General Liability Insurance in North Carolina

You can save up to 25% in discounts.*

General Liability covers a wide range of incidents

Slip-and-fall injuries

Someone trips at your business, breaks their leg and files a lawsuit. Excluding employees.

Property damage

You accidentally damage a client or customer’s property.

Advertising injury

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

Legal fees & defense costs

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

What is General Liability insurance coverage?

General liability insurance can help protect North Carolina small businesses from financial losses that result from common accidents, such as:

Slip-and-fall injuries
Other injuries related to your business, excluding injuries to employees
Damage to someone else’s property
Accusations of libel, slander or copyright infringement

This insurance is sometimes called commercial general liability (CGL).

There are a number of situations where general liability insurance could help businesses in North Carolina. For example:

A Charlotte plumber doesn’t seal a pipe tightly enough while replacing a client’s kitchen plumbing, and the basement floods when the water gets turned back on. General liability insurance may help cover the cost of repairing or replacing damage.
A Greensboro clothing store retailer is sued by a customer claiming that a sweater they sold was treated with a chemical that caused an allergic reaction. General liability insurance can help cover legal fees and damages if the business is found liable.

In situations like these, your North Carolina general liability insurance policy could help cover related costs up to your policy limit. It may also provide coverage if you have to defend your business against an accusation of libel, slander or copyright infringement.

Is General Liability insurance required in North Carolina?

This state does not require businesses to carry commercial general liability insurance.

However, North Carolina allows local governments to determine their own insurance requirements for businesses. Check with your city clerk’s office to determine whether you need this insurance to operate legally in your area.

Even though North Carolina liability insurance isn’t required by the state, many business owners opt to get this coverage because it can provide important financial protections, such as:

Financial protection

General liability coverage can help protect a business financially if certain types of accidents occur. Additionally, lenders and banks may require this type of North Carolina business insurance.

Commercial lease agreement

You may need to provide a certificate of insurance to sign a commercial property lease. Some property managers require this coverage before they’ll rent you a space for your business.

Employment contracts

Depending on your industry, your clients may require proof of coverage for small business liability insurance. North Carolina entrepreneurs could miss out on potential jobs if they don’t have this coverage.

Licenses and permits

Depending on your industry, you may have to show proof of coverage to secure a business license or permit.

For example, general contractors in North Carolina may need proof of coverage to secure building permits or sign contracts with potential clients. This type of insurance provides added financial security on major construction projects.

For more details, see our guide to North Carolina general contractor license and insurance requirements.

What types of businesses might need General Liability insurance in North Carolina?

Most North Carolina businesses can benefit from commercial general liability coverage since it applies to common accidents in many different industries.

Even for seemingly low-risk lines of work, general liability insurance can help protect your business. Accidental injuries and property damage can happen in places you might not expect, like an office environment or a client’s home.

If a house cleaner scratches a client’s hardwood floor while moving a couch to clean, for example, general liability insurance could help cover related costs.

How much does General Liability insurance cost in North Carolina?

Several factors influence general liability insurance costs. North Carolina insurance premiums are often determined by things like:

What kind of work you do
How many people you employ
Where your business operates
Your past insurance claims
How high you set your policy limits

North Carolina business owners can get a customized general liability insurance policy from NEXT online. Our premiums are affordable, with 50% of our U.S. customers paying $45 or less per month.**

Learn more about general liability insurance costs.

How NEXT Insurance helps North Carolina businesses

NEXT provides North Carolina general liability insurance policies designed for small businesses and self-employed workers.

It only takes about 10 minutes to get a quote, review your coverage options, choose your policies and download a certificate of insurance.

Start an instant quote online today.

Our team of licensed insurance advisors is standing by to assist you if you have any questions along the way.

Other types of North Carolina business insurance

Business owners may need more coverage than just general liability insurance. North Carolina entrepreneurs can get additional insurance to help protect against other types of everyday risks.

Other options for North Carolina business insurance coverage include:

Workers’ Compensation insurance

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

North Carolina requires all businesses with three or more employees to have workers’ comp coverage.¹

Learn more about workers’ compensation.

Commercial Auto insurance

Commercial auto insurance can help cover costs like medical bills, property damage and towing if you or an employee gets into an accident while driving a work vehicle.

All registered vehicles in North Carolina are required to have minimum auto insurance coverage of $30,000 per person, $60,000 per accident and $25,000 for property damage per accident.²

Learn more about commercial auto.

Commercial Property insurance

Commercial property insurance can help protect the physical assets your business needs to operate, such as brick-and-mortar structures, inventory, equipment and furniture. If a covered event occurs, like a burst water pipe or a fire, this insurance could help cover the costs to make repairs or replacements

If you plan to get both general liability and commercial property coverage, consider a business owner’s policy (BOP). A BOP combines both types of insurance and typically offers savings on monthly premiums.

Learn more about commercial property insurance.

Professional Liability insurance (E&O insurance)

Professional liability insurance can help protect your business if a client or customer claims you made a mistake that cost them money.

Learn more about professional liability.

Source

¹ Employers’ Requirement to Carry Workers’ Compensation Insurance

² Vehicle Insurance Requirements

Get customized insurance in North Carolina

See what our customers have to say about NEXT

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Let’s find the coverage you need for your business

Business insurance is divided into different policies. We offer seven types so it's easy to design the coverage that fits your business.

General Liability

Protect yourself from accidents that cause physical injury or damaged property.

Professional Liability or Error and Omissions Insurance

Professional Liability/E&O

Shield yourself from lawsuits that claim your work errors caused financial losses.

Workers’ Compensation

Cover medical bills and lost wages if your employees have an accident at work.

Commercial Auto

Stay on the road with coverage for dents, tows and damage to someone else’s vehicle.

Tools & Equipment

Upgrade your general liability coverage to protect any gear that’s stolen, damaged or lost.

Commercial Property

Keep your building, inventory and equipment protected from fire or water damage.

Business Owner’s Policy

Combine general liability and commercial property into one policy to protect your business.

* 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.

** The cost data presented here are based on NEXT active customers in the U.S. who purchased general liability insurance over the previous 12 months. These data should not be considered a substitute for obtaining a quote specific to your business. These data were updated in July 2022.