Featured Offer: Get a free credit card reader from Square Payments
Sign up for a free account with Square and get a complimentary card reader, point-of-sale app, and a suite of tools to run a better, more profitable business. No monthly fees required.
Best General Liability Insurance For Small Business
Small business liability insurance protects you from lawsuits if someone is injured at your business or because of your product. Here are the best general liability insurance policies for small business.
Kymberlin earned her Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing from Pacific University in 2020 and resides in Portland, Oregon.
WRITTEN & RESEARCHED BY
Kymberlin BushKymberlin earned her Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing from Pacific University in 2020 and resides in Portland, Oregon.
Expert Contributor
Last updated onUpdated
Shelbi Wescott began working for Merchant Maverick in 2019 after 17 years as a journalism educator and publications advisor, where she has extensive knowledge of newsroom systems and editorial workflows. She has overseen multiple print and online publications and mentored hundreds of emerging writers. Shelbi is also an award-winning journalist, published author, and former small business owner with a Master of Arts in Teaching from Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon.
REVIEWED BY
Shelbi WescottShelbi Wescott began working for Merchant Maverick in 2019 after 17 years as a journalism educator and publications advisor, where she has extensive knowledge of newsroom systems and editorial workflows. She has overseen multiple print and online publications and mentored hundreds of emerging writers. Shelbi is also an award-winning journalist, published author, and former small business owner with a Master of Arts in Teaching from Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon.
Expert Contributor
Our content reflects the editorial opinions of our experts. While our site makes money through referral partnerships, we only partner with companies that meet our standards for quality, as outlined in our independent rating and scoring system.
The best general liability insurance for small businesses protects you from some unavoidable risks of doing business. For example, a general liability policy is your best protection if someone is injured while visiting your workplace or using your products.
We looked at 18 different insurance companies and brokers to find the best general liability insurance for your small business. We evaluated the best business insurance for small businesses on reliability, claims responsiveness, and price considerations, among other factors.
Small business liability insurance protects your business from third-party claims of bodily injury, accidents, or property damage that happens because of your products.
If you are thinking about getting insurance coverage for your business, a general liability policy should be your first purchase.
Note: General liability does not protect you if employees are injured on the job. You’ll need workers’ compensation coverage for that.
The Best Liability Insurance For Small Business
The best liability insurance for business offers coverage you can count on at a price you can afford. It’s also important to pick business liability that’s easy to use, whether you’re managing your account or filing a claim.
Why We Chose NEXT For Business Liability Insurance
Not having a general liability insurance policy puts your business at serious risk. If you need liability protection quickly, NEXT can have you covered within 10 minutes, offering almost-instant price quotes and a print-it-yourself certificate of insurance.
NEXT Insurance Pricing
NEXT advertises general liability coverage that starts at $11/month for small businesses in low-risk categories.
Your cost depends on the usual factors: business size and location, industry, number of employees, and so on. You can get a quote by entering basic information, with an estimated time involvement of just 4 minutes. Enter your contact information, and you’ll receive a quote within 10 minutes.
We asked for a price quote for general liability insurance for a small, single proprietorship operating out of Washington state. The entire process took less than the predicted 10 minutes, and we received easy-to-understand and competitive pricing:
Screenshot of NEXT Insurance webpage, captured 9/20/2023
NEXT Features For Liability Coverage
NEXT offers basic policies, so you won’t find a lot of specialized coverage options with this insurer. Here’s a summary of what NEXT delivers:
Instant Online Quotes
Just type in some basic information online to receive suggestions about the types of coverage your business needs. You should receive a quote within 10 minutes.
Basic Coverage
NEXT offers general liability, a business owner’s policy (BOP), worker’s compensation, professional liability (E&O), commercial auto, commercial property, and a tools and equipment upgrade.
You’ll also find limited specialty coverage, including liquor liability, product liability, and hired and non-owned auto policies.
Bundle Discounts
If you buy two or more policies from NEXT, you activate a 10% discount.
Mobile App
Use the mobile app to print out your certificate of insurance, submit and manage claims, and update your coverage.
Strong Customer Service
Live, US-based representatives are available via chat during normal working hours.
High Ratings
NEXT Insurance has an A- (Excellent) credit rating from AM Best. Customers report that Next offers easy-to-use, basic small business insurance.
Choose NEXT If ...
You want instant coverage, including a certificate of insurance you can print yourself
Your business has simple insurance needs
You’re comfortable with an online-only insurance company
You plan to purchase two or more types of coverage and want a 10% discount
Basic business coverage + some specialized policies
Time To Receive A Quote
Instant Quotes
Pros
Coverage for events
Adjustable policies
Instant quotes & coverage
Cons
Limited specialty policies
No phone support
Why We Chose Thimble For Business Liability Insurance
If your business is cyclical, with predictable or sudden downtimes, Thimble can be a great choice. That's because this is one insurance company that allows you to adjust your coverage periodically.
Thimble also offers insurance for events. If you are a wedding photographer, landscaper, or crafter who participates in seasonal events like fairs or farmers' markets, you won't need to carry insurance during the months you don't need coverage.
Thimble Insurance Pricing
Thimble policies start at $17/month, though you may pay more depending on factors such as your business size and location. Thimble policies are underwritten by Benchmark Insurance Company.
Thimble Features For Liability Coverage
Here are some notable features of Thimble Insurance:
Adjustable Coverage
You can purchase Thimble coverage by the job, month, or year. You can pause, modify, or cancel coverage as needed, too.
Monthly Payments
Thimble allows customers to pay annually or monthly with no added fees. That’s a standout, budget-friendly feature.
Instant Quotes & Coverage
Thimble’s online quote process is one of the easiest I’ve seen. You’ll be guided through a series of basic questions about your business, and you’ll be able to see your personalized quote instantly. Make a payment online, and your coverage starts immediately.
Additional Coverage
You can purchase additional coverage from Thimble in addition to general liability. The company offers a business owner’s policy (BOP), professional liability, business equipment protection, commercial property, workers’ compensation, business interruption, equipment breakdown, auto liability, hired and non-owned auto coverage, product liability, and cyber insurance.
Mobile App
Download the highly-rated Thimble app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play store, and you’ll be able to purchase insurance on the spot or provide proof of insurance, update your coverage, get a refund, and more.
Good Customer Service
Thimble offers chat and email support on weekdays during normal business hours (Eastern Time).
High Ratings
AM Best rates Thimble A (Excellent) for financial strength. The company is accredited by the Better Business Bureau, where it holds an A+ rating. Customer reviews indicate that Thimble is easy to use and hassle-free.
Choose Thimble If ...
You operate an event-based business or participate in seasonal events and want only part-time insurance coverage
You want an easy online application process and almost instant insurance coverage
You’d like to work with an insurer that offers some additional coverage options
Why We Chose The Hartford For Business Liability Insurance
The Hartford is one of the nation's top 10 insurance companies, and its business insurance policies are comprehensive. However, it's not the least expensive option available, so we feel The Hartford is a good choice for larger companies in particular.
Although we like The Hartford and think it's a great choice for general liability insurance, we note that the company may not want to work with smaller businesses. When we asked for a quote for a small sole proprietor business, The Hartford declined to give us a quote and instead directed us to Simply Business, an insurance broker that gave us several competitive quotes to fit our business insurance needs.
The Hartford Insurance Pricing
Like many insurance companies, The Hartford provides personalized quotes for liability and other commercial insurance. For comparison purposes, its general liability coverage starts at around $88/month. Your coverage may have a slightly different price, of course.
Personalized quotes are available online, and you should receive your quote the same day. You can request a quote from The Hartford by phone, too.
The Hartford Features For Liability Coverage
Along with liability coverage, The Hartford offers some special features to help business owners. Here are a few:
Risk Engineering
The Hartford can help you build a custom safety plan and analyze on-the-job risks.
Simplified Claims
The Hartford’s customers can access a unique claims system, The Hartford Productivity Advantage, to file claims.
Additional Coverage
The Hartford offers a business owner’s policy (BOP) that combines general liability and commercial property coverage. You can add coverage for business income interruption, flood insurance, cyber, home-based business, multi-national, and more. The Hartford also provides commercial and construction surety bonds.
Strong Customer Support
Live support is available during normal business hours. Support is available via email and self-help options around the clock. Claims can be filed with The Hartford 24/7.
The Hartford is rated tenth in the nation for overall customer satisfaction among small business insurers, according to a J.D. Power survey. Online reviews from users are generally positive.
High Ratings
The Hartford has an A- (Excellent) credit rating from AM Best. The Hartford is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau, but it maintains an A+ rating from the BBB.
Choose The Hartford If ...
Your business is bigger or has complex insurance needs
You want to add additional policies on top of general liability coverage
Your business would benefit from risk engineering services
You want an insurance company with round-the-clock support
Why We Chose Nationwide For Business Liability Insurance
Business liability insurance is a must-have for businesses of all types and sizes, but many businesses will need additional coverage, too. Fortunately, Nationwide offers a wide variety of policies in addition to general liability. If you're looking for complete coverage beyond the basics, Nationwide is an insurance provider worth considering.
Nationwide Insurance Pricing
You can request a personalized price quote from Nationwide over the phone or online. If you start the process online, you may need to complete it over the phone. Quotes usually are provided within 30 minutes.
We requested pricing information on behalf of a small sole proprietorship based in Washington state and got two quotes from Nationwide. One was underwritten by Liberty Mutual Insurance, and the other was underwritten by NEXT Insurance:
Screenshot of Nationwide Insurance webpage, captured 9/20/2023
Nationwide Features For Liability Coverage
As a full-spectrum insurance provider, Nationwide delivers a strong feature set. Here’s a sampling:
Specialty Coverage
Nationwide offers a business owner’s policy (BOP) that combines general liability, commercial property, business income, and equipment breakdown coverage.
Nationwide also offers fidelity and surety bonds, group insurance bonds, key person benefits, and retirement plans.
Online Access
Nationwide customers can access their accounts through a secure online portal. This portal is used to manage your billing and start or monitor a claim.
Education Tools
Free resources offer advice and support on a wide range of small business topics, including taxes, cybersecurity, hiring, payroll, and workplace safety.
Loss Control Planning
You might be able to lower your premiums if you take advantage of Nationwide’s tools and resources to review your business operations and procedures. This includes personal assistance from Nationwide’s loss control services team.
24/7 Customer Service
Nationwide customers work directly with an agent, with support available by phone and email. Claims support centers are open 24/7, with a dedicated claims service representative.
Strong Ratings
Nationwide is ranked third in the nation for customer satisfaction among small business insurance customers. The company is rated A+ (Excellent) by AM Best for its financial strength.
Choose Nationwide If ...
You have complex business insurance needs and want to choose from a full range of policies
You want to purchase a fidelity or surety bond
You would use free loss-control planning tools to lower your premiums
You want to work with a nationally recognized insurer that offers 24/7 service
May not be suitable for large or complex businesses
Why We Chose Hiscox For Business Liability Insurance
Hiscox offers policies designed specifically for independent contractors and freelancers. The company maintains a focus on clients with 10 or fewer employees.
Hiscox Insurance Pricing
Quick quotes are available from Hiscox by phone or online, and the company says you can be insured within 10 minutes. You’ll need to enter some basic information to get a quote.
While quotes are customized around your specific business details, Hiscox says small business general liability coverage typically costs around $30/month or less. Hiscox generally offers liability coverage in a bundle with commercial property insurance.
Notably, Hiscox allows business owners to pay insurance premiums monthly rather than annually, with no added fees.
Hiscox Features For Liability Coverage
Here are a few of the features that helped Hiscox land a spot on this list of the best small business liability coverage:
Support For Home Businesses & Contractors
Hiscox offers special policy packages for sole proprietors, home-based businesses, and independent contractors.
Monthly Payments
Hiscox customers can make monthly payments instead of paying annually, with no added fees. That’s a standout feature in the insurance world, and it could make a difference to small businesses working on a tight budget.
Quick Quotes & Coverage
Hiscox lets you apply online and receive a quote within minutes. Coverage can start immediately if you want it to.
Small Business Resources
Hiscox offers informative newsletters and maintains an online library of articles. Subscribe to the company’s podcast, “Side Hustle to Small Business,” via Apply, Spotify, or Google.
Referrals Program
You can be entered into a monthly drawing for one of ten Amazon gift cards worth $50 each when you share a referral link with friends or share it on your social media accounts.
Strong Customer Support
Hiscox’s online claims center is open 24/7, with live agents available by phone every weekday. If you file a claim, you’ll be assigned to a claims representative who will stay with you through the claims process.
Strong Ratings
Hiscox has a credit rating of A (Excellent) from AM Best and is rated 4.5/5 stars by customers commenting via Consumer Affairs.
Choose Hiscox If ...
You are a contractor or freelancer who needs business insurance
You operate a home-based business as a sole proprietor or contractor
You would like to pay insurance premiums monthly rather than annually, with no added fees
You’d like to refer friends and have a chance to earn a $50 referral reward
Why We Chose biBERK For Business Liability Insurance
All the companies on this list of the best liability insurance for business are highly rated. biBERK stands out for its financial stability and A++ (Superior) rating from AM Best. If you want a rock-solid insurance provider, biBERK is backed by Berkshire Hathaway.
Despite its size and reputation, biBERK offers general liability and other coverage to small business owners, including freelancers, contractors, and home-based businesses.
biBERK Insurance Pricing
Like most insurance companies, biBERK offers personalized price quotes. The company states that small business owners can save 20% on their premium purchases from biBERK. Policies start around $27.50/month, though yours may cost more depending on your location, business size, number of employees, and other factors.
You can get a quote from biBERK online or by phone, with near-instant quotes and coverage.
biBERK Features For Liability Coverage
biBERK offers useful features that enhance its value to small business owners, including:
Instant Quotes & Coverage
Apply online and receive a quote in minutes. You can even purchase coverage on the same day.
Additional Coverage
Add endorsements to your general liability policy to cover cyber liability, hired and non-owned auto liability, employment-related practices liability, employee benefits liability, liquor liability, and contractors’ installation, tools, and equipment policies.
biBERK also offers standard business coverage, including a business owner policy (BOP), workers’ compensation, professional liability, errors & omissions, commercial auto, and umbrella policies.
Excellent Customer Service
Customers rave about biBERK’s customer service, frequently mention representatives by name, and praise their helpfulness and knowledge. Customer service is available by phone on weekdays from 7 AM-9 PM ET and via a contact form on the website.
Outstanding Ratings
biBERK is accredited by the Better Business Bureau and has an A+ rating. biBERK’s financial stability is rated A++ (Superior) by AM Best.
Choose biBERK If ...
You prefer to work with an insurer that is top-rated for financial stability
You want some specialty coverage such as cyber liability, liquor liability, and more
You want an instant price quote and same-day coverage
Merchant Maverick has been researching and reviewing business insurance since 2020. Our writers have tested over twenty different major insurance companies. In each review, we evaluate pricing, features, customer service, and user reviews.
When comparing different business insurance companies, we consider many data points, including relative pricing, the number of standard insurance policies available, and the ability to create custom policies. Our lists of the best business insurance providers include only those we’ve deemed worthwhile from multiple vantage points and often share qualities such as low cost, a variety of niche business insurance policies, multiple ways to file claims, and excellent customer support.
We spend an average of 10-15 hours researching and updating each one of our lists, ensuring that the business insurance companies included meet our internal standards for quality and reputation.
How To Find The Best Small Business Liability Insurance
Even when you know how important general liability insurance is, it may be hard to find room in the budget to pay for it.
It’s reasonable that cost is a factor when you’re shopping around. But is cheap business liability insurance worth it?
Why Cheap Liability Insurance Isn’t Always Better
When it comes to business liability insurance, cheaper isn’t always better. A cheap policy, which could come with a high deductible and numerous exclusions, may not offer the protection your small business needs.
The average size of what’s known as a “slip and fall” lawsuit is $30,000. If a customer or vendor is injured at your workplace or because of your products, a “cheap” liability policy could prove to be very costly.
How Much Does Business Liability Insurance Cost?
The good news is that general liability insurance is typically not expensive. Keep in mind that many factors influence the cost of business insurance.
According to Insureon, an independent business insurance agency, the average cost of general liability is about $42/month or about $500/year. Many small businesses will pay even less for their liability coverage.
Almost all insurance companies provide personal price quotes for business coverage. Your premium, or the amount you pay for your general liability policy, will depend on several factors. These factors include your business location, number of employees, and your industry or type of business.
Interested in keeping costs down? To make sure you’re getting the best price on your coverage, gather and compare quotes from two or three insurance providers. Choose the right deductible, and manage or mitigate known risks to lower your premiums.
Let us know how well the content on this page solved your problem today. All feedback, positive or negative, helps us to improve the way we help small businesses.
Want to help shape the future of the Merchant Maverick website? Join our testing and survey community!
By providing feedback on how we can improve, you can earn gift cards and get early access to new features.
Expert ERC Filing SupportTrust ERC Specialists to maximize your tax credits.Experience competitive rates, excellent customer support, and a fast & easy claim process. Request a free analysis today.Get StartedClaim your ERC now
We Want Your Feedback!
Help us to improve by providing some feedback on your experience today.
The vendors that appear on this list were chosen by subject matter experts on the basis of product quality, wide usage and availability, and positive reputation.
Merchant Maverick’s ratings are editorial in nature, and are not aggregated from user reviews. Each staff reviewer at Merchant Maverick is a subject matter expert with experience researching, testing, and evaluating small business software and services. The rating of this company or service is based on the author’s expert opinion and analysis of the product, and assessed and seconded by another subject matter expert on staff before publication. Merchant Maverick’s ratings are not influenced by affiliate partnerships.
Our unbiased reviews and content are supported in part by affiliate partnerships, and we adhere to strict guidelines to preserve editorial integrity. The editorial content on this page is not provided by any of the companies mentioned and has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Opinions expressed here are author’s alone.
Expert ERC Filing SupportTrust ERC Specialists to maximize your tax credits.Experience competitive rates, excellent customer support, and a fast & easy claim process. Request a free analysis today.Get StartedClaim your ERC now
Experience competitive rates, excellent customer support, and a fast & easy claim process. Request a free analysis today.
Get Started
