6 Best Handyman Insurance Companies & Quotes 2023
You know as a handyperson that you’ll do different jobs on any given day. We understand the importance of a quick quote with quality coverage, easy access to your policy, a streamlined claims process, and a company that cares about you. Using our proprietary rubric focusing on financial stability, customer satisfaction, convenience, and policies offered, we reviewed nearly 20 companies to find the six best handyman insurance providers:
- The Hartford: Best overall for handyman insurance
- Next: Best for appliance installation and repair
- Hiscox: Best for home-based handyperson
- Thimble: Best for handyperson side hustle
- Simply Business: Best for fast, affordable coverage
- CoverWallet: Best for comparison quotes
Best Insurance for Handyman Business Compared
Best For | Quote Process | Accessibility | Instant Certificate of Insurance (COI) | Financial Rating | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Overall for handyman insurance | Online | 24/7 call center | ✓ | A+ (Superior) | |
Appliance installation and repair | Online | Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific time | ✓ | A- (Excellent) | |
Home-based handyperson | Online | Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern time | ✓ | A (Excellent) | |
Handyperson side hustle | Online | Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET | ✓ | A (Excellent) | |
Fast, affordable quotes | Online | Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET | ✓ | A++ (Superior) | |
Comparison quotes | Online | Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. ET | ✓ | A (Excellent) | |
The Hartford: Best Overall Provider for Handyman Insurance
What We Like
- Short-term liability
- Quick, online quote
- Instant access to policy
What's Missing
- No app for commercial lines
Deciding Factors
- Online portal: Access to policy documents instantly
- Short-term: Insurance for short-term projects
- Quick application: Easy and quickly get a quote
- Multiple coverages: Available depending upon the project
The Hartford, with a score of 4.5 out of 5 in our system, is our overall best handyman insurance provider. It achieved this ranking because of financial strength, nationwide availability, the flexible policy it created for handypersons, and customers’ positive response. It’s also our leading small business insurance provider. While there are areas for improvement in convenience, such as creating a mobile app, the overall user experience is still excellent. You can learn more in our in-depth review of The Hartford.
Cost & Coverage
We obtained a quote of $11 for a handyperson to install a ceiling fan. The liability policy was for three hours of coverage with a $300,000 limit.
In 2020, The Hartford started offering short-term insurance for small projects. The target industry is handypersons or contractors. Average costs include $6 for $300,000 of coverage for 2 hours of cabinet installation or $57 for $1 million in coverage for a two-person crew to install a fence over three days.
Because not everyone needs short-term coverage, The Hartford also provides contractor and independent contractor business insurance for longer-lasting projects. As a business insurance provider, it offers the full range of coverage you need, including workers’ compensation, professional liability, business owner’s policy, and commercial auto.
Customer Satisfaction & Convenience
You can purchase your policy online or call to finish the quote. After purchasing your policy, you can manage your account, pay your premium, or file a claim online. The Hartford has a 24/7 service center if you prefer to use a phone.
If a customer wants proof of insurance, The Hartford offers instant COIs on demand.
Customers are satisfied with The Hartford. Its complaints for commercial insurance are lower than the national average.
Financial Stability
The Hartford has been in operation for more than 200 years and has proven, through multiple disasters, its financial strength. AM Best has given it an A+ (Superior) rating.
Next: Best for Appliance Installation & Repair
What We Like
- 1,300 professions covered
- App for commercial policies
- Flexible payment plans
Drawbacks
- Not open 7 days a week
- Inland marine unavailable in New York
Deciding Factors
- No documents: Necessary to quote or bind a policy
- General liability: Includes professional liability automatically
- Tailored coverage: Geared toward commercial and residential technicians
- High limits: Up to $30,000 for tools and equipment
Next Insurance scored 4.00 out of 5 because of its customer service, convenient quoting and policy management system, and specialized coverage for appliance technicians. It offers inland marine for tools and equipment as an add-on to general liability insurance. This comes with three levels of coverage: Basic, Pro, and Pro Plus, with limits ranging from $3,000 to $10,000. The inland marine insurance covers equipment, miscellaneous tools, and borrowed tools and equipment.
Cost & Coverage
When seeking a quote from Next, it usually offers multiple options with different levels of coverage. We received three options: basic, premier, and deluxe coverage. The basic coverage was $1,787.75 monthly and included $1 million in total general liability insurance and $20,000 in professional liability insurance.
The premier coverage cost $1,827.84 monthly and included the same liability coverage but added $5,000 for tools.
Finally, the deluxe coverage cost $1,976.50 monthly with $2 million aggregate general liability coverage and $50,000 professional liability insurance. It also included $10,000 for tools and equipment. The deductible for tools for both premier and deluxe is $500.
Customer Satisfaction & Convenience
You can get a bindable quote for a policy in 10 minutes without trailing documents, no matter the profession. Next is available in all 50 states. However, specific coverage is sometimes unavailable, such as inland marine being unavailable in New York.
Its customers are happy with their experience as Next has lower-than-average complaints with the NAIC.
Next has an app for iOS and Android that accelerates the convenience factor for an appliance technician. You can add additional insureds, get instant proof of insurance on your phone, change coverage, and file the claim.
Financial Stability
Next is a newer carrier, but it has created a strong financial foundation to pay claims. It has a rating of A- (Excellent) from AM Best.
Hiscox: Best for Home-based Handyperson
What We Like
- Independent agents
- Partner with multiple online brokerages
- Same-day coverage
Drawbacks
- Only available on weekdays
- Have to call to get quotes for higher limit policies
Deciding Factors
- Payment options: Flexible options to meet your business needs
- Additional insureds: Can be added easily to your COI
- Industries covered: Numerous classifications covered
- Worldwide coverage: Work done anywhere is covered
Hiscox posted a 3.75 out of 5 in our ranking because of its convenience and available policies. Founded in 1901, it has a history of financial resiliency and offers discounts for home-based businesses. Its target industries are smaller businesses with five to 10 employees, so if you’re a handyperson operating out of your home, this is the best option. Its handyperson policy covers a range of industries, including plumbers and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) contractors.
Cost & Coverage
We received a quote for $2,399 annually. It offers a monthly option with $599.70 down and then 10 payments of $179.93. Unlike many providers, it doesn’t charge a fee to pay the policy on an installment plan. The quote was for a home-based handyperson business.
The quote was for a general liability policy. The policy carried a total limit of $300,000 with no deductible. It didn’t have the option to insure your tools.
Most insurance policies have a section that details coverage restricted to a specific territory and time. Hiscox covers your work anywhere in the world as long as you file the claim in the United States, a US territory, or Canada.
Customer Satisfaction & Convenience
While Hiscox doesn’t have a 24/7 call center, its webpage functions like a 24/7 call center. You can access and manage your policy, request a COI, and file a claim online. If you do need to speak with someone, you can email or call Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET.
Some carriers will require an upfront payment or a down payment along with fees for a monthly plan, but Hiscox has flexible payment options without fees.
Financial Stability
AM Best, one of the oldest insurance credit rating agencies, has given Hiscox an A (Excellent) rating.
Thimble: Best for Handyperson Side Hustle
What We Like
- Flexible policy terms
- Easy-to-use website
- Affordable policies
What's Missing
- No 24/7 call center
- Claims handled by third-party administrator
Deciding Factors
- App: Makes it possible to manage policy and claims easily
- Short-term liability coverage: Available
- Instant COI: Available in 60 seconds
- Coverage and exclusions: These are listed clearly
Thimble received a score of 3.75 out of 5 because of the variety of policies available for handypersons, ease of access to your policy, and convenience of the Thimble app. Because you can quickly get a quote and purchase a short-term policy via its app, it’s the perfect choice for someone who does odd jobs as a side hustle. The coverage is available immediately for short-term liability insurance.
The provider offers short-term liability insurance ranging from hours to months at a time. However, Thimble is only available on weekdays and doesn’t handle claims directly because it’s a managing general agent.
Cost & Coverage
For short-term liability, you can choose between a month or more of coverage—or even less than a month of coverage. For general liability coverage that started at the time of the quote and ended at 11:59 p.m. on the same day, it cost $28.73. This was for general liability insurance with $1 million in total coverage.
Policies come with $1 million or $2 million limits. The policy is strictly for liability with no equipment or property coverage.
Thimble provides a list of excluded activities when you go through the quote process, giving you a good idea of what isn’t covered in the purchase.
Customer Satisfaction & Convenience
Thimble offers iOS and Android apps for its policyholders. While it doesn’t have a 24/7 call center, the app functions as one, allowing you to obtain a quote, purchase a policy, manage it, and file a claim on your smartphone.
If you’re a handyperson who does jobs in the evening or on the weekend as a side hustle, Thimble’s app makes it easy to get short-term coverage. You can get a quote and purchase a policy for a specific job—and have an instant COI to show to the customer.
If you need more than short-term coverage, it also offers coverage for an entire year.
Financial Stability
The quoted policy above was through National Specialty Insurance Company, which has an AM Best rating of A (Excellent).
Simply Business: Best for Fast, Affordable Coverage
What We Like
- Instant COI
- Ease of use
- Policy financing
- Support services
What's Missing
- Not open 7 days a week
Deciding Factors
- Online quotes: Available online
- Purchase policy online: After obtaining a quick quote
- One-stop shop: For insurance from different providers
- Dedicated agent: Helps you manage your policy
In our ranking, Simply Business received a 3.75 out of 5 because of its solid financial position, a wide range of policies, and quick online quoting process. It’s an online broker that provides quick, affordable quotes, and you can purchase the policy online. If you’re a handyperson who wants a one-stop shop for your policy, this is your best option. Its greatest weakness is availability as it’s open only on weekdays and lacks an app.
Cost & Coverage
When shopping for a handyman policy, Simply Business provided five quotes from carriers, including Hiscox. The average price for the policies was $977 annually, and there was no information about monthly payments.
The policies were for a general liability policy for the term of a year with a $1 million limit. There was no coverage in the policy for your tools. However, you can always call Simply Business to discuss coverage options if you are looking for more than liability.
Customer Satisfaction & Convenience
The quoting process is quick and easy—we received five quotes in less than 10 minutes. Once you purchase a policy, you receive a copy of the full policy and a COI.
Simply Business provides you with a personal account where you can manage your policy, add additional insureds, or request a COI and file a claim.
There’s also a guide for contractors with state-by-state requirements to obtain any necessary licenses.
Financial Stability
Travelers purchased Simply Business in 2017 and has a financial rating of A++ (Superior) from AM Best.
CoverWallet: Best for Comparison Quotes
What We Like
- Online COI access
- Ease of Use
- Support services
What's Missing
- No 24/7 call center
- Have to call to purchase the policy
Deciding Factors
- Online quotes: Available quickly
- Purchase policy online: After obtaining quotes to compare
- One-stop shop: For insurance from different providers
- Dedicated agent: to help you manage your policy
An online insurance broker, CoverWallet can provide quotes from multiple top-rated carriers like CNA, Liberty Mutual, and The Hartford. When looking for handyman insurance, it helps to compare multiple quotes at once. It has a great policy management system and allows you to request instant COI for any new jobs. The services it provides, along with the comparison ability, makes it the best provider for handypersons wanting to compare quotes.
Cost & Coverage
After answering a few questions, CoverWallet provided one quote from Hiscox, although it stated more were available and to call to discuss in more detail. The quoted plan was a general liability policy with a $1 million limit and a $2 million aggregate coverage. It also included blanket additional insureds. The cost of the policy was $4,107 annually or $342 monthly.
Customer Satisfaction & Convenience
In addition to providing multiple quotes within 10 minutes, CoverWallet provides policy financing options. The policy is paid in full for a year by CoverWallet, and then you work out a payment plan with CoverWallet to pay it directly.
It offers a self-service Wallet to manage your policy, including documents and access to certificates of liability.
Financial Stability
In addition to working with many A and A + rated carriers, CoverWallet is owned by Aon. Aon has a rating of A (Excellent) from AM Best.
Methodology
We determined the top handyman insurance companies using our in-house proprietary evaluation system. In evaluating insurance companies, we focused on the customer’s needs. We paid particular interest to convenience, financial ratings (AM Best), customer service, types of policies offered, and the overall experience as a policyholder for a specific provider.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is handyman insurance?
Handyman insurance provides protection for your business for claims filed, either because of liability against you or damage to your property. Depending on the size of your business, there are typically four policies you want:
- General liability is for third-party claims of injury and property damage.
- Commercial property is to repair or replace any of your property, including tools and equipment, which may be damaged, lost, or stolen.
- Business auto policy is great if you have a work van or truck that doubles as more than just a means of transportation.
- Workers’ compensation is necessary, depending on your state, if you employ anyone as part of your business.
Who should get handyman insurance?
Anyone who works as a handyperson should look into this coverage. At the very least, most states will require handyperson liability insurance if you seek a contractor’s license.
What does handyman insurance cost?
Handyman insurance quotes consider, among other factors, the risk, experience, and location of the job. According to Insureon, a liability policy’s average monthly cost is $65. Through The Hartford’s Putty, policies start at $7. At Hiscox, the majority pay less than $50 a month.
Bottom Line
Whether you’re installing a ceiling fan or hanging drywall, it’s important to ensure you have the right coverage. We’ve taken the time for you to find the best handyman insurance providers—with The Hartford being the best overall. Complete a short online questionnaire and receive a quote in minutes, or call (888) 219-3051.