The Hartford doesn’t offer short-term general liability 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.

Short-Term General Liability Insurance

What Is Short-Term General Liability Insurance?

Short-term general liability insurance provides temporary liability coverage for short projects that take between two hours to two weeks to complete. It can help cover claims that your work caused bodily injury or property damage to someone else.
Author:
Chloe Silverman
Chloe Silverman,Staff Copywriter
Chloe Silverman
Staff copywriter specializing in small business insurance for The Hartford.
Updated: 04/29/2026
Read Time: 10 minutes
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Key Takeaways

  • Short-term general liability insurance provides temporary coverage for short projects — often lasting from a few hours to up to two weeks — where your work could potentially cause injury or property damage to others.
  • This coverage offers similar protections to an annual general liability policy, including help with medical costs, property damage claims and legal expenses, but only for a defined project period.
  • This coverage is often used by contractors and small business owners who take on seasonal or project-based work and don’t need year-round liability coverage.
 

Types of Short-Term Liability Insurance

Short-term liability insurance can take different forms depending on the type of work you’re doing and the risks involved. The two common types are general liability insurance and professional liability insurance. 
 
Short-term liability insurance may also be referred to as:
 
  • Project insurance
  • Construction project insurance
  • Temporary liability insurance
  • Temporary commercial insurance
  • One-day general liability insurance
  • One-day business insurance
  • Temporary business insurance
Read on for a closer look at the two primary types of short-term liability insurance and what each may cover.
 

Professional Liability Insurance

Professional liability insurance, also known as errors and omissions (E&O) insurance, helps cover claims alleging mistakes or negligence in the professional services you provide. This type of professional liability coverage is often used when advice, designs or specialized expertise are part of a short‑term project.
 

General Liability Insurance

General liability insurance provides broad liability protection for claims involving bodily injury, property damage or personal injury caused by your business operations. For short‑term work, it helps address common risks that may arise while you’re on a jobsite or interacting with customers.
 

What Does Short-Term Liability Insurance Cover?

A short-term general liability policy provides the same core protections as a standard business liability policy, except for a shorter, defined period. This means you have protection from common liability claims that can come up during normal operations. Short-term liability insurance can help cover:
 
  • Medical expenses if your work or the completed project hurts another person
  • Property damage to someone else’s belongings that your business caused
  • Legal defense costs related to a lawsuit
  • Judgments and settlements resulting from a customer or client’s lawsuit
  • A client’s financial loss due to your work
Short-term commercial insurance may also include products-completed operations coverage. This coverage may help protect you after you’ve completed the work, because you could still face liability risks. So, if there’s a liability claim within a year after you finish your project, your short-term liability policy can help protect you.
 

Why Might You Need Temporary General Liability Insurance?

Even if you’re working on a one-off request or multiple short projects, you still face risks. Temporary liability insurance can help protect your business from claims that can happen on the job.
 
Be aware that the general contractor bidding process may also have certain requirements before you can start working. This may include providing a temporary certificate of insurance (COI), which is also known as a certificate of liability insurance. It’s a document that proves you have short-term liability insurance for contractors.
Even if you don’t primarily work in one of these industries, short-term general liability insurance can still be helpful, especially if you work on seasonal or shorter projects. For example, you may work in hospitality but mow lawns on the side for extra income. A short-term general liability insurance policy can help protect you while you’re doing a side job.
 

What Kind of Projects Does Short-Term Liability Insurance Cover?

Short-term general liability insurance is built for hands-on project work. It’s especially suited to jobs where you’re working in or around someone else’s property and where the risk of accidental damage or injury is high. Coverage applies to a specific project and expires when the work is complete.
 
Short-term general liability insurance can provide coverage on a project-to-project basis. Some examples include:
 
  • Setting up furniture: Installing a home theater or hiding TV wires
  • Installing cabinets and countertops: Building or repairing carpentry and putting in a vanity
  • Fixing floors: Installing laminate, carpet or tiles, as well as refinishing hardwood
  • Maintaining cooling systems: A/C installation, changing filters or cleaning the vents
  • Working with interior walls: Building a closet, installing shelves, wallpapering or repairing drywall
  • Low-voltage electricity work: Installing or repairing appliances, working on ceiling fans or putting in outlets
  • Yardwork: Lawn care, fence installation or repair, deck building and outdoor furniture assembly
  • Fixing pipes: Unclogging a drain and replacing a faucet or toilet
  • Events: Setting up or breaking down booths, staging, signage, tables or equipment for a short-term event
Remember:
These are just examples. If your project involves physical work at a client’s property, short-term general liability insurance coverage is likely good to have. Check with Tivly to confirm your business’ eligibility.
 

Benefits of Short-Term Business Insurance

If you’re doing a short project, you may be wondering, “Can I get liability insurance for just a day or a week?” The answer is generally yes, and that’s exactly what short-term general liability insurance is designed for.
 
Getting ongoing coverage when you only need coverage for a few days or weeks may raise your business expenses unnecessarily. Short-term general liability insurance helps solve this problem by offering flexible, project-based coverage.
 
Key benefits include:
 
  • On-demand coverage: Activate a policy when you need it, for however long you need it.
  • Same protections as an annual policy: Coverage to help protect you from claims that your business caused bodily injury or property damage to someone else.
  • Fast proof of insurance: Get a certificate of liability insurance quickly to satisfy client or jobsite requirements.
  • Cost-effective for short work: Pay only for the duration of your project — not an entire year.
  • Scalable to your crew size: Coverage can be adjusted based on the number of employees you have.

How Does Short-Term General Liability Insurance Work?

Short-term general liability insurance works similarly to a standard general liability policy but with a much shorter coverage window. Here’s how the process typically works:
 
  • Describe your project: Provide basic details about the type of work, the location, your crew size and the estimated project duration.
  • Choose your coverage limits: Select the amount of coverage you need, such as $300,000 or $1 million per occurrence.
  • Get your quote: Get a fast quote based on your project details. Coverage can often start that day.
  • Receive your certificate of insurance (COI): Once your policy is active, you’ll get a COI you can share with your clients.
  • Coverage expires at project end: Your policy is only active for the duration you selected and expires automatically.
The Hartford helps connect business owners like you to Tivly, so you can get the short-term insurance coverage you need.

How Much Does Short-Term General Liability Insurance Cost?

Although The Hartford doesn’t offer short-term general liability insurance, here are the average coverage costs for some example projects. Actual pricing can vary based on the details of your project.
 
Cost Coverage Project Duration Project Type
$6 $300,000 Two hours Cabinet installation
$18 $300,000 Two days Drywall and painting
$57 $1 million Three days
Fence installation for two-person crew
 
Keep in mind that the cost for short-term general liability insurance is specific to the project you’re working on and may depend on several factors, including:
 
  • Types of work: Different tasks carry different levels of risk, which can influence the cost of coverage.
  • Project length: Longer projects may increase the chances of something going wrong and could result in higher insurance costs.
  • Size of your team: Projects with more people involved may cost more because there is an increased risk of accidents or property damage.
  • Coverage limits selected: Choosing higher dollar limits for coverage generally raises the cost compared to lower limits.
  • Location: Costs can vary based on where the project takes place, including local rules and typical risks in that area.
The best way to find out your exact cost for short-term general liability is to get a quote through Tivly. They can help you find the right coverage.
 

Short-Term vs. Annual General Liability Insurance: What’s the Difference?

Understanding when to use short-term coverage versus a standard annual policy can help you make the best decision for your business.
 
  Short-Term General Liability Insurance Annual General Liability Insurance
Coverage Duration Hours, days or up to two weeks 12-month policy term
Best For One-off jobs, short projects, side work Ongoing business operations
Cost Structure Pay per project Fixed annual or monthly premium
COI Available? Yes Yes
Coverage Scope Same as annual GLI policy Broad ongoing protection
If you regularly take on work throughout the year, you may want to consider getting an annual general liability policy for your business.
business owner protected by short term commercial insurance

Get a Quote for Short-Term General Liability Insurance

We understand the unique risks you face when taking on short-term projects or one-off requests. Protecting yourself while you complete the work is important. The Hartford helps connect you to Tivly, so you can get the coverage you need for short-term projects.
 
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Frequently Asked Questions About Short-Term Liability Insurance

Short-term public (general) liability insurance typically covers your business, not the independent contractors or subcontractors you work with. In many cases, subcontractors are expected to carry their own insurance. Some policies may allow you to list a subcontractor as an additional insured, which helps show that they’re included for certain claims related to your project.
 
If you have any full-time or part-time employees, workers’ compensation insurance is typically required by state law to help cover work-related injuries or illnesses.
The coverage you may need depends on the type of work you do, how your business is set up and the risks you may face on the job. In addition to general liability insurance, some small business owners may consider other types of business insurance, including:
 
  • Professional liability insurance
  • Workers’ compensation insurance
  • Commercial auto insurance
  • Commercial property insurance
  • Business income insurance
Yes, short-term general liability insurance may be available for very short timeframes, including a single day.
 
This type of coverage is designed for specific projects or events and usually starts and ends based on the job’s schedule. It can be a flexible option for businesses that don’t need coverage year-round.
In most cases, yes. A certificate of insurance (COI) is commonly provided as proof that you have coverage for a specific project or time period.
 
You may need to share this certificate with a client, property owner or event organizer before entering a contract. The certificate typically shows the coverage type, limits and dates.
No, short-term general liability insurance is different from an annual policy. Short-term coverage is usually purchased for a single project or short period of time and ends when the job is complete. An annual policy provides ongoing coverage for your business throughout the year and may be a better fit if you work on multiple projects regularly.

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