Nationwide emerged as the top contender for Washington’s best general liability insurance in MoneyGeek’s analysis, scoring 95 out of 100. However, The Hartford, NEXT, Hiscox, and Thimble are also great options for general liability policies.
Best General Liability Insurance in Washington
Updated: June 20, 2025
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Key Takeaways
Overall, the best general liability insurance company in Washington 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 Washington is offered by Thimble at $24 per month. For LLCs, NEXT is the most affordable option at $44 a month.
General liability insurance costs in Washington depend on your industry, and we found they can range from $31 to $4,133 per month on average.
Best Cheap General Liability Insurance in Washington
| Nationwide | 95 | $41 | $62 |
| The Hartford | 93 | $36 | $77 |
| NEXT | 90 | $27 | $44 |
| Hiscox | 88 | $32 | $97 |
| Thimble | 81 | $24 | $154 |
*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
Our choice for Washington's best general liability insurance goes to Nationwide for delivering both budget-friendly premiums and an excellent customer experience. Ranking tied for first with the lowest NAIC claims ratio and second for LLC affordability, businesses typically pay $492 annually.
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 top choice for budget-conscious Washington businesses is NEXT for general liability insurance. At $27 monthly for sole proprietorships and $44 for LLCs, it's hard to beat their pricing. While the company's claims ratio runs higher than competitors we've evaluated statewide, they compensate with a hassle-free enrollment process and instant proof of coverage.
How Much Is General Liability Insurance in Washington?
An average general liability insurance policy in Washington typically costs around $31 per month for sole proprietors and $87 per month for LLCs. However, this only represents software development companies and the costs can vary widely by industry.
| Cleaning | $1,958 | $61 |
| General Contractor | $4,133 | $162 |
| Software Development | $87 | $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 Washington
General liability insurance costs can fluctuate based on a number of different factors in Washington. 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 tends to increase costs, while choosing lower limits generally leads to more affordable premiums.
Number of employees and payroll costs
Businesses with a large workforce and high payroll expenses often see an increase in general liability insurance costs. This trend is evident in our analysis of LLCs and sole proprietorships.
Business location
Where your business operates can significantly affect your insurance expenses. Keep in mind that state averages might differ from city to city, so it's important to consider these variations when assessing your coverage needs.
Claims history
A record of multiple claims can make a business appear riskier to insurers, leading to higher premiums.
Industry
Industries with higher risk levels, like construction, usually incur greater general liability insurance costs.
Washington General Liability Insurance: Buyer's Guide
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 Washington, 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 way to judge whether a company is saving 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. This may mean you don’t need extra coverage.
- 4
Compare multiple options through different means
Comparing multiple companies helps 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 for 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 Washington?
Like in most states, general liability insurance isn't expressly required by state law and instead varies by your industry. However, if you want to apply for a professional license, sign a contract with a larger company, or sign an office lease, 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 usually covers most damages over a year. However, your industry's risks and operation size might require higher coverage than standard.
WHO MAY NEED MORE COVERAGE
Certain businesses face more risks than others. Companies in health services, construction, contracting, hospitality, and retail often see costly insurance claims. If your business is part of these sectors, think about getting more coverage. Bigger companies or those serving more customers should also check their insurance to make sure it's enough.
Best General Liability Insurance in Washington: Bottom Line
Overall the best general liability insurance companies in Washington 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 Washington: FAQ
Below, we address frequently asked questions regarding general liability insurance in Washington:
Which company has the best general liability insurance in Washington?
MoneyGeek's leading choice for general liability insurance in Washington is Nationwide, which earned an overall score of 95 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 Washington?
For sole proprietors, Thimble offers the most affordable general liability insurance in Washington at $24 per month ($288 annually). For LLCs with employees, NEXT provides the cheapest coverage at $44 per month ($528 annually).
Does Washington require businesses to have general liability insurance?
In Washington, it’s not a requirement to carry general liability insurance, yet securing such a policy is a prudent decision to shield your business against financial losses from third-party liabilities.
How We Chose the Best General Liability Insurance Providers in Washington
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 AM 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.