The Hartford doesn’t offer outfitter insurance online, but a local agency or Tivly may be able to help you find the coverage you need. The following content includes information from various sources and can change over time.
What Is Outfitter Insurance?
Outfitter insurance is a collection of business insurance coverages designed to help protect you from the risks you might face as you manage gear and transport clients through nature’s playgrounds. Whether it’s trip cancellations, accidental injuries, property damage, lost equipment or liability claims, your business carries a unique set of challenges every day.
An outfitter insurance package can include these common types of coverage:
- Business Owner’s Policy (BOP)
- Commercial auto insurance
- Workers’ compensation insurance
Why Might You Need Outfitter Insurance?
Outfitter insurance is a collection of coverages designed to help protect your business from the unpredictable things that can happen while you’re running guided experiences in wild places. Maybe someone breaks into your rental shop or a client sues you after falling on a hike. You know all about being prepared for the unexpected things Mother Nature can bring — insurance can help you plan for everything else.
This coverage can help protect your business from many potential risks, like:
- Guest injury: A customer breaks a wrist during a zipline landing.
- Auto accident: Your company vehicle is sideswiped while transporting guests.
- Employee injury: A guide strains their back while lifting loaded dry bags.
Who May Need Outfitter Insurance?
Insurance coverage can help protect many types of businesses offering outfitting services, such as:
- Hunting outfitters and guides
- Fishing guides
- Backcountry guides
- Horseback riding and ranch guides
What Outfitter Insurance Coverages Might I Need?
When it comes to protecting your guide business, you’ll want coverage that matches your potential risks. Many outfitters start with a Business Owner’s Policy (BOP) because of the peace of mind it can provide.
A BOP combines three types of coverage to help protect you from everyday risks:
Commercial property insurance helps protect the owned or rented building that you operate from, as well as the tools, equipment and inventory you rely on. These can include:
- Tents
- First aid kits
- Hiking poles
- Climbing gear
- Rafts or kayaks
Business income insurance helps replace lost income if you can’t operate temporarily because of covered property damage caused by wind, fire or theft.
It’s important to know that a BOP won’t cover every kind of claim you could face as an outfitter. You’ll need to get other types of insurance to give your business well-rounded protection, such as:
Workers’ compensation insurance to help support your employees as they recover from a work-related injury or illness. This can include a river guide suffering heat exhaustion while prepping rafts. Workers’ comp can help pay their medical bills or replace lost wages if they can’t work.
Commercial auto insurance to help cover claims from an auto accident that occurs while you or an employee drives a company-owned vehicle for work. For instance, if your shuttle van gets rear-ended on the way to a trailhead, this coverage can help cover the costs.
How Much Does Outfitter Insurance Cost?
Although The Hartford doesn’t offer coverage for outfitters, here are the average costs our small business customers pay for common types of insurance. You can use these amounts to help estimate your coverage costs:**
- BOP: $1,687 a year, or about $141 a month
- Stand-alone general liability insurance: $810 a year, or about $68 a month
- Workers’ compensation insurance: $1,032 a year, or $86 a month
- Professional liability insurance: $744 a year, or $62 a month1
The cost of outdoor guide insurance varies because every business faces unique risks. Insurance companies may consider several factors when determining your coverage costs, including:
- Number of employees
- Location of your business
- Type of coverage
- Your claims history
- The limits you select for your coverage
To find out your specific outdoor guide insurance costs, get a free quote online through Tivly.
General Liability Insurance
“One of my guides left their hiking poles on the ground. A guest tripped over them and landed on a large rock.”
General liability insurance helps cover claims that your business caused bodily injury or property damage to someone else.
Watercraft Liability Insurance
“A client let their child operate a jet ski, then blamed us when he got hurt.”
Watercraft liability insurance covers accidents involving motorized or non-motorized watercraft used in guided water-based activities.
Workers’ Compensation Insurance
“My whitewater rafting guide fell during a demonstration and had to go on leave to recover.”
Workers’ compensation insurance gives your team benefits to help them recover from work-related injuries or illnesses. It can help pay their medical bills and replace lost wages.
Commercial Auto Insurance
“My manager used the business van to pick up equipment and supplies for an upcoming client trip. He rear-ended another car in traffic, and the other car had to be towed.”
Commercial auto insurance helps protect your employees on the road when using a company-owned vehicle for work.
Commercial Property Insurance
“Someone stole our canoes right from the dock. We lost a whole weekend’s worth of bookings.”
Commercial property insurance helps protect the gear and equipment that your business owns.
Business Income Insurance
“A fire broke out in the storage facility where we keep the equipment and gear we need for trips. Everything was destroyed, and we had to refund our customers’ money.”
Business income insurance helps replace lost income if you can’t operate temporarily because of covered property damage. You can use this insurance to help pay for ongoing operating costs, like payroll.
Get a Quote for Outfitter Insurance Options
You’ve got guests to guide and trips to run, so make sure nothing slows you down. Get a quote for outdoor guide insurance online today.
Last Updated: May 20, 2026
1 What you pay for professional liability insurance will vary by product, limits chosen and risk class or hazard group associated with your business.
2 The Hartford, “Water and Freezing Damage, Burglary Lead The Hartford’s Top Five Small Business Claims,” viewed April 2026.
3 National Safety Council, “Musculoskeletal Injuries,” viewed May 2026.
4 National Fire Protection Association, “Fire Loss in the United States,” viewed April 2026.
** Costs, premiums, and coverages mentioned are estimates and are not guaranteed. Actual cost, premium, and coverage are determined at the time of quote or issue and are specific to an individual risk. Premiums are based on information provided to The Hartford, including, but not limited to, underwriting and rating criteria. All examples included on this website or in an advertisement are intended for informational purposes only and are not an offer or a guarantee of premium or coverage. Coverage and products described are subject to the terms and conditions found in the policy contract. Any educational information provided about available coverages does not modify the policy language or imply that any claim is covered. Products are not available in all states or for all businesses.
The Hartford does not currently have a product available to provide the coverage described on this page. You are being referred to Tivly in an effort to connect you with a carrier who may provide this coverage. This link will redirect you to a third-party website, owned and operated by an independent party ("Tivly"). Any link you make to or from the Tivly website will be at your own risk. Any use of the Tivly website will be subject to and any information you provide will be governed by the terms of the Tivly website, including those relating to confidentiality, data privacy and security. The Hartford and its affiliates (collectively "The Hartford") do not endorse or approve and make no warranties, representations or undertakings relating to the content of the Tivly website. The Hartford assumes no liability for loss, damage and any other consequence resulting directly or indirectly from your access to the Tivly website or any information that you may provide on the Tivly website.
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