Our analysis of the best general liability insurance companies in Washington takes into account cost, customer satisfaction and online quote processing times. We ranked Nationwide as the best in this category. Its average cost for limited liability companies (LLCs) with 20 employees is $58 per month, and sole proprietors with no employees need to pay an average of $38 per month.
Overall, the cheapest general liability insurance in Washington comes from Next. While LLCs with 20 employees may pay an average of $41 per month, the average cost for sole proprietors with no employees stands at $25 per month.
Best Overall General Liability Insurance in Washington
Our experts selected Nationwide as the best general liability insurance provider in Washington, receiving a score of 90 out of 100. The following table includes all the insurers in Washington that provide general liability insurance, and our analysis of these companies helps shed light on their rankings and costs.
Affordable rates for LLCs
Takes the top spot for customer satisfaction
Financially stable
Most expensive insurer for sole proprietors
Slowest to process online quotes
Nationwide is the top general liability insurer in Washington because of its costs, customer satisfaction and financial stability. This company provides the most affordable general liability insurance for LLCs with 20 employees, charging an average of $58 per month. However, its average cost of $38 per month for sole proprietors with no employees is the most expensive of the lot.
According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), this insurer has the lowest average rate of customer complaints, which means it provides high levels of customer satisfaction.
Cheapest General Liability Insurance in Washington
Next provides the cheapest overall general liability insurance in Washington. Its average cost for LLCs with 20 employees is $41 per month. For sole proprietors with no employees, the average cost is $25 per month.
We ranked insurers based on affordability scores that use a combination of monthly costs for LLCs and sole proprietors, giving both parameters equal weightage (50% each). The cheapest overall company may not provide the most affordable insurance for LLCs and sole proprietors.
Most affordable option for LLCs
Third cheapest insurer for sole proprietors
Least financially stable company
Doesn’t provide the fastest quotes
Next provides the cheapest general liability insurance for LLCs with 20 employees in Washington, with an average cost of $41 per month. Sole proprietors with no employees could pay an average of $25 per month, which is the third cheapest in this segment. It takes just over one minute to get a quote with Next.
Possible drawbacks include the company’s financial stability rating. Its AM Best rating of A- indicates that it might face problems when dealing with its existing financial obligations. It is the lowest rating of the companies we evaluated.
Best General Liability Insurance for Employers in Washington
Nationwide provides the best general liability insurance for employers in Washington, earning a MoneyGeek score of 96 out of 100. We based our rankings on average monthly costs for LLCs with 20 employees. The average cost of getting general liability insurance for an LLC from Nationwide is $58 per month.
How much you pay for general liability insurance depends on the number of employees you have. Companies with more employees will have higher rates, while those with fewer will pay less.
Is the second most affordable insurer for LLCs
Excellent customer satisfaction
Is a financially sound
Takes the longest to provide online quotes
Nationwide is the best general liability insurance provider for employers in Washington because of its pricing, customer satisfaction levels and financial stability. As an LLC with 20 employees, you could pay an average of $58 per month, which is the second cheapest for this business type.
This company has the lowest rate of complaints filed at the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), which indicates high levels of customer satisfaction. Its AM Best rating of A+ indicates strong financial stability, which means it should be able to meet its ongoing financial obligations easily.
Best General Liability Insurance for Sole Proprietors in Washington
biBERK provides the best general liability insurance for sole proprietors in Washington. It received a MoneyGeek score of 97 out of 100. Our rankings take into account costs for sole proprietors with no employees. If you select biBERK, expect to pay an average of $23 per month. Costs tend to be higher for those to work in risky industries such as construction, manufacturing and transportation.
Provides the second cheapest general liability insurance for sole proprietors
Ranks well in customer satisfaction
High financial stability
Takes longer than most other insurers to provide online quotes
We selected biBERK as the best general liability insurance company for sole proprietors in Washington because of its pricing, customer satisfaction levels and financial stability. It offers the second cheapest general liability insurance for sole proprietors with no employees, charging an average of $23 per month.
Data from the NAIC shows that biBERK has a low rate of complaints, which means it provides good customer service. This company even has the best possible rating from AM Best, which goes to show it can meet its ongoing financial obligations with ease.
Do You Need General Liability Insurance in Washington?
There is no legal requirement to get general liability insurance as a business owner in Washington. However, you may consider purchasing it because it offers protection from financial losses you might face due to claims or lawsuits surrounding third-party bodily injury, third-party property damage and other scenarios. You may need to get this type of business insurance to sign a lease, obtain a specific license or win a particular contract.
The state of Washington requires most businesses to have workers’ compensation insurance no matter how many employees they have. If your business has company-owned vehicles, getting commercial auto insurance is necessary, and you need to account for these minimum limits:
- $25,000 per person
- $50,000 per accident for bodily injury
- $10,000 for property damage
How Much Is General Liability Insurance in Washington?
The average cost of getting general liability insurance in Washington for an LLC with 20 employees is $81 per month. For sole proprietors with no employees, the average cost stands at $28 per month.
These averages are for policies that have a $2 million aggregate limit, a $1 million occurrence limit and a $0 deductible.
The aggregate limit denotes the maximum amount an insurance company might pay toward claims through the entire course of a policy’s term. The occurrence limit is the maximum an insurer might pay toward each claim. The deductible highlights the amount you need to pay on your own before your insurer starts contributing.
Factors That Impact General Liability Insurance Costs in Washington
The cost of getting general liability insurance for an LLC or for a sole proprietorship depends on different factors.
Frequently Asked Questions About General Liability Insurance in Washington
Looking at answers to some commonly asked questions about general liability insurance in Washington might enable you to make an appropriate decision about your insurance needs for your business.
About Melissa Wylie
Melissa Wylie is a Content and SEO Manager at MoneyGeek. Melissa has worked in the financial content space since 2018 and has spent much of that time focused on all things small business.
Prior to joining MoneyGeek, Melissa held SEO positions at Bankrate and LendingTree. Melissa’s work has also appeared on LendingTree-owned websites ValuePenguin and MagnifyMoney.
Melissa began her career at American City Business Journals in 2015 as a reporter for the company’s women-focused publication Bizwomen. Melissa has a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of North Texas. Melissa relies on her foundation in journalism to craft content that simplifies complex financial topics to help everyone feel confident when making decisions with their money.
Melissa's other work can be read on LendingTree and Bizwomen.
sources
- Small Business Guide. "Small Business Guidance." Accessed May 10, 2023.