Updated: November 9, 2025

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Best Business Insurance for Tree Services and Arborists: Key Takeaways
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Tree service businesses need several types of business insurance, including general liability, workers' compensation, commercial auto and equipment coverage to protect against industry-specific risks.

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NEXT offers the best business insurance for tree care companies with a MoneyGeek score of 4.67, combining strong customer service, competitive rates and comprehensive coverage options.

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Thimble provides the cheapest business insurance for arborists at $100 monthly, with general liability coverage starting at just $49 monthly for basic financial protection.

Best Business Insurance for Tree Service Companies

Finding the right business insurance for your tree service company protects your finances when accidents happen. NEXT earned our top spot with a MoneyGeek score of 4.67 out of 5, thanks to its competitive rates, quality customer service and comprehensive coverage options for tree care businesses. The Hartford and Thimble also ranked highly for arborists and tree removal companies seeking reliable financial protection.

NEXT Insurance4.67$133
The Hartford4.65$130
Thimble4.60$100
Nationwide4.60$133
biBERK4.60$136
Coverdash4.40$170
Progressive Commercial4.40$153
Chubb4.40$186
Hiscox4.30$162
Simply Business4.30$232

Note: We based all scores on a tree service business with two employees across professional liability, general liability, workers' comp and BOP policies.

Get Matched to the Best Tree Service Business Insurer for You

Select your industry and state to get matched to the best provider for you and get customized quotes.

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LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BEST BUSINESS INSURANCE
NEXT

1. NEXT: Best Overall for Tree Service Businesses

*on NEXT Insurance
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  • Top affordability for workers' comp and general liability coverage

  • Best-in-class digital experience with 24/7 certificate access

  • Get covered in 10 minutes with instant online quotes

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  • Digital-first platform lacks local agent offices for tree services

  • Claims processing scored lower than other carriers

COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS

NEXT earned top rankings across affordability, customer service, coverage and financial stability categories, making it the best overall choice for tree service business insurance. The company serves nearly 750,000 small businesses nationwide and holds an A+ Superior financial strength rating from AM Best through its parent company Munich Re Group. 

Tree service companies and arborists get quotes tailored to their specific operations, whether you run a tree removal business, tree trimming service or full-service tree care company.

Thimble

2. Thimble: Cheapest Overall for Tree Service Business

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  • Lowest rates for BOP and general liability coverage nationwide

  • Flexible coverage options by job, month or year

  • Second-best digital experience with instant certificates of insurance

  • Strong financial backing from A-rated carriers like Markel

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  • Claims processing ranked seventh nationally

  • Customer service scored lower than other tree service insurers

COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS

It is an affordable option for arborists and tree care businesses with smaller crews. 

What sets Thimble apart from tree service companies is its flexible options. You can purchase insurance by the hour, day, month or year, which works well for seasonal tree trimming operations or arborists handling project-based tree removal work.

Cheapest Business Insurance for Tree Services

Based on our study of business insurance pricing, Thimble offers the cheapest overall coverage for tree service companies at $100 monthly or $1,203 annually. It ranks first for BOP and general liability insurance, making it the most affordable choice for arborists and tree care businesses. For workers' compensation and professional liability coverage, consider comparing quotes from NEXT, The Hartford and Progressive Commercial to find the best rates for your tree removal business.

Thimble$100$1,203
The Hartford$130$1,554
Nationwide$133$1,592
NEXT Insurance$133$1,599
biBERK$136$1,629
Progressive Commercial$153$1,841
Hiscox$162$1,947
Coverdash$170$2,045
Chubb$186$2,226
Simply Business$232$2,780

What Does Tree Service Business Insurance Cost?

In general, business insurance costs for tree service companies are as follows for the four most popular coverage types:

  • General Liability: $131 on average per month, ranging from $49 to $255, depending on the state
  • Workers' Comp: $221 on average per month, ranging from $207 to $256, depending on the state
  • Professional Liability (E&O): $75 on average per month, ranging from $68 to $88, depending on the state
  • BOP Insurance: $192 on average per month, ranging from $76 to $381, depending on the state
Workers' Comp$221$2,658
BOP$192$2,306
General Liability$131$1,567
Professional Liability (E&O)$75$906

What Type of Coverage Do You Need for a Tree Service Business?

Your tree service company's insurance needs start with mandatory workers' compensation coverage if you have employees, followed by essential general liability and commercial auto insurance that protect against the industry's most common claims. You should also consider getting tools and equipment coverage, professional liability, and cyber insurance (if you handle customer data).

How to Get the Best Cheap Business Insurance for Your Tree Service Company

Finding the best and cheapest business insurance for your tree service company requires a strategic approach. Follow our step-by-step method for getting business insurance that balances comprehensive coverage with affordable rates.

  1. 1
    Decide on Coverage Needs Before Buying

    Tree service work involves serious risks: workers climbing 50-foot trees, chainsaws near power lines, heavy branches falling toward houses. Talk to experienced arborists about their coverage, consult independent agents who understand tree care operations, and research protection types to safeguard your business without overpaying.

  2. 2
    Research Costs

    Tree service insurance costs vary based on crew size, equipment value and services you offer. Research typical rates for arborist businesses similar to yours and identify insurers experienced with tree care companies. This helps you recognize fair pricing before requesting quotes.

  3. 3
    Look Into Company Reputations and Coverage Options

    Read reviews from other tree service contractors about their claims experiences, especially for equipment damage, property damage and worker injuries. Verify insurers cover specialized arborist equipment like stump grinders, chippers, bucket trucks and climbing gear your crews use daily.

  4. 4
    Compare Multiple Quotes Through Different Means

    Insurance rates for tree trimming businesses differ significantly between sources. Get quotes from captive agents, independent brokers familiar with tree service risks, online platforms and directly from insurers. Compare identical coverage limits across at least three providers to find your best rate.

  5. 5
    Reassess Annually

    Your tree care company evolves as you add bucket trucks, hire more climbers, expand into storm cleanup or take on municipal contracts. Review your coverage annually as equipment, crew size and revenue change to maintain adequate protection and confirm you're getting competitive rates.

Best Business Insurance for Tree Service: Bottom Line

Tree service companies need solid protection: general liability, workers' compensation, commercial auto and equipment coverage. NEXT offers the best business insurance for arborists, balancing strong customer service with comprehensive coverage options. Tree care businesses watching costs can get general liability through Thimble for just $49 monthly.

Tree Service Business Insurance Chart

Tree Service Business Insurance: FAQ

We answer frequently asked questions about tree service business insurance:

Who offers the best tree service business insurance overall?

Who has the cheapest business insurance for tree service firms?

What business insurance is required for tree service organizations?

How much does tree service business insurance cost?

How We Chose the Best Tree Service Business Insurance

We selected the best business insurer for tree-service 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 the company 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 providers 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 companies are 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


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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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