Nationwide is the best liability insurance provider in Rhode Island, with a MoneyGeek score of 96 out of 100. Thimble, NEXT, The Hartford and Hiscox are also great options for general liability policies.
Best General Liability Insurance in Rhode Island
Updated: June 20, 2025
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Key Takeaways
Overall, the best general liability insurance company in Rhode Island 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 $27 a month.
General liability insurance costs in Rhode Islanddepend on your industry, and we found they can range from $31 to $4,075 per month on average.
Best Cheap General Liability Insurance in Rhode Island
| Nationwide | 96 | $39 | $44 |
| The Hartford | 95 | $34 | $58 |
| Thimble | 91 | $24 | $58 |
| NEXT | 90 | $27 | $27 |
| Hiscox | 83 | $32 | $195 |
*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
We crown Nationwide as Rhode Island's champion for general liability coverage thanks to its impressive blend of reasonable costs and superior customer care. Sharing the top spot with minimal claims ratios per NAIC data and achieving second rank for LLC cost savings, businesses typically pay $528 annually for quality protection.
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
Our Rhode Island selection for most affordable general liability insurance is NEXT. With sole proprietorships and LLCs paying $27 monthly premiums, their pricing remains exceptionally competitive in Rhode Island's market. Although the company's claims statistics exceed other state providers in our analysis, NEXT excels with its streamlined online platform and instant insurance verification.
How Much Is General Liability Insurance in Rhode Island?
An average general liability insurance policy in Rhode Island typically costs around $31 per month for sole proprietors and $76 per month for LLCs. However, this only represents software development companies and the costs can vary widely by industry.
| Cleaning | $2,337 | $120 |
| General Contractor | $4,075 | $251 |
| Software Development | $76 | $31 |
*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 Rhode Island
General liability insurance costs can fluctuate based on a number of different factors in Rhode Island. In the list below, you can see these factors and their impacts on your coverage costs:
Policy limits
Coverage limits play a crucial role in determining insurance premiums. Opting for higher limits will lead to increased costs, while choosing lower limits generally results in more affordable premiums.
Number of employees and payroll costs
Businesses with a large workforce and high payroll expenses can expect to pay more for general liability insurance. This trend is evident in the analysis of LLCs and sole proprietorships.
Business location
Where your business is located can significantly influence your insurance costs. It's important to consider that state-level average rates can differ from one city to another, affecting your coverage needs.
Claims history
A track record of multiple claims increases a business's perceived risk to insurers, which can lead to higher premiums.
Industry
Industries with elevated risk levels, like construction, typically incur higher general liability insurance costs. In Rhode Island, programs for business insurance also reflect industry-specific risk assessments.
Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island, 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
You can 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. Knowing average expenses will give you an idea of whether a company is saving you money or not.
- 3
Consult similar businesses
You can get recommendations from businesses 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
Comparing multiple companies helps you assess 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.
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 Rhode Island?
Like in most states, general liability insurance isn't expressly required by state law and instead varies by your industry. But 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
Companies in fields like health services, building, or selling goods, or for those that serve food and drinks often see the biggest insurance claims. So, if your business is part of these groups, consider more coverage. This is also true for small businesses that have lots of workers or sell products far and wide.
Best General Liability Insurance in Rhode Island: Bottom Line
Overall the best general liability insurance companies in Rhode Island are Nationwide, The Hartford, and Thimble. Nationwide offers a good balance between cost and customer satisfaction, while The Hartford and Thimble shine with low premiums for sole proprietors. However, we recommend comparing around yourself and getting plenty of quotes to ensure you get the best deal possible.
General Liability Insurance in Rhode Island: FAQ
Below, we address frequently asked questions regarding general liability insurance in Rhode Island:
Which company has the best general liability insurance in Rhode Island?
MoneyGeek's leading choice for general liability insurance in Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island?
For sole proprietors, Thimble offers the most affordable coverage at $288 per year ($24 per month). For LLCs, NEXT provides the cheapest option at $324 per year ($27 per month).
Does Rhode Island require businesses to have general liability insurance?
In Rhode Island, it's not required to carry general liability insurance, but acquiring it is a smart move to protect your business against the potential expenses of legal claims.
How We Chose the Best General Liability Insurance Providers in Rhode Island
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.