6 Cheapest General Liability Insurance Companies for 2024
The leading cheapest general liability insurance companies are affordable without compromising on customer service or the quality of coverage for your business. Every business is different, so it is important to find an insurer that not only offers cheap general liability insurance, but also makes it customizable through endorsements to fit your specific industry.
With this in mind, we evaluated over 20 insurance companies to find the six best companies offering the cheapest general liability insurance for your small business.
- The Hartford: Best overall for cheapest general liability
- Simply Business: Cheapest for comparing quotes
- Next Insurance: Cheapest customizable general liability
- Thimble: Cheapest general liability for contractors
- FLIP: Cheapest general liability for food vendors
- biBERK: Cheapest for bundling coverages
To determine which insurance companies are the best and most affordable for general liability, we utilized a proprietary evaluation system developed in-house. This system gives special attention to the customer’s needs and evaluates convenience, financial ratings (AM Best), customer service, types of policies offered, and the overall experience as a policyholder for a specific provider.
We reviewed over 20 insurance companies and presented the six with the highest scores. For this guide, we only considered carriers that would provide a quote. Where possible, we tried to keep the company description similar: years in business, number of employees, payroll, and revenue. However, for some companies, we did change the industry.
The Hartford: Best Overall for Cheapest General Liability
Pros
- It offers online quoting and binding.
- It has over two centuries of experience.
- It is available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
Cons
- It has no mobile app for commercial policies.
- It may decline coverage without providing a reason.
Standout Features
- Its online portal instantly manages your policy.
- Customizable coverage lets you control the costs.
- Independent agents are available to advise you on your coverages.
- Over a million small businesses have been insured.
Financial Stability: With over 200 years of experience, The Hartford has proven financial stability. AM Best rated The Hartford A+ (Superior).
The Hartford not only leads our roundup of the best general liability insurance companies, but it is also an excellent choice for getting cheap general liability insurance. It has a customizable quoting system that lets you adjust liability limits to match your business needs and gives you some control over the price you pay. The Hartford also offers in-house claims adjusters who provide a quality experience.
In our evaluation, this provider scored 4.56 out of 5 because of its financial strength and the policies it offers. It would have scored even higher if it offered convenient features, like the ability to purchase a policy online without speaking to anyone or a mobile app for commercial lines to manage your policy, create a certificate of insurance (COI), or file a claim.
We received a quote from The Hartford for a $1 million general liability policy with $2 million in aggregate limits, which cost $29.25 a month or $351 annually.
The Hartford offers a wide range of policies you can bundle with its standalone general liability policy, including professional liability and LLC insurance coverage. If your small business is a tax or accounting firm, or if you have formed an LLC, then The Hartford is the right choice for you.
Policies with The Hartford are available nationwide. You can get a quote and purchase a policy online or through an independent agent. Once purchased, you can also manage your policy online. Independent agents who are small business owners voted The Hartford as one of the best insurance companies to work with in J.D. Power’s Independent Agent Satisfaction Study.
Customers are also happy with The Hartford, which has lower-than-average complaints with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). The provider also encourages and publishes customer reviews on its website[1] and has 4.8 out of 5 stars from over 800 user reviews, specifically about general liability claims.
Simply Business: Cheapest for Comparing Quotes
Pros
- You can quickly compare quotes.
- You can get same-day coverage.
- You can purchase a policy online.
Cons
- Customer service isn’t available 24/7.
- Claims-filing process can be cumbersome.
- Commercial property insurance may not be available online.
Standout Features
- You can compare quotes for multiple lines of coverage.
- It tailors quotes in real time to make sure the coverage is right for you.
- You can purchase a policy online or call to speak with an agent.
- It works with top-rated carriers.
Financial Stability: Simply Business is owned by Travelers, and Travelers’ AM Best rating is A++ (Superior).
Digital insurance brokerage Simply Business scored 4.5 out of 5 in our assessment of the cheapest general liability insurance companies because of its financial stability, nationwide availability, convenience, and available policies. As a brokerage, Simply Business works with approximately 13 different carriers and specializes in drawing on those relationships to provide you with multiple quotes.
The quotes include information on the coverage, the provider, and multiple payment plan options. If you’re looking for low-cost business insurance, a great way to shop is to compare quotes from different providers. Doing so lets you find affordable coverage that’s right for your small business.
Another advantage of Simply Business is that you can purchase the policy entirely online without speaking to anyone. However, Simply Business lacks 24/7 call center support, and its entire claims process is a bit laborious. If you’d prefer to have access to a live agent you can call and speak to anytime, The Hartford has a 24/7 claims center and its own in-house claims department.
We received five quotes from Simply Business for a handyperson business. All of the quotes carried the same level of coverage: general liability with $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate. The prices ranged from $547 to $1,013 annually.
The quote for $547 annually was through Harborway Insurance and included $100,000 in damage to premises rented to you and a $2 million limit for products and completed operations. We were given two payment options: yearly or monthly. For the monthly option of the above quote, you would owe the first two months upfront and then make 10 monthly payments to cover the remainder. We were then given the option to purchase the policy online.
Once you purchase a policy through Simply Business, you receive an email that contains your policy and a COI.
Simply Business is available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Its offerings are more focused on microbusinesses rather than large businesses—and while not all coverages are available in every state, you can get a quote for general liability and professional liability anywhere in the US.
Simply Business customers are happy with their experience. On the independent review site Trustpilot,[2] Simply Business has earned 4.7 out of 5 stars from over 600 reviews.
After purchasing a policy, you can manage it online, pay bills, and request a COI when you need proof of insurance. If you need to file a claim, you can either contact Simply Business directly or call your carrier—the brokerage provides the claim contact information for every carrier it works with.
Next Insurance: Best for Customizing General Liability
Pros
- It provides online quotes quickly.
- It offers Instant, customizable COIs.
- You can purchase a policy online.
Cons
- It has no 24/7 call center.
- It has no commercial auto insurance.
- Commercial property insurance may be unavailable online.
Standout Features
- It is committed to quick claim resolutions—you can get decisions in 48 hours.
- General liability is customized to include needed coverage depending on the industry.
- Its tiered quote system helps save money by letting you decide what coverages work best for your business.
- Its commercial app lets you manage your policy 24/7.
Financial Stability: While it is a relatively new insurer, Next has established financial strength to handle claims. AM Best rated Next Insurance A- (Excellent).
Next Insurance is a direct-to-consumer carrier targeting businesses with one to five employees with a yearly revenue of less than $5 million. Its general liability policies are customized to fit specific industries. For instance, a contractor’s general liability policy will come with inland marine coverage, whereas a photographer’s would come with professional liability insurance.
The provider typically offers three tiers, with each one progressively offering more coverage. Functionally, this setup is similar to comparing quotes from different carriers and picking the best coverage and cost for your needs.
As a direct-to-consumer insurer, Next sells insurance directly to customers without using an agent, which helps reduce costs. This helps explain why 66% of its customers pay less than $75 monthly for general liability, with 19% paying less than $25 monthly.
In our evaluation, the carrier took its biggest hit in customer service because its call center is unavailable 24/7 for claims reporting. However, its app does function like a 24/7 call center.
We received a quote for general liability with a monthly cost of $15.86. This base policy had limits of $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate.
Next Insurance’s standard general liability includes coverage for property damage, bodily injury, damage to premises your business rents, medical expenses, personal and advertising injury, and product liability.
Convenience is one area where Next Insurance really shines. Whether online or through the Next Insurance app, you can manage your policy and claims 24/7. You can change coverage or file a claim on the app too. Next also recently enhanced its app, so you can now create and share a free COI within seconds.
While it can be difficult to find many customer reviews online for Next, the provider shares customer reviews on its website.[3] Currently, there are over 5,000 reviews with an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Thimble: Cheapest for Contractors or Businesses Needing a COI
Pros
- It offers affordable premiums.
- It offers unlimited free COIs.
- It provides quotes online.
Cons
- You cannot call 24/7.
- Claims are handled by a third party.
- It can be very hard to speak with anyone over the phone.
Standout Features
- It has a commercial app for managing your policy and sharing COIs.
- Short-term liability coverage is available by the hour and month.
- You can get a quote and purchase a policy in 60 seconds.
- It works with top-rated carriers.
Financial Stability: As a managing general agent (MGA), Thimble offers policies through a variety of different carriers. According to Thimble’s Insurance Ratings page, all are rated A- to A (Excellent) by AM Best.
Thimble scored 4.25 out of 5 because of its convenience and the policies it offers. Contractors, especially those in construction, understand that having an instant COI you can change on the fly is critical for keeping the project moving forward.
Thimble is our best recommendation for independent contractors and businesses needing to provide a COI. This is because you can customize and share an unlimited number of COIs, at no extra cost, through Thimble’s app. However, the provider could have scored higher overall in our analysis if it offered a 24/7 call center for customer support and claims.
Thimble now offers coverage on a three-tier scale: silver, gold, and platinum. Each tier comes with additional coverage and even higher limits, giving you the freedom to pick which type of coverage works best and allowing you some control over the cost of your premium.
We received a quote for a business owner’s policy (BOP). With the silver level tier, the policy carried $1 million in total liability and $25,000 in property coverage. It cost $60.83 monthly over 10 months after a down payment of $121.66.
Whether you’re a current customer or just shopping for insurance, you can download the Thimble app, through which you can get a quote, purchase and manage your policy, and file claims. Thimble is the only provider on this list that gives you the option to get a quote directly on its app.
Once the policy is purchased, you receive an instant COI. You can request as many copies of the COI as you need, and a digital copy is available on the app.
If you are a contractor, Thimble provides a certificate manager service that helps you manage your contractor insurance and follow state-specific guidelines.
FLIP: Cheapest General Liability for Food Vendors
Pros
- It offers free and instant COI.
- It has ease of use.
- It offers same-day coverage.
Cons
- It has no dedicated 24/7 service.
- Claims are handled by a third party.
- Coverages are limited to the specific program.
Standout Features
- A dedicated agent helps you manage your policy.
- Its general liability insurance is affordable.
- You can get a quote and purchase a policy in 10 minutes or less.
- The policy dashboard manages your policy and file claims.
Financial Stability: FLIP has partnered with The Great American Insurance Company (GAIC) to provide insurance to food vendors, caterers, food trucks, and more. GAIC’s AM Best rating is A+ (Superior).
FLIP, or Food Liability Insurance Program, is a specialty provider of general liability for food trucks and other small business food vendors. General liability insurance policies start at $25.92 monthly, making FLIP highly affordable small business insurance.
The provider scored 4.25 out of 5 in our evaluation because of its simple and quick process for quoting and building your coverage and its online offerings for managing your policy and creating COIs. It could have earned even higher marks by offering a 24/7 call center.
FLIP provides a very straightforward quote system. You can purchase the coverage you need in minutes—even same-day coverage—without speaking with anyone.
We received a quote for general liability and equipment on a food truck. The cost was $34.17 monthly. The policy carried $2 million aggregate in general liability, $2 million in products-completed operations, $300,000 for damage to a rented premise, and $5,000 for tools and equipment. The entire quote process took less than five minutes.
FLIP is available in all 50 states. Once you purchase a policy from it, you will gain an online account with 24/7 access to your policy documents and the ability to get free and unlimited COIs for your business.
Online reviews are positive. FLIP has received 500 5-star reviews from users on its website.[4] The policy is from The Great American Insurance Company, which has lower-than-average complaints with the NAIC.
biBERK: Cheapest for Bundling Coverages
Pros
- You can get online quotes quickly.
- It has an in-house claims team.
- It offers online claims reporting.
Cons
- General liability is available only in 27 states.
- It has weekday-only services.
- Its coverage availability beyond liability depends on the state.
Standout Features
- You can save up to 20% by bundling coverages.
- Tiered coverage options help you save money.
- Its a dedicated insurer only for small businesses.
- You can gain instant access to a COI when you purchase insurance.
Financial Stability: In 2015, Berkshire Hathaway founded biBERK to provide insurance for small businesses. Because it is a part of Berkshire Hathaway Group, biBERK’s AM Best rating is solid at an A++ (Superior).
biBERK scored 3.87 out of 5 because of its affordability, quick online quotes, and the services it offers, like an instant COI. The provider’s lower score reflects the regional availability of some of its coverage options, and you can find more details on the coverage map posted on its website.
Its policies come as standalone offerings, but if you bundle coverage, you can save up to 20%. This is why it is the best general liability insurance company for a business looking to bundle coverage.
For most industries—such as mechanical services, healthcare providers, restaurants, and retail stores—biBERK offers the ability to bundle general liability with professional liability and commercial property. Bundling insurance policies is a great way to find affordable general liability insurance. Providers will often sell two policies bundled together for less than the cost of each policy on its own.
Currently, biBERK offers coverage for over 50 different industries. The provider states that you can purchase general liability for under $30 a month, but the price will depend on the industry and specific information about your business. It has a minimum annual premium of $275. For this price, you can obtain a BOP that includes general liability.
The general liability policy with biBERK excludes personal and advertising injury. If that is the coverage you seek, you will need a professional liability policy from this provider.
While biBERK is unavailable in all 50 states for general liability (see biBERK’s coverage maps), this newer company is growing. Over 50,000 small businesses have chosen biBERK, which has an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars from over 40,000 reviews on its website.[5]
Conveniently, you can quickly obtain a quote and purchase a policy online. If something happens to your business, you can file a claim online, and a member of biBERK’s in-house claims department will be in touch shortly. However, if you need to reach someone, biBERK is only open during the weekdays from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET.
General Liability Insurance Statistics
Insurance costs are rising across the board. Despite the $1 trillion in annual written premiums, the insurance industry has been struggling with significant losses. As I discussed with MarketWatch, some of the drivers behind this are inflation and supply chain issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.
When it comes to general liability, the costs are impacted more by the loss ratios that carriers are experiencing overall. Much of these high loss ratios are directly related to the rising medical costs for injury claims and the increasing costs associated with litigation. The result is an increase in premiums and customers trying to find cheap business insurance.
While finding affordable general liability is important, ensure your policy is more than enough in terms of the limits you select and what is covered.
A simple slip-and-fall claim can end up costing around $20,000. If you run an advertisement that disparages a competitor and they file a suit, claiming you’ve hurt their reputation, that claim may cost around $50,000.
Product liability is often included in general liability policies—and product liability claims are some of the costliest ones a business may face. Juries awarded an average of $7 million in product liability claims in 2020. Losses like that help explain why in 2021 the premiums for product liability increased by an average of 3.5%.
Cheapest General Liability Insurance Costs
The costs of the cheapest general liability insurance for small businesses vary—but not significantly—among our top providers. All of them publish starting prices for general liability, and we’ve provided them here to give you a general idea of the costs.
- The Hartford: $67 monthly or $804 annually
- Simply Business: $19.58 monthly or $24.96 annually
- Next Insurance: $11 monthly or $132 annually
- Thimble: $49 monthly or $588 annually
- FLIP: $25.92 monthly or $311 annually
- biBERK: $27.50 monthly or $330 annually
Bear in mind that these prices represent a starting average based on multiple industries, and some of the companies on this list have a larger appetite for riskier industries and larger businesses than others.
For example, Next Insurance, which has the lowest cost on this list, caps revenue for insurable businesses at $5 million, while The Hartford’s cap is significantly higher. However, the prices do give you a good idea of the average price its customers pay for general liability insurance.
Average Cost of General Liability by State
To present an estimated average for the cost of general liability by state, we obtained hundreds of quotes from multiple providers for all 50 states covering different industries. All of these quotes were for businesses with fewer than five employees and less than $250,000 in annual revenue.
Industry: Retail store
Average monthly cost of general liability: $45
Industry: Retail store
Average monthly cost of general liability: $42
Industry: Retail store
Average monthly cost of general liability: $48
Industry: Retail store
Average monthly cost of general liability: $67
Industry: Retail store
Average monthly cost of general liability: $81
Industry: Retail store
Average monthly cost of general liability: $84
Industry: Landscaper
Average monthly cost of general liability: $368
Industry: Landscaper
Average monthly cost of general liability: $232
Industry: Landscaper
Average monthly cost of general liability: $187
Industry: Landscaper
Average monthly cost of general liability: $70
Industry: Landscaper
Average monthly cost of general liability: $107
Industry: Landscaper
Average monthly cost of general liability: $61
Industry: Photographer
Average monthly cost of general liability: $32
Industry: Photographer
Average monthly cost of general liability: $38
Industry: Photographer
Average monthly cost of general liability: $54
Industry: Photographer
Average monthly cost of general liability: $35
Industry: Photographer
Average monthly cost of general liability: $41
Industry: Photographer
Average monthly cost of general liability: $48
Industry: Disk jockey (DJ)
Average monthly cost of general liability: $27
Industry: DJ
Average monthly cost of general liability: $35
Industry: DJ
Average monthly cost of general liability: $34
Industry: DJ
Average monthly cost of general liability: $33
Industry: DJ
Average monthly cost of general liability: $32
Industry: DJ
Average monthly cost of general liability: $50
Industry: DJ
Average monthly cost of general liability: $18
Industry: DJ
Average monthly cost of general liability: $36
Industry: DJ
Average monthly cost of general liability: $30
Industry: Handyperson
Average monthly cost of general liability: $234
Industry: Handyperson
Average monthly cost of general liability: $248
Industry: Handyperson
Average monthly cost of general liability: $429
Industry: Handyperson
Average monthly cost of general liability: $148
Industry: Handyperson
Average monthly cost of general liability: $85
Industry: Handyperson
Average monthly cost of general liability: $68
Industry: Handyperson
Average monthly cost of general liability: $95
Industry: Handyperson
Average monthly cost of general liability: $77
Industry: Handyperson
Average monthly cost of general liability: $91
Industry: Handyperson
Average monthly cost of general liability: $104
Industry: Handyperson
Average monthly cost of general liability: $129
Industry: Handyperson
Average monthly cost of general liability: $110
Industry: Food vendor
Average monthly cost of general liability: $78
Industry: Food vendor
Average monthly cost of general liability: $63
Industry: Food vendor
Average monthly cost of general liability: $128
Industry: Food vendor
Average monthly cost of general liability: $77
Industry: Food vendor
Average monthly cost of general liability: $66
Industry: Food vendor
Average monthly cost of general liability: $71
Industry: Contractor
Average monthly cost of general liability: $125
Industry: Contractor
Average monthly cost of general liability: $229
Industry: Contractor
Average monthly cost of general liability: $177
Industry: Contractor
Average monthly cost of general liability: $350
Industry: Contractor
Average monthly cost of general liability: $140
How to Get Cheap General Liability Insurance
When shopping for the cheapest general liability insurance for your small business, there are three areas to focus on: the level and type of coverage, the services of the carrier, and the cost of the policy.
If you’re reading this article, odds are that you already know you need general liability. As a general overview, a standard general liability policy gives you protection in these areas:
- Bodily injury
- Property damage
- Personal injury and reputational harm
Most policies also include
- Damage to premises you rent
- Product liability
While those areas of coverage are standard on general liability policies, not every policy provides the same level of coverage. Sometimes, there will be one aggregate limit for multiple types of protection, and other times, there will be separate limits.
What this means is if you have a significant product liability claim, it may exhaust the benefits of your policy for all types of coverage. So it is important that when looking for the cheapest general liability insurance make sure you’ve got the right amount of coverage for each line of coverage within the policy.
At first glance, this is something you may not think matters. However, there are services provided that can make a critical difference for your business.
For example, if you are a contractor, and you’re looking for cheap contractor’s insurance, one thing that you know matters is being able to regularly produce a COI. You’ll also want to be able to modify the policy quickly to add additional insureds. So finding a carrier that understands that and has made it easy for you to produce proof of insurance quickly is important.
Talking to someone at any time when you have a problem is important. So check out the contact hours for the carrier: is it weekdays only? What if you operate a restaurant that has a bar open late on the weekends? If there is a claim late Friday night is it important to you to file it Friday night or are you okay with waiting until Monday to start the process?
The good news is that you can get cheap general liability insurance and still find carriers that offer excellent services. Services like the ones described above, along with the level of complaints, are some of what we factor into our evaluation of the cheapest general liability insurance companies.
The next step to finding cheap general liability insurance is to either work directly with a provider or carrier or find a broker that will let you compare quotes from top providers; see our comparison of insurance broker vs carrier. Many providers who work directly with a customer will offer cheaper insurance because there is no agent or broker fee.
Typically, one of the best ways to determine the cheapest policy is by comparing quotes. We’ve put together a guide for how to compare small business insurance quotes to help you.
Additionally, bundling is always a great way to save money on business insurance. If your business needs professional liability, then look for a carrier that will include that coverage with general liability insurance for a lower price. Or, if your business has property, then consider a business owner’s policy (BOP), which is a combination of property and general liability coverage and is almost always cheaper than buying each policy separately.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
General liability insurance is a third-party insurance that every business should consider—and, in many cases, is required to carry. It covers claims that through the negligence of your business operations, you caused property damage, bodily injury, or personal advertising injury. Many policies also carry additional coverage, like damage to the premises you rent.
General liability does not cover intentional acts or claims that you failed to honor a contract. It also doesn’t cover your own property or injuries to your employees. For more information, read our guide about common general liability insurance exclusions.
When purchasing business insurance, it is important to understand what coverage you need so you don’t pay for unnecessary coverage. Comparing providers is a great way to get quality coverage at an affordable price. If the provider offers flexibility, you can manage your limits and deductible to help offset the premium. You can learn more in our article on the ways to save money on business insurance.
The answer depends on the type of business insurance you purchase. If you are getting general liability, then no. General liability insurance, almost universally, doesn’t carry a deductible, so raising your deductible is not an option. However, if you are purchasing professional liability or commercial property insurance, then yes, raising the deductible is a way to find low-cost business insurance.
While no insurer can claim the title of “overall most affordable liability provider,” The Hartford is the best provider for cheap general liability insurance after our evaluation. This conclusion weighs the financial stability, customer service reviews and offerings, convenience, quality of the policy (such as what endorsements it offers and limits), and of course, the average premium for general liability insurance.
In researching this article, we received quotes ranging from $350 to over $12,000 annually. The cost of insurance varies by industry, claims history, the size of the business, revenue, and the number of employees.
A COI is a one-page document that summarizes your insurance and can also be used as proof of insurance. Many industries, like construction, utilize COIs when bidding on a job. Some companies you work with will ask to be listed as an additional insured and then request a COI showing the addition. When shopping for general liability insurance, finding a provider that makes it easy to create and share a COI is important.
Providers calculate the premium for general liability by industry class codes, business revenue, claims history, and the size of the business. You can control some things, like maintaining a safe environment to limit claims, while others, like the industry class code, are out of the control of the business. If you’re interested in learning more, see our article on how the GL premium is calculated.
Small business insurance is a term that encompasses any type of insurance policy a small business may purchase. General liability is one type of small business insurance but not the only type—commercial property, commercial auto, professional liability, and workers’ compensation are all small business insurance policies too.
Bottom Line
General liability insurance is essential to protect your business from lawsuits for negligence. But as a business owner, you have many expenses, so we researched to find the cheapest general liability insurance companies for your small business. Given its financial strength and the variety of policies it offers, The Hartford is the best overall company for cheap general liability insurance.
Visit The Hartford for a Quote
User review references:
[1]Customer Claims Ratings & Reviews | The Hartford
[2]Trustpilot | Simply Business
[3]Customer Reviews | Next Insurance
[4]Testimonials | Food Liability Insurance Program
[5]Read What Customers Say About Our Business Insurance | biBERK
