Get the right commercial insurance for your Jacksonville business
Which insurance policies are recommended for Jacksonville, FL businesses?
General liability insurance
General liability pays for legal costs from customer accidents, along with defamation and copyright infringement claims. Commercial leases in Jacksonville often require this coverage.
- Customer bodily injuries
- Damage to a customer's property
- Slander and other advertising injuries
Professional liability insurance
A professional liability policy covers legal costs related to claims of negligence, such as advice that caused a client to lose money. It's sometimes called errors and omissions insurance (E&O).
- Mistakes that cause financial loss
- Accusations of professional negligence
- Missed deadlines
Cyber insurance
Cyber liability insurance helps small businesses in Jacksonville recover after a data breach or a cyberattack. Every business that handles customer information should have this coverage.
- Data breach notification costs
- Fraud monitoring services
- PR campaigns after a breach
Business owner’s policy
A business owner's policy, or BOP, is an affordable way to buy general liability and commercial property insurance together. It's recommended for small, low-risk businesses in Jacksonville.
- Customer slip-and-fall injuries
- Damaged business property
- Business interruption coverage
Workers’ compensation insurance
Workers' comp is required for all Florida businesses with four or more employees. It also covers work-related injuries for sole proprietors, which health insurance may deny.
- Medical bills from job-related injuries
- Disability benefits
- Legal fees from work injuries
Commercial auto insurance
All vehicles owned by Jacksonville businesses must be covered by commercial auto insurance. This policy primarily covers injuries and property damage caused by your vehicle.
- Injuries from an auto accident
- Damage caused by your vehicle
- Lawsuits from an auto accident
Errors and omissions insurance
E&O insurance protects consultants and professional services against legal defense costs from dissatisfied clients. It's also called professional liability insurance.
- Errors and oversights
- Breach of contract
- Professional negligence
Commercial property insurance
This policy covers physical damage to an Jacksonville business's building and its contents, including any computers and equipment. You can bundle it with general liability in a BOP.
- Fires
- Theft and vandalism
- Storm damage
Commercial umbrella insurance
An umbrella policy provides coverage once the limit is reached on your underlying general liability insurance, commercial auto insurance, or employer's liability insurance.
- Customer lawsuits
- Auto accident lawsuits
- Employee injury lawsuits
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Which business insurance policies are required in Jacksonville?
Workers' compensation insurance
All small businesses in Jacksonville are required by Florida law to carry workers' compensation insurance if they have four or more employees, including both full-time and part-time workers.
Construction companies must carry workers' comp in Florida, even if they only have one employee.
Workers' comp helps protect the business in the event that an employee is injured or falls ill on the job. It can also help cover medical expenses and loss of income resulting from time off due to illness.
Sole-proprietors are not required to carry workers' comp, but should consider doing so anyway in case they get injured. This helps them obtain financial assistance for work-related injuries that personal health insurance may not cover cover.
Commercial auto insurance
The State of Florida requires all company-owned vehicles to have commercial auto insurance coverage. This policy protects your business by covering medical bills, legal costs, and damage resulting from vehicle accidents.
Jacksonville businesses need to carry the state's minimum requirement for auto liability coverage:
- $10,000 in personal injury protection
- $10,000 in property damage liability
These are the required minimums, but you may want to consider additional coverage for costly accidents or lawsuits. Due to industry regulations and risks, trucking companies and delivery services may need extra coverage.
If you or your employees plan on using a personal, leased, or rented vehicle for work purposes, you'll need a hired and non-owned auto (HNOA) policy. Commercial auto insurance and personal car insurance do not cover personal vehicles being used for work purposes.
How much does business insurance cost in Jacksonville?
Small businesses in Jacksonville don't have to pay a lot for commercial insurance. Here are a few average costs for Florida businesses, based on policy data from Insureon customers:
General liability: $55 per month
Workers' comp: $65 per month
Professional liability/E&O: $84 per month
The cost of business liability insurance depends on factors such as:
- Type of business
- Business operations
- Number of employees
- Policy limits and deductibles
- Claims history
Top professions we insure
FAQs about Jacksonville business insurance
How do I get a certificate of insurance for my business?
Sometimes, you need insurance quickly, whether it’s to sign a lease, secure a contract, or simply protect your business. With Insureon, getting small business coverage is easy:
- Complete a quick online application to receive free quotes from the nation’s top insurance agencies.
- Pick the best types of insurance policies for your business needs and pay online.
- Download your certificate of insurance (COI) by logging into your account.
Insureon's agents are licensed in Florida and are here to help you pick the best policies and obtain peace of mind knowing your business is protected.
Can my business be held liable for a data security breach?
Yes – that's why cyber insurance is so crucial. Small businesses are a common target of cyberattacks since they often have fewer security measures in place.
Florida data breach laws require businesses to notify residents if their information is exposed in cyberattacks. Unfortunately, small businesses are often a prime target for cybercriminals because many small businesses lack the expensive technological infrastructure to prevent phishing and hacking attempts.
Your company may have to pay for an investigation, notifications, a PR campaign, or even a lawsuit.
Does my industry affect Jacksonville insurance requirements?
Your industry impacts the type of insurance you should carry. Florida requires certain industries to carry additional policies and bonds or licenses to navigate industry-specific risks.
The following are examples of industry requirements in Jacksonville:
- General contractors, handymen, carpenters, and other construction professionals are often required to carry public liability insurance or commercial general liability insurance for contractors, or a surety bond to bid for contracts.
- Notaries public in Florida must have a four-year $7,500 surety bond.
- Lawyers who practice in Florida do not need to carry professional liability insurance, but they must indicate if they do not have insurance annually when they renew their registration.
- Doctors in Jacksonville must carry medical malpractice insurance with a $100,000 per-occurrence limit and a $300,000 aggregate limit.
- Florida nurses are required to have medical malpractice insurance to be certified as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN).
- Cannabis businesses in Jacksonville need to have a $5 million performance bond, which is a type of surety bond.
Many Jacksonville businesses, such as cleaning companies, hair salons, and professional photographers, aren't required to carry specific insurance in Florida, but may need additional policies to secure contracts or attract clients.
Additionally, home-based businesses, such as childcare providers, typically aren't covered under personal homeowners insurance. Even working from home, you'll need a commercial property insurance policy to cover business equipment, inventory, and other business-owned property.
How can I get help starting a small business in Jacksonville, FL?
Opening a business is exciting, but it's also a lot of hard work. The following resources can support you on your entrepreneurial journey.
- The City of Jacksonville provides small business assistance through financial and technical support through various local and federal programs.
- Jacksonville Public Library has small business resources aimed at helping business owners with business strategy planning and educational materials.
- America's Small Business Development Centers of Florida have locations in Jacksonville, Tampa, and other locations all over the Florida map. They provide training, workshops, and consultations for business owners.
- JAX Chambers has several programs to support local businesses, including the Jacksonville Women's Business Center, the JAX Bridges Entrepreneurship Program, and a variety of chamber councils to address different small business needs.
- The Small Business Administration of North Florida District helps small business owners and sole proprietors with funding, federal contract assistance, disaster recovery, and counseling services.
How can I save money on Jacksonville business insurance?
Saving money on small business insurance is easy. You can use Insureon's easy online application to get free quotes from the nation's top insurance companies. From there, you can pick the best policies for your insurance needs and budget.
Other ways to save include:
- Bundle policies for a discount. You can save money by combining key small business insurance policies for a discount. A business owner's policy is a popular option.
- Make workplace safety and accessibility a top priority. The fewer accidents and lawsuits your business experiences, the more you can reduce your premiums.
- Choose only the policies you need. Carefully pick the coverage options that address the most common risks for your type of business.
Learn more about finding cheap business insurance.