MoneyGeek analyzed insurance companies based on affordability, customer satisfaction, financial stability and their online quote process to rank the best general liability insurance providers in Georgia. Thimble ranked as the best insurer overall, earning a MoneyGeek score of 90 out of 100. A general liability insurance policy from Thimble costs an average of $22 per month for sole proprietors and $65 per month for limited liability companies (LLCs) with 20 employees. Next is the cheapest company for general liability insurance in Georgia, charging $25 monthly for both LLCs with 20 employees and sole proprietors.
Best General Liability Insurance in Georgia (2024)
Updated: May 22, 2024
Advertising & Editorial Disclosure
Best General LiabilityGeorgiaBest General Liability Insurance in Georgia
Best Overall - Thimble
Cheapest - Next
Best for Employers - Nationwide
Best for Sole Proprietors - Thimble
Why Trust MoneyGeek? We collected 1,229 general liability insurance quotes and analyzed cost information alongside customer satisfaction and financial stability reports to determine the best general liability insurance companies for small businesses in Georgia.
Coverage costs and company information for general liability insurance providers in Georgia were last updated in 2023.
1,229Quotes Analyzed
6 Companies Compared
50 Zip Codes
Best Overall General Liability Insurance in Georgia
Thimble offers the best general liability insurance in Georgia, earning a MoneyGeek score of 90 out of 100. We analyzed insurers in Georgia based on their average costs and other factors. You can use the table below to see how the best companies ranked, their rates and their MoneyGeek scores.
How was this MoneyGeek score calculated?
MoneyGeek used the following weights to rank the best general liability insurance in Georgia:
- Affordability for LLCs: 30%
- Affordability for sole proprietors: 30%
- Customer satisfaction: 20%
- Financial stability: 15%
- Online quote process: 5%
MoneyGeek used two business profiles to gather general liability quotes:
- An LLC with five years in business, 20 employees, $5 million in annual revenue and $1,250,000 in annual payroll costs.
- A sole proprietorship with five years in business, no employees, $500,000 in annual revenue and no payroll costs.
| Thimble | 90 | $22 | $65 |
| The Hartford | 90 | $32 | $67 |
| Next | 90 | $25 | $25 |
| Nationwide | 89 | $47 | $43 |
| Hiscox | 87 | $29 | $107 |
Best OverallScore: 90
3/5LLC Affordability
5/5Sole Proprietor Affordability
2/5Customer Satisfaction
3/5Financial Stability
5/5Online Quote Process
PROS
Cheapest insurer for sole proprietors
Fastest quote application process
Strong financial stability rating
CONS
Poor complaints score
Relatively costly for LLCs
Company Highlights
Thimble offers the best general liability insurance in Georgia. This company offers affordable rates and a fast online quote application process. For sole proprietors looking for the cheapest general liability policy, Thimble is the most affordable provider out of the five companies we analyzed. This company also has a high financial strength rating, meaning that employers do not have to worry about its ability to meet its financial obligations. However, it is worth noting that Thimble receives more complaints than average.
Cheapest General Liability Insurance in Georgia
Next is the cheapest company for general liability insurance in Georgia, charging an average of $25 per month for LLCs and $25 per month for sole proprietors. We determined the cheapest insurers based on an affordability score that combines the monthly cost for sole proprietors and the monthly cost for LLCs, each weighted at 50%. The cheapest company overall may not have the cheapest rates for both sole proprietors and LLCs.
How was this MoneyGeek score calculated?
MoneyGeek used the following weights to find the cheapest general liability insurance in Georgia:
- Affordability for LLCs: 50%
- Affordability for sole proprietors: 50%
CheapestScore: 98
5/5LLC Affordability
4/5Sole Proprietor Affordability
0/5Customer Satisfaction
2/5Financial Stability
4/5Online Quote Process
PROS
Cheapest insurer for LLCs
Second-cheapest insurer for sole proprietors
Fast online quote process
CONS
Low financial strength ratings
Company Highlights
Next outranks all the other insurers we evaluated for affordability by offering the cheapest rates for LLCs and the second-cheapest rates for sole proprietors with no employees. In addition to affordable rates, Next has a good customer service track record, so you can expect a balance of cost and good service from this provider.
Next has a seamless online quoting system. On average, it will take you about a minute to get a quote. However, its financial stability score is lower than other insurers we researched.
Best General Liability Insurance for Employers in Georgia
Nationwide offers the best general liability insurance for employers in Georgia, with a MoneyGeek score of 95 out of 100. Nationwide’s policy for LLCs costs an average of $43 per month.
These rankings are based on the average monthly cost for LLCs with 20 employees. General liability insurance costs in Georgia vary depending on the employee count. Businesses with less than 20 employees pay less than the average rate, but those with more employees pay higher rates.
How was this MoneyGeek score calculated?
MoneyGeek used the following weights to find the best general liability insurance for employers in Georgia:
- Affordability for LLCs: 60%
- Customer satisfaction: 20%
- Financial stability: 15%
- Online quote process: 5%
Best for EmployersScore: 95
4/5LLC Affordability
5/5Customer Satisfaction
4/5Financial Stability
3/5Online Quote Process
PROS
Second cheapest rates for LLCs
High financial stability rating
Low number of customer complaints
CONS
Slow online quote process
Company Highlights
Nationwide is the best general liability insurer in Georgia, offering affordable rates and great customer service. It is the second-cheapest company for LLCs with 20 employees among the companies analyzed.
This insurer receives fewer than average complaints compared to other insurers, meaning that most policyholders are satisfied with their services. Additionally, they have a high financial strength rating, so they are more likely to meet their financial obligations to policyholders. Nationwide offers quotes online, but their process is slower compared to their competitors.
Best General Liability Insurance for Sole Proprietors in Georgia
Thimble is the best company for sole proprietors In Georgia, earning a MoneyGeek score of 95 out of 100. Policies cost an average of $22 per month, the cheapest rate for sole proprietors. This analysis is based on average rates for a sole proprietor with no employees. Rates may vary depending on the industry, with sole proprietors in risky industries like construction paying higher rates.
How was this MoneyGeek score calculated?
MoneyGeek used the following weights to find the best general liability insurance for sole proprietors in Georgia:
- Affordability for sole proprietors: 60%
- Customer satisfaction: 20%
- Financial stability: 15%
- Online quote process: 5%
Best for Sole ProprietorsScore: 95
5/5Sole Proprietor Affordability
2/5Customer Satisfaction
3/5Financial Stability
5/5Online Quote Process
PROS
Cheapest company for sole proprietors
High financial strength score
Quick online quote process
CONS
Receives more complaints than average
Company Highlights
Thimble’s general liability insurance is the best option for sole proprietors in Georgia. This insurer offers the most affordable rates for sole proprietors with no employees and has a high financial strength rating.
This insurer offers the cheapest rates at an average of $22 per month, but factors like location and industry may impact premiums. On average, it takes less than a minute to get an online quote from Thimble.
While Thimble has a sound financial strength rating but for a company of its size, they receive more complaints than average.
Do You Need General Liability Insurance in Georgia?
You do not need general liability insurance to legally operate a business in Georgia, but it is still recommended that you purchase it.
General liability offers coverage for:
- Third-party bodily injuries: If a third party suffers injuries at your business, a general liability policy will cover the cost of the injuries.
- Third-party property damage: If a third party’s property is damaged by your business or employees, a general liability policy will cover the damages.
- Personal and advertising injury: General liability insurance covers your legal expenses and damages if your business or employees are sued for personal or advertising injuries like libel or copyright violations.
In some cases, you may need general liability insurance to obtain operating licenses or win contracts in specific industries.
The business insurance requirements in Georgia require that all businesses with more than three employees carry workers’ compensation insurance. Businesses are also required by law to have commercial auto insurance for business vehicles with the following minimum limits:
- $25,000 per person for bodily injury liability
- $50,000 per accident for bodily injury liability
- $25,000 per accident for property damage liability
SMALL BUSINESS RESOURCES IN GEORGIA
If you run a small business in Georgia with fewer than 300 employees, you might be eligible for Georgia’s small business growth programs, which offer assistance and support for accessing capital, specific industry knowledge and export assistance. Georgia small business programs have project managers in every region of Georgia to assist those who want to start or expand their businesses.
How Much Is General Liability Insurance in Georgia?
The average cost of general liability insurance in Georgia is $31 per month for sole proprietors and $61 per month for LLCs with 20 employees.
Our analysis is based on a policy with a $2 million aggregate limit, a $1 million occurrence limit and a $0 deductible. The aggregate limit refers to the maximum amount that a general liability policy can pay for claims during a given policy period, while the occurrence limit is the maximum payable per claim. The deductible is the amount required from the business owner before the policy can pay a claim.
Factors That Impact General Liability Insurance Costs in Georgia
General liability insurance costs vary for each business depending on specific factors, including:
Policy limits
The limits on your policy will impact how much your general liability insurance costs. You can save on premiums by opting for lower policy limits, but keep in mind that this will limit your coverage and could cost you more out of pocket if you ever need to file a claim.
Number of employees and payroll costs
General liability insurance is typically cheaper for companies with few employees and sole proprietors. The more employees a company has, the higher the premiums will be. The $30 monthly price difference between coverage for a sole proprietor vs. an LLC with 20 employees highlights this.
Business location
Location is a factor in the cost of general liability insurance since some locations are riskier than others. This means statewide rates can vary by city depending on how risky a certain area is.
Claims history
Businesses that remain claims-free for extended periods are likely to pay lower rates since they are considered low-risk. In contrast, those that file claims are likely to pay more for general liability insurance.
Industry
High-risk industries like construction incur higher rates for general liability insurance since the risk of injuries and damages is high. You can use the table below to compare average general liability insurance costs by industry in Georgia.
| Software Development | $31 | $61 |
| General Contractor | $174 | $2,773 |
| Cleaning | $79 | $1,446 |
Frequently Asked Questions About General Liability Insurance in Georgia
We answered commonly asked questions to help you learn more about general liability insurance in Georgia.
Which company has the best general liability insurance in Georgia?
Thimble offers the best general liability insurance in Georgia, earning a MoneyGeek score of 90 out of 100. This insurer offers affordable rates and has a solid financial strength score, but the best insurer for you may vary depending on the size of your company, number of employees and coverage needs.
Which company has the cheapest general liability insurance in Georgia?
Next offers the cheapest general liability insurance in Georgia at an average of $25 per month for LLCs and $25 per month for sole proprietors. The cheapest company for you may vary depending on your location and employee count.
What does general liability insurance cover in Georgia?
General liability insurance in Georgia covers third-party bodily injuries, property damage and personal and advertising injury. General liability insurance does not cover employee injuries, professional errors, negligence or property damage to your own business property.
Does Georgia require businesses to have general liability insurance?
No, Georgia does not require businesses to have general liability insurance. However, all businesses are legally required to have workers’ compensation and commercial auto insurance.
About Melissa Wylie
Melissa Wylie is the Content and SEO Manager at MoneyGeek, with nearly a decade of editorial experience and six years of work in financial content focused on small businesses. She previously held SEO positions at Bankrate and LendingTree, with bylines on ValuePenguin and MagnifyMoney.
Wylie has a journalism degree from the University of North Texas. Her strong foundation in journalism helps her craft content that simplifies complex financial topics to help everyone feel confident when making decisions with their money.
sources
- Georgia.org. "Small Business Growth Opportunities in Georgia." Accessed May 9, 2023.