Customer satisfaction, pricing, financial stability and the online quote process are the primary factors we considered when determining companies that provide the best general liability insurance in Wisconsin.

Our top recommendation for the best overall insurer is Thimble, charging sole proprietors with no employees an average of $22 per month and $57 for limited liability companies (LLCs) with 20 employees.

We also rated general liability insurance providers for affordability and found that the cheapest provider in Wisconsin is Next, with an average monthly cost of $25 for both LLCs with 20 employees and sole proprietors.

MoneyGeek Logo IconBest General LiabilityWisconsin
2024

Best General Liability Insurance in Wisconsin

Why Trust MoneyGeek? We collected 1,229 general liability insurance quotes and analyzed cost information alongside customer satisfaction and financial stability reports to determine the best general liability insurance companies for small businesses in Wisconsin.

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Coverage costs and company information for general liability insurance providers in Wisconsin were last updated in 2023.

1,229Quotes Analyzed
 
6 Companies Compared
 
50 Zip Codes

Best Overall General Liability Insurance in Wisconsin

The best general liability insurance in Wisconsin comes from Thimble, with a MoneyGeek score of 91 out of 100. Based on our unique scoring system, Thimble ranks highly on affordability and online quote process scores. You can use the following table to compare costs and MoneyGeek scores between various companies we evaluated in Wisconsin.

How was this MoneyGeek score calculated?

ThimbleMoneyGeek Score91Monthly Cost Without Employees$22Monthly Cost With 20 Employees$57
NationwideMoneyGeek Score90Monthly Cost Without Employees$33Monthly Cost With 20 Employees$35
NextMoneyGeek Score89Monthly Cost Without Employees$25Monthly Cost With 20 Employees$25
The HartfordMoneyGeek Score88Monthly Cost Without Employees$31Monthly Cost With 20 Employees$54
HiscoxMoneyGeek Score84Monthly Cost Without Employees$29Monthly Cost With 20 Employees$99
Best OverallScore: 91
Thimble
3/5LLC Affordability
5/5Sole Proprietor Affordability
2/5Customer Satisfaction
3/5Financial Stability
5/5Online Quote Process
PROS

The cheapest general liability insurance provider for sole proprietors

The fastest online quoting process

High financial stability

CONS

Receives more customer complaints than most insurers

Not the cheapest for LLCs

Company Highlights

Thimble is the front-runner in our scoring system of Wisconsin general liability insurance because of its perfect blend of high affordability score, AM Best rating and fast time to obtain a quote from its online platform.

The company offers the lowest monthly premium for sole proprietors, charging about $22 per month. It’s the second most expensive option for LLCs, costing $57 monthly.

Its financial stability rating is one of the highest, indicating that the insurer is financially capable of paying out claims. However, Thimble had the second-highest customer complaints rating compared to its competitors.

Cheapest General Liability Insurance in Wisconsin

The company with the most affordable general liability insurance in Wisconsin is Next, costing an average monthly rate of $25 for sole proprietors and LLCs.

The affordability rating in our scoring system relies on monthly premiums for LLCs and sole proprietors, each weighted at 50%. The winning company may fail to have the lowest cost for limited companies and sole proprietors.

How was this MoneyGeek score calculated?

CheapestScore: 96
Next
5/5LLC Affordability
4/5Sole Proprietor Affordability
0/5Customer Satisfaction
2/5Financial Stability
4/5Online Quote Process
PROS

Cheap coverage for sole proprietors

Most affordable option for LLCs

CONS

Low financial stability rating

Doesn’t have the fastest quote times

Company Highlights

Next offers the lowest monthly premiums for Wisconsin residents seeking general liability insurance. The insurer has the cheapest policies across the five companies we evaluated for LLCs, costing $25 per month. It is also the most affordable for sole proprietors, with an average monthly cost of $25.

You will spend around a minute obtaining a quote from Next’s online platform. Although the company scored A- from AM Best, its competitors had higher ratings, meaning they are more likely to process your claims despite being more expensive.

Best General Liability Insurance for Employers in Wisconsin

Nationwide has the best general liability insurance for Wisconsin employers, earning 96 out of 100 in MoneyGeek’s scoring system. Policies from the insurer cost an average of $35 per month.

Our scores for LLCs are based on companies with a staff headcount of 20. General liability insurance rates differ for companies based on employee count. As such, costs may be lower for businesses with fewer employees and higher for those with more than 20 employees.

How was this MoneyGeek score calculated?

Best for EmployersScore: 96
Nationwide
4/5LLC Affordability
5/5Customer Satisfaction
4/5Financial Stability
3/5Online Quote Process
PROS

Affordable rates

Receives few customer complaints

Good financial stability

CONS

Slow online quote process

Company Highlights

Wisconsin employers can find a balance of low costs, high financial stability and excellent customer satisfaction from Nationwide, our top selection for LLCs with an employee count of 20.

The insurer has a reputation for settling customer claims, assuring employers of protection in case of any work-related bodily injury or property damage due to covered accidents. Nationwide also receives the lowest customer complaints, indicating a high likelihood of meeting policyholders' expectations. Its average monthly cost is the second lowest of the insurers we researched.

Best General Liability Insurance for Sole Proprietors in Wisconsin

Scoring 95 out of 100 in our ranking system, Thimble topped our list for providing the best general liability insurance in Wisconsin for sole proprietors. Buyers pay an average of $22 per month.

The quotes used in our ranking are for sole proprietors with no employees. Actual rates may increase for those in businesses that have a high risk of injury, such as individuals in the construction industry.

How was this MoneyGeek score calculated?

Best for Sole ProprietorsScore: 95
Thimble
5/5Sole Proprietor Affordability
2/5Customer Satisfaction
3/5Financial Stability
5/5Online Quote Process
PROS

The most affordable insurance company for sole proprietors

High financial stability

Fast quote estimates

CONS

Has more complaints than other companies evaluated

Company Highlights

If you are a sole proprietor, we recommend a policy from Thimble for your general liability insurance. You will pay about $22 per month, the lowest compared to other companies included in our research.

Thimble’s financial strength of A+ from AM Best indicates its capability to process your filed claims. Interested buyers can obtain an online quote from the insurer’s website in less than 20 seconds. While the company scores a bit lower on customer satisfaction, it still stands out in cost, financial stability and quote times, making it our top pick for sole proprietors.

Do You Need General Liability Insurance in Wisconsin?

While general liability insurance is not required for companies, it can be good to have it to ensure you are financially protected in the event of a lawsuit. This insurance covers:

  • Bodily injury: This includes medical expenses for third parties, such as customers, if they get injured while at your business premise.
  • Property damage: Any third-party property damage costs will be covered by your general liability insurance if the loss occurs while at your business.
  • Personal and advertising injury: This includes legal costs and damages if your employee or business gets sued for copyright infringement, slander or libel.

Although general liability insurance is not mandatory in Wisconsin, you may not be able to acquire certain contracts or business licenses.

You need to purchase business insurance in the form of workers’ compensation in Wisconsin if you have at least three employees. You will also need commercial car insurance policies for company-owned cars with the following limits:

  • $25,000 bodily injury protection per person
  • $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
  • $10,000 property damage protection per accident
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SMALL BUSINESS RESOURCES IN WISCONSIN

The Wisconsin Small Business Development Center offers small businesses training, consultation, referrals, tools and resources that spearhead business growth. The statewide network provides its services through regional experts and enables business owners to get financing, launch enterprises, grow existing companies and determine the feasibility of their business plans.

How Much Is General Liability Insurance in Wisconsin?

In Wisconsin, general liability insurance costs an average of $28 per month for sole proprietors without employees and $54 per month for LLCs with 20 employees. These rates represent a policy with a $2 million aggregate limit, a $1 million occurrence limit and no deductible.

A general liability insurance’s aggregate limit is the maximum amount paid by a provider on a customer’s claims during the active period of the policy. The occurrence limit refers to the maximum amount an insurer can pay for individual claims. The deductible amount is often the responsibility of business owners and refers to how much they pay out of pocket before the insurer settles a claim.

Factors That Impact General Liability Insurance Costs in Wisconsin

The following key factors influence how much business owners pay for a general liability insurance policy.

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    Policy limits

    Your general liability insurance comprises two types of policy limits, including the occurrence limit and the aggregate limit. The higher these limits are, the more costly your policy will be and vice versa.

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    Number of employees and payroll costs

    The cost of general liability insurance varies based on your business location. Insurance providers quote higher premiums for businesses in densely populated areas due to the increased possibility of filing claims. Statewide averages may vary on the city level.

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    Business location

    Your premiums will increase with higher employee counts and payroll costs. For example, a sole proprietor in Wisconsin pays around $26 less per month than an LLC owner with 20 employees.

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    Claims history

    Businesses that remain claims-free over some time tend to pay lower costs for a general liability insurance policy than those who file claims constantly. This is because they are viewed as less risky to insure.

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    Industry

    Some industries are riskier to insure than others, resulting in more monthly costs for general liability insurance. For instance, the construction industry has a high level of risk, and businesses will pay more than other industries. The following table lets you compare average costs in Wisconsin based on the industry you are in.

Software DevelopmentMonthly Cost Without Employees$28Monthly Cost With 20 Employees$54
CleaningMonthly Cost Without Employees$75Monthly Cost With 20 Employees$1,290
General ContractorMonthly Cost Without Employees$205Monthly Cost With 20 Employees$2,309

Frequently Asked Questions About General Liability Insurance in Wisconsin

The best provider for a general liability insurance policy in Wisconsin depends on various factors. We answered some common questions to offer additional information to guide your decision-making process.

Which company has the best general liability insurance in Wisconsin?
Which company has the cheapest general liability insurance in Wisconsin?
What does general liability insurance cover in Wisconsin?
Does Wisconsin require businesses to have general liability insurance?

About Melissa Wylie


Melissa Wylie headshot

Melissa Wylie is the Content and SEO Manager at MoneyGeek, with nearly a decade of editorial experience and six years of work in financial content focused on small businesses. She previously held SEO positions at Bankrate and LendingTree, with bylines on ValuePenguin and MagnifyMoney.

Wylie has a journalism degree from the University of North Texas. Her strong foundation in journalism helps her craft content that simplifies complex financial topics to help everyone feel confident when making decisions with their money.


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