Nationwide is top for Montana’s best general liability insurance in MoneyGeek’s analysis, with a score of 96 out of 100. However, NEXT, Thimble, Hiscox, and The Hartford are also great options for general liability policies.
Best General Liability Insurance in Montana
Updated: June 20, 2025
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Key Takeaways
Overall, the best general liability insurance company in Montana is Nationwide, which has a great balance of affordable rates for LLCs and good customer service.
The cheapest general liability insurance for sole proprietors in Montana is offered by Thimble at $24 per month. For LLCs, NEXT is the most affordable option at $29 a month.
General liability insurance costs in Montana depend on your industry, and we found they can range from $32 to $3,023 per month on average.
Best Cheap General Liability Insurance in Montana
| Nationwide | 96 | $42 | $44 |
| NEXT | 90 | $27 | $29 |
| Thimble | 90 | $24 | $71 |
| Hiscox | 85 | $32 | $128 |
| The Hartford | 85 | $33 | $176 |
*Rates were based on a $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate limit for a software development company.
Nationwide: Best Overall
pros
Low rates for LLC businesses
Large coverage selection
Low customer claims frequency
cons
Higher rates for sole proprietors
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Nationwide claims our top honor for general liability insurance in Montana by delivering an outstanding combination of reasonable premiums and exceptional customer support. The insurer ties for first place with the lowest NAIC claims ratio while earning second place for LLC value, with businesses paying around $528 annually on average for comprehensive liability coverage.
NEXT: Cheapest Overall
pros
Easy fast buying process
Very cheap rates overall, regardless of business size
Business-insurance-only focus
cons
Higher customer complaint frequency
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Montana's best company for affordable general liability insurance is NEXT. Its pricing remains highly competitive, with sole proprietorships costing $27 monthly premiums and limited liability companies at $29 per month. Although the company's claims performance trails competitors we've reviewed across Montana, NEXT delivers through its efficient online platform and immediate insurance documentation.
How Much Is General Liability Insurance in Montana?
An average general liability insurance policy in Montana typically costs around $32 per month for sole proprietors and $90 per month for LLCs. However, this only represents software development companies and the costs can vary widely by industry.
| Cleaning | $1,912 | $63 |
| General Contractor | $3,023 | $164 |
| Software Development | $90 | $32 |
*Rates are based on a $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate coverage policy for general liability.
Factors That Impact General Liability Insurance Costs in Montana
General liability insurance costs can fluctuate based on a number of different factors in Montana. In the list below, you can see these factors and their impacts on your coverage costs:
Policy limits
Coverage limits can greatly influence insurance premiums. Opting for higher limits raises costs, whereas lower limits generally lead to more affordable premiums.
Number of employees and payroll costs
Businesses with a large workforce and high payroll expenses often see an increase in general liability insurance costs. This trend is evident in both LLCs and sole proprietorships.
Business location
Where your business is located can significantly affect insurance expenses. It's important to note that state-level average rates can differ between cities, so consider these variations when assessing your coverage needs.
Claims history
A record of multiple claims can make a business seem riskier to insurers, leading to higher premiums.
Industry
Industries with greater risks, like construction, typically incur higher general liability insurance costs.
Montana General Liability Insurance: Buyer's Guide
Business insurance is a complicated industry and can be difficult to navigate. So, to simplify your understanding of general liability insurance, we've created a short guide detailing how to get the best coverage, defining what it covers, listing requirements in Montana, and explaining how much coverage you should consider getting.
How to Find the Best General Liability Insurance Company
To help ensure that you get the best small business insurance regardless of your industry, we've created a step-by-step guide to simplify your coverage search.
- 1
Define your coverage needs
Determine your liability risk by taking into account your industry, products or services, customer types, business size and market impact. Measure the frequency and costs of common claims in your industry to evaluate coverage options better.
- 2
Research average costs for your business
Research average costs for your type of business to understand how good of a deal you're getting from insurance companies. Knowing average expenses will give you insight into if a company is going to save you money.
- 3
Consult similar businesses
Your business community is your greatest resource, which can give you recommendations that are better for your specific needs. They may also provide ways to mitigate risks associated with general liability insurance. This may mean you don’t need extra coverage.
- 4
Compare Multiple Options Through Different Means
Comparing multiple companies lets you see which option is best for your business. Also, choosing multiple means of comparison, like online comparison sites and brokers, will give you a better view of pricing and provide more opportunities to get advice.
What Does General Liability Insurance Cover and How Does It Work?
General liability insurance coverage consists of two parts: per occurrence and aggregate limits. Per occurrence refers to the maximum a single claim can go up to, while the aggregate limit is the total coverage you can get per year. In terms of covered items, this type of policy includes the following:
Bodily injuries or property damage on business property
Legal fees for bodily injury or property damage that your company may be responsible for
Damages to leased or rented business property
Bodily injury or property damage caused by your product or service
Libel, slander, or reputational harm legal defense
Legal fees for copyright infringement accusations
Is General Liability Insurance Required in Montana?
Like in most states, general liability insurance isn't expressly required by state law and instead varies by your industry. However, if you are looking to apply for a professional license, sign a contract with a larger company, or sign an office lease, some form of general liability insurance may be required. While not an exhaustive list, the following industries tend to fall into these categories:
- Medical
- Accounting
- Real estate
- Insurance
- Contracting
- Engineering
- Marketing
- Law
- Consulting
- Media/Communications
How Much General Liability Insurance Do I Need?
Most small businesses will only need a standard policy with 1 million dollars of protection per occurrence and a 2 million limit per year. This will likely cover most or all damages caused over a year for most business types. Even so, your particular industry's risks and the size of your operation may require a larger coverage limit than standard.
WHO MAY NEED MORE COVERAGE
Certain businesses, like those offering health services, building things, or selling goods, may face more risks. This means they might need to pay more for insurance. If your company is one of these, or if it's a bigger business with many workers or people using your products, you may need more insurance than the minimum coverage.
Best General Liability Insurance in Montana: Bottom Line
Overall the best general liability insurance companies in Montana are Nationwide, NEXT, and Thimble. However, we recommend comparing around yourself and getting plenty of quotes to ensure you get the best deal possible.
General Liability Insurance in Montana: FAQ
Below, we address frequently asked questions regarding general liability insurance in Montana.
Which company has the best general liability insurance in Montana?
MoneyGeek's leading choice for general liability insurance in Montana is Nationwide, which earned an overall score of 96 out of 100. However, the ideal insurance for you depends on various details, including your business size, number of employees, and specific coverage requirements.
Which company has the cheapest general liability insurance in Montana?
For sole proprietors, Thimble offers the most affordable coverage at $288 per year. For LLCs, NEXT provides the cheapest option at $348 per year.
Does Montana require businesses to have general liability insurance?
Montana does not mandate general liability insurance for businesses, but carrying it is a good choice to protect against potential liability claims.
How We Chose the Best General Liability Insurance Providers in Montana
We broke down our scores into these categories and weights:
- LLC cost (55% of score)
- Sole proprietor cost (5% of score)
- Customer satisfaction (25% of score)
- Financial strength (10% of score)
- Quote process time (5% of score)
For all business insurance companies, we assumed software development industry LLCs with 20 employees. We based customer satisfaction and financial strength scores on NAIC and AM Best ratings. Quote process scores came from our MoneyGeek experts' personal experiences.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. With over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, he conducts original research and creates tailored content for all types of buyers. His insights have been featured in publications like CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!
Passionate about economics and insurance, he aims to promote transparency in financial topics and empower others to make confident money decisions.