Can I add to or change my coverage?

If you’ve expanded your business and need coverage for more kinds of work (or higher amounts of the same coverage), please let us know. One of our support agents can discuss your business' changing needs, and in most cases, we’ll be able to set you up with a new policy on the same day (so there will be no gaps in your coverage). You can contact our customer service team at support@nextinsurance.com or by calling 855-222-5919 between 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT, Monday to Friday.

Can I buy commercial auto insurance by itself?

Yes. You can buy commercial auto by itself, but we recommend buying liability insurance along with your commercial auto insurance. General liability insurance can protect your business from certain costs including injuries to people who are not employees and damage to someone else’s property. We typically offer a discount when policies are purchased together.

Can I add an additional insured to my Live Certificate?

Yes! When you click \\"Share Proof of Insurance\\" from within the customer portal, you'll be asked if you need a general proof of insurance or one with a venue or client as additional insured. As soon as you input the details of the additional insured you're adding, you can add their email address and we'll send them over the certificate for you.

General Liability Insurance for Your Business

Everything you need to know about General Liability insurance:

What is General Liability insurance?

Your general liability policy provides financial protection if you are held responsible for some of the most common accidents that can occur at a business, such as a customer injury or damages to someone’s property. It also provides coverage if you are forced to defend an accusation of libel or slander.

General liability insurance, also known as commercial general liability (CGL), covers the risks that affect almost every business, no matter what your industry. It is the most common insurance for small businesses and self-employed professionals, and it’s typically the first policy purchased by new businesses.

Who needs General Liability insurance?

General liability is included in most business insurance packages because it covers the risks that many business owners face every day. It is not typically required by law, but some clients and agencies could ask you to have a certificate of insurance before they work with you.

Here are some examples of businesses owners who might need general liability coverage:

General contractors sometimes need general liability as part of the license requirements in their state.
Fitness instructors need coverage for some certifications, and it’s usually required if they work at a gym.
Anyone who wants to rent commercial property could be required to have coverage as part of their commercial lease.

Why is General Liability important?

You’ll get help paying for expenses after an accident if you’re held responsible for injuring someone or damaging their property. Commercial general liability can also help cover defense costs if you are accused of libel or slander.

Here are more details on what makes general liability insurance so important:

It helps you get more jobs

Business liability insurance shows that your business is reliable and trustworthy. It gives clients peace of mind knowing that you will take responsibility for your mistakes.

It could give you a competitive advantage if your potential client has a choice between your business and another business that doesn’t have insurance. Many larger clients also require coverage before they’ll sign a contract with you.

It lets you run a legal business

Some states and cities will only give you a business permit if you have active general liability insurance and a certificate of insurance. If your business is certified or accredited by a professional organization, you might also be required to keep your general liability insurance active.

Your commercial lease might require general liability insurance

If you plan to lease commercial space, your landlord could also insist on seeing your general liability insurance certificate. Coverage is often required because it shows you will have the financial protection needed to cover expenses related to property damage or injuries related to your business at the leased space.

It lets you focus on growing your business

When you have general liability insurance, it gives you peace of mind. You won’t have to worry about what you would do if a client trips and falls or how you would pay for a new vase if you accidentally broke one in a client’s house.

Having business liability insurance means that instead of feeling nervous about what could happen, you can concentrate on growing your business.

What does General Liability cover?

General liability insurance protects you from unexpected expenses related to many of the most common types of accidents that can affect your business and lead to lawsuits:

Injuries to people who are not your employees
Damage to property you don’t own
Accusations of libel or slander

Learn more about what general liability covers.

How much does General Liability insurance cost?

The cost of general liability insurance is different for each business. Several factors influence the price you’ll pay for coverage, including your industry, the size of your business and how much coverage you want to purchase.

What is your industry?

The amount of risk that you face in your industry is used to determine your insurance costs. If your business is in an industry that is more prone to accidents and injuries, than you will typically pay more for insurance.

For example, a carpenter who takes saws and other tools to different locations is more likely to have an accident that would be covered by general liability than a tutor who mostly works at a desk with students. That’s why carpenter insurance is usually more expensive than tutor insurance.

What is the maximum amount of coverage that you need?

The answer to ‘How much does general liability insurance cost?’ depends on your aggregate limit. This is the maximum amount of insurance that you could claim from your general liability insurance policy. The higher your total coverage limit, the higher your small business liability insurance costs.

What is your deductible?

If you have a larger deductible, you’ll pay less for general liability insurance for your small business. At NEXT, we don’t charge a deductible for our general liability insurance policies, so you won’t need to worry about it.

How do I get General Liability insurance?

With NEXT, you can purchase affordable general liability coverage online and get your certificate of insurance 10 minutes, or less.

Start an instant quote to see options for your small business. Here’s how the process works:

We’ll ask you some basic questions about your business and operations, including:

Your industry
Where you do business
How many years you have owned the business
Number of employees
Expected annual revenue
Recent insurance and claims history

After you share your information, you’ll have instant access to a customized insurance quote for general liability and other recommended coverage.

If you like what you see, you can adjust the package limits and make your purchase. Your insurance will begin immediately after payment, and you’ll have access to your certificate of insurance.

Start a free instant quote today.