Updated: October 13, 2025

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Key Takeaways
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Contractor business insurance costs between $1,706 and $5,269 annually, varying by your coverage needs, state and specific contracting field.

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Your contractor insurance rates depend on where you work, past claims and how many employees you have.

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Shop multiple business insurers, combine policies, raise deductibles and pay yearly to lower your contractor insurance costs .

How Much Is Insurance for a Contractor Business?

We found average business insurance costs for Contractor companies for commonly needed coverage are as follows:

  • Recommended Contractor Insurance Bundle: $607 per month or $7,280 yearly for a combined BOP, workers' comp and professional liability bundle.
  • General Liability Price: $256 monthly or $3,067 annually
  • Workers' Comp Price: $166 per month or $1,990 per year
  • Professional Liability Price: $63 per month or $759 annually
  • Business Owner's Policy (BOP) Price: $378 monthly or $4,531 annually
BOP$378$4,531
General Liability$256$3,067
Professional Liability (E&O)$63$759
Workers' Comp$166$1,990

Note: We based these rates on small businesses with two employees across 79 major industries, focusing on four coverage types: general liability, professional liability/errors and omissions (E&O), workers' comp and business owner's policy. Your actual rates will vary based on your specific business factors and location.

Get Matched to Cheap Contractor Business Insurers

Select your industry and state to get a customized quote.

Industry
State

Contractor Business Insurance Cost of General Liability Coverage by State

Your contractor business insurance cost for general liability coverage varies by location. Maine contractors pay just $222 monthly compared to the $256 national average, while New York reaches $298 monthly.

Alabama$251$3,010
Alaska$225$2,699
Arizona$242$2,903
Arkansas$246$2,948
California$285$3,423
Colorado$254$3,047
Connecticut$278$3,340
Delaware$275$3,299
Florida$277$3,327
Georgia$260$3,122
Hawaii$263$3,157
Idaho$243$2,913
Illinois$281$3,374
Indiana$250$2,997
Iowa$244$2,926
Kansas$249$2,985
Kentucky$237$2,844
Louisiana$285$3,421
Maine$222$2,664
Maryland$244$2,932
Massachusetts$269$3,224
Michigan$243$2,910
Minnesota$240$2,882
Mississippi$257$3,088
Missouri$253$3,035
Montana$255$3,060
Nebraska$242$2,907
Nevada$290$3,474
New Hampshire$255$3,056
New Jersey$290$3,483
New Mexico$258$3,091
New York$298$3,577
North Carolina$222$2,664
North Dakota$223$2,672
Ohio$238$2,851
Oklahoma$237$2,841
Oregon$238$2,854
Pennsylvania$296$3,547
Rhode Island$281$3,377
South Carolina$264$3,165
South Dakota$239$2,873
Tennessee$250$2,997
Texas$258$3,100
Utah$243$2,915
Vermont$246$2,951
Virginia$233$2,798
Washington$291$3,495
West Virginia$269$3,224
Wisconsin$251$3,016
Wyoming$237$2,842

Note: We based these general liability rates on contractor businesses with two employees across different states. Your rates will vary based on your location and claims history.

Contractor Business Insurance Cost of Workers’ Compensation Coverage by State

The cost of workers' compensation insurance for contractor businesses differs across states. North Carolina has the most affordable rates at $142 monthly, while New York reaches $193 monthly. State regulations and regional claim histories affect these pricing variations between locations.

Alabama$163
Alaska$152
Arizona$156
Arkansas$157
California$185
Colorado$164
Connecticut$179
Delaware$179
Florida$177
Georgia$169
Hawaii$173
Idaho$157
Illinois$180
Indiana$162
Iowa$157
Kansas$160
Kentucky$155
Louisiana$188
Maine$144
Maryland$158
Massachusetts$173
Michigan$158
Minnesota$156
Mississippi$165
Missouri$165
Montana$165
Nebraska$157
Nevada$189
New Hampshire$165
New Jersey$188
New Mexico$167
New York$193
North Carolina$142
Oklahoma$154
Oregon$154
Pennsylvania$191
Rhode Island$183
South Carolina$170
South Dakota$155
Tennessee$160
Texas$167
Utah$159
Vermont$159
Virginia$152
West Virginia$174
Wisconsin$164

Note: We based these workers' comp rates on contractor businesses with two employees across different states. Your workers' comp requirements and costs will vary by state since each has different regulations.

Contractor Business Insurance Cost of Professional Liability Coverage by State

Your professional liability cost will vary by state. This coverage averages $63 monthly nationwide. North Carolina offers the most affordable rates at $55 monthly, while Pennsylvania ranks highest at $74 monthly.

Note: We based these professional liability rates on contractor businesses with two employees across different states. Your actual rates will depend on your services offered and location.

Contractor Business Insurance Cost of BOP Coverage by State

Your contractor business insurance costs will vary depending on your state, with business owner's policy (BOP) coverage showing the biggest differences. BOP insurance cost ranges from $325 in Alaska to $439 in Pennsylvania for the same coverage level.

Alabama$372
Alaska$325
Arizona$356
Arkansas$360
California$427
Colorado$381
Connecticut$411
Delaware$400
Florida$408
Georgia$392
Hawaii$377
Idaho$366
Illinois$412
Indiana$367
Iowa$357
Kansas$364
Kentucky$349
Louisiana$414
Maine$326
Maryland$367
Massachusetts$398
Michigan$365
Minnesota$355
Mississippi$383
Missouri$370
Montana$380
Nebraska$355
Nevada$428
New Hampshire$383
New Jersey$427
New Mexico$384
New York$435
North Carolina$332
North Dakota$330
Ohio$349
Oklahoma$349
Oregon$350
Pennsylvania$439
Rhode Island$418
South Carolina$384
South Dakota$358
Tennessee$372
Texas$377
Utah$355
Vermont$362
Virginia$342
Washington$424
West Virginia$400
Wisconsin$369
Wyoming$358

Note: We based these BOP rates on contractor businesses with two employees across different states. Your actual rates will vary based on your business size, location, and coverage needs.

Contractor Business Insurance Cost by Provider

Contractor business insurance costs vary widely by provider, ranging from $173 to $250 monthly. These price differences reflect each insurer's specific market focus and risk appetite, which shift over time based on profitability and coverage expansion opportunities.

Chubb$250$3,005
Coverdash$215$2,585
Hiscox$238$2,862
NEXT Insurance$234$2,812
Nationwide$248$2,970
Progressive Commercial$226$2,707
Simply Business$201$2,408
The Hartford$176$2,114
Thimble$208$2,491
biBERK$173$2,081

Contractor Business Insurance Cost by Sub-Industry

For contractor business industry types, their insurance can cost anywhere between $54 to $836 monthly depending on the coverage type chosen. Below you can review costs by contractor sub-industry:

  • Electrical: Ranges from $58 to $156
  • Excavation: Ranges from $68 to $692 per month
  • Handyman: Ranges from $54 to $363 per month
  • HVAC: Ranges from $63 to $361 per month
  • Painting: Ranges from $64 to $211 per month
  • Plumbing: Ranges from $64 to $535 per month
  • Roofing: Ranges from $97 to $836 per month
  • Welding: Ranges from $77 to $244 per month
Data filtered by:
BOP
Construction$228$2,736
Electrical$166$1,989
Excavation$692$8,299
Handyman$363$4,353
HVAC$361$4,337
Painting$211$2,536
Plumbing$535$6,415
Roofing$567$6,806
Welding$244$2,928

Contractor Business Insurance Cost Factors

Contractor business insurance costs vary based on different factors insurers review when they price your coverage.

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    Geographic location

    Local labor costs, material prices and permitting all factor into your operating environment. Contractors in expensive coastal markets have higher overhead, including steeper insurance premiums than those working inland.

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    Safety record and claims history

    Job-site accidents and warranty claims create lasting marks on your insurance profile. Whether it's subcontractor injuries, property damage during renovation or defects discovered years later, past incidents continue affecting what you pay.

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    Project scope and complexity

    Kitchen remodels and room additions sit at one end of the complexity spectrum. Ground-up custom homes or whole-building renovations involve coordinating more trades, longer timelines and greater opportunity for things to go wrong.

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    Employee count and payroll

    General contractors often maintain lean crews and rely heavily on subcontractors. Your own employees still require workers' comp coverage, while managing multiple subs introduces different liability concerns that insurers evaluate separately.

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    Certification

    Working with licensed, insured subs who carry proper coverage limits protects you from gaps. Contractors who verify certificates and maintain strong sub relationships have lower contingent liability exposure than those who hire whoever's available cheaply.

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    Business size and revenue

    Annual receipts tell insurers how many projects you juggle simultaneously and your maximum exposure. Contractors billing $300,000 handling three jobs at once operate differently than those managing $1.5 million across a dozen active sites.

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    Coverage limits

    Project contracts specify minimum insurance requirements you must meet before starting work. Basic residential jobs might accept $1 million, while commercial clients routinely demand $2 million to $5 million in liability plus additional insured endorsements.

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    Equipment and vehicle values

    Trailers, tools and work trucks form the core assets most general contractors (GCs) need to protect. Contractors who own heavy equipment or maintain well-stocked tool collections require more comprehensive inland marine coverage than those renting as needed.

How to Get Cheap Contractor Business Insurance

Reducing your contractor business insurance costs requires a mix of smart shopping and proactive business management. Our guide walks you through how to find the best cheap contractor insurance and maintain a strong risk profile for lasting savings.

  1. 1
    Choose the right coverage types for your business

    General contractors need liability insurance for property damage and injuries at job sites, professional liability for project management errors and construction defects, and workers' compensation for crew injuries. 

    Add commercial auto for work vehicles, inland marine for tools and equipment traveling between sites, completed operations for issues arising after projects finish, and subcontractor default insurance to protect against subcontractor failures.

  2. 2
    Shop multiple insurance companies

    Contractor premiums depend on your trade specialization, project size and whether you primarily manage subcontractors or perform hands-on work. Contractor-focused insurers understand certificate of insurance requirements, additional insured endorsements and waiver of subrogation clauses that general contractors frequently need.

  3. 3
    Bundle your coverage types

    Combining general liability, professional liability, and commercial auto can save 19% to 28% compared to purchasing separately. Many insurers offer contractor packages, including tools, equipment and completed operations, at reduced bundle rates.

  4. 4
    Increase your deductibles

    Higher deductibles of $2,500 to $10,000 can reduce premiums by 23% to 32%, which works for contractors handling larger projects with stronger cash reserves. Keep general liability deductibles moderate since property damage claims, worksite injuries or defective work can escalate to lawsuits.

  5. 5
    Pay annually instead of monthly

    Monthly installment plans add 6% to 11% in processing fees, which, on a $15,000 contractor policy, costs $900 to $1,650 extra annually. Paying upfront eliminates these charges and earns 5% to 9% discounts from contractor carriers.

  6. 6
    Review and adjust your coverage annually

    Review your policy whenever you hire employees, take on larger projects requiring higher limits, or expand your scope of work into new trades. Safety training programs can qualify for premium discounts.

Insurance for Contractor Business Cost: Bottom Line

Contractor business insurance costs range from $142 to $439 monthly, with your location, claims history and business size driving your actual premium. Getting quotes from multiple insurers, bundling your policies, choosing higher deductibles and paying annually instead of monthly helps you find more affordable rates.

Contractor Insurance Cost: FAQ

Contractor business owners commonly ask about insurance costs. We answered the most frequent questions below:

What is the cheapest type of contractor business insurance?

How much does contractor business insurance cost in expensive states like California and New York?

How much can I save by bundling my contractor business insurance policies?

What factors make my contractor business insurance more expensive?

Should I choose a $500 or $2,500 deductible for my contractor business insurance?

How much does workers' compensation cost for contractor businesses by state?

Is business owner's policy (BOP) worth the extra cost for contractor companies?

How often should I shop around for contractor business insurance quotes?

How We Determined Contractor Business Insurance Costs

We collected contractor business insurance quotes from companies across different states. For consistent comparisons, every quote used the same business setup:

  • Two employees (three people in total, including the owner)
  • $150,000 annual payroll
  • $300,000 annual revenue
  • Already insured status
  • $1 million per occurrence and $2 million total per year for all coverage except BOP, which includes the same limits plus $5,000 business property coverage

We used a typical small contractor business profile requiring comprehensive coverage. We chose companies offering broad national coverage and online quote capabilities, prioritizing insurers that serve the contractor industry.

About Mark Fitzpatrick


Mark Fitzpatrick headshot

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!

He writes about economics and insurance, breaking down complex topics so people know what they're buying.


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