General Liability Insurance

---

General liability small business insurance can provide financial protection for some of the most common accidents at a business.

It can help if someone other than an employee gets hurt and your business is at fault. This is called “bodily injury”

General liability insurance coverage can also help pay for repair or replacement costs if you accidentally damage property that doesn't belong to you.

And if you’re accused of reputational harm (libel or slander), false advertising (advertising injury) or copyright infringement, your insurance policy can provide coverage for that, too.

It’s one of the most frequently purchased types of business insurance by small business owners because of the broad protection it offers.

This type of coverage is also sometimes called “business liability insurance,” “commercial general liability (CGL),” “public liability” or “liability insurance.” For the sake of simplicity, we’ll just call it general liability in the details below.

Commercial liability insurance is included in many business insurance packages because it can help cover the risks that many small business owners face every day.

It’s not typically required by law, but some clients and agencies could ask you to have a certificate of insurance before they work with you.

Here are some examples of how different types of businesses are protected from liability risks with a commercial general liability insurance policy:

Construction trades

Artisan contractors and other construction professionals are often required to have general liability insurance to get professional licenses or work on certain jobs. That’s because there’s a risk of injury to other people and property damage in the work they do.

Restaurants and food service

Slip-and-fall accidents are a risk that food business owners worry about. A general liability policy can help cover medical payments and lawsuit expenses. Some businesses can also add liquor liability or workers' compensation for more coverage.

Retail and e-commerce

Retail business owners can also benefit from the protection GL provides for customer injuries. NEXT policies also includes some protection for product liability coverage.

Fitness professionals

Personal trainers might need to be a policyholder for some professional certifications, and it can be required if they work at a gym.

Cleaning businesses

General liability business insurance can protect cleaners from financial losses if they accidentally break or damage property at a job.

If you want to rent commercial property you might also be required to have coverage as part of your commercial lease.

General liability insurance costs are different for each business. It can cost as little as $11 monthly for some low-risk businesses.

Several factors influence the price you’ll pay for insurance, including:

• Your industry
• Your business operations
• The size of your business
• Where you do business
• Your business needs and how much coverage you want to purchase
• Policy limits