Best Tree Service Business Insurance

Finding the right business insurance for your tree service company protects your finances when accidents happen. NEXT earned our top spot with a MoneyGeek score of 4.67 out of 5, thanks to its competitive rates, quality customer service and comprehensive coverage options for tree care businesses. The Hartford and Thimble also ranked highly for arborists and tree removal companies seeking reliable financial protection.

Note: We based all scores on a tree service business with two employees across professional liability, general liability, workers' comp and BOP policies.

Based on our study of business insurance pricing, Thimble offers the cheapest overall coverage for tree service companies at $100 monthly or $1,203 annually. It ranks first for BOP and general liability insurance, making it the most affordable choice for arborists and tree care businesses. For workers' compensation and professional liability coverage, consider comparing quotes from NEXT, The Hartford and Progressive Commercial to find the best rates for your tree removal business.

In general, business insurance costs for tree service companies are as follows for the four most popular coverage types:

• General Liability: $131 on average per month, ranging from $49 to $255, depending on the state
• Workers' Comp: $221 on average per month, ranging from $207 to $256, depending on the state
• Professional Liability (E&O): $75 on average per month, ranging from $68 to $88, depending on the state
• BOP Insurance: $192 on average per month, ranging from $76 to $381, depending on the state

Your tree service company's insurance needs begin with workers' compensation when you employ a crew, then add general liability and commercial auto to protect against the industry's most frequent claims. Don't skip tools and equipment coverage, professional liability or cyber insurance if you collect customer information digitally.

Finding the best and cheapest business insurance for your tree service company requires a strategic approach. Follow our step-by-step method for getting business insurance that balances comprehensive coverage with affordable rates.

Tree service companies need solid protection: general liability, workers' compensation, commercial auto and equipment coverage. NEXT is as the best business insurance for arborists, balancing strong customer service with comprehensive coverage options. Tree care businesses watching costs can get general liability through Thimble for $49 monthly.

We answer common questions about tree service business insurance:

Tree service companies encounter unique risks that generic small business rankings can't address. Workers climb trees near power lines, operate dangerous equipment and handle emergency storm cleanup. Our analysis focused specifically on which insurers understand these arborist-specific dangers and price their policies accordingly.

Our scoring system weighs four factors:

Affordability (50%): Premium costs determine whether tree service businesses can maintain coverage long term. We gathered quotes for four core coverage types using a standardized three-person business profile and compared each insurer's pricing against competitors. Lower costs relative to competition earned higher scores.

Customer service (30%): Claims experiences matter most when a climber gets injured or your bucket truck damages a customer's property. Our analysis combined industry studies, customer review forums and Reddit discussions to gauge how tree service contractors rate their insurers' responsiveness and claims handling.

Coverage (15%): Tree care operations need specialized protection for climbing gear, chippers, stump grinders and bucket trucks. We scored insurers on coverage flexibility, payment options and whether their policies actually protect the equipment arborists use daily.

Financial stability (5%): AM Best and Moody's ratings reveal which insurers can pay claims when your crew damages expensive property or a worker needs long-term care. We created composite ratings showing relative claim-paying reliability across competitors.

Base profile details: All pricing reflects a three-person tree service business with two employees, $150,000 payroll and $300,000 annual revenue. Coverage includes $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate annually (BOP policies add $5,000 business property coverage). This profile represents typical small tree care operations across all states.