Business Insurance in Florida: Key Takeaways
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NEXT ranks first for best small business insurance in Florida with top customer service and competitive rates.

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Florida small business insurance costs $109 monthly ($1,306 annually) on average across general liability, workers' comp, professional liability and BOP.

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Choose the right small business insurance coverage by assessing risks, comparing quotes and maximizing discounts.

Best Small Business Insurance Companies in Florida

NEXT leads Florida business insurance with top-ranked customer service, affordable rates and strong coverage options. The Hartford and Simply Business are also solid choices for business owners throughout the Sunshine State.

NEXT Insurance4.63$10812
The Hartford4.59$9123
Simply Business4.49$10551
Nationwide4.47$11024
Coverdash4.41$10962
biBERK4.39$11325
Progressive Commercial4.32$10875
Thimble4.31$10185
Hiscox4.27$11646
Chubb4.27$12734

Note: This data represents a small business with 2 employees, $150,000 in payroll and $300,000 in annual revenue. All scores were calculated for four of the most common coverage types in the industry across 79 industries in the United States.

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RESEARCH THE BEST BUSINESS INSURANCE IN FLORIDA BY COVERAGE TYPE

Discover the best or cheapest business insurer in Florida for your desired coverage type in our resources below:

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NEXT

Best Florida Business Insurance

MoneyGeek Rating
4.6/ 5
4.5/5Affordability
4.7/5Customer Experience
4.8/5Coverage Points
  • Average Monthly Cost of General Liability Insurance

    $112
  • Average Monthly Cost of Workers' Comp Insurance

    $74
  • Our Survey: Digital Experience

    4.8/5 (1st)
  • Our Survey: Likely to Be Recommended to Others

    4.8/5 (1st)
Company Image
The Hartford

Cheapest Florida Business Insurance

MoneyGeek Rating
4.6/ 5
4.5/5Affordability
4.6/5Customer Experience
4.7/5Coverage Points
855-961-1962
  • Average Monthly Cost of General Liability Insurance

    $89
  • Average Monthly Cost of Workers' Comp Insurance

    $75
  • Our Survey: Claims Process

    4.5/5 (1st)
  • Our Survey: Agent Service

    4.7/5 (1st)
Company Image
Simply Business

Best Commercial Coverage Options in Florida

MoneyGeek Rating
4.5/ 5
4.5/5Affordability
4.2/5Customer Experience
4.9/5Coverage Points
  • Average Monthly Cost of General Liability Insurance

    $104
  • Average Monthly Cost of Workers' Comp Insurance

    $77
  • Our Research: Digital Experience

    4.5/5
  • Our Survey: Provider Service

    4.0/5

How Much Does Business Insurance Cost in Florida?

Business insurance costs in Florida vary widely, with monthly premiums ranging from $80 for workers' compensation to $160 for a business owner's policy. Industry and risk factors drive these price differences. Below you can compare average rates for the four most common business insurance types in the Sunshine State:

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

BOP$160$1,916
General Liability$112$1,345
Professional Liability (E&O)$84$1,009
Workers Comp$80$955

Note: We analyzed rates for your two-employee business across 79 industries, focusing on general liability, professional liability, workers' compensation and business owner's policies. Our Florida research covers the companies we surveyed and won't include every rate available to your specific business.

Florida Business Insurance Cost by Industry and Coverage

Business insurance costs in the Sunshine State range dramatically from $77 to $17,416 annually, with pricing determined by your specific industry and chosen coverage types. Compare Florida commercial insurance costs for your desired coverage type and industry below.

Data filtered by:
General Liability
Select
AccountantsGeneral Liability$24$288
Ad AgencyGeneral Liability$38$461
Auto RepairGeneral Liability$165$1,983
AutomotiveGeneral Liability$58$696
BakeryGeneral Liability$98$1,179
BarberGeneral Liability$48$578
Beauty SalonGeneral Liability$73$872
Bounce HouseGeneral Liability$76$917
CandleGeneral Liability$60$717
CannabisGeneral Liability$73$875
CateringGeneral Liability$95$1,144
CleaningGeneral Liability$144$1,729
Coffee ShopGeneral Liability$98$1,171
Computer ProgrammingGeneral Liability$32$379
Computer RepairGeneral Liability$52$622
ConstructionGeneral Liability$191$2,289
ConsultingGeneral Liability$24$286
ContractorGeneral Liability$277$3,327
CourierGeneral Liability$213$2,551
DJGeneral Liability$28$330
DaycareGeneral Liability$36$429
DentalGeneral Liability$23$281
Dog GroomingGeneral Liability$69$828
DroneGeneral Liability$18$218
EcommerceGeneral Liability$80$955
ElectricalGeneral Liability$122$1,467
EngineeringGeneral Liability$43$520
ExcavationGeneral Liability$507$6,078
FloristGeneral Liability$47$559
FoodGeneral Liability$117$1,405
Food TruckGeneral Liability$154$1,850
Funeral HomeGeneral Liability$66$788
GardeningGeneral Liability$122$1,466
HVACGeneral Liability$267$3,202
HandymanGeneral Liability$266$3,187
Home-basedGeneral Liability$26$310
Home-basedGeneral Liability$50$598
HospitalityGeneral Liability$71$851
JanitorialGeneral Liability$149$1,790
JewelryGeneral Liability$44$525
Junk RemovalGeneral Liability$177$2,121
Lawn/LandscapingGeneral Liability$131$1,569
LawyersGeneral Liability$25$298
ManufacturingGeneral Liability$69$834
MarineGeneral Liability$30$366
MassageGeneral Liability$104$1,251
Mortgage BrokerGeneral Liability$25$299
MovingGeneral Liability$135$1,619
NonprofitGeneral Liability$39$468
PaintingGeneral Liability$156$1,877
Party RentalGeneral Liability$86$1,038
Personal TrainingGeneral Liability$26$312
Pest ControlGeneral Liability$35$421
PetGeneral Liability$61$732
PharmacyGeneral Liability$67$806
PhotographyGeneral Liability$26$315
Physical TherapyGeneral Liability$120$1,437
PlumbingGeneral Liability$393$4,719
Pressure WashingGeneral Liability$996$11,950
Real EstateGeneral Liability$58$694
RestaurantGeneral Liability$158$1,892
RetailGeneral Liability$71$854
RoofingGeneral Liability$422$5,065
SecurityGeneral Liability$151$1,816
Snack BarsGeneral Liability$128$1,533
SoftwareGeneral Liability$29$343
Spa/WellnessGeneral Liability$116$1,393
Speech TherapistGeneral Liability$34$408
StartupGeneral Liability$31$373
Tech/ITGeneral Liability$29$344
TransportationGeneral Liability$41$491
TravelGeneral Liability$23$272
Tree ServiceGeneral Liability$141$1,694
TruckingGeneral Liability$112$1,339
TutoringGeneral Liability$33$395
VeterinaryGeneral Liability$49$585
Wedding PlanningGeneral Liability$30$361
WeldingGeneral Liability$179$2,152
WholesaleGeneral Liability$49$583
Window CleaningGeneral Liability$173$2,079

Note: We analyzed rates for your two-employee business across 79 industries, focusing on general liability, professional liability, workers' compensation and business owner's policies. Our Florida research covers the companies we surveyed and won't include every rate available to your specific business.

What Factors Affect Florida Business Insurance Costs?

Multiple business insurance cost variables in Florida shape your premium:

  • South Florida Litigation Concentration: Florida's litigation patterns create stark regional cost differences for business insurance. The tri-county area of Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade leads the state in litigated claims, with Central Florida's Seminole, Orange, Lake and Osceola counties ranking second. Insurers paid $1.5 billion in legal and adjustment expenses for 2022 claims alone—businesses in these high-litigation counties pay higher premiums than those in North Florida or rural areas.
  • Assignment of Benefits Crisis and 2023 Reform: Florida's Assignment of Benefits crisis drove lawsuits from 405 statewide in 2006 to 28,200 by 2016, inflating property insurance costs dramatically. Policies issued after January 1, 2023 eliminate post-loss benefit assignments, ending contractor-driven litigation for newer commercial properties. Businesses with older policies still experience AOB-related premium increases, while those purchasing coverage after 2023 benefit from reform-driven rate reductions.
  • Hurricane Exposure and Annual Rate Increases: Hurricane exposure dominates Florida's commercial property insurance market. Citizens purchased $3.56 billion in reinsurance for 2024, while commercial property rates increased 13% in March 2024 and will reach 15% annual caps by 2026. Hurricane Ian represented a 1-in-20 to 1-in-25 year event. Coastal businesses in Tampa Bay, Miami-Dade and the Panhandle pay the steepest premiums due to storm surge and wind exposure.
  • 2023 Tort Reform Reducing Liability Costs: Florida's 2023 tort reform through HB 837 reduced the general negligence statute of limitations from four years to two years and shifted to modified comparative negligence, where plaintiffs over 50% at fault cannot recover damages. The law eliminated one-way attorney fee provisions that automatically awarded plaintiffs fees against insurers. These changes reduce liability insurance costs, though businesses should expect gradual premium decreases as insurers adjust pricing models over 12 to 24 months.
  • Industry-Specific Workers' Compensation Thresholds: Florida mandates workers' compensation coverage at different thresholds by industry: construction businesses need coverage with just one employee, while non-construction businesses don't require it until four employees, and agricultural operations at six regular or 12 seasonal workers (30+ days). Construction businesses pay workers' compensation costs from hiring their first employee, creating immediate expenses that retail or service businesses defer until reaching four employees.

Florida Business Insurance Quotes

Compare rates from multiple Florida business insurers to find coverage that fits your needs and budget. Use MoneyGeek's quote tool below to connect with providers offering competitive rates for your industry.

Get Florida Business Insurance Quotes from the Best Insurers

Select your industry and state to get a customized quote for your Florida business.

Industry
State

Florida Business Insurance Requirements

Florida mandates business insurance coverage based on industry type, employee count and vehicle weight. Workers' compensation insurance, reemployment tax, commercial auto coverage and physician professional liability represent the state's core legal requirements, while alcohol manufacturers, tobacco distributors and contractors face additional surety bond mandates for licensing.

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    Florida workers' comp insurance requirements

    Florida requires workers' compensation coverage at different employee thresholds by industry: construction businesses need it with one employee, non-construction businesses at four employees and agricultural operations at six regular employees or 12 seasonal workers exceeding 30 days. Corporate officers and LLC members count toward these thresholds. Businesses without required coverage risk stop-work orders and $1,000 daily penalties, while contractors must verify subcontractors maintain proper workers' compensation or assume liability for their workers' injuries.

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    Florida commercial auto insurance requirements

    Florida statute requires business vehicles to carry $10,000 personal injury protection and $10,000 property damage liability per accident. Heavy commercial vehicles have higher requirements based on gross vehicle weight: $50,000 per occurrence for 26,000 to 35,000 pounds, $100,000 for 35,000 to 44,000 pounds and $300,000 for vehicles exceeding 44,000 pounds. Vehicles regulated by federal Department of Transportation must meet minimum financial responsibility requirements in 49 C.F.R. Part 387.

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    Florida professional liability insurance requirements

    Florida physicians must demonstrate financial responsibility as a licensing condition by obtaining professional liability coverage of $100,000 per claim with $300,000 annual aggregate, or establishing equivalent escrow accounts or letters of credit. Physicians performing surgery in ambulatory surgical centers or maintaining hospital staff privileges have higher requirements of $250,000 per claim with $750,000 annual aggregate. Exemptions apply to federal and state employees, teaching physicians at accredited medical schools, inactive license holders and part-time physicians meeting specific criteria.

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    Florida Reemployment Tax Requirements

    Florida businesses must pay reemployment tax when meeting any threshold: $1,500 quarterly payroll in a calendar year, one employee for any portion of a day during 20 weeks annually, five agricultural workers for 20 weeks or $10,000 quarterly agricultural payroll. New employers pay 2.7% on the first $7,000 in wages per employee annually, with rates adjusting after 10 quarters based on employment stability. Nonprofit organizations with four employees for 20 weeks must also comply.

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    Florida Surety Bond and Licensing Requirements

    Florida requires surety bonds for alcohol manufacturers and distributors under Florida Statutes Sections 561.37, 561.371 and 562.25, with state bonded warehouse operators posting bonds between $1,000 and $5,000. Cigarette and tobacco wholesale distributors must post surety bonds before license approval per Sections 210.05(3)(b), 210.08 and 210.40. Contractors seeking state licenses must demonstrate financial responsibility including potential surety bonds or insurance requirements, with financial responsibility officers for certain classifications required to provide $100,000 surety bonds.

What Business Insurance Coverage Is Recommended For Florida Companies?

Business insurance in Florida has heavier regulation, but you still can have flexibility to choose coverage that fits your specific needs. We've analyzed what works best for the major industries driving the Sunshine State's economy.

Restaurant

General liability, product liability, commercial property, equipment breakdown, business interruption, hurricane coverage, flood coverage, liquor liability, workers' compensation    

 

Hurricane season forces restaurants to close during evacuations, cutting off revenue for days or weeks while fixed costs continue. Outdoor dining setups face wind damage from tropical storms, and tourist-heavy areas see liability claims spike during peak season when inexperienced seasonal staff handle larger crowds.

Construction/Contractor

General liability, workers' compensation, commercial auto, builder's risk, professional liability, hurricane coverage, flood coverage, sinkhole coverage, mold coverage    

 

Sinkholes swallow equipment and destabilize structures overnight, while Florida's humidity breeds mold inside walls during construction delays. Coastal construction projects face storm surge flooding that destroys materials and compromises foundations, plus hurricane damage that halts work for weeks and triggers builder's risk claims.

Marine

Marine insurance, hull and machinery, marina operators liability, commercial fishing vessel, hurricane coverage, pollution liability, charter boat coverage, salvage coverage    

 

Hurricane evacuations force marina operators to shut down for days, losing charter revenue during peak tourist season. Vessel damage from storms totals millions, while fuel spills and sewage discharge in sensitive coastal waters trigger environmental cleanup costs and regulatory penalties.

Retail

General liability, commercial property, business interruption, hurricane coverage, flood coverage, cyber liability, commercial crime, tourist liability coverage    

 

Coastal retail stores lose revenue when hurricane warnings empty beaches and tourists evacuate, yet rent and payroll continue during closures. Wind damage to storefronts and flooding from storm surge destroy inventory, while seasonal tourism swings mean one storm wipes out your profitable quarter.

Landscaping/Lawn

General liability, commercial auto, workers' compensation, equipment coverage, hurricane damage coverage, flood coverage, heat-related illness coverage, pesticide liability    

 

Summer heat indexes above 105°F put landscaping crews at risk for heat stroke, while hurricane debris removal exposes workers to injury from unstable trees and hidden hazards. Year-round growing seasons mean constant pesticide application, increasing chemical exposure liability, and storm damage to equipment like mowers and trucks parked outdoors.

How to Get the Best Cheap Business Insurance in Florida

Getting business insurance in Florida means preparing for hurricane closures during peak tourist months, construction delays from sinkholes and aggressive litigation in South Florida. Follow these steps to find coverage that handles Florida's unique challenges without overpaying.

  1. 1

    Identify what could actually shut down your Florida business

    Hurricane season overlaps with peak tourist months, meaning one September evacuation eliminates quarterly profits while rent and payroll continue. Construction projects face sinkholes that swallow equipment overnight and humidity breeding mold during delays, requiring specialized coverage beyond standard policies. Service businesses in tri-county areas face higher professional liability claims despite tort reforms, while workers' compensation kicks in at one employee for construction and four for retail.

  2. 2

    Request quotes from multiple insurers and state programs

    Request quotes from NEXT for instant digital certificates when clients demand immediate proof of insurance, The Hartford for lowest rates and Simply Business for specialized industry coverage. Coastal businesses rejected by standard insurers can access Citizens Property Insurance, though expect premiums 20% to 30% higher and hurricane deductibles starting at 2% of insured value. Florida rates vary dramatically: Miami restaurants pay double what Jacksonville restaurants pay for identical coverage.

  3. 3

    Choose insurers who pay claims quickly, not just cheaply

    The cheapest premium means nothing when your restaurant sits closed after a hurricane and your insurer takes six months to settle your business interruption claim. NEXT and The Hartford rank highest for claims satisfaction, crucial when you need payment within weeks to reopen, not months arguing with adjusters. Check complaint ratios through Florida's Office of Insurance Regulation before buying because low-cost insurers often have triple the complaints.

  4. 4

    Stack discounts to offset Florida's high premiums

    Florida businesses pay 30% to 40% more for property insurance than national averages, making bundling general liability with property coverage through a BOP a smart move to get more affordable insurance rates. Implement documented safety training to reduce workers' compensation costs, especially for contractors paying coverage from their first hire. Raise hurricane deductibles from 2% to 5% if you have cash reserves, saving $800 yearly on $500,000 policies, and maintain three claim-free years for preferred rates.

  5. 5

    Review your coverage every year as your business in Florida evolves

    Hurricane Ian pushed Florida construction costs up 40%, meaning $300,000 property coverage from 2022 won't rebuild your damaged building today. Add employees to workers' compensation immediately when hiring since Florida issues stop-work orders within hours, costing $1,000 daily plus contract penalties. Shop three insurers every renewal because Citizens recently reduced rates 14% and private insurers entered Florida post-reform, potentially lowering your costs.

Best Business Liability Insurance Florida: Bottom Line

NEXT ranks first in Florida for customer service, The Hartford offers the lowest rates and Simply Business provides the broadest coverage. Choose based on whether you prioritize fast digital certificates, budget savings or specialized industry protection, then compare quotes and stack discounts.

Business Insurance Florida: FAQ

Small business owners across the Sunshine State face countless decisions when selecting business insurance coverage. We answer your most common questions below:

What business insurance is required by law in Florida?

How much does business insurance cost in Florida?

Which company has the cheapest business insurance in Florida?

What business insurance does my small business need in Florida?

How We Scored the Best Business Insurance Companies in Florida

Small business owners in Florida need reliable coverage that protects their operations without breaking their budgets. We designed our methodology to help Florida entrepreneurs navigate challenges like hurricane risks and the state's optional workers' compensation laws.

We studied thousands of quotes from 79 industries across four coverage types for a two-employee firm with $300,000 annual revenue and $150,000 payroll. All policies included $1 million per occurrence and $2 million total per year, with BOPs adding $5,000 business property coverage.

  • Affordability (50% of score): We compared company rates across all coverage types to identify the most cost-effective options for small businesses that need comprehensive financial protection without overpaying.
  • Customer experience (30% of score): We analyzed J.D. Power satisfaction ratings, NAIC complaint data, online review sites and independent agency feedback to assess real-world service quality when you need claims handled quickly.
  • Coverage options (15% of score): We evaluated the breadth of coverage types, policy limits and add-on options available to accommodate growing businesses and Florida's diverse industry needs.
  • Financial strength (5% of score): We reviewed AM Best ratings, Moody's assessments and company financial reports to ensure insurers can reliably pay claims, especially important given Florida's frequent weather disasters.

This approach helps Florida small business owners compare insurers on what matters most: affordable premiums, reliable service, adequate coverage and financial stability.

About Mark Fitzpatrick


Mark Fitzpatrick headshot

Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research for insurance shoppers. His insights have been featured in 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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