General liability insurance covers customer injuries, customer property damage, and related lawsuits. It’s often required for commercial leases and contracts.
When do businesses need general liability insurance?
Almost every business needs some form of general liability insurance to protect company assets and sign important contracts. Commercial general liability can help small businesses pay for unexpected lawsuits, sign deals with new clients, rent commercial space, and avoid bankruptcy.
A policy reassures clients that you'll be able to compensate them if you damage their property or injure someone with your work. Most small business owners purchase a policy shortly after starting a business. Read more about general liability insurance coverage.
Businesses that purchase a general liability policy typically:
Have a location that is open to the public
Interact with people on a job site
Handle client property
Rent business space
Sell products to customers
Advertise or market their services
Use social media and have an internet presence
General liability insurance protections
Home business
Liability protection
You may need general liability to pay for business-related bodily injury and property damage lawsuits.
Advertising injury protection
You launch a website and want protection for slander, libel, and accidental copyright infringement.
Contractor
Liability protection
A client may ask you to provide a certificate of insurance in case you damage equipment.
Advertising injury protection
You want protection in case someone involved with a project accuses you of libel or slander.
Small business
Liability protection
You sign a commercial lease and your landlord requires general liability insurance.
Advertising injury protection
You launch your first advertising campaign and want protection against advertising injury lawsuits.
How do I get a certificate of general liability insurance?
Some providers take weeks to mail a certificate of insurance. That’s a big problem for a contractor who needs immediate proof of insurance. With Insureon, you can often download a certificate on the same day that you apply for insurance and purchase a policy.
General liability insurance cost
Several factors affect general liability insurance cost, including: