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How to Get General Liability Insurance
Are you wondering how to get general liability insurance? As an insurance company with over 200 years of experience, we’ve helped small business owners with many questions, like, “What do I need to get general liability insurance?” Also known as commercial general liability insurance or business liability insurance, it’s one of the most common policies that businesses buy. That’s because it can help cover claims that happen during normal business operations, such as:- Customer injuries
- Property damages
- Reputational harm
Without coverage, few businesses can survive a significant liability claim. You’d have to pay for expenses out of pocket, which puts your business and personal assets at financial risk.
We can help you learn how to get liability insurance for a small business to help protect your business so you can focus on running a successful company. Get a general liability quote today and learn how we can help.
What Does a Business Liability Policy Cover?
A general liability insurance coverage policy helps protect your business from claims of:- Bodily injury and property damage that your business may have caused.
- Reputational harm, also known as personal injury claims, like malicious prosecution, wrongful eviction and more.
- Advertising injuries, like violation of the right of privacy, libel or copyright infringement in your advertisements.
How Much Does General Liability Insurance Cost?
There’s not an easy, single answer to how much a general liability insurance policy will cost. You may pay a couple hundred dollars or over a thousand dollars a year for general liability insurance, but it depends on factors like the:
- Location of your business
- Amount of coverage in your policy
- Industry that your business works in
- Claims history you have
Since every business is unique, insurance rates vary because these factors affect each company differently. The best way to find out your business’ specific general liability insurance cost is to get a quote.
A Step-By-Step Guide to Obtaining Liability Insurance
Buying small business insurance can be daunting, but we make it easy. We offer a broad array of coverages that you can tailor to meet your business’ needs. Plus, we made our online quoting platform incredibly simple to use. In just a few minutes and in one sitting, you can research coverages online, get an insurance quote and buy the protection your business needs.To help get the liability insurance you need, follow our five-step guide. You’ll learn what information you need before getting a quote, plus tips to help you get the right coverage for your business.
Step 1: Get the Required Information and Documents
It’s helpful to gather the necessary information before you start the quoting process. If you’re wondering, “What do I need to get liability insurance?” you’re not alone. Some of the information you may need to provide includes:- The number of employees working for your business
- Estimated business revenue for the upcoming year
- Basic contact information
- Information on what work your business does and its risks
- Your business’ location
- Details about your business premises
- Documentation on how long you’ve owned your business
Step 2: Find an Agent or Broker That Specializes in Commercial Insurance or Contact the Insurance Company Directly
If you’re asking yourself, “Where can I get liability insurance?” you have a few options. You can work with an insurance agent or directly with an insurance company. Most insurers have specialists that can help you get the right coverages for your business. They’ll likely ask you questions about your business, such as:
- How many employees you have
- Where your business is located
- The type of work your business does
Businesses with more complex risks can work with an insurance company or broker. A broker works with a buyer to find the right types of coverage for their needs. They also suggest limits for policies and which insurer to buy from. If your company buys from a broker, you’ll also pay for their services.
Step 3: Review Your Business Characteristics and Determine Your Insurance Needs
A business insurance plan doesn’t include the same coverages for every company. That’s because each business has unique needs.
It’s not uncommon for two businesses to have several similar key coverages, but others that differ and address specific risks. For example, your business and a nearby company may both have:
- General liability insurance
- Commercial property insurance
- Workers’ compensation insurance
But because your business provides a professional service to customers, you may also need professional liability insurance, also known as errors and omissions insurance. Or, you may need to get a commercial auto insurance policy because you and your employees use your cars for business.
If you need advice on how you can help protect your business from the different risks it faces, we can help. Our specialists are available by phone to talk with you about the insurance options you can get and how you can tailor your coverage to meet your business’ specific needs.
Step 4: Evaluate Options and Choose the Right General Liability Policy for Your Business
There’s several variables to consider when you’re choosing the right general liability policy for your business. Cost is important and different factors can affect how much you’ll pay for insurance, such as:- Coverage amounts, because higher limits can increase your premium.
- How you pay your premium, since paying upfront can result in a discount.
- Bundling insurance coverages, which can help you save on rates.
Be sure not to only focus on cost, because picking an insurance quote only based on a low price may not give your business enough coverage. That’s why it’s important to go through each quote and review the coverage amounts and limits so you don’t put your business at financial risk. For example, if you have a significant liability claim and it exceeds your policy limit, your business will have to pay the difference out of pocket.
It’s also a good idea to check each insurance company’s claims rating. It’s important you trust them and can have a good experience. The last thing you want when you’re dealing with a small business emergency is to be put on hold for hours or deal with bad customer service. Make sure the insurer you choose has excellent customer service and claims service experience ratings.
Step 5: Relax Knowing You Have the Protection of a Commercial General Liability Policy
Liability claims aren’t as uncommon as you may think. In fact, falls are one of the top three leading causes of preventable injury-related deaths.1 The average cost for this kind of claim is $30,000.2 Not many small businesses can manage a cost like this without it significantly impacting their business. With the right general liability coverage, you can be confident knowing you’ve taken the necessary steps to protect your business from these types of claims.Get a Quote for Liability Insurance
We’re an insurance company with over 200 years of experience. Our specialists can work with you to get the liability insurance coverages your business needs. Get a quote today and find out how our insurance offerings can help you run a successful business.
2 Based on an analysis of five years of claims data (2010-2014) from more than 1 million Hartford Business Owner’s policies.