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What Is General Liability Insurance?
General liability insurance helps protect your small business from claims that it caused bodily injuries or property damage to others. Without general liability coverage, you’d have to pay for these claims out of pocket. General liability insurance (GLI) can be called many different things, like business liability insurance, commercial general liability insurance or comprehensive general liability (CGL).
With general liability insurance for small business, you'll have protection from claims of:
- Bodily injury
- Property damage
- Reputational harm
- Advertising injury
- Damage to property rented to you
Start protecting your business. Get a general liability insurance quote for your small business today.
How Much Does General Liability Insurance Cost?
On average, general liability insurance costs $88 per month, or $1,057 per year, from The Hartford.1 Just remember that general liability insurance costs are different for everyone because every business is unique. Factors that can determine these costs include:
- Type of business
- Revenue
- Number of employees
- Location
- Policy details, like coverage limits and deductibles
The best way to find out your general liability insurance cost is to get a quote.
Who Needs General Liability Insurance?
Did you know that four out of 10 small business owners are likely to experience a property or general liability claim in the next 10 years?1 Claims range from unexpected incidents, like a burglary, to unforeseen accidents, such as a customer getting injured after slipping and falling.
Many types of industries commonly need GLI coverage to help protect their business, including:
Five Types of Claims That General Liability Insurance Covers
It's a question we hear often: "Does my small business need
general liability insurance?" Chances are, the answer is yes. With general liability insurance
coverage, you'll have protection from claims of:
1. Bodily Injury
If a customer injures themselves in your place of business,
this policy can help cover their medical bills.
2. Property Damage
Employees sometimes damage customers' property while delivering products or services. Your
GL policy can help pay for the damages.
3. Reputational Harm
General liability insurance policies can help cover malicious prosecution, slander, libel, wrongful eviction and violating a person's privacy.
4. Advertising Injuries
Claims of copyright infringement are covered with a general liability policy.
5. Damage to Premises Rented to You
If your rented property is damaged by fire, lightning or an explosion, your general liability
policy can help pay for repairs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Is General Liability Needed?
Liability insurance coverage helps protect you from costly general liability claims that can happen during normal business situations, such as:
- You or your employees representing a client
- Meeting with clients face to face
- Working on or with another person’s property
- Using third-party locations for business activities
- Advertising your business
You may also need this coverage if your clients request it. Many clients want to confirm you have general liability coverage before they sign a contract with your business. You can prove you have general liability insurance with a certificate of liability insurance.
What Does a General Liability Policy Not Cover?
General liability insurance doesn’t cover every kind of claim. Depending on your small business, you may need different types of coverage to give your business more protection. A general liability insurance policy won’t cover commercial auto accidents, employee injuries or illnesses, damage to your business property, professional mistakes or errors, purposeful wrongdoings or illegal acts, or any claims that cost more than your liability limits. It also won’t cover claims related to data breaches or lost income if your business can’t open because of covered property damage.
Is General Liability Business Insurance Required by Law?
State laws don’t usually require business owners to carry general liability insurance. But it’s still a good idea to have this liability insurance coverage. If a customer sues your business and you don’t have coverage, it can put your business’ finances and your personal assets at risk.
It's important to understand your state’s general liability insurance laws. Work with a local insurance agency or our dedicated small business insurance team to help you choose the right business liability insurance.
Do You Need Business Liability Insurance for an LLC?
Although it’s not required by state law for LLCs to carry business liability insurance, it’s a good idea to get your business protection against everyday risks. Without it, you’d have to pay out of pocket for claims made against your business, which can be costly. Talk to an insurance agent or get an online quote today and see how we can help protect your LLC.
What Information Do I Need To Get a General Liability Quote?
When you’re ready to get a general liability quote, you’ll want to have the right information handy. This includes the:
- Registered name and address of your business
- Year you established your business
- Number of locations you have
- Number of employees you have
- History of liability losses in the last three years, including damage to property, accidents and injuries
- General liability limit or coverage amount you are planning to buy
Get a General Liability Insurance Quote Made for Your Small Business
Not all insurance companies are the same. It’s important to work with one that you can trust. We have over 200 years of experience helping small business owners protect their companies with coverages like general liability insurance.
Whether you’re looking for a quote, trying to understand general liability class codes or need help filing a claim, we have your back.
To learn more, start a free quote or get your general liability insurance online. We can also help you get other essential business coverages, like commercial property insurance and commercial auto insurance.
What Our General Liability Insurance Customers Are Saying:
“I was extremely satisfied with the quote and general liability policy that I obtained for my small business. I would recommend The Hartford without reservation.”
Kevin O.
“I've had my business general liability insurance through The Hartford for years. It's a good product at a fair price and customer service has always been responsive to any requests or questions.”
Linda S.
“Excellent response time. Less than 2 hours after completing the online form to request a quote for business General Liability insurance, I had someone from The Hartford calling to set it up.”
Rolando P.
“I’ve used The Hartford since 2011. They are my go to for homeowners insurance and for business liability insurance. I actually look forward to when I need their insurance for the next purpose!”
Amanda B.
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Last Updated: August 17, 2023
1 Premium amounts presented are based on monthly premium paid by The Hartford’s Small Business customers between 1/1/21 and 12/31/21 for 12-month policies. Premium is derived from a number of factors specific to your business and may vary.
2 The Hartford, “The Hartford Reports: More Than 40 Percent Of Small Businesses Will Experience A Claim In The Next 10 Years”
** "World's Most Ethical Companies" and "Ethisphere" names are registered trademarks of Ethisphere LLC.
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