Business owner's policy
General liability, commercial property and business income in one package, built for small and mid-size businesses with a premises and low-hazard operations.
Business owner's policy- Home
- Business insurance
- General liability
General liability
General liability insurance
The foundation policy for any business with a premises, customers, contracts or a certificate request: third-party bodily injury, property damage, and personal and advertising injury.
Who needs it
Who this is for
If people visit your premises, you work at other people's sites, or a contract asks for proof of insurance, you need it.
- Offices, studios and shops open to clients and the public
- Contractors and service businesses working at customer locations
- Event organizers, vendors and exhibitors
- Businesses signing leases, vendor agreements and client contracts that require additional-insured status
- Production companies and agencies, as the base layer under specialty coverages
What it covers
Coverage parts, and what to watch on each
Summaries only. The policy wording governs, and every carrier's form is different.
| Coverage | What it does | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Bodily injury | Injury to someone who is not your employee, caused by your operations or premises, including medical costs, settlements and defense. | Employee injuries are workers' compensation, not general liability. |
| Property damage | Damage you cause to property belonging to others. | Property in your care, custody or control is often excluded or limited. Rented equipment needs inland marine. |
| Personal and advertising injury | Libel, slander, privacy and certain advertising claims. | Excluded for businesses in advertising, publishing, broadcasting or web design. They need media liability. |
| Products and completed operations | Injury or damage after your work is finished or your product is sold. | Has its own aggregate limit. Contractors should check it is not excluded. |
| Medical payments | Small medical bills for a visitor injured on your premises, paid without a lawsuit. | A goodwill coverage with a low limit, often $5,000 or $10,000. |
| Additional insureds and endorsements | The ability to add landlords, clients and venues, with primary and non-contributory wording and waivers of subrogation where contracts require them. | A certificate alone grants nothing. The endorsement has to be on the policy. |
The hard part
What it does not cover
- Your own property and equipment (commercial property, inland marine)
- Professional mistakes and advice (professional liability)
- Vehicles (commercial auto)
- Employee injuries (workers' compensation)
- Data breaches and cyber events (cyber)
- Pollution, intentional acts and liquor liability on most standard forms
General liability is designed to fit next to other policies. The gaps are where most surprises come from, and we name them before you sign.
How to get it
From first call to bound coverage
- 01Describe operationsWhat you do, where you do it, and whether you use subcontractors.
- 02Set limitsUsually driven by the largest contract or lease you have to satisfy.
- 03Add endorsementsAdditional insured, primary and non-contributory, waiver of subrogation, as contracts require.
- 04CertificatesIssued with the exact wording the requesting party asks for.
Questions
Common questions
How much general liability do I need?
Most leases and client contracts ask for $1M per occurrence and $2M aggregate. If you work for larger companies, municipalities or on film sets, requirements of $2M or more are common and an umbrella policy fills the gap.
What is an additional insured?
A person or business added to your policy by endorsement so your coverage responds to claims against them arising from your work. Landlords, clients and locations ask for it. It has to be on the policy, not just the certificate.
Does it cover my tools and equipment?
No. General liability covers damage you cause to other people's property. Your own gear is covered by commercial property or inland marine coverage.
I am a sole proprietor working from home. Do I need it?
If clients visit, you work at their sites, or any contract asks for a certificate, yes. Homeowners policies exclude most business liability.
What is primary and non-contributory?
Wording that makes your policy pay first, before the additional insured's own coverage, without asking theirs to contribute. It is a common contract requirement and needs an endorsement.
Related
Often placed alongside
Commercial property
Coverage for the building you own or the space you lease, and the equipment, furniture, inventory and improvements inside it.
Commercial propertyWorkers' compensation
Medical care and wage replacement for employees injured or made ill by their work, required of almost every employer in Minnesota and most other states.
Workers' compensationStart with the quote form, or a call.
The online application takes a few minutes for standard business lines. For production, media and professional liability, call or email and we will tell you what we need.