How Much Does Small Business Insurance Cost on Average?

For the types of business insurance most small business owners need, average insurance costs range from $885 to $1,785 per year in aggregate. However, this represents only an overall average for a three-person business with two employees for five of the most common coverage types, and costs will vary depending on your industry, business size, state and policy needs. So below we broke down the small company business insurance costs for policy types you'll likely come across in your comparison journey.

Small Business Coverage Type
Average Monthly Rate
Average Annual Rate

$104

$1,242

$74

$885

$78

$931

$147

$1,767

$149

$1,785

How We Determined Average Small Business Insurance Costs

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Industry
State

What Factors Affect Small Business Insurance Costs?

Below we've summarized the factors that affect small business insurance costs:

  • Industry: Your industry greatly affects insurance costs. Businesses in sectors with higher claim risks, such as construction or health care, usually pay higher premiums than those in lower-risk industries.
  • Business size: Larger businesses often face higher insurance costs due to the increased risk of managing more employees and operations. A business with multiple employees usually pays more for insurance than a sole proprietorship.
  • Location: Your business location impacts insurance costs. Areas with higher claim rates, severe weather conditions or higher living costs lead to increased premiums.
  • Claims history: Insurers charge higher premiums to businesses with claim histories, as they view such businesses as more likely to file future claims.
  • Coverage amounts and deductibles: Your coverage choices also impact costs. Higher coverage limits and lower deductibles usually result in higher premiums, as the insurer takes on greater financial risk.
  • Risk management practices: Insurers may reward businesses that implement strong risk management practices with lower premiums. These practices include following safety protocols, conducting employee training programs and following industry best practices.
  • Insurance company: Your chosen insurer affects coverage costs. Different insurance companies have different risk appetites and pricing strategies. Businesses should compare offerings from multiple insurers to find the best fit for their needs and budget.

Average Small Business Insurance Cost By Provider and Coverage Type

At the provider level, average small business insurance rates vary anywhere from $69 to $178 per month considering coverage type selection.

Data filtered by:
Select
BOP InsurancebiBERK$148$1,780
General LiabilitybiBERK$114$1,369
Professional LiabilitybiBERK$79$953
Workers CompbiBERK$75$901
BOP InsuranceThimble$121$1,450
General LiabilityThimble$107$1,286
Professional LiabilityThimble$76$914
Workers CompThimble$71$847
BOP InsuranceThe Hartford$115$1,382
General LiabilityThe Hartford$83$1,001
Professional LiabilityThe Hartford$72$858
Workers CompThe Hartford$70$839
BOP InsuranceSimply Business$143$1,710
General LiabilitySimply Business$95$1,139
Professional LiabilitySimply Business$76$917
Workers CompSimply Business$71$856
BOP InsuranceProgressive Commercial$150$1,805
General LiabilityProgressive Commercial$100$1,203
Professional LiabilityProgressive Commercial$75$904
Workers CompProgressive Commercial$71$855
BOP InsuranceNationwide$146$1,748
General LiabilityNationwide$97$1,165
Professional LiabilityNationwide$82$987
Workers CompNationwide$81$974
BOP InsuranceNEXT Insurance$154$1,848
General LiabilityNEXT Insurance$102$1,223
Professional LiabilityNEXT Insurance$72$867
Workers CompNEXT Insurance$69$829
BOP InsuranceHiscox$169$2,023
General LiabilityHiscox$114$1,371
Professional LiabilityHiscox$77$928
Workers CompHiscox$72$861
BOP InsuranceCoverdash$150$1,801
General LiabilityCoverdash$104$1,242
Professional LiabilityCoverdash$78$933
Workers CompCoverdash$73$875
BOP InsuranceChubb$178$2,136
General LiabilityChubb$119$1,423
Professional LiabilityChubb$89$1,062
Workers CompChubb$85$1,018

Average Small Business Insurance Costs by Coverage Type and State

Depending on your state, average business insurance costs range from $64 to $171 per month. However, this also depends on your firm's coverage needs. Below are the costs of commonly needed commercial coverage policies.

Data filtered by:
General Liability
Alabama$101$1,217
Alaska$95$1,143
Arizona$98$1,174
Arkansas$99$1,192
California$115$1,384
Colorado$103$1,232
Connecticut$112$1,350
Delaware$111$1,333
Florida$112$1,345
Georgia$105$1,262
Hawaii$112$1,343
Idaho$98$1,178
Illinois$114$1,364
Indiana$101$1,212
Iowa$99$1,183
Kansas$101$1,207
Kentucky$96$1,151
Louisiana$118$1,420
Maine$90$1,076
Maryland$99$1,185
Massachusetts$109$1,303
Michigan$98$1,176
Minnesota$97$1,165
Mississippi$104$1,248
Missouri$102$1,227
Montana$103$1,237
Nebraska$98$1,175
Nevada$117$1,405
New Hampshire$103$1,235
New Jersey$117$1,407
New Mexico$104$1,249
New York$120$1,444
North Carolina$90$1,076
North Dakota$90$1,080
Ohio$96$1,153
Oklahoma$98$1,178
Oregon$96$1,154
Pennsylvania$119$1,432
Rhode Island$114$1,365
South Carolina$107$1,279
South Dakota$97$1,161
Tennessee$101$1,212
Texas$104$1,253
Utah$98$1,179
Vermont$99$1,193
Virginia$94$1,131
Washington$118$1,413
West Virginia$109$1,303
Wisconsin$102$1,219
Wyoming$96$1,149

Average Small Business Insurance Cost by Coverage Type and Industry

Monthly small business insurance costs vary dramatically by industry across these coverage types with rates as low as $6 for DJ companies and $1,346 for pressure washing firms.. Below, you can review how much each coverage type costs for your industry.

Data filtered by:
General Liability
Accountants$22$266
Ad Agency$36$429
Auto Repair$153$1,839
Automotive$54$643
Bakery$91$1,089
Barber$45$537
Beauty Salon$67$806
Bounce House$70$846
Candle$55$661
Cannabis$67$807
Catering$89$1,064
Cleaning$133$1,596
Coffee Shop$90$1,083
Computer Programming$29$353
Computer Repair$48$572
Construction$177$2,125
Consulting$22$265
Contractor$256$3,067
Courier$196$2,353
DJ$26$307
Daycare$33$396
Dental$22$259
Dog Grooming$64$763
Drone$17$201
Ecommerce$73$882
Electrical$113$1,353
Engineering$40$482
Excavation$468$5,617
Florist$43$517
Food$108$1,296
Food Truck$141$1,693
Funeral Home$61$728
Gardening$113$1,353
HVAC$246$2,956
Handyman$245$2,943
Home-based$24$287
Hospitality$66$790
Janitorial$138$1,653
Jewelry$41$490
Junk Removal$163$1,957
Lawn/Landscaping$121$1,453
Lawyers$23$275
Manufacturing$65$782
Marine$28$337
Massage$97$1,160
Mortgage Broker$23$276
Moving$125$1,499
Nonprofit$36$432
Painting$144$1,733
Party Rental$80$957
Personal Training$24$288
Pest Control$32$388
Pet$56$675
Pharmacy$62$746
Photography$24$292
Physical Therapy$113$1,352
Plumbing$363$4,361
Pressure Washing$918$11,022
Real Estate$53$635
Restaurant$146$1,753
Retail$66$790
Roofing$389$4,672
Security$140$1,675
Snack Bars$118$1,414
Software$27$319
Spa/Wellness$107$1,281
Speech Therapist$31$377
Startup$29$346
Tech/IT$27$320
Transportation$38$453
Travel$21$252
Tree Service$131$1,567
Trucking$103$1,234
Tutoring$31$367
Veterinary$45$539
Wedding Planning$28$336
Welding$166$1,987
Wholesale$45$538
Window Cleaning$160$1,919

How to Lower Small Business Insurance Costs

Small business insurance costs eat into your business budget, but you can reduce them with the right approach. Here are proven strategies to reduce your commercial insurance expenses while not excluding the protection you need.

  1. 1

    Decide on business insurance coverage needs

    Determining your business's particular needs for insurance will allow you to buy more confidently and avoid unnecessary coverage, saving money on small business insurance premiums in the long run. Assess your actual risk exposure and purchase only the policies that protect against real threats to your operations, rather than paying for blanket coverage you may never use.

  2. 2

    Consider bundling policies, paying annually and higher deductibles

    Many insurers offer significant discounts when you bundle multiple business policies together, such as general liability, property, and commercial auto insurance (with average savings of up to 15% per bundle). Paying your premiums annually instead of monthly can also reduce your total costs (average of 8%) by eliminating installment fees and often qualifies you for additional savings. Raising your deductible will also save you more if you can afford it as well.

  3. 3

    Compare small business insurance rates

    Small business insurance premiums vary widely among providers, so obtaining quotes from at least three to five insurers is essential to finding competitive rates. Use independent insurance brokers who can compare policies across multiple carriers to ensure you're getting the best coverage at the lowest price.

  4. 4

    Lower small business insurance prices with claims risk management

    Implementing comprehensive risk management practices, such as safety protocols, employee training programs, and workplace hazard assessments, demonstrates to insurers that you're actively working to prevent claims and lowers small business insurance rates. Businesses with strong safety records and fewer claims typically qualify for lower premiums and may receive additional discounts for documented risk reduction efforts.

  5. 5

    Review your business insurance policy needs annually

    As your company evolves, your needs and available coverage options change as well, making annual policy reviews essential for small business insurance cost optimization. During each review, look for opportunities to adjust your deductibles, remove coverage for discontinued operations, or take advantage of new discounts you've become eligible for as your business grows and matures to maximize savings.

Cost of Business Insurance: Bottom Line

Average monthly small business insurance costs vary widely, ranging from $10 to $1,991. Regardless of your business details, the way to get the best commercial insurance for you is to compare plenty of options through multiple means, decide on coverage before buying and research before comparing.

Average Small Business Insurance Cost Chart

About Mark Fitzpatrick


Mark Fitzpatrick headshot

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!

He writes about economics and insurance, breaking down complex topics so people know what they're buying.


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