Best General Liability Insurance Companies

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ERGO NEXT is our top general liability insurer for most contractors, especially for most solo opertors and teams with fewer than five employees. Its digital policy tools and instant COIs suit contractors that frequently need to update coverage or provide proof of insurance for clients. ERGO NEXT offers the cheapest general liability rates for the industry, averaging $262 per month for contractors, 22% below the industry average, with especially strong value for lower-risk trades such as lawn care and handyman services. Other endorsements that many in the industry need, like tools and equipment, contractors' E&O, and pollution liability, are also available to add to GL coverage.

However, if you want highly flexible coverage and you're in a higher-risk area, such as roofing or electrical work, Thimble offers better value. They have the cheapest rates for contractors with high risks of causing property damage, like electricians and roofers, and their flexible coverage by the day allows you to not pay for coverage when you're not working, saving you more money on top of their savings.

However, if you are a general contractor with a much larger crew of employees and subcontractors working on large-scale construction, The Hartford offers better coverage than both Thimble and NEXT. Their broad form endorsements with wrap-up coverage and per-project-specific limits, along with their construction-specific risk management teams, make them an ideal pick for this business size.

Read more about top insurers: Best Contractor Insurance

For most small cleaning operations with fewer than 10 employees, ERGO NEXT is the ideal option for general liability coverage. For most commercial clients, coverage limits of up to $2 million per occurrence are sufficient, and their digital tools enable easy modifications to COIs and instant generation for each client without the need for agents. A pollution liability endorsement also ensures you're covered for any hazardous material cleanup or damage caused by harsh chemicals you use to clean. General liability rates are also most often the cheapest with the company, at 25% below average at $95/mo.

Now, the largest gap for this insurer is its ability to handle complex claims issues associated with larger operations of more than 10 employees, given its digital focus and broader support departments. The Hartford alleviates this issue with its cleaning-specific service department, an assigned agent specializing in your industry, and risk management services that help you reduce the chance of costly claims.

Read more about top insurers: Best Cleaner Insurance

For food businesses that don't have a fixed location or operate from only one building, ERGO NEXT is an ideal option. It's a combined BOP policy that combines general liability and commercial property insurance to simplify coverage for your property and the most common risks related to customers and the food you serve them. As an add-on, food spoilage, tools, and equipment are also available to protect you financially from inventory loss and equipment damage when you move between different venues.

The main problems with ERGO NEXT are that it doesn't properly support mobile food businesses due to its lack of commercial auto policies and its disallowance of expanding commercial property coverage to multiple locations. The Hartford simplifies these issues under their Spectrum BOP policy, specifically designed for food service, allowing you to include general liability, workers' comp, commercial property, and auto coverage all under one roof. While they are more expensive on average for the industry, the coverage benefits and tailored service make the extra premium worth it.

Read more about top insurers: Best Food Business Insurance

For most small-scale retailers with under 5 employees, especially those operating primarily online, ERGO NEXT is the best option for general liability insurance. Those working with Amazon or TikTok to sell online can get instant, tailored COIs for each platform's requirements from the company, making proof of insurance easy. If you're working from a single location, their BOP policy provides simplified bundled coverage for slip-and-fall risks on your property, damage to your products and inventory, or inventory stolen on the premises.

If you're looking to expand operations past five employees or multiple locations, The Hartford becomes the clear better pick. Its Spectrum BOP policy has a tailored version for retailers that allows you to build high-inventory months into your commercial property coverage, increasing it up to $50,000 during those times, and to get broader form GL coverage for more fringe situations related to your products that others won't. If you have a delivery component, the BOP also allows you to add auto coverage.

Read more about top insurers: Best Retail Business Insurance

For most white-collar services, the best general liability insurer is often The Hartford, due to its low rates (21% lower than average) and tailored bundling capabilities for key coverages like professional liability and cyber insurance. While its spectrum BOP is often used for property coverage additions, white-collar professionals can instead opt for a cyber and professional liability bundle with limited property coverage. You'll also have expanded coverage for advertising-related issues and professional mistakes through their industry-specialty programs.

ERGO NEXT primarily has one thing The Hartford doesn't: flexibility of COI issuance and lower rates for solo freelancers. For this group, the rates are around 5% lower than The Hartford, for general liability policies, which can matter if you have a particularly tight budget.

Read more about top insurers: Best Consulting Business Insurance, Best Financial Services Insurance, Best Tech Business Insurance

For those in beauty, pet and childcare services, ERGO NEXT is the clear small business winner for solo operators. Its flexible instant COIs make it simple to handle multiple pet owners, parents, salons and/or service boards who require general and professional liability coverage. Its rates for sole proprietors in these areas can reach as low as $21/mo, and savings can be as high as 27%.

The Hartford is the insurer you should grow into as ERGO NEXT's tools become less applicable when you own a more established daycare, salon or pet care building. Their spectrum BOP makes tailored programs for each of these areas of business, and their broader form professional liability and general liability coverage make it a more worthwhile option once you operate from a physical location.

Read more about top insurers: Best Beauty Business Insurance, Best Pet Care Business Insurance, Best Daycare Insurance

While general liability isn't the primary need for this sector, biBerk offers the lowest rates in this area for the coverage and provides the opportunity to save more with a commercial auto bundle. Primarily, their service capacity is suitable only for operations with fewer than 5 vehicles and employees, as they are a smaller organization.

To make up for this, I'd advise switching to Progressive at this point, which is highly experienced in the transportation sector and is widely known as the #1 commercial auto insurance company nationwide. They offer general liability, broad-form commercial auto, workers' comp, and cargo insurance that transport and distribution companies need. Their fleet telematics bundle also gives you additional savings on all policies, in addition to bundling for good driving.

Read more about top insurers: Best Transportation Business Insurance

Start by checking whether your state, local government, licensing board or business contracts require general liability insurance. These requirements establish the minimum protection you must carry.

• State and local requirements: Some licensed professions, especially contractors, must carry general liability coverage to operate
• Client and project contracts: Landlords, general contractors and commercial clients may require specific limits or additional insured status
• Coverage conditions: Check whether contracts require primary and noncontributory coverage, a waiver of subrogation, addition of an additional insured clause and a COI before work begins

Your business activities determine which liability risks matter most. Consider where you operate, how you interact with customers, whether you handle their property and what happens after your products or services are delivered.

Focus on these items and select one or two that fit the most likely issues your work may cause:

• Third-party injuries: Customers or visitors getting hurt at your location or because of your operations
• Damage to others' property: Accidental damage while working at a customer's home, business or jobsite
• Injuries or damage after delivery: Claims arising from products you've sold or work you've completed
• Personal or advertising injury: Certain claims involving defamation, advertising practices or other covered offenses

All of these items are basic to what general liability insurance covers, and narrowing it to the main risks allows you to focus on what you need protection from.

Looking at a policy's coverage as a whole is often not necessary, and honing in on what is most relevant to your business decreases the scope of comparison. Use the risks identified in Step 2 to determine which policy components deserve the closest attention.

Once you've identified the protections most relevant to your business, decide how much general liability coverage each requires beyond minimums. Your decision revolves around these main terms:

• Per-occurrence limit: This is the maximum amount you'll be reimbursed up to per claim for a covered event, within the policy period.
• Aggregate limit: The maximum per year amount you can be reimbursed for covered items.
• Product and completed operations aggregate:  Separate maximum amount payable per year for covered product and completed-work claims during the policy period.

$1 million per-occurrence and $2 million aggregate policy is a common starting point, but appropriate limits depend on your contractual obligations and potential claims. For example, if you're a consultant with no contractual obligations, going with less coverage may be more appropriate. If you're in high property damage risk work, like roofing or remodeling, you may be subject to requirements higher than this, or need more coverage to insure the risk of issues after work is done.

Once you've established the coverage components and limits you need, narrow your search to insurers that offer suitable protection for your business. Compare their coverage offerings first, then evaluate cost and service.