Compare General Liability Quotes for Your Business

General liability insurance (sometimes called "commercial general liability" or CGL) is the foundational business insurance policy. It protects your company against claims made by third parties — customers, vendors, the general public — for bodily injury, property damage, and personal or advertising injury.

If a customer slips on a wet floor in your shop, a contractor accidentally damages a client's wall, or a competitor sues you for a statement on your website, GL insurance pays the legal defense and any judgment or settlement up to your policy limits.

It does not cover every business risk. Mistakes in your professional work are handled by errors and omissions (E&O). Employee injuries are workers comp. Damage to your own equipment falls under commercial property. GL is specifically about the people and property that are not yours.

The national median for a $1M/$2M general liability policy is about $42 per month or $504 per year for a small business. But the range is huge — consultants working from a laptop pay as little as $22/month, while roofing contractors routinely pay $200+/month for the same limits.

The main pricing factors are:

• Industry risk class. Roofing, tree work, and excavation are high risk. Accounting, design, and tutoring are low risk.
• Annual revenue. Premiums scale with how much business you do.
• Payroll and headcount. More employees means more liability exposure.
• Policy limits. Moving from $1M/$2M to $2M/$4M adds roughly 15-25% to the premium.
• Claims history. Clean record = meaningful discount. A recent claim can double your rate.

If you have customers, clients, or work at places you do not own, you almost certainly need GL. Many situations require it contractually:

• Signing a commercial lease. Landlords typically require $1M/$2M GL listing them as an additional insured.
• Getting a trade license. Most states require a minimum GL policy for contractors, electricians, plumbers, and HVAC.
• Closing a B2B contract. Larger clients routinely demand proof of insurance before they will sign.
• Selling on platforms. Amazon, Etsy Wholesale, and many marketplace sellers require GL above certain revenue thresholds.

Even if nobody is forcing you to carry it, a single lawsuit can end a small business. GL is almost always the best dollar-for-dollar protection you can buy.

A Business Owner Policy (BOP) bundles general liability with commercial property coverage (for your equipment, inventory, and sometimes business interruption) at a discounted rate. For most retailers, restaurants, offices, and service businesses with a physical location, a BOP is the better buy — often 10-20% cheaper than buying both policies separately.

Standalone GL makes sense when you are a home-based or mobile business with little physical property to insure. Consultants, personal trainers, photographers, and online sellers frequently opt for just a GL policy.

The modern workflow takes under 15 minutes:

1. Gather your business details — legal entity, state, annual revenue estimate, number of employees, and industry classification.
2. Request quotes from at least 3 carriers. Digital insurers like Next and Hiscox quote in minutes; traditional carriers like The Hartford and Progressive take slightly longer but often price better for trades.
3. Review the exclusions carefully. Some policies exclude subcontractors, pollution, or specific industries.
4. Choose limits that meet your contractual requirements. $1M/$2M is standard; bigger contracts may require $2M/$4M or an umbrella.
5. Bind the policy, pay the first premium, and download your certificate of insurance. Most digital carriers email a COI within minutes.