updated: June 20, 2025
Advertising & Editorial Disclosure
Key Takeaways
Overall, the best general liability insurance company in North Carolina is Nationwide, which has a great balance of affordable rates for LLCs and good customer service.
The cheapest general liability insurance for sole proprietors is offered by Thimble at $24 per month. For LLCs, NEXT is the most affordable option at $3 a month.
General liability insurance costs in North Carolina depend on your industry, and we found they can range from $29 to $2,028 per month on average.
Best Cheap General Liability Insurance in North Carolina
| Nationwide | 94 | $35 | $35 |
| NEXT | 90 | $27 | $3 |
| The Hartford | 88 | $33 | $47 |
| Hiscox | 83 | $32 | $60 |
| Thimble | 79 | $24 | $58 |
*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 claims our top honor for general liability insurance in North Carolina by delivering an ideal balance of competitive pricing and dependable customer service. The insurer ties for first place with the lowest NAIC claims ratio while offering an affordable $35 monthly rate for both LLCs and sole proprietors.
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 captures our title for North Carolina's most budget-friendly general liability insurance choice. Sole proprietors can obtain coverage for just $27 monthly, while LLCs pay just over $3. Despite posting higher claims ratios than other North Carolina insurers we've evaluated, the company shines through its user-friendly application process and same-day proof of insurance availability.
How Much Is General Liability Insurance in North Carolina?
An average general liability insurance policy in North Carolina typically costs around $29 per month for sole proprietors and $45 per month for LLCs. However, this only represents software development companies and the costs can vary widely by industry.
| Cleaning | $852 | $58 |
| General Contractor | $2,028 | $161 |
| Software Development | $45 | $29 |
*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 North Carolina
General liability insurance costs can fluctuate based on a number of different factors in North Carolina. 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 generally leads to increased costs, whereas lower limits often 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. Our research on LLCs and sole proprietorships confirms this correlation.
Business location
Where your business operates can significantly affect your insurance expenses. Keep in mind that state-level average rates can differ from city to city, so consider these variations 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, like construction, usually incur higher general liability insurance costs.
North Carolina 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 North Carolina, 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
Research average costs for your type of business to understand how good of a deal you're getting from insurance companies. Knowing average expenses will give you insight into if a company is going to save you money.
- 3
Consult similar businesses
Your business community is your greatest resource, which can give you recommendations that are better for your specific needs. They may also provide ways to mitigate risks associated with general liability insurance so that you may not need more coverage than necessary.
- 4
Compare multiple options through different Means
Comparing multiple companies lets you judge which option is best for your business. Also, choosing multiple means of comparison, like online comparison sites and brokers, will give you a more comprehensive view of pricing and provide more opportunities to get 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 North Carolina?
Like in most states, general liability insurance isn't expressly required by state law and instead varies by your industry. 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 need a standard policy with $1 million protection per occurrence and a $2 million annual limit. This typically covers damages for the year. However, industry risks and business size may require higher coverage.
WHO MAY NEED MORE COVERAGE
Certain businesses, like those in health care, building, or selling goods, face bigger risks. These businesses often see the costliest insurance claims. When your business is part of these groups, think about getting more insurance to cover you.
Best General Liability Insurance North Carolina: Bottom Line
Overall the best general liability insurance companies in North Carolina are Nationwide, NEXT and The Hartford. However, we recommend comparing around yourself and getting plenty of quotes to ensure you get the best deal possible.
General Liability Insurance in North Carolina: FAQ
Below, we address frequently asked questions regarding general liability insurance in North Carolina:
Which company has the best general liability insurance in North Carolina?
MoneyGeek's leading choice for general liability insurance in North Carolina is Nationwide, which earned an overall score of 94 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 North Carolina?
NEXT offers the most affordable coverage for LLCs in North Carolina with average rates of $36 per year. For sole proprietors, Thimble is cheapest, with an average annual rate of $288.
Does North Carolina require businesses to have general liability insurance?
North Carolina does not legally require businesses to carry general liability insurance. However, proactively securing a policy is a smart move to protect your company against possible financial losses due to legal claims like property damage or bodily injury.
How We Chose the Best General Liability Insurance Providers in North Carolina
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.