Updated: November 9, 2025

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Best Business Insurance for Plumbing Contractors: Key Takeaways
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Plumbing contractors need multiple coverage types including workers' compensation, general liability, commercial auto and professional liability insurance to protect against job site risks.

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The Hartford is ranked as the best business insurance provider for plumbing businesses, earning a MoneyGeek score of 4.78 out of 5 and with top scores in affordability, customer service and coverage options.

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The Hartford offers the cheapest business insurance for plumbing companies, averaging $206 across the four common coverage types. It has the lowest rates for workers' compensation at $61 monthly.

Best Business Insurance for Plumbing Contractor Companies

The Hartford leads our rankings for plumbing contractor insurance with a MoneyGeek score of 4.78 out of 5, with perfect scores across all categories we analyzed: affordability, customer service and coverage options. It balances comprehensive protection with competitive pricing at $206 monthly ($2,477 annually). 

We recommend comparing quotes from Simply Business, Thimble, Progressive Commercial and biBerk to find the best coverage for your plumbing service.

The Hartford4.78$206
Simply Business4.70$209
Thimble4.50$228
Progressive Commercial4.50$237
biBERK4.50$256
Nationwide4.50$276
Hiscox4.40$260
Chubb4.40$293
NEXT Insurance4.37$349
Coverdash4.20$357

Note: We based all scores on a plumbing business with two employees across professional liability, general liability, workers' comp and BOP policies.

Get Matched to the Best Plumbing Contractor Business Insurer for You

Select your industry and state to get matched to the best provider for you and get customized quotes.

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LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BEST BUSINESS INSURANCE
The Hartford

1. The Hartford: Best and Cheapest Plumbing Contractor Business

*on The Hartford
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  • Lowest rates for BOP and professional liability coverage

  • Perfect scores for affordability, service and coverage

  • Top-ranked claims process and customer service satisfaction scores

  • A+ financial strength AM Best rating with strongest risk-adjusted capitalization

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  • Digital experience ranks last

COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS

For plumbing contractors, The Hartford provides affordable coverage, protecting you from claims related to faulty installations or accidental water damage at client properties. 

This insurer's contractors' equipment coverage extends beyond standard policies to protect your specialized tools, pipe cutters and diagnostic equipment. With an A+ financial strength rating from AM Best, its plumbing business insurance provides reliable protection for residential and commercial projects.

Cheapest Business Insurance for Plumbing Contractors

The Hartford offers plumbing businesses the most affordable overall coverage at $206 monthly ($2,477 annually). It leads for two coverage types: BOP insurance at $389 monthly and professional liability at $80 monthly. For the lowest workers' comp rates, check NEXT at $60, and Simply Business at $269 monthly for the cheapest general liability coverage.

The Hartford$206$2,477
Simply Business$209$2,504
Thimble$228$2,735
Progressive Commercial$237$2,848
biBERK$256$3,077
Hiscox$260$3,114
Nationwide$276$3,317
Chubb$293$3,514
NEXT Insurance$349$4,182
Coverdash$357$4,279

What Does Plumbing Business Insurance Cost?

In general, plumbing business insurance costs are the following for the four most popular coverage types:

  • General Liability: $363 on average per month, ranging from $315 to $423, depending on the state
  • Workers' Comp: $64 on average per month, ranging from $56 to $75, depending on the state
  • Professional Liability (E&O): $90 on average per month, ranging from $77 to $105, depending on the state
  • BOP Insurance: $535 on average per month, ranging from $455 to $628, depending on the state
BOP$535$6,415
General Liability$363$4,361
Professional Liability (E&O)$90$1,076
Workers Comp$64$771

What Type of Insurance Is Best for a Plumbing Business?

Plumbing contractors work in environments where accidents happen fast; burst pipes flood client properties, heavy equipment causes injuries, and one mistake can lead to expensive lawsuits. The right coverage for your plumbing business often includes workers comp, commercial auto, general liability, and professional liability policies, but some other optional coverages may be needed.

How to Get the Best Cheap Business Insurance for Your Plumbing Company

Here's how to get business insurance for your plumbing company that fits your budget and covers the risks you actually face on job sites.

  1. 1
    Decide on Coverage Needs Before Buying

    Think about real risks your plumbing business may experience: a loose pipe fitting floods a client's finished basement, your apprentice drops a wrench through drywall or someone steals your pipe threader from the job site. 

    Talk with other plumbing contractors in your area about their actual claims and which coverages saved them money.

  2. 2
    Research Costs

    Plumbing businesses pay different rates based on your setup. A residential plumber working solo pays less than a commercial plumbing contractor running multiple crews. 

    Know what plumbing companies your size pay so you can negotiate confidently and spot quotes that seem too high or suspiciously low.

  3. 3
    Look Into Company Reputations and Coverage Options

    Find reviews from plumbing contractors who filed claims for water damage, scalding injuries or stolen equipment. Check if insurers understand plumbing work: do they cover your drain snakes, inspection cameras and hydro-jetting equipment? 

    Some companies specialize in trade contractors and process plumbing claims faster than general business insurers.

  4. 4
    Compare Multiple Quotes Through Different Means

    Request quotes from three insurers who understand plumbing businesses. Independent agents know which carriers offer the best rates for trade contractors. Online quotes work fast for basic coverage, but calling insurers directly reveals discounts for licensed plumbers, clean safety records or bundling your work van insurance.

  5. 5
    Reassess Annually

    Your plumbing operations change as you add a second truck, hire journeyman plumbers, invest in trenchless repair equipment or start bidding commercial jobs. Review coverage yearly to match your current work. 

    You might need higher limits for commercial projects or lower rates after three years with no water damage claims.

Best Insurance for Plumbing Business: Bottom Line

Affordable protection for your plumbing company doesn't mean sacrificing quality coverage. The Hartford proves this by earning a MoneyGeek score of 4.78 out of 5 while charging just $206 monthly for policies covering water damage lawsuits, injured workers and stolen tools. 

Your plumbing business needs the right mix of workers' compensation, general liability, commercial auto and professional liability insurance, plus other types of coverage to stay protected and legally compliant.

Business Insurance for Plumbing Contractor Chart

Plumbing Business Insurance: FAQ

We answer frequently asked questions about plumbing company insurance:

Who offers the best plumbing business insurance overall?

Who has the cheapest business insurance for plumbing firms?

What business insurance is required for plumbing organizations?

How much does plumbing business insurance cost?

How We Chose the Best Plumbing Business Insurance

We selected the best business insurer for plumbing companies based on the following criteria:

  • Affordability (50% of score): The lower a company's costs compared to the competition based on our base profile for four core coverage types, the better the company performs.
  • Customer service (30% of score): We scored providers on overall customer satisfaction using industry studies, customer review forum ratings and public forum sentiment analysis from sites like Reddit.
  • Coverage (15% of score): We scored business insurance providers for this category based on the flexibility, payment and actual coverage options.
  • Financial stability (5% of score): Using financial stability industry ratings from companies like AM Best and Moody's, we created an overall rating to judge how likely companies are to pay out claims compared to the competition.

All pricing in this article is based on the following base profile to represent the vast majority of small businesses in all states:

  • Three-person business with two employees
  • Coverage: $1 million per occurrence and $2 million total per year for all but BOP, which includes the same coverage plus $5,000 of business property coverage
  • $150,000 in payroll
  • $300,000 annual revenue

About Mark Fitzpatrick


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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!

He writes about economics and insurance, breaking down complex topics so people know what they're buying.


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