Limited liability company (LLC) insurance is a set of policies that LLC owners buy to protect their financial assets. Each policy covers a different type of risk, but the most common ones include general liability and commercial property. The combined policies that make up LLC insurance can cost anywhere from $450 to $1,200 annually, depending on the industry.
LLC Insurance Costs
The cost of LLC insurance is the total amount of all the policies your business requires. The estimated annual premium for a BOP is $450 to $1,200 annually, but depending on your industry, you may need additional coverage, which can raise the total cost of your insurance.
We received several quotes for small LLCs with one to three employees and less than $200,000 in revenue. Below is the average of these sample quotes.
Insurance Type | Estimated Annual Premium | Coverage Amount | Deductible |
|---|---|---|---|
BOP | $450 to $1,200 | $1 million per occurrence/$2 million aggregate; $10,000 property limit | $500 deductible for first-party property claims |
Professional Liability | $950 to $2,200 | $1 million per occurrence/$2 million aggregate | $500 to $1,000 |
Commercial Auto | $2,100 to $4,900 per vehicle | $500,000 combined single liability limit | No deductible for liability |
Insurers consider a variety of factors when calculating the cost of LLC insurance premiums. The specific factors can vary depending on policy and industry, but insurers usually consider the following:
- Risk: LLCs in some industries have a greater chance for losses than others. An LLC in construction, for instance, will pay higher premiums than a cleaning company.
- Claims history: Insurers will request claims history for the last three to five years. Prior losses will be considered in the computation.
- Employees: If you have employees, this can increase the cost of premiums, such as with workers’ comp.
- Training: Depending on the coverage, such as with cyber insurance, the training of your employees will matter for the premium.
- Coverage: The limits you request and the deductible you set will impact the amount you pay.
Most Common LLC Insurance Coverages
For many LLCs, liability insurance is a key concern because almost anyone the business interacts with represents a potential lawsuit. While the LLC may protect your personal assets, the business is still vulnerable to common risks like reputational harm or third-party bodily injury, which are often covered by a general liability policy.
For example, let’s say your business runs an advertisement that directly criticizes a competitor who takes issue and files a suit. Or a customer slips and falls while entering your gym. Both situations are common risks small business owners face that are covered by general liability.
However, general liability is not the only insurance you should consider—some states might require other specific policy coverages.
These are the most common types of LLC insurance coverage:
Type of Insurance | Brief Coverage Overview |
|---|---|
General Liability | Third-party bodily injury, property damage, and reputational harm |
Commercial Property | First-party coverage for property and equipment |
Professional Liability | Third-party claims of professional negligence that caused financial harm |
Workers’ Compensation | Medical bills and lost wages for employees injured while doing their job |
General liability insurance covers the most common business risks from a third party. The coverage applies to three areas: bodily injury, property damage, and reputational and advertising harm. If your LLC is accused of any of these, general liability insurance will handle the investigation, costs, and legal fees if the matter goes to court.
Examples of general liability claims include:
- Delivery driver’s injury in a slip-and-fall incident on your property
- Customer’s window was shattered while your employee detailed the car
Additionally, products-completed operations coverage is included in many general liability policies. This coverage helps with the cost of any claims related to a defective product.
Did You Know? If your LLC rents a space, damage caused to the leased property is typically covered by the general liability policy.
Property insurance is a first-party coverage for the physical assets your business owns: buildings, furniture, and equipment. LLCs renting business space can get property insurance only for their business property.
The coverage usually works on a named-peril basis, meaning covered losses are named—like fire, theft, or lightning damage. Commercial property insurance usually limits coverage to the listed locations on the policy. If your LLC has tools and equipment you take to different locations, then you’ll want to ensure those are covered as well by adding either an endorsement to the property policy or purchasing a separate policy for inland marine insurance.
Many providers will offer general liability and commercial property bundled together as a single policy called a business owner’s policy (BOP). The advantage of a BOP is that it combines multiple coverages under one policy, and providers will usually offer a BOP for less than if you purchase both policies separately.
This insurance is often called errors & omissions (E&O) coverage. It is for claims that occur when your business made a mistake that either violated a contract or caused some form of financial harm to another involved party. LLCs that provide professional services or advice should consider professional liability coverage.
Examples of typical claims for this coverage include:
- A lawyer missed an important court deadline
- A financial planner who provides investment advice causes a client financial distress
Many providers will combine professional liability with general liability for LLCs in a professional service industry.
Are you unsure if you need professional liability insurance? We’ve put together a list of key industries that should consider it.
If your LLC has one or more employees, your state probably requires you to carry workers’ compensation insurance. Some form of this insurance is required in every state except Texas and South Dakota because it helps injured employees with medical bills and lost wages. Some states, however, have specific rules for LLC owners, meaning the LLC members may be exempt from workers’ comp requirements.
State-specific workers’ comp rules for LLCs include:
- Alabama: Companies with five or more employees are required to provide workers’ comp. Full-time and part-time LLC members are counted as employees.
- Alaska: LLC members with 10% ownership or more are exempt.
- Colorado: LLC members, under certain circumstances, may choose to exclude themselves from workers’ comp coverage.
- Kentucky: Qualified LLC members can choose whether or not to participate in workers’ comp.
Besides helping your employees, workers’ comp coverage allows you to stay compliant with state regulations. Check with your local workers’ compensation board to find out the specific requirements in your area. The United States Department of Labor has helpful resources for finding the appropriate authorities for your state.
Less Common Types of LLC Insurance Coverage
Depending on the structure of your business, industry, or risk, your LLC may need additional insurance policies. Here are some additional policies to consider.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
LLC insurance coverage is a policy, or combination of policies, purchased to provide protection against financial loss for your business as a result of first- and third-party claims. The most common LLC insurance policies are general liability and commercial property insurance. In most states, you will need workers’ compensation insurance if your LLC has employees.
While an LLC is structured to protect the owner against loss, it doesn’t mean it isn’t susceptible to the same types of losses and risk exposures all other businesses face. If someone is injured on your property because of negligence by the business, the LLC is still responsible for handling any related medical bills. Insurance helps defray those costs.
A BOP for an LLC can range from $450 to $1,200 annually. If you are in the service industry and get professional liability, the cost can range from $950 to $2,200. Both ranges are for smaller businesses with little risk. The larger the operation or the riskier the industry, the higher the price.
Bottom Line
An LLC, like any other business, is still vulnerable to losses. Buying LLC insurance helps protect your business during the difficult time of a claim so that you can focus on growing your company and delivering great service. The Hartford can help you make sure you obtain the necessary coverage so that your company is protected in case something goes wrong. Get a quote for LLC insurance today.
