General Liability Insurance

Protection for common business accidents

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Commercial General Liability insurance can help cover a range of risks for your business

Injuries

Slip-and-fall injuries

A non-employee trips at your business, breaks their leg and files a lawsuit.**

Property Damage

Property damage

You accidentally damage a client’s or customer’s property.

Legal fees

Legal fees & defense costs

You need an attorney to defend your business in a lawsuit after a claim.

Medical payments

Medical payments

Someone (excluding employees) gets injured on premises and asks you to pay for medical expenses.

Libel Slander Defamation

Libel or slander

An employee bad-mouths a client online and the client sues you for libel.

Advertising Harm

Advertising injury

You’re sued for improper image use in your advertising.

What is General Liability insurance?

General liability business insurance can provide financial protection for some of the most common accidents at a business:

  • Damage to property that you don’t own
  • Injuries to people who are not employees

It’s one of the most common types of insurance because it’s often required by licensing agencies or clients before they’ll work with you.

Commercial general liability can also provide some protections related to reputational harm and advertising.

It’s sometimes called “business liability insurance, “public liability” or simply “liability insurance.”

Protect your business today.

How much does General Liability insurance cost?

General liability insurance costs can be as little as $19 monthly for some low-risk businesses.†

Several factors influence the price you’ll pay for insurance, including:

  • Your industry.
  • Your business operations.
  • The size of your business.
  • Where you do business.
  • Your business needs and how much coverage you choose.
  • Policy limits.

How do I get General Liability insurance?

Tell us about your business.

In about 10 minutes you’ll see the exact price you’ll pay for business general liability and other policies.

Customize your coverage

Adjust your limits and deductibles to pick the right coverage at the right price.

Buy 100% online

Your coverage is effective immediately after payment. And your certificate of insurance is ready at no extra cost.

Who needs General Liability insurance coverage?

Restaurants and food service

Restaurant businesses could get help with medical payments and lawsuit expenses after a customer slip-and-fall. Liquor liability and workers’ comp can offer more coverage.

Construction and contractors

General contractors and other construction professionals are often required to have general commercial liability insurance for professional licenses or to work on some jobs.

Retail and e-commerce

Retail and online business owners can benefit from the protection GL provides for customer injuries. NEXT policies also include some protection for product liability.

weightlifter

Sports and fitness professionals

Fitness insurance could be required for professional certifications for personal trainers, fitness instructors or yoga teachers. It can also be required to work at a gym.

Janitorial and cleaning businesses

Commercial cleaners and house cleaners can get protection from financial losses if they accidentally break or damage someone’s property while on the job.

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Where is your business located?

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Businesses like yours typically pay:

$00 - $00/mo
This is the minimum cost of general liability coverage for your business type and location. To determine eligibility and a final price, start a detailed quote.
save up to 25% - NEXT insurance offers discounts on General Liability for your business
What other types of business insurance do I need?
General liability business insurance doesn’t protect businesses from everything. Other types of business insurance coverage can help cover more risk.
Workers’ Compensation insurance
Most states require workers’ compensation if you have employees. It can help cover medical expenses and lost wages after an employee’s workplace accident.
Commercial Property insurance
This coverage can help pay for a replacement or repair for your business property. General liability will only cover property that doesn’t belong to you.
BOP insurance (Business Owner’s Policy)
BOP insurance combines the protections of general liability and commercial property into a single policy that’s often more cost-efficient. It can cover both liability and your business property, inventory, products and fixtures.
Other types of liability coverage
Professional liability insurance can help protect your business from losses after a professional mistake. Depending on your industry, you might also benefit from product liability insurance (retail) or liquor liability insurance (food service).

General Liability insurance FAQ (frequently asked questions)

How do I make a General Liability insurance claim?

You can file a claim anytime online or in the NEXT app.

You’ll be asked to share the details of what happened and to provide relevant photos and documentation. We strive to make claims decisions as quickly as possible so that you can get back to work.

File a claim

Is business General Liability insurance required by law?

General liability insurance is often the first type of coverage purchased by new business owners, but it’s not typically required by law.

However, some professional organizations might require coverage before issuing a license or permit.

Clients might also ask for proof of insurance before they’ll work with you.

Is General Liability insurance tax deductible?

General liability insurance coverage premiums can typically be deducted from your taxes. Consult with a licensed accounting professional to make sure you qualify.

The IRS categorizes payments you make for this type of insurance to be both an “ordinary and necessary” business expense. Keep a record of how much you pay every year for your policy.

Learn how to write off the cost of business insurance

Does General Liability insurance cover property damage?

General business liability insurance can help cover expenses related to property damage, but only to property that does not belong to you.

Commercial property insurance can help protect the physical items you own to operate your business, such as:

  • Inventory

  • Business equipment

  • Furniture and furnishings

  • Physical structures

BOP insurance (Business Owner’s Policy) combines general liability insurance and commercial property insurance into one package that is usually less expensive than buying both coverages separately.

Learn how general liability coverage can help with property damage

Does commercial General Liability insurance cover theft?

General liability insurance coverage doesn’t cover theft of your own possessions.

If any of your personal or business items are stolen, you won’t be covered without additional insurance to protect your own gear, such as tools and equipment insurance.

You might consider adding tools and equipment coverage if you work in multiple locations. It can help provide financial protection for your equipment in transit and on a job site.

You can bundle tools and equipment coverage with your NEXT general liability insurance for business if you’re a contractor or own a cleaning business.

Learn how business liability insurance can help cover theft

Does General Liability insurance cover employee injuries?

Business general liability insurance can help pay for expenses if your business is accused of causing an injury, but injuries to you or your employee are not included.

Workers’ compensation insurance can help pay for medical expenses and lost wages if an employee is hurt on the job.

Most states legally require you to buy workers’ comp coverage as soon as you hire an employee. Optional business owner’s coverage is an add-on that can help provide benefits for business owners if they get hurt on the job.

Learn more about workers’ compensation insurance

How much General Liability insurance do I need?

Small business insurance isn’t one-size-fits-all. Each business is unique and has different insurance needs.

The coverage you need depends on a number of factors, including:

  • The type of work you do

  • How many employees and subcontractors you have

  • Your level of risk

  • The state where you work

When you get a free online quote with NEXT, you can review options and adjust limits to your preference.

Learn how much general liability insurance coverage you need

When will I get my policy and proof of insurance?

It takes about 10 minutes to get a quote, buy coverage and get access to policy documents and your certificate of insurance (COI).

You can access your documents and COI 24/7 online or in the NEXT app for iPhone or Android.

NEXT Insurance reviews

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Only took about 10 minutes to have all my questions answered and get the plan I need for my business. Great price and easy to understand plan.

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NEXT is part of the ERGO Group, a Munich Re company.

Issuance of coverage is subject to underwriting. Not available in all states. Please see the policy for full terms, conditions and exclusions. Coverage examples are for illustrative purposes only. Your policy documents govern, terms and exclusions apply. Coverage is dependent on actual facts and circumstances giving rise to a claim. Next Insurance, Inc. and/or its affiliates is an insurance agency licensed to sell certain insurance products and may receive compensation from insurance companies for such sales. Policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the issuing insurance company. Refer to Legal Notices section for additional information.

* To the extent permitted by law, applicants are individually underwritten, not all applicants may qualify. Individual rates and savings vary and are subject to change. Discounts and savings are available where state laws and regulations allow, and may vary by state. Certain discounts apply to specific coverages only.

** Coverage examples are for illustrative purposes only. Your policy documents govern, terms and exclusions apply. Coverage is dependent on actual facts and circumstances giving rise to a claim.

Any starting prices or premiums represented before an actual customer quote are not guaranteed and are representations of existing premiums of active policies as of March 21, 2025. To the extent permitted by law, applicants are individually underwritten, not all applicants may qualify. Individual rates and savings vary and are subject to change. Discounts and savings are available where state laws and regulations allow, and may vary by state. Certain discounts apply to specific coverages only.