How much does insurance cost for home inspectors?

Home inspectors pay an average of $42 per month, or $500 per year, for general liability insurance, sometimes called public liability insurance. Some home inspection businesses need proof of insurance for this policy to sign a commercial lease or a client contract.

A general liability policy can pay for medical expenses from third-party injuries, such as a homeowner who trips on a ladder and breaks a leg. It also covers costs if someone sues your business over a bodily injury, property damage, copyright infringement, or advertising injury.

This is the average policy for contractors who buy from Insureon:

Premium: $42 per month
Policy limits: $1 million per occurrence; $2 million aggregate
Deductible: $500

The cost of a general liability insurance policy depends on factors such as the coverage limits you choose, the size of your business, the amount of foot traffic, and any subcontractors or additional insured endorsements. Learn more about how your premium is calculated.

Home inspectors pay an average of $40 per month for a business owner's policy, or $483 annually. Only small, low-risk businesses are eligible for a BOP.

A BOP is an insurance package that bundles two important types of coverage at a discount. It includes general liability coverage to protect against common lawsuits, and commercial property insurance to cover vandalism, theft, and property damage.

This is the average business owner's policy for a home inspector who buys from Insureon:

Premium: $40 per month
Policy limits: $1 million per occurrence; $2 million aggregate

The cost of a business owner's policy depends on factors such as the insurance options you choose, the size of your business, the amount of foot traffic, and the value of your business property.

Construction businesses and contractors pay an average of $254 per month for workers’ compensation insurance, or $3,054 annually.

Workers' comp helps pay for medical costs from work-related employee injuries and illnesses. Even when it's not required by law, self-employed contractors often buy this coverage for financial protection against job injuries, which personal health insurance could deny.

Most policies include employer's liability insurance, which covers the cost of lawsuits related to workplace injuries. There's usually no limit to how much a workers' comp policy can pay for employee benefits, though it depends on state laws.

The cost of a workers' compensation policy depends on factors such as the number of employees and the type of work they do. Learn more about how workers' comp costs are calculated.

Construction businesses and contractors pay an average of $173 per month, or $2,075 per year, for commercial auto insurance.

Most states require this coverage for vehicles owned by a home inspection company. For leased, rented, and personal vehicles used by your business, look to hired and non-owned auto insurance (HNOA) instead.

A commercial auto insurance policy covers financial losses in the event of an accident involving your business vehicle. It can help pay for property damage, medical bills, and legal expenses. When buying a policy, you'll need to make sure your coverage limits match the requirements in your state.

The cost of a commercial auto policy depends on your coverage needs, the value of the vehicle, and your insurance claims history. Learn how insurers calculate your premium.

Construction businesses and tradesmen pay an average of $14 per month for contractor’s tools and equipment insurance, or $169 annually.

A form of inland marine insurance, this policy covers your property whether it’s in your office, in transit, or at a job site. Tools insurance can pay for lost, stolen, or damaged tools and equipment valued at $10,000 or less.

The cost of contractor's tools and equipment coverage depends on the value of your tools and equipment and the type of work you do.

Construction businesses and contractors pay an average of $74 per month, or $886 per year, for professional liability insurance. Home inspector contractors can sometimes bundle this coverage with general liability insurance, at a combined average price of $112 monthly.

Professional liability insurance covers defense costs related to professional negligence, such as failing to conduct a radon test. It's sometimes called errors and omissions insurance or E&O insurance.

This is the average coverage and pricing for contractors who buy an E&O policy from Insureon:

Premium: $74 per month
Policy limits: $1 million per occurrence; $1 million aggregate
Deductible: $1,250

The cost of professional liability insurance (or errors & omissions) depends on factors such as the coverage limits you choose, the size of your business, and the home inspection services you offer. Find out how insurers set professional liability premiums.

Construction businesses and contractors pay an average of $81 per month, or $977 annually, for commercial umbrella insurance, which you can buy to boost the limits of your underlying general liability, commercial auto, or employer's liability insurance.

Umbrella insurance provides an additional safeguard and helps home inspectors meet contractual demands for higher limits. When the underlying policy reaches its limit, commercial umbrella insurance activates to cover any costs over that limit, up to the limit of your umbrella policy.

The cost of commercial umbrella insurance depends primarily on the amount of coverage you purchase.

Construction contractors and businesses pay an average of $8 per month, or $100 per year, for a surety bond.

A surety bond reimburses your client if you're unable to fulfill the terms of a contract or other agreement. You may need a surety bond to get a contractor's license for certain types of work.

The cost of a surety bond primarily depends on the size of the bond.