Business owner's policy for landscaping businesses

A business owner’s policy protects landscaping professionals financially from the most common business risks. It combines general liability insurance with commercial property insurance to protect against customer injuries, theft of lawn care equipment, and accidental damage to a customer's property.

A BOP can cover the costs for:

• Lawsuits related to customer injuries or property damage
• Lawsuits related to libel, copyright infringement, and other advertising injuries
• Stolen or damaged lawn mowers, irrigation equipment, and other business property

A licensed insurance agent can help tailor a BOP to meet the specific needs of your landscaping business.

For example, you could add a business interruption endorsement to your policy, which covers operating expenses and lost income if your business is forced to temporarily close due to a covered event, such as a fire.

You can also add inland marine insurance to protect mobile property, such as lawn mowers and other lawn care equipment that travels to different locations.

Small, low-risk businesses usually qualify for a BOP. That might include:

• A freelance landscape designer
• A lawn care company with a few employees
• An irrigation professional who works on residential properties

A BOP provides financial protection against the most frequent claims, including:

The general liability portion of a business owner’s policy can pay for medical bills, legal costs, and other expenses related to third-party injuries or property damage, such as:

• A customer tripping over a sprinkler head and suffering a concussion
• A branch dropped during a tree removal damaging a customer's fence
• A lawn mower kicking up a rock that breaks a sliding glass door

The general liability coverage included in a BOP also covers advertising injuries. This includes defamation claims, such as libel and slander, along with copyright infringement claims.

For example, a BOP will help pay your legal fees if a competitor claims that you copied their logo, or harmed their company's reputation on social media.

A BOP pays for repair or replacement of damaged or stolen business property, so you can get back to business fast after a disruption. With the addition of inland marine insurance, your property is also protected when it travels to different job sites.

If you're forced to temporarily close your business due to a property claim, business interruption insurance can help cover everyday expenses until you reopen. This includes lost revenue, daily operating costs, and the cost of relocating during repairs or renovation.

While a business owner's policy protects against the most common risks faced by landscaping businesses, it does not provide absolute protection.

Other insurance coverages for landscapers to consider include:

Commercial auto insurance: Required in most states, commercial auto insurance covers vehicles owned by your business. It can pay for injuries and property damage in an accident, along with vehicle theft, weather damage, and vandalism.

Workers’ compensation insurance: This policy is required in most states for businesses with employees. If a landscaper hurts their back while loading equipment or develops an illness from prolonged exposure to pesticides, workers’ comp would pay for their medical expenses, as well as partial lost wages.

Contractor’s tools and equipment insurance: A type of inland marine insurance, this policy repairs or replaces a landscaping contractor’s business property if it is lost, stolen, or damaged while in transit or stored off-site like at a job site.

Cyber insurance: A cyber insurance policy helps landscaping businesses recover financially from data breaches and cyberattacks. It covers customer notification costs, cyberextortion payments, and other expenses related to a cyber incident.

License and permit bonds: Landscapers might need a surety bond to get a license in their state, or to do specific types of work.

Are you ready to safeguard your landscaping business with a BOP?

Complete Insureon’s easy online application to compare quotes from top U.S. insurance companies. A licensed insurance agent is available to discuss your coverage options and answer all of your questions.

Once you find the landscaping business insurance policies that fit your unique business needs, you can begin coverage and get a certificate of insurance in less than 24 hours.