How Much Is General Liability Insurance?

On average, general liability insurance costs $67 per month for LLCs and $28 per month for sole proprietors. Quotes were gathered for two different software development company profiles — an LLC and a sole proprietorship — to examine how a company’s structure can affect the cost of commercial general liability insurance. However, these rates can vary based on several factors, including the business’s industry, location, annual revenue, payroll costs and the number of employees.

• How Much Does General Liability Insurance Cost?
• What Factors Affect the Cost of General Liability Insurance?
• Tips for Managing Your General Liability Insurance Costs
• Frequently Asked Questions About General Liability Costs

How much a general liability insurance policy costs will depend on factors like the business structure, industry and coverage needs. General liability insurance pays for claims made against the business for bodily injury or property damage.

MoneyGeek gathered quotes for software development businesses to determine the average cost of commercial general liability insurance. One company is an LLC, while the other is a sole proprietorship.

The following information was provided for the quotes:

• An LLC that has been in business for five years and has 20 employees, $5 million in annual revenue and $1,250,000 in annual payroll costs.
• A sole proprietorship that has been in business for five years and has no employees or payroll costs and $500,000 in annual revenue.

We requested quotes with a policy limit of $1 million per occurrence, $2 million aggregate (per year) and a $0 deductible.

For the LLC, the average cost of commercial general liability insurance is $806 per year or $67 per month. The average for the sole proprietorship is $342 per year or $28 per month.

Like when shopping for auto and home insurance quotes, it's important to understand how and why quotes for general liability insurance may vary. As with any type of insurance, several factors affect general liability insurance costs. These include:

• The industry your business is in
• The company you choose for insurance
• Your employee count and payroll costs
• Your ZIP code
• The length of time you've been in business
• Your claims history
• Your policy details

Other individual business characteristics may also affect the quote you receive and the premium your business will pay for general liability insurance. And any changes in these factors can affect the policy premium.

Insurance companies use risk as a factor to determine insurance costs. The more likely a company is to file a claim based on their industry, the more they’ll pay for insurance coverage.

Companies that fall into a riskier industry will also typically pay higher premiums than companies in less risky industries. For example, software development is less risky than general contracting, and the sample quotes reflect this difference in risk.

Check out the table below to see how risk influences the premium. It shows the average cost of general liability insurance for a sole proprietor and LLC in the following industries: cleaning, general contracting and software development.

Each insurance company has its own rates for different industries and business structures. Shopping around and comparing quotes from at least three insurance companies can help you get the best price for your business, regardless of your industry. Be sure to provide the same company information and request the same coverage limits to get a true comparison.

The table below shows average rates for the same sample LLC and sole proprietor business profiles and coverage limits for cleaning, general contractor and software development industries.

The size of your business — that is, how many employees you have and your payroll costs — will also affect the cost of your general liability insurance policy. The more employees you have, the more likely you are to put in a claim for damages or injury they cause to others. Carriers take on more risk insuring businesses with an increased likelihood of filing a claim, which translates into higher premiums for the business.

Choosing the right location can not only improve your sales and revenue but also help you save on the cost of commercial general liability insurance. Business locations in states prone to risks, such as high-crime areas or where natural disasters like hurricanes, tornadoes and floods are more likely to occur, generally pay more for insurance.

But if you choose a location in a lower crime area or with less chance of damage-causing weather events, you could pay less for business insurance. The size of your business location can also impact insurance costs, with larger spaces costing more to insure than smaller locations.

Use the table below to see how each industry's average general liability insurance cost differs by state.

A business with no prior claims history can indicate to an insurer that the business takes risk management seriously and employs strategies to prevent claimable situations, making the business safer for everyone. These practices and safeguards can lead to lower business insurance premiums.

However, if there are previous claims, it could signal to insurers the business isn’t safe or does a poor job of managing risk, making it more likely there will be future claims. This higher risk typically results in more expensive premiums for the business owner.

The coverage limit and deductible you choose for your business also affect your general liability insurance costs. Most policies have a per-occurrence amount applicable for each claim and an aggregate, or per-year, limit. The more an insurance company may pay per claim and aggregate, the more the policy will cost. Choosing a higher deductible can offset higher premiums but increase the amount the business must pay per claim.

Although higher coverage limits usually mean more expensive premiums, the cost can be worth it for higher-risk businesses with greater coverage needs.

The more experience your business has in the industry, the cheaper your cost could be for general liability coverage. Newer businesses with less experience are seen as higher risk, causing them to pay more for the same coverage, even if they have a clean claims history. Gaining experience and time in the industry can lower a business’s risk profile, leading to a reduction in insurance premiums.

How much general liability insurance is for a small business or LLC varies and depends on many factors. Knowing the answers to some of the most commonly asked questions can help ensure you get the best coverage at the right price.