NEXT earned our top spot for the best small business insurer for gardening companies due to its affordability and coverage. However, we recommend comparing quotes from our other top picks, including The Hartford, Simply Business and Thimble.
Best Gardening Business Insurance
Updated: July 17, 2025
Advertising & Editorial Disclosure
Key Takeaways
NEXT is the best business insurance company for gardening firms because it offers the greatest balance of customer service and coverage.
The cheapest overall commercial insurance provider for gardening businesses is NEXT, with low monthly rates for various coverage types.
To shop for business insurance for your gardening business, assess the risks in your industry, consult agents and other similar organizations, and compare multiple options.
Best Business Insurance for Gardening Companies
| NEXT Insurance | 96 | 98 | 94 |
| The Hartford | 92 | 92 | 91 |
| Simply Business | 91 | 91 | 83 |
| Thimble | 90 | 95 | 81 |
| Nationwide | 90 | 87 | 91 |
| Coverdash | 90 | 90 | 83 |
| Chubb | 88 | 85 | 87 |
| Progressive Commercial | 87 | 89 | 81 |
| biBERK | 86 | 82 | 91 |
| Hiscox | 83 | 80 | 87 |
*All scores were based on a gardening business with two employees across professional liability, general liability, workers' comp and BOP policies.
1. NEXT
pros
Lowest BOP and liability pricing
Fast, fully online application
Affordable for solo operators
cons
No dedicated phone agents
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
NEXT is the most cost-effective option for gardening businesses, offering the lowest prices for both general liability and BOP coverage. Its general liability averages just $23 per month, and its BOP bundle is the cheapest in our study at $393 per year.
NEXT is built for small businesses that want quick, no-hassle coverage with minimal paperwork. While NEXT doesn’t offer in-person or agent-based service, its online tools and reviews make it ideal for lean operations or solopreneurs.
2. The Hartford
pros
Cheapest professional liability rates
Strong across all policy types
AM Best A+ rated carrier
cons
Less streamlined digital experience
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
The Hartford offers the most affordable professional liability insurance for gardening companies at $36 per month. Its pricing is also competitive across general liability and workers’ comp policies, making it a well-rounded choice. With its A+ rating from AM Best, The Hartford is a trusted name among small business insurers. It’s a strong pick for growing gardening companies that want dependable claims support and broad policy options from an established carrier.
3. Simply Business
pros
Multiple carriers and policy options
Customizable coverage bundles
Competitive pricing on liability
cons
Service varies by carrier
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Simply Business connects gardening businesses with a range of affordable policy options from various insurers. It offers competitive rates on general liability and workers’ comp, with flexibility to tailor plans based on your size and needs. The platform’s biggest advantage is access to multiple carriers, allowing side-by-side quote comparisons. However, customer support quality may vary depending on the insurer you select through their network.
Cheapest Business Insurance for Gardening Firms
Based on our study of business insurance pricing, NEXT offers competitive commercial insurance rates for gardening companies, winning two of the four major coverage types we analyzed. However, this applies only to gardening 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 Gardening Companies
With an average monthly rate of $23, NEXT offers the lowest-cost general liability insurance for gardening companies. Even so, consider getting quotes from the next-most-affordable insurers: Thimble and Simply Business.
| NEXT Insurance | $23 | $271 |
| Thimble | $49 | $590 |
| Simply Business | $82 | $981 |
| The Hartford | $89 | $1,067 |
| Coverdash | $96 | $1,153 |
| Progressive Commercial | $107 | $1,283 |
| Nationwide | $119 | $1,428 |
| Chubb | $132 | $1,579 |
| biBERK | $186 | $2,229 |
| Hiscox | $213 | $2,561 |
Cheapest Workers' Comp Insurance for Gardening Companies
For gardening businesses shopping for workers' comp insurance, Thimble tops our list as the most affordable insurer, with average rates of $20 per month or $241 yearly. The next most affordable options are Hiscox, Progressive Commercial and Simply Business.
| Thimble | $20 | $241 |
| Hiscox | $22 | $269 |
| Progressive Commercial | $22 | $259 |
| Simply Business | $22 | $268 |
| Coverdash | $23 | $275 |
| NEXT Insurance | $23 | $280 |
| The Hartford | $23 | $273 |
| biBERK | $24 | $283 |
| Nationwide | $25 | $302 |
| Chubb | $27 | $324 |
Cheapest Professional Liability Insurance for Gardening Companies
The Hartford offers the most affordable professional liability insurance options for gardening companies, with low average monthly rates of $36. You may also want to compare prices from other low-cost providers like NEXT, Progressive Commercial and Simply Business.
| The Hartford | $36 | $431 |
| NEXT Insurance | $37 | $445 |
| Progressive Commercial | $38 | $457 |
| Simply Business | $39 | $474 |
| Coverdash | $40 | $482 |
| Hiscox | $40 | $475 |
| Thimble | $40 | $475 |
| biBERK | $41 | $496 |
| Nationwide | $43 | $520 |
| Chubb | $47 | $559 |
Cheapest BOP Insurance for Gardening Companies
NEXT provides the most affordable business owner's policy (BOP) coverage for gardening companies, with an average yearly cost of $393 for bundled general liability and property protection. That’s a savings of roughly $524 annually compared to Thimble, the second most affordable option.
| NEXT Insurance | $33 | $393 |
| Thimble | $76 | $917 |
| The Hartford | $114 | $1,372 |
| Simply Business | $122 | $1,470 |
| Coverdash | $140 | $1,676 |
| Progressive Commercial | $162 | $1,940 |
| Nationwide | $178 | $2,133 |
| Chubb | $198 | $2,375 |
| biBERK | $239 | $2,862 |
| Hiscox | $320 | $3,836 |
What Type of Coverage Do You Need for a Gardening Business?
Most companies with employees are legally required to carry workers' comp insurance, 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. Some industries also require surety bonds, particularly when contracts need service guarantees or compliance assurance.
RECOMMENDED GARDENING BUSINESS COVERAGE
General liability insurance is strongly recommended for gardening companies because it covers common risks like bodily injury, property damage and legal defense costs. Professional liability insurance is also a smart option for businesses that work under client contracts or provide specialized services. This coverage becomes especially useful for companies offering specialized services or handling large contracts where the risk of disputes is higher.
How to Get the Best Cheap Business Insurance for Your Gardening Company
Here's a step-by-step method for finding the best and cheapest business insurance for your gardening company.
- 1
Decide on coverage needs before buying
Consider risks specific to your business for claims, 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
Research average costs for your business profile and find which providers offer the cheapest rates overall. This will give you a reference for how much you're saving when comparing quotes and which companies to start with.
- 3
Look into company reputations and coverage options
Narrow your list by researching what customers say on rating sites and forums to get a better look at company services. Research coverage options to match your current and future needs so you're covered for the right situations.
- 4
Compare multiple quotes through different means
Compare multiple quotes for identical coverage to find the best deal. 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 keep getting the best deal.
How to Decrease Your Gardening Business's Liability Risk
Reducing liability risk is key to managing insurance costs for gardening businesses. We've organized risk mitigation strategies by business type or risk tier to help you avoid claims and keep your insurance rates low.
Gardening Business Risk Type | Included Types of Gardening Businesses | Risk Mitigation Tactics |
|---|---|---|
Highest | Landscape contractors using powered equipment, hardscaping crews, tree pruning services | Provide OSHA-compliant training on mower, trimmer, and chainsaw use. Require PPE like eye protection, gloves, and hearing protection. Conduct job hazard assessments. Maintain equipment logs and perform routine safety checks. Carry commercial auto and general liability coverage. |
High | Irrigation system installers, pest control-focused garden services, rooftop/vertical gardening firms | Ensure proper licensing for pesticide or irrigation work. Train staff on ladder safety and confined space awareness. Use tamper-proof containers for chemical transport. Maintain proper bonding and environmental liability insurance where applicable. |
Moderate | Garden bed builders, compost delivery, greenhouse maintenance, mobile gardening consultants | Educate teams on lifting techniques and ergonomic tool use. Use spill-proof containers and safe loading practices during transport. Store soil and mulch securely to avoid roadside debris. Maintain workers’ comp and commercial auto policies. |
Low | Residential plant care, home-based gardening educators, seasonal flower bed services | Use lightweight tools and avoid hazardous materials. Post safety instructions for clients and limit service to ground-level work. Carry general liability and tools & equipment coverage. Ensure vehicle insurance if transporting materials. |
Best Insurance for Gardening Business: Bottom Line
NEXT is the best insurer for gardening business insurance, while it also offers the cheapest option overall. We also recommend getting quotes from The Hartford, Simply Business and Thimble. For the best deal, talk to agents, research providers and pricing, and compare multiple quotes side by side.
Gardening Business Insurance: FAQ
Below, we answer common questions about business insurance for gardening businesses.
Who offers the best gardening business insurance overall?
NEXT offers the best business insurance for gardening companies, scoring an impressive 96 out of 100, thanks to its high customer service rating. The Hartford follows closely with a score of 92.
Who has the cheapest business insurance for gardening companies?
Here are the cheapest business insurance companies for gardening businesses by coverage type:
- Cheapest general liability insurance: NEXT Insurance at $23 per month
- Cheapest workers' comp insurance: Thimble at $20 per month
- Cheapest professional liability insurance: The Hartford at $36 per month
- Cheapest BOP insurance: NEXT Insurance at $33 per month
What business insurance is required for gardening organizations?
Workers' compensation insurance (if you have employees) and commercial auto insurance (if you own business vehicles) are legally required for gardening businesses, with requirements varying by state. While not legally mandated, general liability insurance and surety bonds are effectively required by most commercial clients and property leases.
How much does gardening business insurance cost?
Business insurance costs for gardening companies depend on the services offered and the size of your team. Below are the average monthly premiums for the most common types of coverage:
- General liability: $110 per month
- Workers comp: $23 per month
- Professional liability: $40 per month
- BOP insurance: $158 per month
How We Chose the Best Gardening Business Insurance
We selected the best business insurer for gardening 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:
- Three-person 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.