Best General Liability Insurance in Texas

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ERGO NEXT is my top pick if you work steady residential or small commercial jobs. At $272 monthly, its general liability (GL) insurance for contractors is among the most affordable in my analysis, which helps keep your ongoing insurance expenses down. In Texas City, where residential construction contractors must submit proof of liability insurance naming the city as the certificate holder during registration, ERGO NEXT lets you generate unlimited certificates and send them directly from its app. That makes it easier to handle insurance paperwork as you take on more jobs. However, its restrictions on work above 30 feet or excavation deeper than six feet rule out certain projects.

Thimble makes more sense if you work alone and take occasional contracting jobs, since you can buy GL coverage for individual projects. Even with a short-term policy, its products-completed operations coverage can address qualifying claims after the policy expires, typically for up to 12 months. And if you need year-round protection, Thimble offers annual policies too, which makes it an option for licensed Texas HVAC contractors who must maintain GL coverage throughout their license period.

If you manage several commercial construction projects in Texas, I'd consider The Hartford for its per-project general liability (GL) aggregate endorsements. For example, a Fort Worth water-line construction contract requires $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate, with the aggregate applying separately to each job site. The Hartford offers this arrangement through eligible GL programs, helping you meet such contract requirements while keeping a covered claim on one project from reducing the general aggregate available for another.

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When you clean someone else's home or office, accidentally damaging their belongings can be costly. Thimble’s GL policies remove the usual care, custody and control exclusion, which can otherwise leave damage to property you're handling uncovered. That makes it my top pick for Texas cleaning businesses, especially solo house cleaners and small janitorial teams. You can buy insurance by the job, month or year, so if you only clean homes occasionally, you won't have to pay for coverage during months you're not working.

For commercial cleaners, misplacing a key can become expensive, like in Cedar Park, which makes contractors responsible for replacing locks when keys go missing. In these situations, you can add-on lost key coverage to your GL policy so it helps pay those costs. ERGO NEXT's COI Analyzer also lets you upload a sample certificate from a commercial client and generate a customized version, saving you time on insurance paperwork. However, its cleaning program excludes hospitals, grocery stores and medical or dental offices., so if you cleans these facilities, you'll need another insurer.

Larger janitorial firms may need more liability coverage to secure municipal work.  Midlothian City's janitorial contracts, for example, require $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate in general liability (GL) coverage, plus another $2 million in umbrella or excess liability insurance. The Hartford lets you meet these requirements with GL limits up to $2 million per occurrence and $4 million aggregate, along with commercial umbrella coverage offering limits up to $15 million for eligible businesses.

Not sure which cleaning insurer to choose? Let our tool help you find a match.

For retail businesses in Texas, I'd recommend ERGO NEXT if you run a small shop or sell online. Its general liability (GL) insurance averages $88 monthly, about 20% below the $110 industry average. ERGO NEXT includes product liability coverage for eligible retailers, which can help if a customer has an allergic reaction to clothing you sell, even if you didn't manufacture it. However, you'll need another insurer if you sell excluded merchandise such as children's products or supplements.

Chubb is worth considering if you operate several Texas retail stores and want help preventing costly customer injuries. A Texas court upheld a $450,000 judgment after a customer slipped on a wet tile floor at a Brookshire grocery chain in Chandler, which makes Chubb's retail risk consulting valuable. Its consultants can test whether your floors are dangerously slippery and review how your staff clean them, helping you make changes that reduce the chance of a similar injury at your stores. Chubb also offers optional product withdrawal coverage for qualifying recall expenses if you distribute your own branded merchandise. At $136 monthly, its GL insurance costs about 24% more than the Texas retail average, but could still be worth considering if you can use its specialized services.

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For food businesses in Texas, like smaller restaurants and bakeries, I'd choose ERGO NEXT. Being the cheapest general liability insurer in my analysis at $86 monthly, it helps you keep recurring insurance costs down and saves you $38 per month, against the industry average of $124. It's also a good fit for food trucks attending festivals that have insurance requirements, like  Austin's 2026 Texas VegFest, which required $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate in liability coverage, plus additional insured status for the organizer. ERGO NEXT offers those GL limits and lets you request additional insured status and send certificates online. It doesn't insure multi-location restaurants, however, or businesses exceeding $5 million in revenue or payroll.

For established Texas food-service contractors bidding on institutional contracts, I'd pick The Hartford because its can help you satisfy their requirements. Panhandle ISD's 2026–27 food-service solicitation, for example, requires umbrella liability insurance in addition to general liability (GL) coverage, and this provider’s General Liability Choice offers limits up to $2 million per occurrence and $4 million aggregate, with commercial umbrella insurance available up to $15 million for eligible businesses.

Need help comparing food business insurers? Try our matching tool.

For self-employed Texas real estate agents and small brokerages, I'd choose ERGO NEXT. Texas REALTORS warns that homeowners insurance may not protect agents when someone trips over a  rug or falls down the stairs when you’re showing prospective buyers a home, but ERGO NEXT’s GL policy can help with qualifying claims. At $36 monthly, it's the cheapest in my analysis, about 25% below the $48 industry average, which helps you keep expenses down when you're paying for coverage out of your commissions.

The Hartford is a better match for established commercial property management firms with contractual insurance obligations since some Texas property management contracts require managers to carry their own GL insurance and name the property owner as an additional insured. The Hartford's General Liability Choice can automatically extend that status when a written contract requires it, so you can satisfy the requirement without arranging a separate endorsement for each agreement.

Still deciding? Find an real estate insurance provider with our tool.

If you're a self-employed hairstylist or barber, renting a chair or salon suite doesn't mean the salon owner's insurance covers your work since Texas licenses salon mini-establishments separately. I’d recommend ERGO NEXT because it lets you carry a general liability policy, which meets that requirement and provides same-day proof of insurance so you can rent space. You’ll spend 27% below the $42 industry average in Texas, costing $31 per month, and a lower premium’s useful when you're also paying a weekly chair rental fee or monthly suite rent out of what you earn from client appointments.

I'd consider Hiscox for established Texas hair and beauty salons with several treatment stations and regular customer traffic because it offers up to $5 million in GL aggregate coverage, compared with its standard $2 million option. Water can collect on floors near shampoo bowls or pedicure chairs, creating slip-and-fall risks, which is why Texas regulates salon floor. If several customers suffer covered injuries during the same policy year, Hiscox's higher aggregate limit gives your salon more coverage available to pay those claims.

Need help choosing? Use our tool to find the right personal care insurance provider.

Any insurance requirements tied to your Texas business license should be your priority. The Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners requires responsible master plumbers to carry at least $300,000 in commercial liability coverage. Licensed mold assessment and remediation companies generally need $1 million per occurrence, unless they qualify for self-insurance.

Your clients or landlords may have additional requirements, too. Commercial property owners often ask for a certificate of insurance (COI). Others want to be added as an additional insured, an endorsement which extends certain liability protections to them.

Read More: General Liability Insurance Requirements

When deciding how much coverage you need, consider the accidents your business could cause and what they might cost. A Texas cleaning company servicing offices might damage a client's expensive flooring, while a contractor remodeling a storefront could accidentally damage a neighboring business's property. GL policies often exclude damage to property in your care, custody or control, such as flooring you're directly working on, so check whether you need additional financial protection. $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate are common starting limits, but larger commercial contracts may require more.

Read More: Do I Need General Liability Insurance

Just because an insurer covers Texas contractors doesn't mean it accepts every trade. Some insure residential painters but won't take on roofing or excavation near underground utilities. If you're a general contractor who uses subcontractors, check whether the insurer covers their work and what insurance they'll need to carry. When requesting quotes, explain the types of projects you handle and how much work you subcontract so you can find insurers that will actually cover your operations.

Read More: What Does General Liability Insurance Cover?

Compare general liability quotes from at least three insurers, and make sure you use the same per-occurrence and aggregate limits, along with any required endorsements. This lets you see which provider offers the best value for the coverage you need. The cheapest general liability insurance may not be worth it if the policy doesn't meet your needs.

Your insurance needs can change as your business grows or scales back. A residential contractor moving into larger commercial projects may need higher GL limits or additional insured endorsements. If you run a retail business and close one of three stores, updating your policy could lower your premium. Just make sure you still meet existing contract requirements and maintain coverage for potential claims involving work you've already completed.

Texas sets different liability insurance requirements for certain licensed businesses. Depending on your profession, you may need specific coverage limits or policy provisions to obtain or maintain your license.

• HVAC contractors: Texas requires Class A contractors to carry $300,000 per occurrence, $600,000 aggregate and $300,000 for completed operations. Class B contractors need 100,000/200,000, plus $100,000 for completed operations. Both must maintain coverage while licensed.
• Electrical contractors: Licensed electrical contractors need $300,000 per occurrence, $600,000 aggregate and $300,000 for completed operations. You must submit a certificate of insurance (COI) showing these limits when applying for or renewing your license.
• Mold assessment and remediation companies: Texas requires licensed companies to maintain at least $1 million per occurrence in commercial GL insurance. Non-governmental businesses with a net worth of at least $1 million may qualify to self-insure instead.
• Structural pest control businesses: The Texas Department of Agriculture requires $500,000 in bodily injury and property damage coverage and $1 million aggregate. Your policy must also remove the care, custody and control exclusion to cover qualifying damage to property you're treating.

Government contracts and local permits can require insurance beyond standard GL coverage. Meeting those requirements may determine whether your Texas business can start or continue a project.

• TxDOT contracts: The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) uses its own insurance certificates rather than standard ACORD forms. If your required coverage lapses, TxDOT can suspend your work and withhold payment for work performed during the suspension.
• Railroad construction projects: Contractors working on certain TxDOT projects near railroad tracks need separate railroad protective liability insurance. Bridge projects generally require $5 million/$10 million, while non-bridge projects need $2 million/$6 million.

Hurricanes are a recurring concern for businesses along the Texas Gulf Coast. Meanwhile, popular tourist destinations bring their own liability risks, especially for businesses that welcome large numbers of visitors.

• Hurricane exposure: Texas experienced hurricane-force impacts from 10 hurricanes between 2000 and 2025, tied with North Carolina behind Florida (17) and Louisiana (15). Storm-damaged entrances and walkways can put customers at risk when Gulf Coast businesses reopen, so keeping GL active during closures helps protect against injury claims.
• Coastal tourism businesses: If you operate a beachside business, GL may be required before you can start serving tourists. Galveston, for example, requires participating beach vendors to carry $1 million in GL and name the city and Park Board as additional insureds. The policy also helps protect against covered customer injuries and property damage.
• High-traffic tourism areas: San Antonio attracts more than 39 million visitors annually, keeping River Walk restaurants, shops and attractions busy. More customer traffic means more opportunities for accidents, making GL important for handling covered injury claims without paying the full cost yourself.

Texas limits certain liability obligations in construction contracts and sets rules for project-wide insurance programs covering multiple contractors.

• Liability transfers: Construction contracts generally can't make you responsible for another party's negligence or require related additional insured coverage. Exceptions include certain residential and municipal projects and employee injury claims.
• Project insurance disclosures: If an owner or general contractor requires you to join a project-wide insurance program, they generally must disclose its coverage limits, exclusions and endorsements at least 10 days before you sign the contract.
• Opting out of project insurance: If the project owner or general contractor doesn't disclose the insurance program's coverage terms at least 10 days before you sign, you may decline enrollment and buy comparable coverage yourself. The contracting party must reimburse your actual insurance cost, subject to the law's conditions.
• Coverage after construction: Project-wide GL insurance programs must provide at least three years of completed-operations coverage for qualifying claims involving finished work. Whether a claim is covered still depends on the policy terms.

Surplus lines insurers cover harder-to-insure businesses, such as those handling hazardous materials or operating unusual events, but their policies follow different Texas rules.

• Policy cancellations: Surplus lines insurers aren't subject to the same cancellation and nonrenewal protections as standard Texas-licensed insurers. Some may also keep part of your premium if you cancel early, so review these terms carefully if your business operates seasonally or takes short-term jobs.
• Surplus lines premium taxes: Texas charges a 4.85% tax on surplus lines premiums, higher than 39 other states. That extra cost could make a surplus lines GL quote more expensive than it first appears, so compare the total price, including taxes and fees, with quotes from standard insurers.
• Insurer insolvency: If your surplus lines insurer goes out of business and can't pay claims, the Texas Property and Casualty Insurance Guaranty Association won't cover them. That makes checking the insurer's financial strength especially important before you buy.