Updated: May 22, 2024
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MoneyGeek gathered information about different insurers' financial stability, policy costs, customer satisfaction ratings and online quote process efficiency to determine which companies offer the best general liability insurance in Vermont.
According to our analysis, Thimble is the state's best and cheapest insurance company for general liability insurance. It charges an average monthly cost of $53 for LLCs with 20 employees and $22 for sole proprietors with no employees.
Best General LiabilityVermontBest General Liability Insurance in Vermont
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 Vermont.
Coverage costs and company information for general liability insurance providers in Vermont were last updated in 2023.
With a MoneyGeek score of 93 out of 100, Thimble is Vermont's best general liability insurance provider. The policy costs and scores for all of the Vermont companies we evaluated are shown in the table below.
How was this MoneyGeek score calculated?
MoneyGeek used the following weights to rank the best general liability insurance in Vermont:
MoneyGeek used two business profiles to gather general liability quotes:
| Thimble | 93 | $22 | $53 |
| Nationwide | 92 | $33 | $34 |
| Next | 88 | $25 | $35 |
| The Hartford | 88 | $32 | $63 |
| Hiscox | 83 | $29 | $137 |
Offers the lowest insurance rates for sole proprietors
Has the fastest online quote system
Receives more customer complaints than competitors
Businesses in Vermont should consider general liability policies from Thimble, which came out on top for the best overall general liability insurance provider in the state. The company has the cheapest rates for sole proprietors and offers affordable rates for LLCs as well.
While Thimble receives a high number of customer complaints compared to other insurers, it scored well in every other category. The company earned a high rating from AM Best, meaning it is financially stable and policyholders can expect that it will be able to pay out claims.
Thimble also has the fastest online quoting system out of the companies we evaluated — you only need to spend a few seconds to get an initial quote from the company's website.
Thimble offers the cheapest general liability insurance in Vermont, with average monthly premiums of $53 for LLCs and $22 for sole proprietors.
We generated an affordability score by combining the monthly cost for LLCs and sole proprietors and ranked insurance companies based on that score. Therefore, the top company in this category might not be the cheapest for both LLCs and sole proprietors.
How was this MoneyGeek score calculated?
MoneyGeek used the following weights to find the cheapest general liability insurance in Vermont:
Most affordable option for sole proprietors and third-cheapest for LLCs
Financial stable
Provides an online quote in a few seconds
Has a relatively high rate of customer complaints
MoneyGeek found that Thimble is the most affordable general liability insurance company for businesses looking for general liability insurance in Vermont. The insurer offers the cheapest rates for sole proprietors and the third-cheapest rates for LLCs in the state.
In addition to its low cost, the company's scores indicate that it's in good financial health and can meet its financial obligations. Another benefit of this company is its efficient quote process — you can get an online quote in only a few seconds.
According to MoneyGeek's analysis, Nationwide is the best insurance company for employers in Vermont, earning a score of 98 out of 100. Our ranking for this category is based on the average monthly insurance cost for LLCs with 20 employees. Nationwide charges an average of $34 per month for LLCs.
Insurance companies consider a business’s number of employees when determining general liability insurance costs. Therefore, you will likely get a more expensive rate if your business has over 20 employees, and vice versa.
How was this MoneyGeek score calculated?
MoneyGeek used the following weights to find the best general liability insurance for employers in Vermont:
Most affordable policies for LLCs out of five insurance companies
Strong financial stability ratings
Receives few customer complaints
Slow online quote process
Nationwide charges the lowest rates to provide general liability insurance to LLCs out of the insurers we evaluated, with an average cost of $34 per month for LLCs with 20 employees. The company also scored well for financial stability, which means businesses can expect it to be able to pay out claims on time.
Nationwide receives very few complaints from customers, indicating that it provides great customer service, which is crucial for LLCs trying to settle liability claims. The insurer has perfect scores for complaints indicating good service quality, as its customers have few complaints. This insurer has a slower online quote process than competitors, but it still only takes a couple of minutes to get a quote.
Thimble provides the best general liability insurance in Vermont for sole proprietors, with a MoneyGeek score of 95 out of 100 and an average cost of $22 per month.
We evaluated insurers for this category based on average monthly costs for sole proprietors with no employees. If you’re in a risker industry like construction, your policy cost may be higher.
How was this MoneyGeek score calculated?
MoneyGeek used the following weights to find the best general liability insurance for sole proprietors in Vermont:
Cheapest rates for sole proprietors compared to other insurers
Only takes a few seconds for an online quote
High financial stability rating
High number of complaints
Based on MoneyGeek’s analysis, Thimble is the best choice for sole proprietors looking for general liability insurance. The company offers the lowest rates for sole proprietors among the insurers in our study, charging an average of $22 per month.
The company also stands out thanks to its fast online quotes system and high financial stability ratings, making it an excellent option for sole proprietors who are managing the research and application process themselves and looking for an insurance company they can trust.
Although Vermont law does not require businesses to purchase general liability coverage to operate, it’s still wise to buy a policy, and it may be required to get business licenses or win contracts in certain industries. A general liability insurance policy provides financial protection for businesses against third-party bodily injury and property damage claims, as well as legal fees and damages in the event of a lawsuit.
In Vermont, there are other types of business insurance that are mandatory for businesses to purchase, including workers’ compensation and commercial auto insurance. Workers' compensation is required for businesses that have at least one employee. The only exemptions are casual workers and agricultural workers who make up $10,000 or less in payroll.
In addition, businesses must buy a commercial auto policy for commercial vehicles with the following state-mandated minimum coverage limits:
The U.S. Department of Defense’s (DOD) Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA) has awarded the VT Department of Economic Development a grant that is being used to help businesses that have been affected by recent DOD spending cuts by training them on new skills and diversifying their revenues. You may qualify for assistance if your business supplied products or services to the DOD in the last five years that represented at least 10% of your total sales.
The average monthly cost of general liability insurance in Vermont is $64 for LLCs and $28 for sole proprietors.
These costs are for a policy with a $2 million aggregate limit, $1 million occurrence limit and $0 deductible. The aggregate limit is the highest amount the insurer will pay out during the policy period, while the occurrence limit is the highest it will pay out for each claim. The policy's deductible is the amount a business pays out of pocket before the insurer starts to contribute.
The cost of a general liability insurance policy differs for each business based on the following factors:
Policy limits
Your insurance costs will generally go up as you increase your policy limits. These include the aggregate limit, which is the maximum amount the insurance company pays in a policy period, and the occurrence limit, which is the maximum coverage amount per claim.
Number of employees and payroll costs
Insurance providers generally charge higher rates to provide general liability insurance to businesses that have more employees. For example, the average monthly cost of insurance for Vermont LLCs with 20 employees is $64, while the monthly cost for sole proprietors is only $28.
Business location
The business location significantly impacts insurance costs, as businesses in populated or risky areas generally pay a higher cost for a general liability policy. The averages we calculated for the state of Vermont could vary city by city.
Claims history
If a business has filed multiple claims in the past, they will be considered more risky to insurers, leading to higher rates.
Industry
Your insurance cost will also depend on the industry you operate in. Businesses in riskier industries, such as construction, can expect to pay a higher policy cost. The table below illustrates how policy costs can vary between industries.
| Software Development | $28 | $64 |
| General Contractor | $123 | $1,998 |
| Cleaning | $59 | $1,494 |
Many companies offer general liability insurance in Vermont, but the best company for you will depend on your needs. MoneyGeek answered the following frequently asked questions to help you understand your options.
Thimble is Vermont's best general liability insurance provider, with a MoneyGeek score of 94 out of 100. The company has a fast online quotes system and ranks well for financial stability. However, you might find another insurer best for you based on your employee count, business size and coverage needs.
Thimble offers the cheapest general liability insurance rates in Vermont. In addition, the company is financially stable and offers a quote in a few seconds. However, the cheapest insurer for you will depend on factors like your location and employee count.
General liability insurance in Vermont covers third-party property damage and bodily injury, as well as personal and advertising injury.
No, businesses are not required by law to have general liability insurance in Vermont. However, they must carry workers’ compensation insurance 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.
