For those who contract within the construction industry, the best contractor insurance companies sell customized policies that reflect the specific risks of the industry, offer risk management, maintain a 24/7 emergency line, and—most importantly—provide the ability to change, update, and create a certificate of insurance (COI) as quickly as possible.
Using our proprietary rubric, we reviewed the top providers and brokers to find the five best insurance for contractors operating in the construction industry:
- Next Insurance: Best insurance for contractors
- Simply Business: Best broker for comparing quotes
- Nationwide: Best for plumbing contractors
- Thimble: Best for short-term liability for contractors
- biBERK: Best for contractors in riskier industries
Insurance designed for small businesses – fast, simple, and affordable |
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Best Providers for Contractors Insurance Compared
Quote Process | Online Policy Purchase | Accessibility | Instant COI | Financial Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Online | ✓ | Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central time | ✓ | A- (Excellent) |
 | Compare online | ✓ | Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time | ✓ | A- (Excellent) to A++ (Superior) |
 | Online or via an agent | ✓ | 24/7 call center | ✕ | A+ (Superior) |
 | Online | ✓ | Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET | ✓ | A- to A (Excellent) |
 | Online | ✓ | Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET | ✓ | A++ (Superior) |
Next Insurance: Best Insurance for Contractors
Pros
- Tailored coverage for contractors
- Emphasis on smaller businesses
- Save up to 10% when you bundle
Cons
- No 24/7 call center for claims
- Coverage availability varies by state
Standout Features
- Get a quote and bind a policy online in 10 minutes or call for expert advice.
- Next Insurance offers Android and iOS apps to manage policy and claims.
- For contractors, Next Insurance has a COI analyzer that lets you create COIs in seconds and share them, all from the app.
- Conveniently, you can get same-day coverage for your business or make a quick change to your policy to meet the requirements of a job bid.
Financial stability: While a newer provider, Next Insurance has a strong financial rating. AM Best rated Next Insurance an A- (Excellent).
Next Insurance is our overall best provider for contractors’ insurance. Given that contractors—especially construction contractors—are a key industry for the provider, it offers customized policies designed to meet the risks associated with the industry. It insures over 300,000 businesses, and its target audience is small businesses with one to 20 employees and a revenue of $5 million or less.
The company has put significant thought and development into making it easy and very fast—sometimes only seconds—to create and share a COI. This service is free and unlimited for policyholders, which is not something every provider offers.
Next Insurance offers affordable general liability insurance. However, if you prefer to compare quotes and coverage, a broker like Simply Business would be a great alternative.
You can get a quote by visiting Next Insurance’s website and entering information about your business. The process takes approximately 10 minutes. The carrier will usually then provide multiple quotes with different tiers of coverage. We received the following options when researching this article:
- Basic costs $1,007.84 monthly for $1 million of total general liability and $20,000 of negligence lawsuit coverage. This is what Next calls errors and omissions (E&O) insurance.
- Premier costs $1,081.26 monthly for the same level of coverage as Basic but also includes an endorsement for $10,000 in stolen or damaged tools.
- Deluxe costs $1,175.67 monthly for $1 million per occurrence and $2 million in general liability coverage. It also contained $25,000 per occurrence, $50,000 in negligence coverage, and $15,000 for tools and equipment.
These quotes were for same-day coverage and could be purchased online. Alternatively, you could call and speak with an agent to finalize your policy.
Next offers a business owner’s policy (BOP) and workers’ compensation insurance too, and works with partners to help you find commercial auto insurance
Next Insurance is a newer company but is rapidly expanding into more states with extensive coverage. It has received many customer reviews from its policyholders—on its website[1], it has published over 5,000 verified buyer reviews with an average score of 4.7 out of 5 stars.
These positive reviews are supported by other data. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) tracks complaints filed against state insurance regulation bodies. Next has lower-than-expected complaints nationwide.
Convenience is an area where Next shines. While it is not open 24/7, you can manage your policy, change coverage, file claims and, as previously discussed, create and share COIs online or via the app (available on both iOS and Android).
Next offers insurance for more than 900 different industries, so if you are a contractor in a field outside of construction, odds are you can still purchase a policy through Next.
Simply Business: Best Broker for Comparing Quotes
Pros
- Compare quotes quickly
- Same-day coverage
- Purchase policy online
Cons
- Call center is available only on weekdays
- No commercial auto insurance
- Commercial property insurance may be unavailable online
Standout Features
- Compare quotes for multiple lines of coverage and purchase insurance online.
- Tailor quotes in real time by adjusting the limits, and receive an instant, updated quote.
- Get the key policies contractors need online: general liability, tools and equipment, and workers’ compensation.
- Works with top-rated carriers like Travelers, Hiscox, biBERK, and more.
Financial stability: Simply Business is owned by Travelers, and Travelers’ AM Best rating is A++ (Superior).
Brokers are not insurance companies. Instead, they work with multiple insurance companies—and the better ones will give you control over your policy through an online account. When looking for the best contractor insurance, Simply Business is the best broker to use because it has a wide range of carriers, the ability to tailor quotes in real time, and the option to purchase policies online. If you need advice or would prefer to speak with an agent, you have the option to call.
However, Simply Business is unavailable 24/7 by phone, and its claims reporting system can be cumbersome, which is why we docked some points from its customer satisfaction score. Meanwhile, Next Insurance, while not a broker, gives you several options through its tiered quote system and, unlike a broker, handles claims directly.
Simply Business shines by allowing you to compare quotes. For example, in researching this article, we received six quotes for general liability insurance. All of them were for the same type and level of coverage: $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate. The prices ranged from $69.97 monthly to $249.90 monthly, and coverage from Frank Winston Crum was the cheapest: $233.30 was due today, followed by 10 monthly installments of $69.97.
All of the quotes could be purchased online, or you could call and speak with an agent before purchasing.
Simply Business works with top providers to offer nationwide coverage. Its customers are happy with their experience. On Trustpilot[2], the broker has 4.7 out of 5 stars from over 1,100 reviewers.
As a broker, it does not handle claims and its claims reporting process is to direct you to the carrier who underwrites the policy. However, if you are having problems, it has a process for helping you to get the claim started. It also does not handle any of the claims directly.
It does, however, give you the ability to manage your policy either online or by contacting one of its agents. This includes requesting and obtaining a COI.
Nationwide: Best for Plumbing Contractors
Pros
- 24/7 availability
- Same-day coverage
- In-house claims services
Cons
- Minimal online account maintenance
- Unclear process for obtaining a COI
- Moving away from online quotes
Standout Features
- Policy designed to fit the plumbing industry
- Standard general liability for contractors includes blanket additional insureds and per-project aggregate coverage
- Financial stability and history of insurance success
- Contractors’ advantage enhancement for property and inland marine coverage that can be added to general liability
Financial stability: Founded in 1926, Nationwide has the financial stability you want from a provider. AM Best’s rating of Nationwide is an A+ (Superior).
Nationwide is an older, established carrier with a history of working with commercial businesses of all sizes. It has created policy packages for different contracting industries, including plumbers.
Its plumbing program is for small contractors whose primary work is residential or “light commercial” work. Nationwide has a broad definition of plumbing that refers to any type of work with pipes. So, if you work in regular plumbing, gas lines, and sprinkler or irrigation systems, then the provider likely has a policy that’s right for you.
The process to create and obtain a COI is unclear and most likely handled through the local agent. If you are interested in a dedicated provider but want to have control over your COIs, consider Next Insurance.
Nationwide is moving away from online quotes. If you start the quote process online, it is usually hit or miss on whether Nationwide will offer a quote online. If it does, it rarely provides the option to purchase the policy online. Fortunately, we did not run into this roadblock when researching this article.
We received a quote in about 10 to 15 minutes for $8,324 annually, or $1,387 down followed by 10 monthly payments of $693.67. This quote was for a general liability policy with $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate, but no coverage for tools or equipment. The coverage, however, was available for the same day—and it could even be purchased online.
In 2022, Nationwide had pretty high complaints per the NAIC. However, in 2023 the complaints dropped significantly, and in J. D. Power’s 2023 customer satisfaction survey for small business owners, Nationwide ranked first.
In terms of convenience, Nationwide has in-house adjusters for claims resolution, offers a 24/7 call center for loss reporting and customer service, and provides online account maintenance for your policy. It works with both independent and captive agents, through whom you can access many services, like obtaining a COI.
Nationwide maintains robust loss control and risk management services for its customers, especially ones that work in construction or other high-risk industries. These services are free for its customers.
Thimble: Best for Short-term Liability for Contractors
Pros
- Same-day coverage
- Works with multiple carriers
- Get insurance online in 60 seconds
Cons
- No 24/7 call center
- Difficult to reach anyone over the phone
- No commercial auto insurance
Standout Features
- Short-term liability coverage by the hour, day, or month
- Commercial app to manage your policy and claims and create COIs
- Compliance certificate manager to make running a job easier
- Insurance for artisan contractors or craftspeople who sell their creations at trade shows and events
Financial stability: Thimble works with multiple top-rated carriers like National Specialty Insurance Company (NSIC). NSIC’s AM Best rating is A (Excellent).
As an artisan contractor, your skills are in demand for specialized projects—but that doesn’t mean this work is your full-time job. You may do detailing or carpentry in the evening or on weekends or pick up contract work when your schedule allows. Perhaps you are a craftsperson, making objects that you sell at trade shows and farmers markets.
Thimble is our best insurance provider for artisan contractors. It has created a general liability policy specifically for artisan contractors with adjustable limits to match a venue if you’re displaying, plus short-term liability insurance.
However, it doesn’t handle its own claims, and it can be difficult to reach a live person to speak with. If you want a provider that handles its own claims and is very accessible, then consider Nationwide, which has a 24/7 claims reporting hotline.
You can get a quote online or through the Thimble app, and it’s worth mentioning that the company has one of the quickest quoting systems of any provider on this list. It advertises that you can get a quote in 60 seconds—and that isn’t far off the mark.
We received a quote for $1 million in total general liability that costs $172.09 for 10 months with $434.18 due upfront. This was for same-day coverage and could be purchased online. The policy included $2 million for products-completed operations, $1 million for personal and advertising injury, and $100,000 for damages to rented premises.
For $14.58 a month, you could add $2,500 in equipment coverage. This included a $500 deductible.
During the quoting process, you can customize the quote by adding or subtracting coverages and adjusting limits. For example, we could increase the general liability from $1 million to $2 million if we needed higher limits.
Like Next Insurance, Thimble has an app that lets you manage your policy and claims. It even has a compliance certificate manager feature to help you with running a project. Enter your email address, and Thimble will send a checklist to you or any other parties involved. Then, through the dashboard, you will see the status of the requests for certificates.
The provider is well-reviewed by its customers. On Trustpilot[3], Thimble has over 1,600 reviews with an average score of 4.4 out of 5.
Thimble is not open 24/7. In my research, I found that if you call the number, it is difficult to reach anyone live—an automatic greeting just lists different email addresses for various departments. If you become a Thimble customer, just know that the app will be your primary tool for policy management and communication with the company.
biBERK: Best for Contractors in Riskier Industries
Pros
- Financial strength of Berkshire Hathaway
- In-house claims
- Get a quote and purchase insurance online
Cons
- Coverage is limited to certain states
- Limited line of available coverages
- Can be difficult to contact
Standout Features
- biBERK will generate tiered quotes with different limits for coverage to fit your needs.
- Appetite for riskier industries, like roofing contractors or 1099 employees in airports and hospitals.
- Create and obtain a COI quickly online.
- Save up to 20% off by purchasing directly from biBERK.
Financial stability: biBERK is part of the Berkshire Hathaway Insurance Group (BHIG). BHIG has an AM Best rating of A++ (Superior).
While some providers do not want to insure industries that are either prone to claims or when a claim is filed it can be very costly, biBERK is willing to insure those industries and even provide quotes online. Its scores in our rubric were impacted by it not having a 24/7 call center and the inconsistency of what policies are available in each state. However, biBERK has a quick quote and bind system, the option to create a COI, online policy management, and customizable coverage options.
Another option for finding insurance when you’re in a risky industry is through a broker like Simply Business, which works with multiple top-rated carriers and can help you compare prices to find the right type of coverage. Unlike biBERK, however, Simply Business does not handle any claims.
Similar to Next Insurance, biBERK’s quote system is fairly fast and generates three tiers of coverage for you to select which one fits your business needs. We received three quotes for a BOP:
- Basic costs $4,590 yearly with $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate with $60,000 in property and $1.2 million for the building.
- Preferred costs $4,979 yearly. The preferred option had the same coverage as above but included equipment breakdown and water backup for the building.
- Elite is the most comprehensive option and costs $5,431 annually for our quote. It included the above with many other more specialized coverages like local ordinances or law coverage and utility services coverage.
You could purchase any of the options online—but none of them were for same-day coverage.
biBERK is a newer provider and is still rolling out coverage. It publishes a coverage map with what coverage is available in each state. Unfortunately, not every coverage is widely available. For example, professional liability is available in every state, whereas general liability is only available in about half of the US. Check out our review of biBERK to learn more.
Like other providers, biBERK publishes customer reviews on its website[4]. It has a score of 4.9 out of 5 stars from over 40,000 reviews. Helpfully, you can sort reviews by highest or lowest score to see what people like or don’t like about biBERK quickly.
You can manage your policy, pay your bill, and create a COI on its website. However, finding contact hours is difficult. Their call center is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET.
How We Evaluated the Best Contractors Insurance Companies
To determine which insurance companies provide the best insurance for contractors, we utilized a proprietary evaluation system developed in-house. This system gives special attention to the customer’s needs with a particular interest in convenience, financial ratings (AM Best), customer service, types of policies offered, and the overall experience as a policyholder for a specific provider.
We reviewed the top insurers and presented the five with the highest scores. For this guide, we only considered those that would provide a quote. Where possible, we tried to keep the company description similar: years in business, number of employees, payroll, and revenue.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The simple answer is, most likely. If you work as an independent contractor, the company for which you subcontract may have a policy that covers your work—so make sure to check for that. However, the odds are you will face certain exposures that will require you to have, at the very least, general liability insurance. If you own tools or equipment, you’ll want inland marine insurance to cover those items too.
The cost of contractor insurance rates can vary significantly depending on the specific type of work you do. Roofers can expect to pay much more than a carpenter for coverage. Based on our research into quotes, a contractor can expect to pay anywhere from $275 to $13,000 annually for general liability.
If you work as an independent contractor (IC) in a service industry (e.g., as a counselor or a business consultant), then professional liability will be a key component in the success of your business. For more information, read our guide on why ICs need liability insurance.
Bottom Line
As a contractor, it is important to be properly protected so you can focus on getting the job done. After evaluating several of the best contractor insurance companies, Next Insurance is the clear winner. Whether through its COI analyzer, which creates a COI for your business in seconds, or its quick quoting process, Next Insurance is there to help you. Get a free, no-obligation quote in minutes.
Visit Next Insurance for a quote
User review references:
[1]Next Insurance reviews
[2]Trustpilot | Simply Business
[3]Trustpilot | Thimble
[4]biBERK review
