Thimble and The Hartford are tied at our top spot for the best small business insurer for painting companies due to their affordability and stability. However, we recommend comparing quotes from our other top picks, including NEXT and Nationwide.
Best Painting Business Insurance
Updated: July 11, 2025
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Key Takeaways
Thimble and The Hartford are tied as the best business insurance company for painting firms because they offer the best mix of low rates and stability.
The cheapest overall commercial insurance provider for painting businesses is Thimble, with low monthly rates for various coverage types.
To shop for business insurance for your painting business, assess the risks in your industry, consult agents and other similar organizations and compare multiple options.
Best Business Insurance for Painting Companies
| Thimble | 91 | 98 | 81 |
| The Hartford | 91 | 89 | 91 |
| NEXT Insurance | 89 | 84 | 94 |
| Nationwide | 89 | 86 | 91 |
| biBERK | 86 | 82 | 91 |
| Simply Business | 86 | 81 | 83 |
| Chubb | 85 | 80 | 87 |
| Coverdash | 85 | 81 | 83 |
| Progressive Commercial | 85 | 84 | 81 |
| Hiscox | 83 | 80 | 87 |
*All scores were based on a painting business with two employees across professional liability, general liability, workers' comp and BOP policies.
1. Thimble
pros
Cheapest pricing across all policies
Flexible short-term and monthly plans
Easy mobile-based quoting process
cons
Limited coverage for complex projects
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Thimble is the top choice for painting companies, offering the most affordable pricing across general liability, BOP and workers’ comp policies. It's built for flexibility; painters can buy coverage by the hour, day, or month directly from their phone.
Thimble is especially useful for solo operators or small crews who take on one-off residential or small commercial projects. While its platform is streamlined, it may not suit large-scale or multi-phase jobs requiring complex underwriting. Still, it offers great convenience and low prices for most small painting businesses.
2. The Hartford
pros
Cheapest professional liability pricing
Trusted claims support and brand strength
Excellent for long-term contractors
cons
Limited digital quote customization
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
The Hartford ranks second for painting businesses due to its strong all-around pricing and excellent financial reliability. It offers the lowest professional liability cost in our analysis—ideal for painters needing E&O protection on commercial jobs. Backed by an A+ from AM Best, The Hartford is dependable for claims support and policy stability. Its platform may not be the most tech-forward, but it’s a good choice for established painting companies that value long-term coverage relationships.
3. NEXT
pros
High customer satisfaction
Fast, paperless policy management
Competitive liability pricing
cons
Limited coverage customization
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
NEXT is a great choice for painting companies that want a digital-first insurance experience. With a 4.7‑out‑of‑5 rating, it does well with ease of use and customer service.
NEXT offers competitive rates for both professional liability and general liability policies, making it well-suited for residential painters and growing teams. While customization is limited, its simple process works well for those wanting to quote, buy and manage coverage online with minimal hassle.
Cheapest Business Insurance for Painting Firms
Based on our study of business insurance pricing, Thimble offers the cheapest overall commercial insurance for painting companies across most policy types. However, this applies only to painting companies with two employees, and you may find lower rates elsewhere. Below are the most affordable providers by major coverage types.
Cheapest General Liability Insurance for Painting Companies
With an average monthly rate of $43, Thimble offers the lowest-cost general liability insurance for painting companies. Even so, consider getting quotes from the next-most-affordable insurers: The Hartford and Nationwide.
| Thimble | $43 | $519 |
| The Hartford | $120 | $1,439 |
| Nationwide | $126 | $1,508 |
| Progressive Commercial | $144 | $1,730 |
| NEXT Insurance | $151 | $1,814 |
| Simply Business | $166 | $1,991 |
| biBERK | $171 | $2,047 |
| Coverdash | $171 | $2,050 |
| Chubb | $178 | $2,131 |
| Hiscox | $194 | $2,330 |
Cheapest Workers' Comp Insurance for Painting Companies
For painting businesses shopping for workers' comp insurance, Thimble tops our list as the most affordable insurer, with average rates of $60 per month or $719 yearly. However, you may also want to compare prices from other low-cost providers like Progressive Commercial, Hiscox, Simply Business and The Hartford.
| Thimble | $60 | $719 |
| Progressive Commercial | $65 | $776 |
| Hiscox | $67 | $804 |
| Simply Business | $67 | $801 |
| The Hartford | $68 | $815 |
| Coverdash | $69 | $822 |
| NEXT Insurance | $70 | $838 |
| biBERK | $71 | $847 |
| Nationwide | $75 | $903 |
| Chubb | $81 | $968 |
Cheapest Professional Liability Insurance for Painting Companies
The Hartford offers the most affordable professional liability insurance options for painting companies, with low average monthly rates of $57. You may also want to compare prices from other low-cost providers like NEXT, Progressive Commercial and Thimble.
| The Hartford | $57 | $683 |
| NEXT Insurance | $59 | $706 |
| Progressive Commercial | $60 | $725 |
| Hiscox | $63 | $759 |
| Simply Business | $63 | $758 |
| Thimble | $63 | $762 |
| Coverdash | $64 | $767 |
| biBERK | $66 | $789 |
| Nationwide | $69 | $823 |
| Chubb | $74 | $888 |
Cheapest BOP Insurance for Painting Companies
Thimble provides the most affordable business owner's policy (BOP) coverage for painting companies, with an average yearly cost of $806 for bundled general liability and property protection. That’s a savings of roughly $1,038 annually compared to The Hartford, the second most affordable option.
| Thimble | $67 | $806 |
| The Hartford | $154 | $1,844 |
| Nationwide | $187 | $2,239 |
| Progressive Commercial | $216 | $2,593 |
| NEXT Insurance | $219 | $2,624 |
| biBERK | $222 | $2,662 |
| Coverdash | $247 | $2,968 |
| Simply Business | $248 | $2,970 |
| Chubb | $266 | $3,196 |
| Hiscox | $293 | $3,516 |
What Type of Coverage Do You Need for a Painting Business?
If you have employees, you'll need workers' comp insurance in most states, and businesses that use vehicles must have commercial auto coverage. Many clients or contracts also require businesses to carry general liability insurance before starting work. A surety bond may also be necessary in certain industries, especially when contracts require guarantees of service or compliance.
RECOMMENDED PAINTING BUSINESS COVERAGE
You should get general liability insurance for your painting business because it covers common risks like bodily injury, property damage and legal defense costs. Professional liability insurance also works well if you work under client contracts or provide specialized services. This works well for painting businesses with commercial contracts or higher-risk work like technical, legal or customized services.
How to Get the Best Cheap Business Insurance for Your Painting Company
Here's a step-by-step method for finding the best and cheapest business insurance for your painting company.
- 1
Decide on coverage needs before buying
Think about what could go wrong in your business, get advice from similar businesses, talk to agents and research the types of business insurance. This will give you a balanced perspective on your coverage needs and prevent you from being convinced to get excessive coverage.
- 2
Research costs
For the best deal, research average costs for your business profile and determine which providers offer the cheapest rates overall. This will give you a measuring stick for how much you're saving when comparing quotes and which companies to start with.
- 3
Look into company reputations and coverage options
To narrow your options, research what customers say on online rating sites and forums to get a more comprehensive look at company services. Also, so you're covered for what you actually need, research coverage options to ensure you're covered for the right items.
- 4
Compare multiple quotes through different means
The best way to find the best deal is to compare multiple quotes for apples-to-apples coverage. Pricing differs by your comparison method, whether with captive agents, comparison sites, company websites or independent agents.
- 5
Reassess annually
Your business situation will change, influencing your rates and coverage needs. Repeat these steps annually to ensure you still have the best deal.
How to Decrease Your Painting Business's Liability Risk
Reducing liability risk helps painting businesses wanting to keep their insurance costs down. We've organized practical risk mitigation strategies by business type and risk level to help you find the right approach for your business.
Painting Business Risk Type | Included Types of Painting Businesses | Risk Mitigation Tactics |
|---|---|---|
Highest | Exterior high-rise painting, industrial facility painting, spray painting in enclosed spaces | Require fall protection certification and OSHA scaffolding training. Use lift and harness equipment with regular inspections. Provide respirators and proper ventilation when spraying. Enforce site-specific safety briefings and chemical storage protocols. |
Moderately High | Commercial interior painting, paint removal, lead-based paint remediation | Use PPE including gloves, goggles, and respirators. Train on lead-safe work practices and proper disposal. Require signed safety disclosures and pre-job walkthroughs. Document masking and containment procedures. |
Moderate | Residential painting (interior/exterior), deck or fence staining | Use drop cloths and caution signage to prevent trip hazards. Train on ladder safety and proper paint handling. Inspect work areas for fragile fixtures or high-value items. Require homeowner walk-throughs before and after work. |
Moderately Low | Furniture or cabinet refinishing, small surface touch-ups | Use ventilation and protective gear for enclosed spaces. Maintain clean, well-lit workstations. Use manufacturer-approved paint for surface compatibility. Keep MSDS sheets on hand for all materials. |
Lowest | Color consulting, paint estimating services | Provide written proposals and color samples. Maintain professional liability coverage. Avoid giving verbal guarantees about paint performance or longevity. Use signed approval forms before orders or recommendations. |
Best Insurance for Painting Business: Bottom Line
Thimble and The Hartford are tied for the best painting business insurance, with Thimble offering the most affordable rates overall. We also recommend getting quotes from The Hartford, Nationwide and NEXT. For the best deal, talk to agents, research providers and pricing and compare multiple quotes side by side.
Painting Business Insurance: FAQ
Below, we answer common questions about insurance for painting businesses.
Who offers the best painting business insurance overall?
Thimble and The Hartford are tied as the best business insurance for painting companies, with overall scores of 91 out of 100.
Who has the cheapest business insurance for painting companies?
Here are the cheapest business insurance companies for painting companies by coverage type:
- Cheapest general liability insurance: Thimble at $43 per month
- Cheapest workers' comp insurance: Thimble at $60 per month
- Cheapest professional liability insurance: The Hartford at $57 per month
- Cheapest BOP insurance: Thimble at $67 per month
What business insurance is required for painting organizations?
Workers' compensation insurance (if you have employees) and commercial auto insurance (if you own business vehicles) are legally required for painting businesses, with requirements varying by state. General liability insurance and surety bonds are not legally required but are effectively essential for most commercial clients and property leases.
How much does painting business insurance cost?
Business insurance costs for painting companies depend on your business size, number of employees and service risk. Below are average monthly costs for common types of coverage:
- General liability: $156 per month
- Workers comp: $69 per month
- Professional liability: $64 per month
- BOP insurance: $212 per month
How We Chose the Best Painting Business Insurance
We selected the best business insurer for painting companies based on the following criteria:
- Affordability (50% of score): The lower a company's costs compared to the competition based on our base profile for four core coverage types, the better it performs.
- Customer service (30% of score): We scored providers on overall customer satisfaction using industry studies, customer review forum ratings and public forum sentiment analysis from sites like Reddit.
- Coverage (15% of score): We scored business insurance for this category based on the flexibility, payment and actual coverage options.
- Financial stability (5% of score): Using financial stability industry ratings from companies like AM Best and Moody's, we created an overall rating to judge how likely a company is to pay out claims compared to the competition.
All pricing in this article is based on the following base profile to represent the vast majority of small businesses in all states:
- Painting business with two employees
- Coverage: $1 million per occurrence and $2 million total per year for all but BOP, which includes the same coverage plus $5,000 of business property coverage
- $150,000 in payroll
- $300,000 annual revenue
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.
sources
- AM Best. "Hartford Fire Insurance Company." Accessed June 16, 2025.
- NEXT. "Customer Reviews." Accessed June 16, 2025.