How much does a business owner’s policy cost?

Insureon customers pay an average of $57 per month for a business owner’s policy, or about $684 annually.

Our figures are sourced from the median cost of policies purchased by Insureon customers. The median offers a better estimate of what your business is likely to pay because it excludes outlier high and low premiums.

While Insureon's small business customers pay an average of $57 monthly for a business owner's policy, 42% pay less than $50 per month for their policies, and another 30% pay between $50 and $100. The cost varies for small businesses depending on their risks, the value of their business property, and the coverage they choose.

If you want car insurance that pays for a wide range of damage, you have to pay more for it. The same rule applies to business insurance. If you want a policy with higher liability coverage limits, expect to pay more than you would for basic coverage.

The most popular business owner’s policy among Insureon customers is the $1 million / $2 million policy. This includes:

$1 million per-occurrence limit. While the policy is active, the insurer will pay up to $1 million to cover any single claim.

$2 million aggregate limit. During the lifetime of a policy (usually one year), the insurer will pay up to $2 million to cover claims.

The majority of Insureon customers (87%) choose a policy with a $1 million per-occurrence limit and a $2 million aggregate limit. Ten percent of our customers choose a policy with $2 million / $4 million limits, the next most popular choice.

Insureon customers typically choose a deductible of about $500 for a business owner's policy. You can choose a higher deductible to save money on your premium. However, it should be an amount you can easily afford, as you can't benefit from your insurance without first paying the deductible on a claim.

For the commercial property insurance portion of a BOP, the cost of insurance depends on the value of your business property, its location, and how you choose to protect it.

These are the main factors that determine the cost of property insurance included in a BOP:

Business personal property (BPP) value. To protect your property, the first step is knowing what it’s worth. You'll need an estimate of your business personal property. The amount will help you determine appropriate limits to make sure you have enough property coverage to pay for stolen, damaged, or destroyed items.

Replacement value versus actual cash value. The cost of a BOP varies depending on how you choose to insure your business personal property. You can insure it for its replacement value (cost when new), or save money by insuring it for its actual cash value (depreciated value).

Location and age. The value of your building and subsequent insurance costs vary dramatically depending on where your business is located. For example, a small retail shop in rural Pennsylvania would cost much less to insure than a similar retail shop in urban California. Old buildings may also incur higher insurance rates as they are more susceptible to damage.

Endorsements. Additional coverages can expand the protection of a BOP at an increased cost. Business interruption insurance covers lost business income due to a temporary closure, while equipment breakdown insurance covers equipment that suffers a mechanical failure. Check with an agent to find out what your policy includes.

While a business owner's policy is recommended for most small businesses, it doesn't protect against every risk. For example, most states require by law that small business owners carry workers' comp if they have employees, and commercial auto insurance if they have business-owned vehicles.

For the general liability insurance portion of a BOP, your industry and the number of employees have a significant impact on policy costs. Generally, high-risk industries, such as retailers with a storefront, pay higher premiums, while low-risk industries enjoy lower rates.

For example, a busy restaurant is exposed to more risk of customer bodily injuries than an IT consultant who works remotely from a home office. Construction businesses, auto services, and retail stores also have high coverage costs because these industries often have valuable equipment or inventory, as well as an increased chance of a third-party liability claim.

The graph below illustrates how the type of business affects what you'll pay for a business owner's policy.

A business owner's policy is a must-have for small businesses that interact with customers and own property. At any business, a visitor could trip and suffer an injury. If the visitor sues, legal costs can escalate to the point where they could sink your business.

Even if no one outside your company visits your office, someone could still hold your business liable for damages. For example, businesses that run advertising campaigns or post on social media could face a lawsuit if they post content that doesn't belong to them, or make a false claim about a competitor.

When someone sues your business – even if it's a frivolous lawsuit – you'll have to pay legal defense costs, such as the cost of hiring an attorney. If you lose the suit, you could end up paying a fortune in a court-ordered judgment or a settlement.

A general liability policy covers all of these costs, which could save your business from bankruptcy. Commercial property insurance covers your building, computers, equipment, tools, and furniture in the event of theft, storm damage, or a fire. A BOP includes both, safeguarding your business against the most common lawsuits and losses.

Because the premium is based upon your level of risk and the value of your business property, small businesses and contractors usually pay only a small monthly premium for a BOP.

Pay your entire premium upfront. Your business owner’s policy premium can typically be paid in monthly or annual installments. It might be tempting to go with a smaller monthly payment, but consider paying the full premium. Businesses can usually save money this way because many insurers offer discounts for annual premiums.

Proactively manage your risks. If your small business has no claims history, expect to pay lower insurance rates. An effective way to do this is to create a comprehensive risk management plan. For example, you might:

• Develop a thorough training program for employees
• Invest in a security system
• Compile rules for posting to social media
• Create procedure checklists and reviews
• Minimize hazards on your premises

Insureon is the #1 independent marketplace for online delivery of small business insurance. We help business owners compare quotes from top-rated providers, buy policies, and manage coverage online. By completing Insureon’s easy online application today, you can get free quotes for BOPs and other business insurance policies from top-rated U.S. carriers.

Once you find the right policies for your small business, you can begin coverage in less than 24 hours and get a certificate of insurance for your small business.

Insurance premiums vary based on the policies a business buys. See our small business insurance cost overview or explore costs for a specific type of insurance coverage.