Insurance for Home-Based Businesses

It’s easy to find insurance for home-based businesses. Whether you’re in pet sitting or mobile grooming, a virtual assistant or a crafter, you’ll need to have some basic information about your business available.

Our application will ask you for your annual revenue and payroll, among other details. You can buy a policy online and get a certificate of insurance with Insureon in three easy steps:

1. Complete a free online application.
2. Compare free quotes and choose a policy.
3. Pay for your policy and download a certificate for proof of insurance.

Insureon's licensed insurance agents work with top-rated U.S. providers to find the right types of coverage and liability limits for your home business, whether you run a lawn care business with several employees or an independent photography business.

Even if you’re starting out as a sole proprietor and working out of your home, you could still be held legally liable for any mishaps that happen on your business property, including your home office.

There might be more freedom when you work for yourself, but you're also exposed to risks unique to home business owners. Insurance can save you from financial catastrophe if something goes wrong, protect your costly business assets, and give you peace of mind.

Additionally, as your business grows, the right coverage will be necessary to comply with state laws, secure more clients for your company, and protect your business income.

When you're running a business from home, you need the right type of insurance. In some instances, a homeowner's policy will include minimal protection for your business property. However, you'll likely need a commercial property insurance policy to gain full protection in the event of a fire or theft.

Similarly, your home insurance won't cover legal or medical costs if a client visiting for business purposes slips and suffers an injury. For that, you'd need general liability insurance.

While some insurance providers can add a commercial rider to your homeowner's insurance to increase your coverage limits, it still wouldn't offer the same comprehensive coverage as a business insurance policy.

The best protection for home businesses is usually a business owner's policy, which bundles general liability and commercial property insurance at an affordable rate. Chat with an insurance agent to make sure your coverage matches your business needs.

As with a homeowner's insurance policy, your personal auto policy isn't designed for business use. If you get into an accident while driving your own car for work purposes, your insurer might deny the claim.

That means you'll need additional coverage for vehicles used for work. If your business owns the vehicle, it must be covered by commercial auto insurance. For rented, leased, and personal vehicles, you can buy hired and non-owned auto insurance (HNOA) to make sure you're covered in an accident.

When you buy any type of auto coverage, make sure it fulfills your state's requirements for auto liability insurance.

If you're an independent contractor, freelancer, or home-based business owner with no employees, you're generally not legally required to carry workers' comp for yourself. Most states do require businesses with one or more employees to provide workers' comp, but there are exceptions.

However, personal health insurance policies often contain language that excludes coverage for work-related injuries and illnesses. It also won’t cover your lost income if you’re injured on the job and unable to work for a while.

A workers’ compensation insurance policy makes sure you, and any injured workers you may have, are covered for both medical bills and disability benefits during recovery.

There are several additional types of insurance that home-based businesses should consider including in their risk management plan:

Fidelity bonds, a type of surety bond, provide reimbursement if one of your employees commits fraud, theft, or forgery against a client or your business. They're often required by client contracts.

Business income insurance, also called business interruption coverage, offsets your loss of income if your business is forced to close because of a covered peril, such as a fire or storm. These funds will help cover your normal operating expenses until you can resume business operations.

Product liability insurance covers your legal expenses if someone claims that a product you sold, made, or distributed caused an injury or property damage. If you sell, make, or distribute products, you likely need this policy.

Employment practices liability insurance (EPLI) safeguards your business from lawsuits over employment-related issues, such as an employee claiming their civil rights were violated or they were unable to complete their work in a fair environment. This coverage (and business income coverage) can often be added to a BOP.