Get the right commercial insurance for your San Antonio business
Which insurance policies are recommended for San Antonio businesses?
General liability insurance
A general liability policy protects San Antonio businesses from lawsuits related to customer accidents, defamation, and copyright infringement. Commercial leases often require this coverage.
- Customer accidents at your business
- Libel and other advertising injuries
- Product liability insurance
Professional liability insurance
This policy covers legal costs related to mistakes and oversights, such as a consultant's advice that leads to financial loss. It's also called errors and omissions insurance (E&O).
- Mistakes that cause financial loss
- Accusations of professional negligence
- Missed deadlines
Cyber insurance
Cyber liability insurance covers the costs of data breaches and cyberattacks. Every San Antonio business that handles credit cards or other personal information should carry this coverage.
- Customer notification costs
- Fraud monitoring services
- Data breach investigations
Business owner’s policy
A BOP bundles general liability coverage and commercial property insurance at a discount. It's the policy most often recommended for small businesses in San Antonio.
- Customer injuries
- Damaged business property
- Business interruption coverage
Workers’ compensation insurance
Workers' compensation helps pay for medical costs when an employee is injured at work. It also covers work-related medical bills for sole proprietors, which personal insurance may not cover.
- Medical bills from employee injuries
- Disability benefits
- Workplace injury lawsuits
Commercial auto insurance
All vehicles owned by San Antonio businesses must be covered by commercial auto insurance. This policy covers auto accident injuries and property damage.
- Medical bills from an accident
- Property damage caused by your vehicle
- Auto accident lawsuits
Errors and omissions insurance
Professional services in San Antonio carry this coverage to protect against legal costs from clients harmed by your advice or services. It's also called professional liability insurance.
- Errors and oversights
- Late or incomplete work
- Negligence accusations
Commercial property insurance
This policy covers the cost of repairing or replacing your building's physical structure and contents. Bundle it with general liability coverage in a BOP for a discount.
- Storm damage
- Fires
- Theft and vandalism
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 San Antonio?
Workers' compensation insurance
Texas does not require employers or sole proprietors to carry workers' compensation insurance. Employers choosing not to provide coverage must notify the Texas Department of Insurance that they will not do so.
Even though it's not mandatory, small business owners in San Antonio should strongly consider carrying the policy. Workers' compensation protects businesses if an employee sustains work-related injuries and provides disability benefits if an employee needs to take time off to recuperate.
For example, a cleaning company employee becoming sick from cleaner fumes, or a line cook at a restaurant getting burned by the grill.
Workers' comp also typically provides employer liability coverage if an employee sues your business over their injuries. Not carrying workers' compensation coverage can be extremely expensive if the small business owner has to cover employee injury costs out of pocket.
Commercial auto insurance
All San Antonio businesses must carry commercial auto insurance for company-owned vehicles. This policy will protect your business if an accident or incident results in medical bills, property damage, or legal costs.
The state of Texas requires San Antonio businesses to carry a minimum coverage of:
- $30,000 per person in bodily injury, liability, or death liability
- $60,000 for multiple people in bodily injury, liability, or death liability
- $25,000 per accident in property damage
While these are the mandatory minimums, you may want to consider additional coverage to protect against exceptionally expensive accidents and lawsuits. Commercial trucking companies often require additional coverage as well.
If you or your employees plan to use personal vehicles for business purposes, you’ll need a separate car insurance policy called hired and non-owned auto (HNOA) insurance.
How much does business insurance cost in San Antonio?
Small businesses in San Antonio don't have to pay a lot for commercial insurance. Here are a few average costs for Texas businesses, based on policy data from Insureon customers:
General liability: $43 per month
Workers' comp: $34 per month
Professional liability/E&O: $91 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 San Antonio business insurance
How do I get a certificate of insurance for my business?
Whether you're in Dallas, Houston, Austin, or elsewhere in Texas, sometimes you need insurance coverage fast. With Insureon, you can get same-day insurance in three easy steps:
- Fill out our easy online application to get quotes from top-rated insurance companies.
- Review the types of business insurance available, choose your policies, and pay online.
- Download a certificate of insurance (COI) by logging into your account.
Our licensed insurance agents will help you get coverage for your San Antonio small business that matches your needs and budget. Most businesses will have an active policy within a few hours.
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.
As a San Antonio small business owner, you are required by Texas law to notify any residents if their information was impacted by a data breach at your business.
Small businesses often lack the technological infrastructure to prevent a major cybersecurity attack, which makes them a prime target for criminals. Unfortunately, managing a data breach can be expensive for small businesses.
Cyber insurance can help cover the cost of responding to a data breach.
Does my industry affect San Antonio business insurance requirements?
Depending on your industry, you may have special requirements for business insurance and bonds in San Antonio.
Here are a few examples of industry-specific insurance requirements:
- San Antonio notaries public must carry a four-year, $10,000 notary surety bond.
- Contractors, carpenters, handymen, and other construction professionals often require contractor general liability insurance or a surety bond to propose a bid on a project or sign a contract. San Antonio mandates insurance and other requirements for plumbers, electricians, HVAC technicians, and more.
- Construction workers who are part of the city's Right of Way program are required to carry $5 million in general liability, $1 million in auto liability, and $1 million in workers' compensation in addition to performance bonds.
- Texas insurance agencies need to have a $25,000 surety bond to be licensed.
- Some professionals, such as physicians, nurses, and lawyers, do not need professional liability insurance, but their employers or workplaces may require it.
- Cannabis dispensaries in San Antonio aren't required to carry a specific policy, but would likely benefit from coverage such as product liability and commercial property insurance.
Be sure to speak with a licensed insurance agent to discuss the risks and liabilities of doing business in Texas.
How can I get help starting a small business in San Antonio?
Texas small business growth has exceeded the national average, thanks to plenty of support and incentives for small business owners. If you’re looking to start a small business in San Antonio, the following organizations can provide funding, resources, training, and more.
- The University of Texas at San Antonio SBDC offers training and professional advising for small business owners, as well as entrepreneurial workshops at reasonable rates.
- The City of San Antonio has local resources for starting and growing your San Antonio small business. They can connect you with outreach specialists, resource guides, and educational materials to help your business grow.
- The Small Business Administration's (SBA) San Antonio helps small businesses with disaster relief, counseling, funding, and more.
- SCORE San Antonio provides local small business mentorship connections and training opportunities for new entrepreneurs.
- The Bexar County Small Business & Entrepreneurship Department offers resources for minority, women, and veteran small business owners, including conferences, directories, workshops, and mentorship programs.
Additionally, there are more than 15 chambers of commerce in and around San Antonio that offer networking opportunities and training, including:
How can I save money on San Antonio small business insurance?
San Antonio small business owners can save money on insurance by comparing quotes from different insurance agencies. With Insureon, fill out one easy application, and we'll connect you with the best insurance solutions to meet your needs.
Other money-saving small business insurance solutions include:
- Bundle policies. Bundles, such as a business owner's policy, will help you save money compared to buying policies separately.
- Pick a budget-friendly policy, such as one with a higher deductible or lower limits.
- Focus on workplace safety and fair employment practices. Fewer accidents and lawsuits mean lower premiums.
Learn more about how to find cheap business insurance.