How much does landscaping design insurance cost?
Landscape design business insurance costs are determined by several factors, including your company size and its risks. Save money on small business insurance by comparing quotes from different providers with Insureon.
Top landscape designer insurance policies and their costs
Here are the top insurance policies purchased by landscape design businesses and their average monthly costs:
- General liability insurance: $70 per month
- Workers' compensation insurance: $174 per month
- Tools and equipment insurance: $65 per month
- Commercial auto insurance: $402 per month
Our figures are sourced from the median cost of policies for landscape designers who apply for quotes with Insureon. The median offers a better estimate of what your business is likely to pay because it excludes outlier high and low premiums.
General liability insurance
Landscape designers pay an average of $70 per month, or $844 annually, for general liability insurance (sometimes called public liability insurance).
General liability insurance covers common landscaping risks, including third-party property damage and bodily injuries. For example, if a landscape architect accidentally breaks a piece of home décor on a client's property, a general liability policy will cover the cost of the damaged item.
This policy also helps pay for legal fees if someone sues your business over an advertising injury, such as defamation or copyright infringement.
Some landscape design companies may need proof of general liability insurance to sign a commercial lease or secure a client contract.
Below is the average general liability policy for landscape design businesses that buy from Insureon:
Insurance premium: $70 per month
Policy limits: $1 million per occurrence; $2 million aggregate
Insureon’s licensed agents typically recommend a business owner’s policy (BOP) for small, low-risk landscaping companies that own or rent commercial property. This policy combines general liability coverage with commercial property insurance at a discount to protect your building and everything in it.
For landscape designers, the average cost for a business owner's policy is $91 per month or $1,091 annually. To protect against financial losses due to a forced closure, such as from a fire or natural disaster, you can add business interruption insurance to a BOP.
General liability insurance costs depend on factors such as the coverage limits and deductible you choose, the size of your business, your business income, the amount of foot traffic you have, and any additional insured endorsements you select.
Learn more about how your insurance premium is calculated and how to save money on your general liability coverage.
Workers’ compensation insurance
The average cost of workers’ compensation insurance for landscape design professionals is $174 per month, or $2,088 annually.
A workers’ compensation policy covers medical bills and disability benefits if you or an employee gets injured or ill on the job, such as a worker who inhales pesticides and gets sick. Businesses that have employees typically must purchase workers' comp to comply with state requirements and avoid penalties.
Workers' comp state laws vary, so your specific requirements will depend on the state you work in. For example, every licensed contractor in California will need this coverage when Senate Bill 206 goes into effect in 2028. Meanwhile, coverage is optional in Texas.
Since health insurance plans can deny claims for injuries related to your job, workers' compensation coverage is also recommended for sole proprietors as a financial safety net and for extra peace of mind.
The cost of workers' comp depends on several factors, primarily the number of employees and their occupational risks. You can save money on your workers' comp coverage by classifying your workers correctly and implementing a risk management plan to minimize employee injuries.
Tools and equipment insurance
Landscape designers pay an average of $65 per month, or $781 annually, for tools and equipment insurance.
Also called inland marine insurance, this policy covers your business property whether it’s in transit or at a jobsite. Tools insurance can pay for lost, stolen, or damaged tools and equipment. This includes your laptops, measuring wheels, spades, and more.
The cost of tools and equipment coverage depends on the value of your tools and equipment and the type of work you do. Items valued at over $2,500 may need to be scheduled separately on the policy.
Commercial auto insurance
Landscape design companies pay an average of $402 per month, or $4,821 annually, for commercial auto insurance.
This type of business insurance pays for property damage and medical expenses from accidents involving your company vehicles, such as your business-owned trucks. It can also cover vehicle theft, vandalism, and weather damage.
Most states require this type of insurance for vehicles owned by a landscaping business. For personal, rented, and leased vehicles used for work purposes, look to hired and non-owned auto insurance (HNOA) instead.
The cost of commercial car insurance depends on several factors, including the policy limits you choose, your claims history, the number and value of your vehicles, and the driving records of anyone permitted to drive. Learn how insurers calculate your premium and how to save money on commercial auto coverage.
How are landscape design insurance costs calculated?
Landscaping design business insurance coverage costs are determined by several factors. While underwriting your policy, insurance companies will consider the following when calculating insurance rates:
- The types of landscape design services offered: Landscape design companies may see elevated premiums if they offer higher risk services, such as heavy physical installation work, compared to landscaping businesses that only provide simple design work.
- Business property and landscaping equipment: Landscape design owners that operate with higher-value vehicles or high-end design equipment are likely to see higher premiums. Also, any items that are frequently used could cost more to insure than items which are used less often.
- Location: If your landscape design business operates in an area that is prone to natural disasters, increased foot traffic, or high crime rates, you may have to pay higher insurance costs than companies that face lower risks.
- Number of employees: If your landscape design company has several employees on staff, you could see increased insurance costs as there are more opportunities for accidents to happen or for potential damage to occur.
- Business size and revenue: Insurance companies might assume that a landscape design business that is making more money will see increased customer exposure, which can generate higher premiums.
- Coverage limits and deductibles: Landscape design companies with higher coverage limits and lower deductibles on their insurance policies will typically increase their premium costs, while lower limits and a higher deductible can help keep their rates lower.
- Type of business operation: A lawn design company that has small residential clients can expect lower insurance rates than a company that takes on large commercial clients.
- Types of coverage: Some landscaping design projects require obtaining certain policies. These required policies, such as professional liability insurance, are often needed to cover more expensive accidents and lawsuits, which tend to cost more than basic coverages. In addition, client contracts can often require license or permit bonds. These are relatively affordable, with an average cost of $9 per month, or $112 annually, for landscaping companies.
- Claims history: A landscape design business with a lengthy list of previous insurance claims will likely pay more for insurance than one with a clean history of claims.
- Risk management: Landscape design businesses may qualify for lower insurance rates if they have a documented training program for employees, perform regular equipment maintenance, and follow strong safety practices.
How do I get affordable landscape design business insurance?
Insureon can help landscape designers, lawn care businesses, tree service companies, and irrigation professionals find affordable insurance coverage, whether you work independently or hire employees.
To get started, all you need is your business information on hand. Our insurance application will ask for basic facts about your business, such as revenue and number of employees. Then, you can buy a policy online with Insureon in three easy steps:
- Fill out a free online application with details about your business.
- Compare custom quotes from top-rated U.S. insurance companies.
- Select a policy and pay the premium to begin coverage.
Our licensed insurance agents are available to answer questions about your landscaping insurance costs, state insurance requirements, and the best types of coverage for your business needs.
Once you've bought the business insurance policies you need, you can download a certificate of insurance (COI) for proof of coverage. Most small business owners can get insured within 24 hours of applying for quotes.
What our customers are saying
The average costs on this page were derived from our data on small business owners in the landscaping design field who purchased policies through Insureon. Most of our customers have less than five employees, annual revenue ranging from around $50,000 to more than $200,000, and five years or less in business.
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