General liability insurance for landscapers

Because landscaping takes place at customers’ homes and businesses, third-party injuries and property damage are a serious risk. A client could trip in a hole you dug and break a leg, or a tractor could back into a client's fence.

General liability insurance can help cover a customer's medical bills or repairs to damaged property, along with a lawsuit if you're sued. This policy helps you avoid financial loss by paying for:

• Customer injuries
• Customer property damage
• Advertising injuries

If you own a small, low-risk business, you may be able to bundle general liability insurance and commercial property insurance in a business owner’s policy (BOP) for a lower premium than purchasing each policy separately.

This type of landscaping insurance policy provides small business owners with both property and liability insurance coverage. For example, if you damage a client’s property, it would help pay for any legal fees. And if your business equipment were damaged, it would also cover the cost of repair or replacement.

A landscaping business that is eligible for a BOP typically:

• Has fewer than 100 employees
• Has a small office
• Makes less than $1 million in annual revenue
• Operates in a low-risk industry
• Needs less than 12 months of business interruption insurance

Talk to a licensed Insureon insurance agent to find out if your landscaping business qualifies.

A general liability policy protects your landscaping business from common third-party liability risks.

This includes:

If a client is injured by a rock kicked up by your lawn mower, your business might have to pay significant medical and legal expenses. General liability insurance covers:

• Attorney fees
• Settlements
• Court-ordered judgments
• Medical costs
• Funeral expenses in fatal incidents

This policy does not cover employee injuries. For that, you’ll need workers’ compensation coverage.

General liability insurance coverage protects landscaping businesses when customer property is damaged. For example, if an employee loses control of a leaf blower and damages a client’s window, your general liability policy would pay for repairing the glass.

This policy can also cover legal expenses if a client sues to recoup costs.

While advertising your landscaping services, it’s possible to unknowingly imitate a competitor’s slogan or logo. Accidental advertising injuries are covered by general liability insurance.

This includes:

• Defamation, both libel (written) and slander (spoken)
• Copyright infringement

If your company is working to gain clients with newspaper ads, social media posts, or other advertising, it’s important to have this policy in place.

While general liability insurance covers many common lawn care and landscaping risks, it does not provide absolute protection. For complete coverage and peace of mind, you should get additional small business insurance policies.

Other lawn care insurance coverages to consider include:

Business owner's policy: A BOP bundles general liability coverage with commercial property insurance at a discount. It includes coverage for fires, theft, and other losses.

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 irrigation, landscape design, tree service or other lawn care business with general liability insurance?

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

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