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Why do painters need insurance?
Whether you do detailed interior work or commercial exterior painting, an accident could have a big financial impact on your small business. Painting insurance can cover expenses related to ladder injuries, vehicle accidents, damaged customer property, lawsuits, and more.
Find the right coverage
Insureon will help you find insurance policies that match the unique risks of painting.
Get free advice from a licensed insurance agent and peace of mind knowing you have the right coverage.
What types of business insurance do painters need?
These policies provide property and liability insurance for painting contractors and businesses to help cover basic painting risks.
General liability insurance
A general liability policy covers everyday painting risks, such as a paint spill in a client's home. Bundle with commercial property insurance for savings in a business owner’s policy (BOP).
BEST FOR
- Customer injuries and property damage
- Product liability insurance
- Advertising injuries
Business owner's policy
A BOP bundles general liability coverage and commercial property insurance at a discount. It's often the most cost-effective type of insurance for painters.
BEST FOR
- Accidents that injure clients
- Client property damage
- Damage to your building or its contents
Workers’ compensation insurance
Most states require workers' comp for painting businesses that have employees. It also protects sole proprietors from job-related medical costs excluded from health insurance.
BEST FOR
- Employee medical expenses
- Disability benefits
- Employee injury lawsuits
Commercial auto insurance
A commercial auto policy covers third-party injuries and property damage caused by painting company vehicles, as well as certain types of vehicle damage.
BEST FOR
- Physical damage and collision coverage
- Bodily injury caused to another person
- Vehicle vandalism and theft
Contractor’s tools and equipment insurance
This insurance policy helps pay for the repair or replacement of paint sprayers, brushes, and other tools and equipment if they are lost, stolen, or damaged.
BEST FOR
- Tools less than five years old
- Equipment valued at less than $10,000
- Items brought to jobsites
Professional liability insurance
Professional liability insurance covers legal costs when a painter is sued for a mistake or oversight. It's also called errors and omissions insurance (E&O).
BEST FOR
- Accusations of negligence
- Failure to finish a project on time
- Undelivered services
Looking for different coverage? See more policies.
How much does business insurance cost for painters?
A small company with a few painters will pay less for insurance than a large business with a dozen. Factors that affect painter's insurance costs include:
- Services offered, such as painting, paperhanging, or stucco and plastering
- Value of business property
- Business revenue and size
- Type of insurance purchased
- Any additional insureds, including subcontractors
- Policy limits and deductibles
How do I get painter liability insurance?
It’s easy to get insurance coverage and surety bonds as an independent contractor or the owner of a painting business if you have your business information on hand. Our insurance application will ask for basic facts about your business, such as revenue and number of employees. You can buy a policy online and get a certificate of insurance with Insureon in three easy steps:
- Complete a free online application
- Compare insurance quotes and choose policies
- Pay for your policy and download a certificate
Insureon's licensed agents work with top-rated U.S. insurers to find the most affordable coverage that fits your painting business, whether you work independently or hire employees.
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Common questions about painting insurance
Review answers to frequently asked questions about painter business insurance coverage.
Do painting businesses need to be licensed, bonded, and insured?
Many states require licensed painters before they can undertake contracts, and some states also require your business to be registered.
To obtain licensure, each state has their own requirements. However most mandate passing a state exam, work experience, and insurance coverage and surety bonds.
For example:
- California: Painters who work on projects greater than $500 must be licensed and registered in the state and show proof of at least four years of experience. They also require a surety bond of at least $25,000 and proof of workers' compensation.
- Illinois: At the state level, there are no registration or license requirements. But you should still check at the city and county level for any local requirements.
- Rhode Island: While painting businesses aren't required to be licensed at the state level, they're required to register with the Contractor's Registration and Licensing Board. If you work in a home built before 1978, you'll need to acquire a license from the Lead Hazard Control Firm. You'll also need to show proof of coverage for a general liability policy of at least $500,000, as well as workers' compensation insurance.
Some bond and insurance requirements are regulated by your state and local government, like workers' compensation, commercial auto, or various types of surety bonds.
What other insurance policies do painters need?
While general liability insurance and workers' compensation provide crucial protection against workplace injuries and third-party claims, they don't cover every risk. Painting professionals should also consider:
- Builder's risk insurance: Builder's risk provides coverage for a structure under construction and materials at a work site. It's sometimes called course of construction insurance.
- Commercial property insurance: This policy covers your building and its contents, such as tools, furnishings, and computers. It protects against financial losses from fires, storms, and burglaries.
- Business personal property (BPP) coverage: You can add this endorsement to your general liability policy to protect business property kept at a designated location, though you may not have a building.
- Inland marine insurance protects construction tools and equipment in transit, stored off-site, or at a jobsite. Common types of inland marine insurance include contractor's tools and equipment insurance, which provides protection for newer items valued at less than $10,000, and installation floater insurance, which covers materials being installed or built by a contractor during a project.
- Commercial umbrella insurance: Umbrella insurance boosts the coverage on your general liability, commercial auto, and employer's liability insurance once the policy limit is reached.
Do painters need professional indemnity insurance?
Professional indemnity insurance, also called professional liability insurance, protects your painting business from errors, mistakes, or negligence that negatively impacted a customer leading them to file a lawsuit.
State laws don’t typically require painters to carry professional liability coverage, but businesses that primarily sell their painting expertise and skills can greatly benefit from having the insurance.
Claims usually protected by professional indemnity include:
- Professional negligence
- Breach of contract
- Oversights and errors
- Breach of confidentiality
- Poor professional advice
- Missed deadlines and undelivered services
No matter how careful you try to be, errors can happen, and the costs associated with legal action can be expensive when paid for out of pocket. With the right professional liability insurance policy, your business can circumvent financial losses associated with an unsatisfied customer lawsuit.
How do I find cheap liability insurance for painters?
It's easy to find affordable painter's insurance that matches your unique risks and budget. One way is to review coverage options from different insurance carriers, and with Insureon's easy online application you're able to get free quotes from several insurance companies.
There are a few other ways small business owners can save, such as:
- Bundling policies. The most popular option is a business owner's policy (BOP), which pairs your general liability policy with property insurance to save money.
- Customizing policies. You can choose lower limits, a higher deductible, or certain exclusions to save on your premium.
- Focusing on safety. Fewer accidents mean fewer liability claims, which helps lower your insurance costs.
Learn more about how to find cheap business insurance for construction and contracting professionals.