Key Takeaways
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Plumbing business insurance costs range from $669 to $7,532 annually on average, depending on your coverage type, state and sub-industry.

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Your plumbing insurance premiums depend on location, claims history, the types of properties you service and your employee count.

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Shop multiple business insurers, bundle policies, increase deductibles and pay annually to find affordable plumbing business insurance costs.

How Much Is Insurance for a Plumbing Business?

We found average business insurance costs for plumbing companies for commonly needed coverage are as follows:

  • Recommended Plumbing Insurance Bundle: $688 per month or $8,262 yearly for combined BOP, workers' comp and professional liability bundle.
  • General Liability Price: $363 monthly or $4,361 annually
  • Workers' Comp Price: $64 per month or $771 per year
  • Professional Liability Price: $90 per month or $1,076 annually
  • Business Owner's Policy (BOP) Price: $535 monthly or $6,415 annually
BOP$535$6,415
General Liability$363$4,361
Professional Liability (E&O)$90$1,076
Workers' Comp$64$771

Note: We based these rates on small businesses with two employees across 79 major industries, focusing on four coverage types: general liability, professional liability/errors and omissions (E&O), workers' comp and business owner's policy. Your actual rates will vary based on your specific business factors and location.

Get Matched to Cheap Plumbing Business Insurers

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Industry
State

Plumbing Business Insurance Cost of General Liability Coverage by State

Your plumbing business cost for general liability insurance varies by location. Maine provides the best value at $315 monthly compared to the $364 national average, while New York reaches $423 monthly.

Alabama$356$4,277
Alaska$344$4,131
Arizona$341$4,098
Arkansas$348$4,181
California$405$4,856
Colorado$360$4,322
Connecticut$395$4,737
Delaware$391$4,687
Florida$393$4,719
Georgia$369$4,428
Hawaii$401$4,813
Idaho$344$4,133
Illinois$399$4,786
Indiana$354$4,252
Iowa$346$4,150
Kansas$353$4,234
Kentucky$335$4,015
Louisiana$416$4,990
Maine$315$3,777
Maryland$347$4,159
Massachusetts$381$4,574
Michigan$344$4,128
Minnesota$341$4,089
Mississippi$365$4,380
Missouri$359$4,312
Montana$362$4,340
Nebraska$344$4,124
Nevada$409$4,903
New Hampshire$361$4,335
New Jersey$412$4,940
New Mexico$365$4,384
New York$423$5,072
North Carolina$315$3,777
North Dakota$316$3,788
Ohio$337$4,045
Oklahoma$342$4,109
Oregon$337$4,049
Pennsylvania$419$5,031
Rhode Island$399$4,790
South Carolina$374$4,490
South Dakota$340$4,075
Tennessee$354$4,252
Texas$366$4,397
Utah$343$4,115
Vermont$349$4,186
Virginia$331$3,970
Washington$413$4,957
West Virginia$381$4,574
Wisconsin$357$4,278
Wyoming$336$4,031

Note: We based these general liability rates on plumbing businesses with two employees across different states. Your rates will vary based on your services, claims history and the number of employees.

Plumbing Business Insurance Cost of Workers’ Compensation Coverage by State

The cost of workers' compensation insurance for plumbing businesses varies by state. Maine has rates around $56 monthly, while New York reaches $75 monthly. Our analysis shows state regulations and claim histories drive these pricing differences.

Alabama$63
Alaska$59
Arizona$61
Arkansas$62
California$71
Colorado$63
Connecticut$70
Delaware$69
Florida$69
Georgia$65
Hawaii$67
Idaho$61
Illinois$70
Indiana$62
Iowa$61
Kansas$63
Kentucky$60
Louisiana$73
Maine$56
Maryland$61
Massachusetts$67
Michigan$61
Minnesota$60
Mississippi$65
Missouri$63
Montana$63
Nebraska$61
Nevada$73
New Hampshire$63
New Jersey$73
New Mexico$65
New York$75
North Carolina$56
Oklahoma$60
Oregon$60
Pennsylvania$74
Rhode Island$71
South Carolina$66
South Dakota$60
Tennessee$62
Texas$65
Utah$61
Vermont$62
Virginia$59
West Virginia$68
Wisconsin$63

Note: We based these workers' comp rates on plumbing businesses with two employees across different states. Your workers' comp requirements and costs will vary by state since each has different regulations.

Plumbing Business Insurance Cost of Professional Liability Coverage by State

Your professional liability cost varies by state. This coverage averages $90 monthly nationwide. North Dakota offers the most affordable rates at $77 monthly, while New York has the highest costs at $105 monthly.

Note: We based these professional liability rates on plumbing businesses with two employees across different states. Your actual rates will depend on your services offered and location.

Plumbing Business Insurance Cost of BOP Coverage by State

Your plumbing business insurance costs depend heavily on your state, with business owner's policy (BOP) premiums varying dramatically across the country. BOP insurance cost ranges from $455 in North Dakota to $628 in New York for the same coverage level. This $173 monthly difference shows how location affects your insurance budget more than any other single factor.

Alabama$522
Alaska$509
Arizona$502
Arkansas$502
California$603
Colorado$523
Connecticut$587
Delaware$567
Florida$578
Georgia$547
Hawaii$595
Idaho$513
Illinois$587
Indiana$527
Iowa$513
Kansas$512
Kentucky$489
Louisiana$610
Maine$461
Maryland$505
Massachusetts$556
Michigan$507
Minnesota$504
Mississippi$545
Missouri$536
Montana$533
Nebraska$505
Nevada$601
New Hampshire$526
New Jersey$601
New Mexico$547
New York$628
North Carolina$456
North Dakota$455
Ohio$496
Oklahoma$504
Oregon$493
Pennsylvania$622
Rhode Island$584
South Carolina$554
South Dakota$497
Tennessee$523
Texas$537
Utah$504
Vermont$517
Virginia$484
Washington$604
West Virginia$569
Wisconsin$520
Wyoming$496

Note: We based these BOP rates on plumbing businesses with two employees across different states. Your actual rates will vary based on your business size, location and coverage needs.

Plumbing Business Insurance Cost by Provider

Plumbing business insurance costs vary widely by provider, ranging from $206 to $357 monthly. Commercial insurers target specific markets based on profitability, shifting focus over time as they expand coverage options for different industry groups.

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

Plumbing Business Insurance Cost Factors

Your plumbing business insurance costs depend on multiple factors insurers review when determining your policy rates.

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    Geographic location

    Building codes and master plumber requirements differ dramatically state by state. Operating in jurisdictions with strict licensing and permit enforcement means navigating more complex regulatory landscapes that influence insurance pricing.

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    Safety record and claims history

    Water damage claims from burst pipes or faulty installations can be financially devastating. Prior incidents involving flooding, mold growth or sewer backups will keep your premiums elevated long after repairs are complete.

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    Types of properties serviced

    Repairing residential faucets and drain clogs presents manageable risk levels. Contractors installing complex systems in commercial buildings or working on municipal infrastructure encounter far greater exposure and corresponding premium adjustments.

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    Employee count and payroll

    Plumbers work with heavy materials in cramped spaces, creating legitimate injury hazards. Every journeyman and apprentice on your payroll increases workers' comp costs, with rates tied directly to wages and the physically demanding nature of the trade.

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    Services offered

    Basic repairs and fixture replacements sit at the lower risk end for plumbing work. Expand into gas line installation, backflow prevention or commercial water heater systems and you're handling projects that demand higher insurance limits.

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    Call volume and revenue

    Call volume and project complexity tell insurers about your overall claim potential. One-truck operations billing $120,000 through residential service calls operate very differently than established companies earning $600,000 across commercial contracts.

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    Coverage limits

    Water damage liability can escalate quickly when something goes wrong. While $1 million in general liability covers many residential jobs, commercial work often demands $2 million or more to protect against catastrophic flooding scenarios.

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    Equipment and vehicle values

    Specialty tools, pipe threading machines and service vans represent capital investments. Companies running multiple fully-stocked trucks with diagnostic equipment need considerably more property coverage than solo plumbers with basic hand tools.

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    Certification and credentials

    Master plumber credentials and proper bonding demonstrate professionalism to underwriters. Maintaining clean regulatory records and solid credit unlocks better rates, while license issues or financial troubles drive premiums upward.

How to Get Cheap Plumbing Business Insurance

Reducing your plumbing business insurance cost requires strategic shopping and our step-by-step guide to smart business practices. Here's how you can find the best cheap business insurance for your plumbing business and build a better risk profile over time.

  1. 1
    Choose the right coverage types for your business

    Plumbing contractors need general liability for water damage from burst pipes and leaks, professional liability for installation errors and faulty repairs and completed operations coverage since problems often surface months after jobs finish. 

    Add commercial auto for service vans, inland marine for tools and equipment, workers' compensation for injury risks and pollution liability if you work with septic systems or wastewater.

  2. 2
    Shop multiple insurance companies

    Plumbing insurance rates vary based on whether you handle residential service calls, commercial installations, or specialized work like gas lines and backflow prevention. Contractors-focused insurers understand licensing requirements and water damage liability better than general carriers.

  3. 3
    Bundle your coverage types

    Combining general liability, professional liability and commercial auto saves 19% to 27% compared to purchasing separately. Many insurers offer plumbing contractor packages that include tools, equipment and pollution coverage at reduced bundle rates.

  4. 4
    Increase your deductibles

    Higher equipment deductibles of $1,500 to $3,000 can reduce premiums by 22% to 30%, but consider that specialized plumbing tools are expensive to replace. Keep general liability deductibles low since water damage claims from pipe failures or flooding can escalate to six-figure lawsuits quickly.

  5. 5
    Pay annually instead of monthly

    Monthly installment plans add 6% to 11% in processing fees, which on a $9,000 policy costs $540 to $990 extra annually. Paying annually removes these charges and earns 5% to 9% discounts from plumbing carriers.

  6. 6
    Review and adjust your coverage annually

    Review your policy whenever you hire plumbers, expand into water heater installation or drain cleaning services, or invest in specialized equipment like pipe cameras or hydro-jetting machines. 

    If you've obtained master plumber licenses, completed safety certifications, or implemented quality control procedures, these improvements can qualify for premium discounts.

Insurance for Plumbing Business Cost: Bottom Line

Plumbing business insurance costs between $56 and $628 per month, but your actual premium depends on factors such as your location, business size and claims history. You can often lower your rates by comparing quotes from several insurers, bundling your coverage, selecting higher deductibles and choosing annual payments instead of monthly installments.

Plumbing Insurance Cost: FAQ

Plumbing business owners commonly ask about insurance costs. We answered the most frequent questions below:

What is the cheapest type of plumbing business insurance?

How much does plumbing business insurance cost in expensive states like California and New York?

How much can I save by bundling my plumbing business insurance policies?

What factors make my plumbing business insurance more expensive?

Should I choose a $500 or $2,500 deductible for my plumbing business insurance?

How much does workers' compensation cost for plumbing businesses by state?

Is business owner's policy (BOP) worth the extra cost for plumbing companies?

How often should I shop around for plumbing business insurance quotes?

How We Determined Plumbing Business Insurance Costs

We collected plumbing business insurance quotes from companies across different states. For consistent comparisons, every quote used the same business setup:

  • Two employees (three people in total, including the owner)
  • $150,000 annual payroll
  • $300,000 annual revenue
  • Already insured status
  • $1 million per occurrence and $2 million total per year for all coverage except BOP, which includes the same limits plus $5,000 business property coverage

We used a typical small plumbing business profile requiring comprehensive coverage. We chose companies offering broad national coverage and online quote capabilities, prioritizing insurers that serve the plumbing industry.

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!

Passionate about economics and insurance, he aims to promote transparency in financial topics and empower others to make confident money decisions.


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