General Liability Insurance (2024)

What is general liability insurance?

General liability insurance (GL) protects against lawsuits and other claims arising from your operations. Also called business liability insurance, it covers a wide range of risks that small business owners face, including:

  • Bodily injury and property damage
  • Personal and advertising injury
  • Medical payments
  • Products-completed operations
  • Damage to premises rented to you

Learn more about these general liability coverages and how they can protect your business.

Who needs general liability insurance?

A commercial general liability policy is a good fit for businesses that work with clients, sell products, advertise, and more. While not required by law, general liability is the most common type of business insurance because it protects from a variety of third-party claims and lawsuits.

Common professions that purchase general liability insurance include:

  • Architects
  • Caterers
  • Engineers
  • Food trucks
  • Landscapers
  • Painters
  • Photographers
  • Plumbers

In some cases, employers or clients might require you to carry a certain amount of general liability before you can work for them. Read through your contracts carefully to make sure you select the right limits when getting a general liability insurance quote.

General Liability Insurance (1)

General liability insurance for contractors

Contractors typically need some form of business liability insurance to protect from risks that arise during their work. Matching liability coverage to your exposure can give peace of mind against unexpected lawsuits.

For example, if a pedestrian trips over tools a landscaping company left on the sidewalk, a general liability insurance policy can help pay their medical expenses and the business’s legal costs.

You can buy general liability insurance through the Progressive Advantage® Business Program. We can also help qualifying contractors get blanket additional insured coverage, which extends your existing liability insurance to other entities. Some contracts and employers require this general liability endorsem*nt.

General liability insurance cost

In 2022, the national median cost of general liability insurance through Progressive was $53 per month. The average price was $72.

Most customers find their monthly premium to be closer to the median price because expensive outliers often drive up the average cost. Your rate will depend on specific features of your business, such as your profession and number of employees.

Discover more about general liability insurance cost and learn money-saving tips to help you find the best combination between price and protection for your business. Call us or start a quote online to get a customized general liability policy.

Common questions about general liability insurance

Is general liability insurance required by law?

No, but failing to carry general liability insurance could result in you having to pay for all the expenses related to a claim against your business. For example, while visiting your office a client slips on a rug and breaks their hip. Without general liability insurance, you could be solely responsible for all the medical bills and legal fees. So, even though it’s not required by law, it should be a priority for your business.

Does general liability insurance have a deductible?

Yes. You choose the amount of your general liability deductible when you get a quote. A deductible is a fixed out-of-pocket expense you agree to pay before your coverage starts to pay.

Does general liability insurance cover theft?

General liability insurance only pays for third-party damages, not yours. You’re considered the “first party.” The “third party” is the one that has a claim against you. This means general liability won’t cover your property or equipment against theft or damage.

To protect your property, we offer business personal property coverage as a part of a business owners policy.

Is general liability insurance tax deductible?

Yes. Since general liability premiums are considered “a cost of doing business,” they usually can be written-off at tax time. That said, it’s a good idea to consult a tax professional to make sure.

Does general liability cover professional mistakes?

No. General liability only provides coverage for claims against you by others for their bodily injuries or damage to their property. To protect from claims against you for professional neglect or mistakes, you need to have professional liability insurance.

What is a certificate of insurance?

A certificate of insurance (COI) is an official document that lists all coverages and limits on an insurance policy. Essentially, it proves that you have insurance and details your policy coverages and limits.

Can Progressive help me get general liability insurance in my state?

Yes. Progressive can help you get business insurance, including general liability, in all states except Hawaii. Browse by state.

Can high-risk businesses get general liability insurance?

Yes. High-risk businesses can get general liability insurance in a specialty market called excess and surplus lines (E&S). provides coverage for businesses the standard market doesn’t protect.

Does a limited liability company (LLC) need general liability insurance?

It depends. While not legally required, LLCs might need general liability insurance to fulfill certain contracts, such as a lease. Regardless, it’s a good idea to have a general liability policy to protect against lawsuits and expensive claims against your business.

General Liability Insurance (2024)

FAQs

General Liability Insurance? ›

Liability insurance coverage protects you financially if you're responsible for someone else's injuries or property damage. Liability coverage comes standard with most vehicle and property insurance policies, including auto and homeowners insurance.

Is general liability worth it? ›

Your GLI policy can help pay for your legal fees and settlement costs. Without general liability insurance coverage, your business would have to pay out of pocket for costly claims that could come up during normal business operations.

How much is a $2 million dollar insurance policy for a business? ›

How much is a 2-million dollar insurance policy for a business? On average, an insurance policy that offers coverage for up to $2 million can cost about $30 a month in premiums.

Is general liability insurance an expense or liability? ›

Insurance Expenses

Another possibility is to classify general liability insurance as an insurance expense. This is because the insurance is specifically for protecting the business from liability, and the cost of the insurance is directly related to the risk of liability.

How much is a $5 million dollar business insurance policy? ›

A $5 million umbrella policy costs around $375 to $525 per year, on average. Every policyholder's umbrella insurance premium will vary based on their personal risk factors, so individuals who own more cars or properties will be more expensive to insure, as will people who are particularly likely to be sued.

Can you self insure general liability? ›

Some large businesses may choose to self-insure to save money and control costs for their commercial property, auto and general liability coverages. When a business chooses this route, they don't buy a plan from an insurance company.

How much does a $1000000 liability insurance policy cost? ›

On average, Insureon customers pay $42 per month, or about $500 annually, for a $1 million general liability insurance policy. Additionally, 29% pay less than $30 per month, and 40% pay between $30 and $60 per month. Customers who need more coverage will likely pay a higher premium.

How much does a $10 million dollar business insurance policy cost? ›

Cost. As a general rule of thumb, figure that each million dollars of insurance cost $1,000.

How much does a $500,000 insurance policy cost? ›

The average cost of life insurance for a $500,000 term policy is $29 per month. This coverage offers more than just funeral expense relief; it can also cover mortgage payments, educational costs and daily living expenses for years. While many insurers offer this policy, costs and benefits can vary.

What is the best type of insurance for a small business? ›

General Liability Insurance

General liability insurance helps protect your business from claims that it caused bodily injury or property damage to someone else. For example, if a customer slips in your store, this coverage can help pay for their medical expenses.

Should I shop around for business insurance? ›

As a general rule, you'll want to get business insurance quotes from at least three different companies.

What percentage of small businesses do not have insurance? ›

(For more on our analysis, see “Methodology” section at the end of this article). The survey found that 96% of owners didn't achieve a passing grade when quizzed about basic insurance knowledge. Nearly 30% don't carry any small business insurance at all. That should give all entrepreneurs some pause.

Can I write off general liability insurance? ›

General liability insurance is usually tax-deductible because the IRS considers your policy payments to be a business expense. Keep track of all the payments you make toward your policy, as that will be important when you file your taxes at the beginning of the year.

Is general liability fully insured? ›

Also please note, General Liability insurance only covers property damage and customer injury.

Who is insured under a general liability policy? ›

The list below will more clearly outline who your coverage applies to: Individual: Named individual and their spouse. Partnership or Joint Venture: Named partnership, named joint venture, partners, members, and their spouse. Limited Liability Company: Named LLC, members, and managers.

What are the benefits of general liability insurance? ›

General liability insurance may help cover repair or replacement costs if your business accidently damages someone else's property. You might also feel better and could have increased peace of mind knowing your business may be covered just in case an accident happens.

What triggers a general liability policy? ›

Under an occurrence policy, the occurrence of injury or damage is the trigger; liability will be covered under that policy if the injury or damage occurred during the policy period. Under a claims-made policy, the making of a claim triggers coverage.

What damages are covered by a CGL policy? ›

A Commercial General Liability (CGL) policy protects your business from financial loss should you be liable for property damage or personal and advertising injury caused by your services, business operations or your employees.

How do most people obtain their insurance? ›

Employment-based plans accounted for more than half of the population with insurance; the next largest sources of coverage were Medicaid and Medicare. There were 179.8 million people covered by employer-sponsored insurance in 2022, which is an increase of 1.5 million from 2021.

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