Landscaping professionals we insure
Top insurance policies for landscaping businesses
Business insurance covers costs if a worker cuts their hand on a tool, or if your truck damages a client's fence. These insurance policies protect against the most common risks in the landscaping industry.
General liability insurance
A general liability policy protects landscapers against legal costs from third-party property damage and injuries, such as a client tripping over a rake. It's often required for a commercial lease.
- Slip-and-fall injuries
- Accidental damage to a client's property
- Libel and other advertising injuries
Business owner's policy
Small business owners and contractors are usually eligible for a business owner's policy, or BOP. It bundles general liability coverage and commercial property insurance at a discount.
- Client bodily injuries
- Accidental damage to a client's property
- Stolen or damaged business property
Workers' comp insurance
Most states require businesses with employees to carry workers' compensation insurance. Personal health insurance won’t cover work-related injuries, which makes this policy crucial for sole proprietors too.
- Work-related medical bills
- Disability benefits
- Lawsuits from workplace accidents
Commercial auto insurance
Vehicles owned by a landscaping business must have this coverage to comply with state laws. It helps pay for financial losses in an accident, including medical expenses and property repairs.
- Injuries caused by your landscaping truck
- Property damage caused by your truck
- Vehicle theft or vandalism
Contractor's tools and equipment
A type of inland marine insurance, this policy protects landscaping tools and equipment wherever you bring them. That includes items in transit, stored off-site, or used at a job site.
- Newer tools and equipment
- Items valued at under $10,000
- Tools that travel to clients' yards
Cyber insurance
This policy helps landscaping companies survive data breaches and cyberattacks. It pays for customer notification costs when credit card numbers or other personal information is exposed.
- Data breach investigations
- Customer notification costs
- Fraud monitoring services
Business insurance costs for landscaping companies
From our customer data, here's a quick look at average landscaping insurance costs:
General liability: $51 per month
Business owner's policy: $94 per month
Workers' compensation: $169 per month
Factors that can influence your premiums include:
- Your profession, such as lawn care business, tree trimming company, or landscape designer
- Number of employees
- Value of your landscaping tools and equipment
- Types of insurance purchased
- Coverage limits and deductibles
- Claims history
How do I get landscaping company insurance?
TechInsurance helps you get insured quickly so you can secure contracts, comply with state laws, and protect your business against costly lawsuits and accidents. We work only with top-rated insurance companies to secure the best possible coverage for your landscaping business.
You can get the right insurance in three simple steps:
- Fill out our easy online application with your business details.
- Compare free quotes from our trusted partners.
- Pay for a policy and download your certificate of insurance (COI).
Our licensed insurance agents know the landscaping industry and will help make sure you get the right coverage for your business needs. Gain peace of mind with advice from expert agents and policies from the leading carriers in the nation.
Hear from business owners like you who purchased insurance coverage.
Common questions about landscaper's insurance
Find answers to your questions about landscaping insurance policies.
Is my landscaping business required to have a license or a bond?
State laws determine whether you need a business license, contractor's license, or other qualifications to operate a landscaping business. If your business operates under a name other than your own (also called a "doing business as" or DBA name), you'll likely need to register in your state.
Clients, landlords, and lenders might also require a license, bonding, or insurance before they'll enter into a contract with your company.
Here are a few instances where landscaping professionals might need a license or bond:
- Your locality requires a landscaping license. Sixteen states require a landscaping license, and other jurisdictions may require a general business license. You'll have to do a little research to make sure you're obeying the law.
- Some types of work require a permit. Certain activities, such as pesticide application or irrigation work, may require a permit or a contractor's license. Again, this depends on local laws.
- You need a bond to sign a contract. Some clients will require your company to carry a bond before they will allow your workers on their property. This is especially true for government entities and larger clients that might hire your business.
- You want to attract new clients. Clients will typically choose to work with landscapers who are licensed, bonded, and insured. These qualifications show clients that your business is reliable and guarantee reimbursement if any issues arise.
What other insurance coverage do landscaping businesses need?
Depending on the specifics of your business, you may need additional types of coverage. Landscaping business owners should also consider:
- Hired and non-owned auto insurance (HNOA): Landscapers who drive their own pickup truck or other vehicle to clients' properties should invest in this insurance, as your personal auto insurance won't cover business use. HNOA provides auto liability coverage for personal, leased, and rented vehicles used by your business.
- Commercial property insurance: Homeowner's insurance provides little to no protection for business property, which is why you may need commercial property insurance. It protects against financial losses from fires, storms, and burglaries.
- Commercial umbrella insurance: An umbrella policy boosts the protection of your general liability, commercial auto, and employer's liability insurance, activating when the limit is reached on the underlying policy.
- Inland marine insurance: Because commercial property insurance only covers items at your business location, you may need additional coverage for tools and equipment that travel to job sites. Contractor's tools and equipment insurance is one example of this coverage which can protect a contractor's leaf blowers, lawn mowers, and other equipment.
Why is it important to keep continuous landscaping business insurance?
It may seem like a good idea to carry insurance only when you need it for a project, but that plan can backfire. Here are a few reasons why you should maintain continuous coverage on your policies:
- Insurers will charge more to restart coverage. Insurance companies charge more for customers who stop and restart coverage, as they may see this behavior as a red flag.
- Some policies only provide coverage while active. Professional liability insurance and other claims-made insurance policies only provide coverage as long as your policy is kept active. That means you're not protected if a client decides to file a lawsuit after you've finished a landscaping project and canceled your policy.
- You might not get your money back. Some policies have a minimum earned premium, which means you must pay a certain percentage of the premium if you cancel coverage before the expiration date. For certain policies, such as professional liability insurance, this amount can be 100%.
- You could lose your license or be subject to penalties. You could end up paying penalties or even lose your license if your business isn't carrying the policies that are required by law. It could be difficult or even impossible to get the license back.
- You leave your business exposed to risk. Without insurance, your business is on the hook for any legal expenses, medical bills, or repair costs. A single incident could financially devastate your business, which is why it's better to be prepared.
Before canceling a policy, purchase a replacement policy first, or look into other options like choosing lower limits or a higher deductible to save money on your policy.
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