Why is insurance a must for landscape design businesses?
From planning in the office to seeing a vision come to life on a clients' property, landscape designers work with people in various settings. This could potentially lead to accidental injuries, property damage, and auto accidents. With the right insurance, you can protect your small business from these liabilities and risks.
Get the right insurance
6 insurance policies every landscape designer should consider
These insurance policies protect against the most common risks for landscape design businesses.
General liability insurance
General liability insurance covers landscape designers against legal fees from third-party property damage and injuries, such as a client tripping over a misplaced plant. 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 a general liability policy and commercial property insurance at a discount.
- Client bodily injuries
- Damaged customer 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 landscape design 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 company vehicle
- Property damage caused by your vehicle
- Vehicle theft or vandalism
Contractor's tools and equipment
A type of inland marine insurance, this business equipment coverage protects your tools and equipment wherever you bring them. That includes items in transit, stored off-site, or used at a job site.
- Saws, drills, and other tools
- Hard hats and other safety equipment
- Excavators and forklifts
Cyber insurance
This policy helps landscape design 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
Landscape design insurance cost
From our customer data, here's a quick look at average landscape design insurance costs:
General liability: $51 per month
Business owner's policy: $80 per month
Workers' compensation: $184 per month
Factors that can influence landscape designer business owners' premiums include:
- Your landscape design services offered
- Number of employees
- Value of your landscaping tools and equipment
- Types of insurance purchased
- Coverage limits, deductibles, and additional insureds
- Claims history
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Why landscape designers choose TechInsurance
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Get insurance fast so you can get started working with clients. Fill out our easy online application, choose a policy, and pay online to start coverage today.
Common questions about insurance for landscape design businesses
Review answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) about landscape designer small business insurance.
What other types of landscape design insurance coverage do I need?
When building a comprehensive risk management plan for a landscape design company, small businesses, LLCs, and independent contractors may need additional types of insurance, outside of general liability coverage and workers' compensation coverage, to cover all risks and liabilities.
Some additional landscaping insurance products to consider are:
- Hired and non-owned auto insurance (HNOA): Landscape design businesses who drive their own 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 stored in your home, which is why you may need commercial property insurance. It protects against financial losses from fires, storms, and burglaries.
- Inland marine insurance: Because commercial property insurance only covers items at your main business location, you'll likely need additional coverage for lawn care business tools and equipment that travel to job sites. Contractor's tools and equipment insurance is one example of this coverage, which can protect your landscaping business's hedge trimmers, lawn mowers, and other equipment.
- 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 your landscaping company's underlying policy.
- Business interruption insurance: Also called business income insurance, this policy covers lost revenue and other expenses should a covered event, like a fire or natural disaster, temporarily close your business. It can usually be added to your commercial property policy.
What is the difference between a landscape designer and a landscape architect?
While landscape designers and landscape architects provide similar services, they aren't exactly the same and have several key differences.
Landscape designers typically design small residential projects to include gardens, patios, and outdoor living spaces. A designer usually has an undergraduate degree, or is self-taught through on-the-job training.
Landscape architects attend a university accredited by the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), and focus more on commercial and industrial architectural projects such as public parks, waterfront development projects, and commercial centers. An architect usually obtains and maintains a state architect license, which requires passing a state exam.
