Best General Liability Insurance in South Carolina

South Carolina small businesses can find the best general liability insurance from ERGO NEXT, The Hartford, Simply Business, biBerk and Thimble, ranked on affordability, customer experience and coverage options.

ERGO NEXT ranks highest overall, but a Charleston restaurant deals with different liability risks than a Greenville manufacturer or a Columbia consulting firm. What works best depends on the exposures your business faces and where you operate in the state.

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Best General Liability Insurance in South Carolina

Written by Angelique Palenzuela-Cruz

Updated: February 26, 2026

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Best General Liability Insurance Companies for Small Businesses in South Carolina

The best general liability insurance companies for South Carolina small businesses deliver reliable coverage without overcharging. We analyzed 10 major providers across 408 business types for policies with $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate limits and found these insurers topped our list:

ERGO NEXT: Best Overall, Best for Hands-On Industries
The Hartford: Best Cheap General Liability Insurance
Simply Business: Best for Consumer-Facing Service Businesses
biBERK: Best for Sole Proprietors
Thimble: Best for On-Demand and Short-Term Coverage

These providers perform well on pricing, service quality, and coverage breadth across South Carolina operations. The detailed profiles below show where each insurer excels, whether you're running a Myrtle Beach retail shop, a Columbia professional services firm or a Greenville contractor business.


ERGO NEXT	4.35	Best overall balance of affordability and digital buying experience. Offering South Carolina hospitality, manufacturing and construction businesses the best value.
The Hartford	4.32	Leads South Carolina affordability with 17% savings for small businesses, particularly excelling in healthcare, education and professional services while offering comprehensive coverage options and local agent support.
Simply Business	4.20	Insurance marketplace platform comparing multiple carrier quotes in 10 to 15 minutes. It provides the most value for South Carolina businesses in food service, childcare, beauty and retail with fewer than five employees.
biBERK	4.20	Leads South Carolina affordability for sole proprietors with 13% savings. Ranks first for cleaning, fitness, real estate and recreation industries, offering online quotes with phone support.
Thimble	4.00	Flexible coverage periods from hourly to monthly alongside annual policies. It has instant mobile binding ideal for South Carolina event vendors, gig workers and seasonal businesses.

For our South Carolina general liability insurance ratings, we analyzed pricing, coverage options and customer experience across 408 industries within the state. Our analysis focuses on 1-to-4-person businesses, which represent nearly half of South Carolina's small businesses, while weighting results to ensure broader industry and location representation across Charleston, Columbia, Greenville, Myrtle Beach and smaller markets throughout the state.

To do this, we evaluated over 20,000 business profiles, more than 1,500 customer experience data points and performed in-depth analysis of coverage contracts and endorsements to compare how insurers serve South Carolina businesses consistently across different industries and regions. We then rated each company across categories of affordability (50% of overall score), customer experience (30% of overall score) and coverage options and terms (20% of overall score) to form an overall rating. For a detailed breakdown of the metrics, scoring methodology and pricing analysis specific to South Carolina, see our full methodology.

95%

% of Small Businesses Covered

Over 20,000

Business Profiles Studied

1,585

Customer Experiences Analyzed

Find The Best General Liability Insurer For Your South Carolina Business

Select your industry and state to get a customized quote from your best general liability insurer match in SC.

Industry

State

Best Overall, Best for Hands-On Industries

ERGO NEXT

ERGO NEXT tops our analysis of general liability insurance companies in South Carolina. Small South Carolina businesses pay $84 monthly with ERGO NEXT compared to the $96 state average, resulting in $12 monthly savings. The provider ranks first in 17 of 25 South Carolina industries, including hospitality (36% below benchmark), manufacturing (36% below benchmark) and construction (22% below benchmark).

ERGO NEXT's digital platform completes quotes in 10 minutes and generates certificates of insurance through its mobile app, but claims handling ranks lower compared to other South Carolina providers. Customer reviews report slow adjuster communication and low settlement offers after filing.

Where ERGO NEXT performs best:

Sole proprietors and businesses with one to four employees in South Carolina
Hospitality, manufacturing and repair businesses seeking lowest rates
Buyers prioritizing fast digital quoting without agent involvement
Businesses needing instant certificate of insurance generation

Where ERGO NEXT performs less competitively:

Healthcare, fitness and education businesses (costs 3% to 21% above benchmark)
Claims-intensive operations requiring responsive adjuster communication
Businesses needing coverage limits above $2M per occurrence

Learn More: ERGO NEXT Business Insurance Review

Best Cheap General Liability Insurance

The Hartford

The Hartford offers limits up to $5 million per occurrence with bundled professional liability and umbrella coverage, options unavailable through digital-only competitors. South Carolina businesses pay $80 monthly, $17 lower than the state average. The provider ranks first in six South Carolina industries, bringing the most savings in healthcare (33% below benchmark), education (29% below benchmark) and wholesale distribution (24% below benchmark).

While The Hartford’s buying process takes one to two business days for bindable quotes through agents, it operates 12 independent agent locations across South Carolina. That allows the provider to provide excellent policy management, with dedicated account representatives processing endorsements within 24 hours. Customers also rate claims handling high, with adjusters providing regular updates and fair settlements.

Where The Hartford performs best:

Healthcare, education and professional service businesses in South Carolina
Businesses with five to 49 employees needing strong savings
Operations prioritizing responsive policy support and fair claims handling
Businesses needing coverage above $2 million or bundled professional liability

Where The Hartford performs less competitively:

Sole proprietors and businesses needing instant online quotes
Hospitality, manufacturing and food service operations (costs 2% to 3% above benchmark)
Buyers preferring fully digital platforms without agent involvement

Learn More: The Hartford Business Insurance Review

Best for Consumer-Facing Service Businesses

Simply Business

Coming in third is Simply Business, providing South Carolina small businesses a platform that operates as an insurance marketplace. You can get instant online quotes from multiple carriers, like Hiscox, Travelers and Liberty Mutual, in 10 to 15 minutes without having to submit multiple applications. Simply Business ranks first in three South Carolina industries: food and beverage (25% below benchmark), childcare services (20% below benchmark) and beauty services (11% below benchmark).

The marketplace approach allows carrier comparison but becomes less affordable with business size. While South Carolina microbusinesses (one to four employees) save 3% compared to the state benchmark, savings disappear for businesses with 10 to 19 employees and eventually turn into a 2% cost penalty for mid-sized companies (20 to 49 employees).

Where Simply Business performs best:

Food service, childcare and beauty businesses in South Carolina
Sole proprietors and businesses with one to four employees
Buyers wanting to compare multiple carriers before purchasing
Businesses comfortable with self-service digital quote platforms

Where Simply Business performs less competitively:

Businesses with 10 to 49 employees (costs at or above benchmark)
Construction, marketing and nonprofit operations (costs 6% to 15% above benchmark)
Buyers needing hands-on guidance during the purchase process

Learn More: Simply Business Review

Best for Sole Proprietors

biBerk

biBerk ranks ties with Simply Business for third overall in South Carolina. It has the lowest rates for sole proprietors at $47 monthly, saving solopreneurs 13% compared to the state average. It’s also the best option for four industries: cleaning services (20% below benchmark), fitness services (21% below benchmark), real estate (20% below benchmark) and recreation (17% below benchmark).

General liability limits only go up to $2M per occurrence, and biBerk doesn’t offer umbrella options. Its buying process provides live chat and phone support during business hours, but endorsement processing takes two to three business days. Customer reviews also say claims communication requires customers to initiate follow-ups rather than receiving proactive updates.

Where biBerk performs best:

Sole proprietors in South Carolina (13% savings, ranks first)
Cleaning, fitness, real estate and recreation businesses
Buyers wanting fast online quotes with phone support available
Service businesses needing hospitality (29% savings) or healthcare coverage (23% savings)

Where biBerk performs less competitively:

Construction and wholesale distribution businesses (costs 6% to 9% above benchmark)
Businesses needing coverage limits above $2 million per occurrence
Operations requiring extensive endorsements or bundled professional liability

Learn More: biBERK Review

Best for On-Demand and Short-Term Coverage

Thimble

Thimble specializes in flexible coverage with hourly, daily and monthly options alongside annual policies. The mobile app completes quotes in under five minutes and binds short-term coverage instantly. When it comes to coverage options, Thimble has limited endorsements and no umbrella coverage above $2 million per occurrence. Customer reviews report low settlement offers, slow adjuster assignment and weak dispute resolution.

Most South Carolina businesses pay $90 monthly ($1,075 annually), saving 7% compared to the state benchmark. Coverage for businesses in construction and manufacturing cost at least 20% lower than the South Carolina’s average

Where Thimble performs best:

Event vendors and seasonal businesses needing flexible coverage periods
Construction and manufacturing businesses (20% to 21% below benchmark)
Gig workers requiring hourly or daily coverage options
Businesses prioritizing instant mobile quotes over comprehensive annual policies

Where Thimble performs less competitively:

Hospitality and childcare businesses (costs 11% to 27% above benchmark)
Year-round operations requiring reliable claims handling and fair settlements
Businesses needing extensive endorsements or coverage above $2 million

Learn More: Thimble Review

Explore The Best General Liability Insurance in South Carolina By Industry

South Carolina businesses face different liability exposures depending on what they do and where they operate. A Myrtle Beach restaurant serving tourists during peak season deals with different claim risks than a Spartanburg machine shop or a Charleston landscaping company working on historic properties.

The industry rankings below match providers with the work South Carolina businesses actually do. Find insurers who price competitively for your operations and handle the claims that come up most often in your field.

Best General Liability Insurance For Cleaning Businesses

Best General Liability Insurance For Contractors

Best General Liability Insurance For Consultants

Best General Liability Insurance For Food Businesses

Best General Liability Insurance For Pet Care Businesses

Best General Liability Insurance For Real Estate Businesses

What Determines the Best General Liability Insurance for South Carolina Businesses

The best general liability insurance in South Carolina isn't determined by one factor alone. An Orangeburg retail shop needs different strengths than a Clemson tech startup or a Conway hotel. These four factors separate insurers that look good on paper from those that perform well in practice.

Affordability without pricing volatility

Unpredictable rate increases force you to shop for new coverage when you should be focused on operations, or they eat into the budget you need for hiring and growth. This is particularly true for South Carolina, as small businesses operate in fast-moving environments. Myrtle Beach restaurants ramp up staffing for summer crowds, Greenville manufacturers adjust production based on contracts, and Charleston logistics companies grow alongside Port activity.

When your general liability premium jumps 25% at renewal, it can wreck a budget already stretched by payroll, supplies, and seasonal shifts. The strongest insurers price competitively upfront and keep rates steady as your business changes, not offering lower rates in year one then hitting you with steep increases once you've committed.

Responsive service throughout your policy term

General liability insurance isn't a set-it-and-forget-it purchase. A Beaufort marina operator needs certificates of insurance within 24 hours when a boat storage client requests proof before signing a contract. A Spartanburg manufacturer facing a customer injury claim needs an adjuster who explains next steps and responds quickly. Insurers who handle these moments efficiently keep your business moving, and those who don't create delays and credibility issues with clients or property owners.

Service quality matters most at these points in your coverage:

Getting certificates of insurance quickly when landlords, clients, or partners require proof before contracts move forward
Processing mid-term policy changes smoothly when you hire employees, expand locations, or adjust coverage limits
Reaching a knowledgeable claims handler who understands general liability and responds within 24 to 48 hours after an incident
Managing renewals without forcing you to rebuild your entire business profile from scratch each year

When service fails at any of these moments, you miss contract deadlines, absorb coverage gaps or spend hours chasing claim updates instead of running your business.

Coverage options that fit common small business risks

South Carolina businesses scale in different ways: an Aiken manufacturing supplier lands automotive contracts requiring $2 million aggregate limits, a Hilton Head catering company expands from small events to resort weddings with stricter venue insurance requirements or a Rock Hill distributor adds warehousing that increases property damage exposure. Strong insurers let you raise liability limits when contracts demand it, add hired auto coverage as employees start driving for deliveries or site visits, or include products and completed operations protection for work that extends past the job date. Coverage that can't grow with your business leaves you switching insurers mid-expansion or facing claim gaps you didn't anticipate.

Why consistency across all three areas matters most

An insurer can offer low rates but slow claims handling, or strong coverage options with unpredictable annual increases. South Carolina businesses need insurers who perform well across pricing stability, service quality, and coverage flexibility, not companies that excel in one area and fail in others.

A Myrtle Beach property management firm can't work with an insurer offering cheap premiums but week-long waits for certificates when tenants move in. An Anderson equipment rental company needs stable rates and fast policy changes, not just broad coverage that jumps 30% at renewal. Choosing based only on price leaves you exposed when service or coverage falls short at the moment your business needs it most.

How to Choose the Best General Liability Insurance in South Carolina

Choosing the right general liability insurer for your South Carolina business means working through a clear process that narrows options without wasting time. The six steps below help you identify what matters most, eliminate poor fits early, and compare finalists on factors that affect how well coverage actually works for your operations.

1
Optimize your payment and coverage structure
Before comparing insurers, decide how you'll pay and what liability limits your South Carolina business needs. Paying annually saves 5% to 10% compared to monthly installments, but a Walterboro catering company with uneven event income might need monthly payments. Higher deductibles lower premiums but mean more cash out-of-pocket when claims happen.

Ask yourself:
- Can I pay the full annual premium upfront, or do I need monthly payments?
- What deductible amount won't strain my cash flow if a claim occurs?
- Do contracts or landlords require specific liability limits or additional coverage?
- Will employees drive personal vehicles for business-related tasks?
Most South Carolina businesses start with $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate limits. A Gaffney distribution center might choose higher deductibles to reduce costs, while a Lexington pool maintenance company needs lower deductibles and hired auto protection given frequent vehicle use.
2
Choose your primary priority
Your main focus depends on what your South Carolina business needs most right now. This becomes your tiebreaker when comparing providers that perform similarly across the board.
- Prioritize affordability if you're a startup or operating on tight margins. New businesses, like a York retail shop in its first year or a Goose Creek event vendor building its client base, need cheap general liability insurance in South Carolina with stable premiums that don't strain limited cash flow.
- Prioritize customer experience if you handle frequent policy changes or need fast documentation. Businesses requesting certificates for multiple clients or updating coverage regularly need quick insurer responses. A Summerville property manager adding rental units monthly or a Bluffton contractor bidding across different job sites can't afford delays that cost contracts.
- Prioritize coverage options if your work involves high-value contracts or complex exposure. Operations requiring higher limits or specialized endorsements need insurers offering flexibility beyond basic policies. A Newberry precision machining shop handling expensive equipment or a Fort Mill industrial fabricator working on large-scale projects needs coverage that scales without switching carriers.
3
Shortlist two to three providers
Comparing every insurer in detail wastes time and creates decision fatigue. Narrow to two or three providers that match your chosen priority and meet your baseline coverage needs. This keeps your comparison manageable while ensuring you're evaluating insurers who actually fit your South Carolina business.

Focus on providers who serve your industry, offer the general liability limits you need, and operate efficiently in your area. A Lancaster equipment rental company needs different insurer strengths than an Edisto Island tour operator, so your shortlist should reflect what matters for your work and where you operate in the state.
4
Double check for dealbreakers before investing more time
Before spending time on detailed comparisons, confirm each shortlisted insurer can handle your non-negotiables. Catching these issues early saves you from building a comparison around providers who can't support how your South Carolina business actually operates.

Check for common dealbreakers:
- Certificate turnaround time: If you bid jobs or work with multiple clients, confirm the insurer issues certificates within 24 to 48 hours, not five business days that delay contract signing
- Coverage territory restrictions: Some insurers limit where you can work within South Carolina or exclude jobs in neighboring states where you might take projects
- Industry exclusions or steep surcharges: Certain providers won't insure business types common across the state (mobile detailing, HVAC, bounce house rentals) or price them so high they're uncompetitive
- Policy change processing: If you scale staff for summer tourism demand or adjust coverage for seasonal work, verify the insurer handles mid-term changes without canceling and rewriting your entire policy
5
Compare your finalists using the same three lenses
Evaluate each shortlisted provider across all three dimensions to see where they perform well and where they fall short. This prevents you from choosing an insurer that excels in one area but fails in the others when your South Carolina business needs them.
- Affordability lens: Look beyond the initial quote to understand pricing stability as your business changes. Check how the insurer handles rate adjustments when you add seasonal staff, expand service areas, or grow revenue. Ask what triggers mid-term increases and how renewal rates typically change year over year.
- Customer experience lens: Evaluate certificate turnaround times if you bid multiple jobs weekly, like Simpsonville roofing companies or Hartsville commercial painters. Test responsiveness by calling with coverage questions during business hours. Check if online portals let you download certificates instantly when a Georgetown property manager or Irmo retail landlord requests proof.
- Coverage options lens: Confirm each insurer offers $1 million to $2 million limits and can scale higher for larger contracts. Review endorsements South Carolina businesses commonly need: hired auto for employee vehicle use, products and completed operations for work extending past completion, and additional insured status when property owners or general contractors require it.
6
Use quotes as the final confirmation step
Request general liability insurance quotes from your finalists to confirm pricing and coverage for your actual operations. Quotes validate the insurer can support your South Carolina industry, whether you work across county lines or into neighboring states, and how seasonal revenue affects rates. This catches surprises before you commit, like GL exclusions for Port commerce logistics, higher premiums for Pee Dee agriculture operations, or limits that don't match what Grand Strand tourism businesses need for venue contracts.

Best Small Business General Liability Insurance in South Carolina: Bottom Line

The strongest general liability insurer balances pricing stability, responsive service for certificates and policy changes, and coverage that scales with your South Carolina operations, rather than simply offering the lowest initial quote. ERGO NEXT, The Hartford, Simply Business, biBerk, and Thimble lead the rankings, though the right fit depends on your industry, business size and where you operate across the state. This approach matches coverage to your actual risk profile and budget without forcing you to compromise on service quality or growth flexibility.

Best General Liability Insurance For Small Business in South Carolina Chart

Best General Liability Insurance for Small Businesses in South Carolina: Next Steps

If you're ready to move forward, narrow your options to one or two providers and confirm pricing and availability based on your actual South Carolina operations, industry and coverage needs.

This way, you'll avoid misleading comparisons and validate which insurer offers the best combination of affordability and policy features for how your business runs and where you work in the state.

If cost is still your main deciding factor

Understanding typical cost ranges and what drives general liability pricing for South Carolina businesses helps set realistic expectations before requesting quotes, especially since rates vary widely between Upstate manufacturing operations and coastal tourism-driven businesses.

Review average general liability costs for South Carolina industries
Learn what factors raise or lower your premium

If you’re unsure how much coverage you need

Clarifying coverage needs now prevents discovering gaps when a venue requests additional insured status or a customer injury claim requires proof of adequate limits.

Check general liability requirements for your South Carolina industry
Determine appropriate limits based on contracts and exposure

If you’re ready to check quotes now

Quotes validate assumptions from your shortlist and confirm eligibility and pricing tied to your specific business details. Use quotes to verify your top providers can support your operations, not to restart your search from scratch.

Request quotes from your shortlisted general liability providers
Compare quotes using identical coverage limits and deductibles

Find The Best General Liability Insurer For Your South Carolina Business

Select your industry and state to get a customized quote from your top general liability insurance match in South Carolina.

Industry

State

How We Chose the Best General Liability Insurance Companies

To identify the best general liability insurance companies for South Carolina small businesses, we evaluated insurers across pricing, customer experience and coverage options using a standardized, data-driven approach. Our goal was not to identify the cheapest option in every scenario, but to determine which providers deliver the most consistent overall value across common South Carolina small business profiles.

Our best recommendations reflect insurers that perform well across multiple dimensions and remain competitive across industries and business sizes in South Carolina.

Data and Analysis Scope

Our analysis is based on standardized estimates designed to represent the majority of South Carolina small businesses:

Providers analyzed: 10 major insurers serving South Carolina
Industries covered: 408 industries
Employee counts: 0–49 employees
Policy baseline: $1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate general liability policy
Pricing modeled: Just over 20,000 standardized estimates for South Carolina businesses

Modeled average revenues and payrolls were incorporated to improve pricing accuracy for South Carolina's business landscape.

Our Scoring Model

Each insurer received a composite score based on the weighted categories below.

Affordability (50% of overall score): Affordability reflects how competitively and consistently an insurer prices general liability coverage across all South Carolina business profiles studied.
Customer experience (30% of overall score): Customer experience measures how well insurers support South Carolina businesses throughout the policy lifecycle from purchase to claims. We also studied at each level of buying, policy management and claims sub-parts of the process that make it easier and more reliable within each as well for accuracy and comprehensive understanding.
Coverage options (20%): Coverage options reflect how well insurers support common South Carolina small business risks and allow for flexibility as businesses grow or change.

About Angelique Palenzuela-Cruz

Angelique Palenzuela-Cruz is a Content Writer at MoneyGeek specializing in business insurance. She focuses on general liability, workers' compensation and professional liability coverage, helping small business owners cut through policy jargon and understand what they're actually buying.

Angelique has spent over five years reporting on personal finance, with deep experience in both insurance and lending markets. Her psychology background also gives her a unique understanding of how people actually process difficult financial decisions, allowing her to meet readers where they are, simplify complex concepts and build decision making frameworks that give them confidence. Whether you're learning about policies, comparing providers or trying to figure out requirements, Angelique does the legwork, digging into regulations, analyzing policy language and testing her explanations against agent-level standards so you get straight answers without fluff.

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