Nationwide emerged as the top contender for South Carolina’s best general liability insurance in MoneyGeek’s analysis with a score of 95 out of 100. However, The Hartford, NEXT, Thimble, and Hiscox are also great options for general liability policies.
Best General Liability Insurance in South Carolina
Updated: June 20, 2025
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Key Takeaways
Overall, the best general liability insurance company in South 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 in South Carolina is offered by Thimble at $24 per month. For LLCs, NEXT is the most affordable option at $28 a month.
We found that general liability insurance costs in South Carolina can range from $29 to $7,205 monthly on average, depending on the industry your business is in.
Best Cheap General Liability Insurance in South Carolina
| Nationwide | 95 | $37 | $39 |
| The Hartford | 92 | $29 | $59 |
| NEXT | 90 | $27 | $28 |
| Thimble | 85 | $24 | $68 |
| Hiscox | 83 | $32 | $101 |
*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 receives our top ranking for general liability insurance in South Carolina by striking a strong balance between competitive premiums and reliable customer support. The company ties for first place with the lowest NAIC claims ratio while securing the second rank for LLC affordability, with businesses investing approximately $468 annually for comprehensive liability 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
NEXT is our pick for the cheapest overall general liability insurance in South Carolina. At $27 monthly for sole proprietorships and $28 for limited liability companies, their rates stand out in South Carolina's competitive insurance landscape. While the insurer's claims performance trails regional competitors we've assessed, NEXT compensates with its user-friendly application experience and immediate insurance documentation.
How Much Is General Liability Insurance in South Carolina?
An average general liability insurance policy in South Carolina typically costs around $29 per month for sole proprietors and $59 per month for LLCs. However, this only represents software development companies and the costs can vary widely by industry.
| Cleaning | $1,724 | $93 |
| General Contractor | $7,205 | $488 |
| Software Development | $59 | $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 South Carolina
General liability insurance costs can fluctuate based on a number of different factors in South Carolina. In the list below, you can see these factors and their impacts on your coverage costs:
Policy limits
Coverage limits have a major impact on insurance premiums. Higher limits lead to increased costs, whereas lower limits generally result in more affordable premiums.
Number of employees and payroll costs
Businesses with a large number of employees and high payroll costs often experience an increase in general liability insurance expenses. This trend is evident in our analysis of LLCs and sole proprietorships.
Business location
Where your business is located can significantly affect your insurance costs. It's important to note that state-level average rates can differ from city to city, so these variations should be considered when assessing your coverage needs.
Claims history
A history of multiple claims can make a business appear riskier to insurance providers, which often results in higher premiums.
Industry
Industries with higher risk levels, like construction, usually face higher general liability insurance costs.
South 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 South 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
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 a measuring stick to judge whether a company is saving you money or not.
- 3
Consult similar businesses
To understand if you are getting a good deal on your business insurance, you should research average costs for your specific business. Knowing average expenses will give you a way to judge whether a company is saving you money or not.
- 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 South Carolina?
Like in most states, general liability insurance isn't expressly required by state law and instead varies by your industry. However, 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 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
Protecting your business is important. 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 South Carolina: Bottom Line
Overall the best general liability insurance companies in South Carolina are Nationwide, The Hartford, and NEXT. However, we recommend comparing around yourself and getting plenty of quotes to ensure you get the best deal possible.
General Liability Insurance in South Carolina: FAQ
Below, we address frequently asked questions regarding general liability insurance in South Carolina: General liability insurance helps cover costs if you're at fault in an accident. You need minimum coverage to drive legally. Prices vary, but many options are affordable.
Which company has the best general liability insurance in South Carolina?
MoneyGeek's leading choice for general liability insurance in South Carolina 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 South Carolina?
For sole proprietors, Thimble offers the most affordable coverage at $288 per year ($24 per month). LLCs get the best rates from NEXT at $324 annually ($27 per month).
Does South Carolina require businesses to have general liability insurance?
In South Carolina, it's a smart move to procure general liability insurance to protect your enterprise against potential third-party liability claims.
How We Chose the Best General Liability Insurance Providers in South 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.