Business Insurance for Landscape Designers
Why do landscape designers need business insurance?
Whether you design landscapes from an office or on-site, your vision will become a real setting that people will explore. That opens up the possibility of injuries or accidental damage to someone else's property. Shield your small business with insurance coverage tailored for landscape designers.
Find the right coverage
Insureon helps landscape designers find insurance policies that match your unique business needs.
Get free expert advice and peace of mind knowing you have the right property and liability coverage.
What types of insurance do landscape designers need?
These policies cover the most common risks in landscape design.
General liability insurance
A general liability policy covers basic third-party risks, such as a lawsuit from a customer who tripped over hedge clippers. Bundle it with commercial property insurance for savings in a business owner's policy (BOP).
- Slip-and-fall accidents
- Damaged customer property
- Libel and other advertising injuries
Workers’ compensation insurance
Most states require workers' comp for landscape design businesses that have employees. It also protects sole proprietors from work-related medical bills that health insurance might deny.
- Employee medical expenses
- Disability benefits
- Employee injury lawsuits
Tools and equipment insurance
This policy covers shovels, measuring wheels, and other items that landscape designers bring to clients' properties. It's also called inland marine insurance.
- Tablets and sketching supplies
- Pruning shears, measuring tape, and levels
- Other equipment brought to jobsites
Commercial auto insurance
State laws require a commercial auto policy for any vehicle owned by a landscape design company. It helps cover financial losses when a business vehicle gets into an accident.
- Property damage caused by your vehicle
- Bodily injuries from an auto accident
- Vehicle theft and vandalism
Business owner's policy
A business owner's policy, or BOP, is a cost-effective way for landscape designers to buy general liability coverage and commercial property insurance together.
- Customer injuries
- Accidental damage to client property
- Damage to your building or its contents
License and permit bonds
Landscape designers might need a bond to get licensed in their state or to do certain kinds of work. A bond provides a financial guarantee that your business will comply with regulations.
- State licensing requirements
- Pesticide application permits
- Land grading permits
How much does insurance cost for landscape designers?
A landscaping business with a few workers will pay less for insurance than a larger company.
Average landscape designer insurance costs include:
- General liability: $70 per month
- Tools and equipment: $65 per month
- Workers' comp: $174 per month
Factors that affect premiums include:
- Landscaping services offered
- Business property and equipment
- Business income
- Types of insurance purchased
- Coverage limits, deductibles, and additional insureds
How do I get landscape design business insurance?
It's easy to get landscape designer insurance and landscape architect insurance if you have your company information on hand. Our application asks for basic company details, such as revenue and number of employees. Small business owners can buy a policy online and get a certificate of insurance (COI) 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 insurance agents work with top-rated U.S. insurance companies to find the right landscaping business insurance and license/permit bonds for your business, whether you work independently or hire employees.
Verified business insurance reviews
Hear from customers like you who purchased small business insurance.
Common questions about landscape design insurance
Take a look at frequently asked questions (FAQs) about garden design insurance and more.
What other landscape contractor insurance policies should I carry?
For a full risk management plan, landscape design companies, small businesses, LLCs, and independent contractors may need additional types of insurance.
Some insurance products you can get to customize your landscaping liability insurance coverage for your unique needs are:
- Hired and non-owned auto (HNOA) insurance is ideal for landscape design business owners and employees who drive their own truck or other vehicle to clients' properties, as your personal auto insurance won't cover business use. HNOA provides auto liability coverage for personal, leased, and rented vehicles used by your business.
- Commercial property insurance covers your building and its contents, such as pesticides, fertilizer, and clippers. It protects against financial losses from fires, storms, and burglaries.
- Business personal property (BPP) coverage can be added to your general liability policy to protect business property kept at a designated location, though you may not own a commercial office.
- Commercial umbrella insurance boosts the protection of your general liability, commercial auto, and employer's liability insurance, activating when the limit is reached on your landscaping company's underlying policy.
- Business interruption insurance, also called business income insurance, covers lost revenue and other expenses should a covered event, like a fire or natural disaster, temporarily close your business. It can usually be added to your commercial property policy.
How do landscape designers differ from landscape architects?
Although similar in the work they do, landscape designers and landscape architects aren't the same and have several key differences:
- Landscape designers handle small residential projects, such as gardens, patios, and outdoor living spaces. A designer typically has an undergraduate degree or is self-taught through on-the-job training.
- Landscape architects focus on commercial and industrial architectural projects, such as public parks, waterfront development projects, and commercial centers. An architect usually attends a university accredited by the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) and obtains and maintains a state architect license, which requires passing a state exam.