What are the requirements for small business insurance in Florida?
In Florida, employers are not required to purchase coverage for every aspect of running a business. However, certain types of insurance are state-mandated. For example, Florida businesses with four or more employees are required to provide workers’ compensation coverage. In the construction industry, coverage is required for even one employee, including the business owner. If your business uses vehicles for commercial purposes, you are also required to purchase commercial automobile insurance.
If you are involved in a profession that is susceptible to lawsuits, you may want to consider policies such as general liability insurance and professional liability insurance, also called errors and omissions insurance. Finally, to protect your business property from theft and damage, consider commercial property insurance.
Insureon is licensed in Florida, and our agents can help you find appropriate, cost-effective insurance for your small business. Apply for free insurance quotes to view competitive prices from top-rated U.S. insurance carriers.
Learn more about insurance for your profession
Type of industry is a significant factor in determining insurance coverages and limits. Whether you're an accountant, a dentist, or a personal trainer, Insureon can help you find the business insurance that best matches your risks, assets, and needs.
Find industry-specific information in the list below, or tell us more about your business via Insureon’s online business insurance application to determine which policies are most appropriate. Insureon offers coverage for the following professions and more:
Florida small business insurance policies
In Florida, some of the most common policies for small businesses include:
General liability insurance
General liability insurance helps cover expenses related to injuries incurred by customers and visitors to your property. It can also help cover property damage and advertising injuries. Examples of situations that may be covered by general liability include:
- A deliveryman slides on ice on the front step of your business and breaks a wrist.
- A model attending a photo shoot at your private studio trips over a loose cable and twists an ankle.
- Your marketing team comes up with a slogan that your competitor claims is slander.
Property insurance
Your business property, which includes the building, equipment, and inventory, may suffer damages due to accidents or crime. Commercial property insurance can help pay for repairs or replacements that are necessary when:
- A pipe breaks at your convenience store, causing extensive water damage to your inventory.
- Expensive lotions and beauty products are stolen from your spa.
- An employee at your architecture firm knocks over a detailed scale replica of a building.
Professional liability insurance (errors and omissions insurance)
Professional liability insurance can help pay legal costs related to expert advice or services that you provide to your clients. It can help provide coverage when:
- You break the terms of a client's contract.
- Your error results in a client's revenue loss.
- You miss a deadline, negatively impacting a client’s business.
Cyber liability insurance
The Florida Information Protection Act expanded notification requirements for Florida businesses in the event of cyberattacks and other security breaches. Your customers or clients must be notified if they were affected by a breach. Additionally, if more than 500 individuals were affected, the breach must also be reported to the Florida Department of Legal Affairs. Businesses can be fined up to a maximum of $500,000 for failing to provide notice. In the event of a breach, cyber liability insurance can help pay for:
- Data breach notification costs.
- Forensic investigation into the cause of the breach.
- Credit monitoring for parties affected by the breach.
- Legal expenses if you’re sued for not preventing the breach.
Business owner’s policy (BOP)
If your small business is eligible, you can save money by purchasing a business owner’s policy, which bundles general liability and commercial property insurance at a lower rate than if they were purchased separately. Your business may be eligible if:
- You work in a low-risk industry.
- You have fewer than 100 employees.
Commercial auto insurance
Any vehicles owned by your business must be covered by commercial auto insurance. This coverage can assist with:
- Repairs to the other driver’s car in an accident.
- The other driver’s medical expenses due to injury.
- Legal expenses if you’re sued over an accident.
- Repairs to your vehicle if it’s damaged by theft, weather events, or vandalism.
Workers’ compensation insurance
Florida businesses are required to purchase workers' compensation if they have four or more employees. This coverage helps pay for medical fees and lost wages caused by on-the-job injuries or occupational illness. Situations that may be covered by workers' comp include:
- Fine particulate in the air at your factory exacerbates an employee’s asthma.
- An employee trips and injures a shoulder on the sharp edge of a desk in your office.
- An employee at your housekeeping business suffers a skin burn from harsh cleaning chemicals.
Florida business insurance licensure information
In Florida, insurance agents, agencies, and brokers are licensed by the Florida Department of Financial Services. Insureon is licensed in Florida as BIN Insurance Holdings, LLC (NPN 15752926) for property and casualty insurance (license #L067932). You can verify our licensure with the Florida Department of Financial Services by entering our Florida state license (L067932) into the form field labeled "License ID Number."