★ Commercial · General liability
The policy every business gets asked for.
General liability covers third-party bodily injury, property damage, and the legal bills that come with them. It is the policy your clients, landlords, and contracts will ask for by name. Most small businesses carry $1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate.
Free quotes · No obligation · A licensed specialist answers, usually within one business day
★ What it covers
What’s covered and what isn’t.
Plain English, no fine-print games. Every policy has exclusions; here are the ones that actually matter for General Liability.
What it covers
- Third-party bodily injuryIf a customer slips in your store or a visitor gets hurt at a job site, GL pays their medical bills.
- Third-party property damageIf your crew damages a client's property (a scratched floor, a pipe that floods a kitchen), GL covers the repair.
- Legal defense costsIf someone sues, the carrier hires the lawyer. On most policies defense sits outside your limits. Confirm it on yours.
- Personal & advertising injuryNon-physical claims like libel, slander, or copyright trouble in your advertising.
- Products & completed operationsDamage from a product you sold or work you finished and walked away from. The claim that shows up a year later.
- Medical paymentsSmall no-fault medical payments, often $5k to $10k, for someone hurt on your premises. Keeps small incidents from becoming lawsuits.
What it doesn’t cover
- Injuries to your own employeesThat's workers' comp. Legally separate, and GL specifically excludes it.
- Mistakes in your professional workBad advice or a flawed deliverable needs professional liability (E&O), not GL.
- Damage to your own building or equipmentYour property needs commercial property insurance; GL covers other people's property.
- Vehicle accidentsEven the company truck. Auto accidents belong on commercial auto.
- Intentional acts or fraudNo policy covers what you did on purpose.
- Pollution and mold, in many casesOften excluded or sharply limited. Contractors in dirty trades should ask about this specifically.
All quotes are subject to carrier underwriting and final approval. Coverage availability, terms, and pricing vary by state and carrier. The lists above describe typical General Liability policies, not any specific carrier’s form.
Once the policy is bound and the first payment is processed, certificates can typically go out the same day, which is why contractors want GL fast.
★ Who needs it
If this sounds like you, you need GL.
The businesses that buy General Liability most, and the one-line reason each one does.
Contractors & handymen
Every GC and homeowner asks for your certificate before you touch the job.
Retailers & restaurants
Customers on your premises is the classic GL exposure.
Cleaning companies
You work inside clients' homes and offices. One broken item away from a claim.
Landlords
Tenant injuries in common areas land on you, not the tenant.
Consultants visiting client sites
Many RFPs require $1M/$2M before you can even bid.
★ What it costs
What drives the price.
Carriers price General Liability on exposure, not vibes. Here’s what moves your number, and what you can actually influence.
- Your class code: The trade sets the base rate: roofers and tree services pay multiples of what bookkeepers pay.
- Revenue: More revenue generally means more exposure, and GL premiums scale with it.
- Limits you choose: $1M/$2M is the standard contract requirement; higher limits cost more, lower limits may not satisfy your clients.
- Claims history: A clean five years earns preferred pricing; recent claims push it the other way.
- State and territory: Rates and legal climates vary. Texas pricing is not Florida pricing.
★ Often quoted together
Pairs well with General Liability.
Most businesses don’t buy one policy in isolation. These are the lines GL buyers usually quote at the same time. One specialist quotes the whole package.
Workers' Comp
Medical bills and lost wages for work injuries. Required in nearly every state once you hire.
Commercial Umbrella
Extra millions stacked over your GL, auto, and employers liability, for the catastrophic claim.
Business Owner's Policy
General liability + commercial property in one package. The starter policy for small business.
★ Straight answers
Questions GL buyers actually ask.
The short version of what our licensed specialists explain on calls every week.
How much general liability does my business actually need?
Why does my client want a certificate of insurance?
Does GL cover my employees if they get hurt?
What is the difference between occurrence and claims-made?
Can I get a certificate the same day I buy the policy?
Does GL cover work I already finished?
Get my quote
Get your General Liability quote. Two minutes.
Tell us about the business. A licensed specialist shops the carriers and comes back with real options.
- About 2 minutes, built for General Liability
- A licensed specialist follows up, usually within one business day
- No bait prices, no call centers, no selling your information
Free quotes. No obligation. Written through Patriot Independent Insurance Partners, licensed in TX, FL, GA, SC, AL, MS, NC, CA, and CO. Your information is never sold to lead brokers.