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What Is Business Liability Insurance?
Business liability insurance, also known as general liability insurance and commercial general liability insurance, helps protect your business from claims of bodily injury or property damage to others. These business liability claims can come up during your normal operations and be very costly. Without coverage, you’ll have to pay for defense costs out of pocket. To avoid this, you’ll want to make sure you have the right business liability policies in place. Learn more by getting an insurance quote today.
Some people confuse business liability insurance with public liability insurance. While they cover similar things, business liability insurance is a more modern version of public liability insurance that offers greater coverage.
What Does General Liability Business Insurance Cover?
Your business liability insurance policy can help cover claims like:
- Bodily injuries caused by your business
- Medical costs for customers injured by your business
- Property damage, like if your employee breaks a client’s window while working in their home
- Reputational harm if someone sues you for libelous or slanderous statements
- Advertising injuries or errors, such as copyright infringement in your marketing materials
- Damage to property you rented that’s caused by a fire, lightning strike or explosion
Many business owners increase their protection by bundling coverage through a Business Owner’s Policy (BOP). A BOP combines three insurance coverages into one convenient policy:
For small business owners, a BOP provides a good foundation for protection. With a packaged policy, you can get business liability protection while also saving on insurance costs.
It’s also important to be aware that your business liability insurance policy doesn’t cover all liability claims. You may need other types of insurance to help you get full protection for your business. For example, you’ll likely need:
- Employment practices liability insurance if an employee sues you for wrongful termination, harassment or discrimination
- Professional liability insurance to help protect your business if a client sues you for making a mistake in the services you provide
- Management liability insurance, which can help cover defense costs if your directors or partners get sued for how they run the business
- Workers’ compensation insurance if an employee files a claim after they hurt themselves on the job
- Commercial auto insurance to help cover costs of an auto accident if you or your employee is at fault
Having the right business liability insurance can help cover these types of claims and related expenses, like legal defense costs. Without the proper coverage, you may have to pay these costs yourself. You’ll also want to get a certificate of insurance that shows you have the right business liability insurance coverages.
If you own vehicles, you might also want to consider general liability umbrella protection. It gives you extra coverage and additional protection to help pay for costs that exceed certain business liability policy limits.
Who Needs Business Liability Insurance Coverage?
It’s not a state business insurance requirement to have general business liability insurance, nor is it required by law. But, it’s important to have if your company:
- Has employees
- Interacts directly with customers
- Works in a high-risk industry
- Frequently works off-premises
Business liability insurance can help protect many businesses in various industries. For instance, if you’re hired as an independent contractor and you damage your customer’s walls, this coverage can help pay the cost of repairs. It can also help protect business owners in lower-risk industries. So, if your client trips in your accounting firm and breaks her arm, this coverage can help pay her medical bills.
For startup owners, our general liability insurance for startups can give you the business liability coverage you need to protect your new business.
How Much Does General Liability Insurance for Business Cost?
Every business is unique. So, there’s not a one-size-fits-all business liability insurance policy. This means your business will have its own general liability insurance cost that’s based on several factors, like your:
- Policy deductible: Your deductible amount impacts the cost of your business liability insurance. For example, choosing a lower deductible can increase your premium.
- Coverage details: You can add optional coverages to your business liability policy. However, this will increase your insurance rate because your business has more protection.
- Type of business: Insurance companies often charge industries with more risk a higher rate than companies in low-risk industries. For instance, a landscaping business will likely have a higher general liability business insurance rate than an accounting firm.
- Years of experience: The more experience your business has, the lower your business insurance rate can be. Newer businesses can have an increased rate because there’s a higher risk of liability claims.
- Location: Busier places can increase your business’ liability risks. For instance, being in a city with more foot traffic can increase your insurance rates because there’s a higher risk of bodily injuries.
- Claims history: If you haven’t caused any customer injuries or property damage, you’ll likely have a lower business liability insurance rate.
To find the best rate, it’s a good idea to compare insurance quotes from multiple companies. To get started, get a quote from us today.
How Much Does a One Million Dollar Business Liability Insurance Policy Cost?
The cost of a business liability insurance policy with a $1 million limit is about $69 a month, or $824 annually, with The Hartford. It can depend on your industry, location, insured coverage details and claims history. This means everyone’s rate will be unique for their business.
Cost Breakdown for Insurance Business Liability
On average, business owners paid $805 annually, or about $67 a month, for general liability insurance coverage with The Hartford.1 Your business liability costs may vary, because every company has unique needs.
Get a Business Liability Insurance Quote
We’re backed by more than 200 years of experience and have helped over 1 million small business owners. We know how to meet your business’ unique needs and will help ensure you get the right type of business liability insurance that fits your business best.
Get a quote today and find out how we can help protect your small business.
Last Updated: November 17, 2023
1 Premium amounts presented are based on monthly premium paid by The Hartford's Small Business customers between 1/1/22 and 9/14/23 for 12-month policies. Premium is derived from a number of factors specific to your business and may vary.
Additional disclosures below.