The best painting insurance companies provide general liability at an affordable price while offering coverage for your tools and equipment. On top of that, high-quality customer service and convenience, such as in responding to your inquiries promptly and providing quick resolutions to your claims, is an important consideration when evaluating insurance for painting businesses.
Using our proprietary rubric, we researched over 20 providers to find the five best painting insurance companies.
- The Hartford: Best overall for painting insurance
- Simply Business: Best for comparing quotes from top providers
- Next: Best for same-day coverage
- Nationwide: Best for commercial painting crews
- Thimble: Best for contractors needing proof of insurance
Insurance designed for small businesses – fast, simple, and affordable |
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Top Painting Insurance Companies Compared
Quote Process | Average Cost of General Liability | Accessibility | Instant Certificate of Insurance | Financial Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Online or over the phone | $67 monthly | 24/7 call center | ✓ | A+ (Superior) |
 | Online or over the phone | Starting at $21 monthly | Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-8 p.m., ET | ✓ | A++ (Superior) |
 | Online or over the phone | Between $38-$72 monthly | Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., CST | ✓ | A- (Excellent) |
 | Online or over the phone | ✕ | 24/7 call center | ✕ | A+ (Superior) |
 | Online or through the app | $42 monthly | Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., ET | ✓ | A- to A (Excellent) |
The Hartford: Best Overall for Painting Insurance
Pros
Cons
- No mobile app for commercial policies
- Sometimes you have to call to purchase a policy
- You cannot purchase same-day coverage
Standout Features
- Provides customizable quotes with optional additions like EPLI, contractors’ equipment, and inland marine insurance
- Has lower than average complaints for a company with over 1 million small business companies insured
- Offers all of the key policies any painter or painting company would need, including workers’ comp, commercial property, and commercial auto insurance
Financial stability: Founded in 1810, The Hartford has years of experience as an insurance provider and has maintained a strong financial position with an A+ Superior rating from AM Best.
The Hartford is the best overall painting insurance company because it provides all of the policies a painting company needs (e.g., general liability, BOP, inland marine, workers’ comp, commercial auto, and even surety bonds). It also has a stellar customer service record and 24/7 availability. It also offers a lot of the more tech-friendly options you find in newer companies, like the ability to manage your policy online and create an instant certificate of insurance (COI).
We received a quote for a business owner’s policy (BOP) that cost $2,990 annually. The policy included $15,000 in coverage for commercial property and a general liability limit of $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate. To finalize the quote and purchase the policy, a phone call was required.
A nice feature about it is that the coverage is highly customizable. It had several other coverages more focused on contractors, like installation coverage ($178)—making the Hartford a great option not just for painters but for handymen, too.
It also offers an independent contractor policy for painters. So, if you are a house painter who works as a 1099 contractor, this is the best policy to consider. It offers higher limits than other companies in this guide, with a $2 million per occurrence and $4 million aggregate option available.
You can call 24/7 or go online to manage your policy, pay your bill, and file a claim. All policy changes you may need to make can be done so online.
Despite holding a large percentage of the market share for policies sold, The Hartford has lower-than-average complaints for its commercial operations. It is also third in J.D. Power’s independent agent customer satisfaction survey for 2023. This means The Hartford is a preferred provider when it comes to which carriers independent agents prefer working with.
Simply Business: Best for Comparing Quotes From Top Providers
Pros
- Compare quotes online
- Works with top-rated providers
- Purchase insurance online
Cons
- Must contact provider to initiate a claim
- Not all types of business insurance available
- No mobile app for policy or claim management
Standout Features
- Works with multiple top-rated providers and only sells insurance to small businesses
- Allows you to compare quotes, customize coverage, and purchase a policy online without needing to speak with anyone
- Has dedicated agents available to speak to if you have any questions or need to talk to someone
- Enables you to manage your policy online, pay bills, and request a COI when you need proof of insurance
Financial stability: In addition to working with top-rated carriers like biBERK or CNA, Simply Business is owned by Travelers, which AM Best rated A++ (Superior).
Simply Business, a digital broker, is the best for comparing insurance and buying a policy online. In 10 minutes or less, it will generate quotes from multiple providers, giving you the ability to compare policies and prices.
Once you find one that fits your business needs, you can either speak with a licensed agent or purchase the policy online without talking to anyone. With insurance premiums rising this year, being able to compare quotes in real time is a great way to find an affordable policy for your painting business.
We received four quotes from Simply Business. All were for general liability insurance, and two had optional tools and equipment coverages that you could purchase for your business.
- Hiscox: $752.30,* then 10 monthly payments of $225.67
- Harborway: $1,238,* then 10 monthly payments of $371.41
- Accredited America: $1,243,* then 10 monthly payments of $373.12
- Markel: $744.62,* then 10 monthly payments of $468.82
*The amount due was only valid the day we requested the quote.
All the policies carried the same limit of $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate.
Simply Business is available nationwide. Its offerings are more focused on micro businesses than large businesses, and while not all coverages are available, you can get a quote for general liability, workers’ comp, and professional liability online. More options are available if you call the provider.
Its customers are happy with their experience. For example, on the independent review site Trustpilot, customers have rated Simply Business 4.6 out of 5 stars from over 1,200 reviews.
Next Insurance: Best for Same-day Coverage
Pros
- Same-day coverage is available
- Customize painting insurance online
- Great for contractors
Cons
- Weekday only call center services
- Does not have an appetite for companies with prior claims
- Some coverages vary depending on the state
Standout Features
- Offers a one-stop-shop platform for getting a quote and purchasing a policy online
- Has a free app where you can manage your policy for adjusting coverage and filing claims
- Lets you create and share a COI almost instantly through the app—making it appealing for painting contractors
- Offers painting businesses with various types of insurance: general liability, property, workers’ comp, and in some states, commercial auto
Financial stability: Founded in 2015, Next is relatively new but has received an A- (Excellent) rating from AM Best.
Next Insurance is a great provider for contractors and painters because you can instantly create and share a COI through its app, plus the provider includes contractor’s E&O with its general liability policy. While the app functions like a 24/7 call center, Next, unfortunately, does not offer a 24/7 staffed center for after-hours needs. It also caps yearly revenue for businesses at $5 million.
Next usually offers three tiered levels of coverage: Basic, Premier, and Deluxe. We received a quote for each level for an exterior painting company—a much higher risk and thus more expensive than an interior painter.
- Basic was for general liability and professional liability. The general liability had a total limit of $1 million, and the professional liability carried $10,000 per occurrence and $20,000 in aggregate limit. It costs $645 monthly.
- Premier was for a BOP that cost $715 monthly. It carried the same liability as basic, but it included a wide range of coverage for tools and equipment, including $10,000 in equipment coverage, $1,000 for miscellaneous tools, and $5,000 for borrowed tools and equipment. All of the property coverages carried a deductible of $500.
- Deluxe was the same as the premier except for the liability limits increase—general liability carried a limit of $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate, and professional liability increased to $25,000 per occurrence and $50,000 aggregate. This policy costs $785 monthly.
While Next isn’t available 24/7, it has a mobile app for iOS and Android. The app functions like a call center, giving you access to your policy, a COI, and push notifications for updates on a claim.
While it is a newer company, user reviews are overwhelmingly positive. There are over 3,500 user reviews on its site, with 4.5 out of 5 stars. It also offers a state guide for required certification and coverage requirements for painters.
Nationwide: Best for Commercial Painting Crews
Pros
- 24/7 claims and customer service
- Insurance is available nationwide
- Higher limits are available for riskier businesses
Cons
- You may not be able to get a quote online
- Nationwide does not provide any pricing data
- Unclear process for obtaining a COI
Standout Features
- An established insurance company with over 100 years of experience, Nationwide is a trusted provider with over 500,000 small businesses insured
- Provides all of the core policies a business would need, along with extra coverages and surety bonds available through it
- Has an appetite for riskier painting companies, including ones that work on larger commercial operations or higher than one-story
Financial stability: Nationwide’s credit is rated A+ (Superior) by AM Best.
Nationwide Insurance is the best provider for commercial crews because of its willingness to take on riskier industries, like commercial and exterior painters, and businesses with higher revenues. It also has the ability to offer high liability limits, along with strong customer service and satisfaction scores through third-party review sites like J.D. Power and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), which tracks complaints filed with state-level departments of insurance.
Given the level of risk, surprisingly we were able to get a quote for an exterior painting company that does multiple stories and uses scaffolding for the work. The quote was $1,390 annually for general liability only. You could purchase the policy online.
Nationwide also offers an inland marine policy to cover your tools and equipment, workers’ comp, commercial property, and surety bonds.
Though it is one of the largest insurers, the complaint level, as monitored by the NAIC, is well below average.
If you purchase a policy through Nationwide, you will have access to an online account where you can manage the policy, pay your bill, and file a claim.
Thimble: Best for Contractors Needing Proof of Insurance
Pros
- You can get a quote online in 60 seconds
- App to manage your policy
- Great option for short-term liability
Cons
- Does not have its own in-house claims team
- Can be very difficult to reach anyone in person
- Is not open 24/7 for customer service
Standout Features
- Offers short-term liability by the hour, day, or week
- Has coverage for interior or exterior painting businesses or ones that focus on both
- Provides an app that functions like a call center, letting you get a quote, purchase a policy, and manage your policy and claims
- Lets you create and share a COI through the app and use it to manage bids
Financial stability: As a managing general agent, it offers policies that are through a variety of different carriers, such as Spinnaker or Markel Insurance. All of the carriers it works with are rated A- to A (Excellent) by AM Best.
Thimble has the fastest quoting system. In less than a minute, you can have a customized quote and purchase a policy online. Thimble makes it possible to get a quote and purchase insurance on its app. So, if you use Thimble for short-term coverage, you can get a quote and a new policy through the app whenever you need it.
We received a quote for interior painting that costs $546 monthly. This was for a BOP, and it had the price breakdowns for each coverage in case you wanted to eliminate one. If you want to adjust the limits or deductibles before purchasing, it gives you that choice, too.
The quoted policy carried $1 million in total general liability, $25,000 in business property, and $2,500 for tools and equipment.
Like Next, Thimble offers an iOS and Android app to manage your policy, file claims, check claim status, and create and share a COI. If you are a painting contractor, Thimble provides a certificate manager service that helps you manage your contractor insurance and follow state-specific guidelines.
On the independent review site Trustpilot, Thimble has 4.4 out of 5 stars from over 1,800 reviews.
Our Methodology
We determined which insurance companies would be the best for your painting business with our in-house proprietary evaluation system. We reviewed over 20 insurance providers and presented the five with the highest scores. In evaluating, we focused on the customer’s needs and 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)
Painting insurance is a policy or combination of policies purchased to protect your business against financial loss. The most common policy is general liability. If your business has employees, then workers’ comp is likely required.
You can purchase painting insurance directly from an insurance company, through an agent, or a broker. By working with a broker, you can get multiple quotes and compare them to find a policy that meets your needs while also usually saving some money.
Painting insurance costs for general liability will vary depending on the level of risk and type of painting you do. An interior painter will pay less on average than a commercial exterior painter using a spray tool. General liability will range from $1,300 to over $7,000 annually.
States have licensing boards that often require a license to operate. To get a license, you’ll often need proof of liability insurance or a surety bond. Learn more about painters’ insurance or see what’s required for your state.
Bottom Line
Staying in the lines and on the ladder requires concentration—you don’t need to be distracted wondering if you’ve got the right insurance. We’ve removed that distraction by finding the five best insurance companies for painting businesses—and The Hartford is our leading provider for painting contractors’ insurance. Visit its website for a fast, no-obligation quote.
