Nationwide emerged as the top contender for Pennsylvania’s best general liability insurance in MoneyGeek’s analysis with a score of 97 out of 100. However, The Hartford, Thimble, NEXT and Hiscox are also great options for best general liability insurance.
Best General Liability Insurance in Pennsylvania
Updated: June 20, 2025
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Key Takeaways
Overall, the best general liability insurance company in Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania depend on your industry, and we found they can range from $30 to $7,757 per month on average.
Best Cheap General Liability Insurance in Pennsylvania
| Nationwide | 97 | $42 | $50 |
| The Hartford | 95 | $31 | $139 |
| Thimble | 93 | $24 | $67 |
| NEXT | 90 | $27 | $29 |
| Hiscox | 83 | $32 | $487 |
*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
We selected Nationwide as Pennsylvania's best choice for general liability coverage due to its impressive combination of reasonable costs and dependable service standards. According to NAIC data, Nationwide matches the industry's lowest claims ratio for first place and ranks second for LLC affordability. Annual investments average $504 across various business types.
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
NEXT is Pennsylvania's most budget-friendly general liability insurance option. Sole proprietors benefit from excellent rates at $27 monthly while LLCs secure competitive coverage for $29 per month. Though their claims ratio runs higher than other Pennsylvania insurers we've examined, the company delivers through its user-friendly purchasing process and same-day proof of insurance availability.
How Much Is General Liability Insurance in Pennsylvania?
An average general liability insurance policy in Pennsylvania typically costs around $30 per month for sole proprietors and $154 per month for LLCs. However, this only represents software development companies and the costs can vary widely by industry.
| Cleaning | $5,299 | $236 |
| General Contractor | $7,757 | $452 |
| Software Development | $154 | $30 |
*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 Pennsylvania
General liability insurance costs can fluctuate based on a number of different factors in Pennsylvania. 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, while choosing lower limits generally leads to more affordable premiums.
Number of employees and payroll costs
Businesses with a large workforce and high payroll expenses will likely see an increase in general liability insurance costs. Our research on LLCs and sole proprietorships supports this connection.
Business location
Where your business operates can significantly affect your insurance costs. State-level average rates may differ from city to city, so it's important to consider these variations when assessing your coverage needs.
Claims history
A business with a record of multiple claims may be viewed as riskier by insurers, leading to higher premiums.
Industry
Industries with higher risks, like construction, typically incur higher general liability insurance expenses. In Pennsylvania, specific programs may also influence small business insurance costs.
Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania, 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
Assess your liability risk by considering your industry, products or services, customer types, business size and market impact. To evaluate coverage options better, measure the frequency and costs of common claims in your industry.
- 2
Research average costs for your business
To understand how good of a deal you're getting from business insurance companies, you need to research average costs for your particular business.
- 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 so that you may not need more coverage than necessary.
- 4
Compare multiple options through different means
Comparing multiple companies helps you judge which option is best for your business. Also, choosing multiple means of comparison, like online comparison sites and brokers, will give you a more comprehensive view of pricing and provide more opportunities for 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 Pennsylvania?
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
Some businesses, like those in health care, building, or stores, might face more risks. These businesses should think about getting more insurance to stay safe. Bigger companies with lots of workers or those that sell a lot of products should also look at their insurance to make sure they have enough.
Best General Liability Insurance in Pennsylvania: Bottom Line
Overall the best general liability insurance companies in Pennsylvania are Nationwide, The Hartford, 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 Pennsylvania: FAQ
Below, we address frequently asked questions regarding general liability insurance in Pennsylvania:
Which company has the best general liability insurance in Pennsylvania?
MoneyGeek's leading choice for general liability insurance in Pennsylvania is Nationwide, which earned an overall score of 97 out of 100. However, your ideal insurance depends on various details, including your business size, number of employees, and specific coverage requirements.
Which company has the cheapest general liability insurance in Pennsylvania?
The most affordable general liability insurance varies by business type. For sole proprietors, Thimble offers the cheapest rates at $288 per year. For LLCs with employees, NEXT provides the most affordable coverage at $348 per year.
Does Pennsylvania require businesses to have general liability insurance?
In Pennsylvania, while securing general liability insurance isn't required by law, it's smart to protect your business from potential financial strain due to legal claims.
How We Chose the Best General Liability Insurance Providers in Pennsylvania
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.