General liability insurance also referred to as business liability insurance, helps protect businesses from claims from their normal business operations. It protects your business against lawsuits or other claims as a result of your operations. This policy covers a wide range of risks that you face in your small business. This includes personal and advertising injury, bodily injury and property damage, medical payments, product-completed operations, personal and advertising injury, and damages done to premises rented to you.
General liability insurance is like a safety net for your business. For example, if a customer slips and falls in your store, it can help cover their medical bills and any legal fees if they decide to sue. It’s essential coverage that gives you peace of mind knowing that you’re protected against unexpected accidents and lawsuits. This insurance also covers advertising injuries, such as defamation or copyright infringement claims.
If your business accidentally uses someone else’s copyrighted material in your advertising or if a competitor accuses you of spreading false information about their products, the policy can help cover the costs of legal defense. And any settlements or judgments against your business. Overall, general liability insurance is a fundamental protection that every business can use to safeguard against unforeseen risks and liabilities.
What Does General Liability Insurance Cover?
This policy covers coverage for common liability claims for people outside your business, such as clients and customers. It covers legal defense when someone sues you as a result of your business operations. Your policy will pay for everything from hiring a lawyer to settlements. Overall, your commercial general liability policy covers:
Third-party bodily injuries
If someone gets hurt at your business, general liability insurance can cover their medical bills and legal fees if they decide to sue.
Third-party property damage
General liability insurance helps pay for costs if your business accidentally damages someone else’s property.
Personal injuries and advertising injuries
If a business owner or employee gets sued for saying something false about someone, wrongly arresting them, or using someone else’s work without permission, general liability insurance can cover the legal costs and any money owed as a result of the lawsuit.
Product liability
Sometimes, property damage or customer injuries can occur even if they’re not inside a store. For businesses that make, distribute, or sell products, there’s a risk of being sued if those products cause harm to people or property. Thankfully, many commercial general liability policies come with product liability coverage. This coverage assists with lawsuits and financial losses arising from faulty products, labeling mistakes that harm customers, and other product-related risks.
Who needs General Liability Insurance coverage?
This coverage is included in a different business insurance package. And this is because it can help protect against the risks that owners of small businesses face every day. Although it is not typically required by state law, some customers or clients may ask you to have it before they can work with you. Some businesses that need this coverage include construction trades, retail and e-commerce, fitness professionals, cleaning businesses, restaurants, and food service.
General liability coverage is important if your business owns or rents commercial property, handles clients’s property, or has a location that is open to the public. Even if all of these do not apply to you, small businesses that work hand in hand with customers can greatly benefit from them. It is quite advisable that you purchase the policy after you start your business.
How much Does it Cost?
Just so you know, this policy is calculated based on various factors. These factors include the amount of coverage, location, number of employees, industry, and risk factors. Typically, general liability insurance costs an average of $42 every month. You can do more research on the company you want to go to to get a lower price. And learn different saving tips so that you can find the best combination between protection for your business and price.
How To Get General Liability Insurance Coverage?
We think that businesses of all sizes need this policy. That is why higher-profile insurers provide it for their customers. To purchase this coverage, it is advisable to research and compare different insurance provider quotes to get the best rate and price. You should not just jump into the first one you get because you can get the policy for a lesser price. Most insurance providers make it easy for their customers to get quotes and purchase their policies. You can get a quote and purchase coverage from the company’s official website or mobile app.
Best General Liability Insurance Providers
All business insurers offer this policy. And the best provider allows the customer to get a quote and purchase the policy online. So, you can get the coverage as fast as possible. Here are some of the best providers you can get quotes from and find the best coverage at a good rate:
Chubb
Chubb offers a Business Owner’s Policy (BOP) online for businesses making less than $1 million in revenue. Besides covering business interruptions, Chubb’s policy includes extra expense coverage. This can support your business during recovery from accidents or disasters. Additionally, Chubb has received fewer complaints about general liability insurance compared to what’s typically expected considering its market share.
Thimble
Thimble provides general liability insurance every month or for specific events. It caters to businesses that primarily need coverage to meet contract obligations. They claim to offer policies starting at $17 per month.
Next Insurance
If you’re in urgent need of general liability insurance, you can swiftly obtain a quote. And purchase a policy online within minutes through Next. They mention that their general liability insurance starts at $11 per month, with product liability coverage included.
Nationwide
Aside from general liability insurance, Nationwide provides specialized coverage, such as surety and fidelity bonds. These are particularly valuable for construction companies, cleaning businesses, and other niche firms. While you can receive a quote online, purchasing a policy will require assistance from an agent.
Our Verdict
You can also purchase general liability insurance from other providers like The Hartford and Hiscox. With this coverage, businesses can safeguard their financial well-being and reputation. This policy provides peace of mind as they navigate the complexities of running their operations. It offers essential protection for businesses against various risks.
This includes bodily injury, property damage, and legal expenses. Whether it’s a small shop or a large corporation, having general liability insurance is a smart investment. It helps to mitigate potential liabilities and ensure long-term success.