General Liability Insurance
Every business needs general liability insurance as a safeguard against the most common types of third-party claims. Discover why this coverage is so critical for your business and what a general liability policy from Insurance Canopy can do for you!
What Is General Liability Insurance
Commercial general liability insurance is an essential coverage that shields businesses from third-party claims.
You may have heard it described as “slip-and-fall” coverage because it can cover the cost of third-party bodily injury claims, but it’s also designed to cover third-party property damage incidents.
Claims like these result in medical expenses, legal fees, and other expenses you may be held responsible for paying. General liability insurance can absorb these costs.
Is It Required By Law?
While general liability insurance is not required by law, you may be asked for proof of this coverage before signing a lease, entering into a contract with another business, applying for licenses and permits, or participating in an event
What Does General Liability Insurance Cover?
General liability insurance covers expenses you’re held responsible for paying as a result of third-party bodily injury or property damage claims. These costs include:
- Medical payments
- Legal fees (defense, settlement, etc.)
- Repairing or replacing broken or damaged property
- Lost wages
What Does It Not Cover?
Because general liability insurance is designed to cover third-party claims, it does not cover injuries or property damage that you (the policyholder) or your employees sustain.
For example, if one of your employees slips and falls and hurts themselves at work, your general liability insurance would not cover their medical expenses. This would only be covered by workers compensation insurance.
Always refer to your policy for a full list of exclusions.
Who Needs General Liability Insurance?
Every business, no matter the size, needs general liability insurance to protect its assets because third-party bodily injury and property damage accidents can happen to anyone.
Insurance Canopy offers comprehensive general liability coverage for all of the following business types:
Don’t see your industry listed here? Learn more about the types of businesses covered by Insurance Canopy.
Examples of General Liability Claims
The following are real claims from policyholders that were covered by Insurance Canopy:
A Florida art vendor was setting up a wooden wall in their booth at a festival. A strong gust of wind blew the wall over onto a neighboring vendor, knocking them to the ground and injuring them ($5,000).
A policyholder in Oklahoma accidentally caused a fire in their rented commercial space. The fire caused smoke damage to the building and destroyed a window ($20,694).
A customer shopping at a policyholder’s booth in Florida tripped and fell over a decorative stone, injuring themselves and accruing expensive medical bills ($48,630).
How Much Does General Liability Insurance Cost?
On average, Insurance Canopy’s general liability coverage costs $20 per month. For about the cost of lunch at your favorite restaurant, general liability protects your business from claims that could rise into the tens of thousands (or even more).
However, the cost of your premium depends on several factors:
- Industry: Some industries are exposed to more risks than others, and some are required to carry certain limits.
- Annual revenue: More revenue usually means more customers/clients, which increases your chances of a third-party claim.
- Business size: Bigger businesses typically have a larger selection of products and/or services as well as more customers, which means more risk exposure.
- Claims history: Businesses with a history of filing insurance claims may pay a higher premium because they are more susceptible to risks.
Additional Coverage You May Need
Most business owners need to extend their coverage beyond general liability insurance to properly protect themselves from the claims they’re most likely to face. Insurance Canopy offers several options for additional coverage, including:
How to Get Your Free Quote
You can get a quote for general liability insurance completely online with Insurance Canopy by filling out an application. The best part? Most people can get theirs in 10 minutes or less.
Make sure to have the following information on hand:
- Your business type
- Your business’s gross annual sales
Why Small Businesses Love Insurance Canopy
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TLJ's Mobile Mixology, LLC had been insured with Insurance Canopy since it's inception and we have no complaints.
Tenisha J.
February 4, 2025Knowledgeable, kind, attentive and professional. She helped me to feel comfortable, well taken good care of and get the service possible.
Ed Levitt
February 3, 2025As a Massage Therapist, I was not aware until a few years ago that I did not have to be part of an Organization to get my liability insurance! I... Read More
Kristie Williams
January 30, 2025 -
This insurance has helped me secure events with my corporate and local government clients. They have great customer service and are always willing to help.
Tony Felix
January 23, 2025Representative was clear & concise in explaining specifics of the policy. Cost of policy very reasonable.
John B
January 16, 2025I’m very happy with my purchase of liability insurance for a one-off event. I was even able to edit the policy after it had been issued with the help of... Read More
jay gedeon
January 6, 2025 -
Super easy to use and great service; I had a little error from my part and needed to correct it customer service was super helpful they guided me through the... Read More
Ana Zavala
January 6, 2025I needed some liability insurance for my business. The team at Insurance Canopy had great recommendations and the insurance was reasonable for the coverage. Web site and process... Read More
Susan Tedesco
January 6, 2025Great coverage, excellent price, terrific customer service. I checked out a lot of different carriers and they had the best reputation and coverage. Since most venues require insurance, it was... Read More
Steve Bryant
January 6, 2025 -
Was waiting for two other insurance companies to get back to me for over 2 1/2 weeks and losing money every day. Sitting here, frustrated I asked ChatGPT what... Read More
Chad Laibly
January 6, 2025Great and affordable insurance
Peter DAntoni
December 6, 2024Being a caricaturist, I never understood why I needed liability insurance, but it got to that point where I was missing opportunities because of it. So, I researched a bit... Read More
Paul McNeilly
November 12, 2024 -
I’m just saying that is easy to get the vendors insurance with this company
Silvia Delgado
November 6, 2024Definitely a great asset to my business, I have never had a problem getting what I need from IC. Good communication skills, always get help from the agents, attenuative on... Read More
Robert Avila
November 6, 2024Your site was extremely easy to use, I was able to get my event insured for what the event planners wanted. The price was so affordable. Even chatting... Read More
Rebecca Ruby
November 6, 2024 -
Quick easy sign-up convince is great
Vincent Davanzo
November 6, 2024Great to work with. Always available for assistance.
Two Pour Girls Bartending
November 6, 2024Best customer service I have ever had in regards to insurance.
Edward Findley
November 5, 2024 -
Super easy and convenient. Just renewed, thanks.
Wendy Berg
November 3, 2024Great to work with. Always available for assistance.
Courtney Araneo
November 3, 2024This is only the second year I have had this insurance. Haven't had to use it. But it's nice to know i have it. The price is great too
Vickie Sundgren
November 3, 2024 -
Canopy insurance has been great for my business. Definitely a five star definitely recommend it..
Fernando Ferreira
October 12, 2024Very easy and straight forward experience! The agent and live chat were instrumental in acquiring my policy.
Jacob Smith Jr
October 7, 2024Rey was amazing. So easy! So fast!
Herman Koch
September 30, 2024 -
Always treated well. They take care of my business insurance and I don’t have to worry about anything with insurance canopy in my corner. 10 year customer.
Mark Paquin
September 14, 2024Excellent rates and coverage! Did a lot of homework before going with Insurance Canopy, by far the best bang for the buck 🙂
Alana Wyld
September 14, 2024She is positive and friendly !
Alan Dynin
September 14, 2024 -
Had a great experience obtaining a policy quickly for a solo musical act. After a year, modified my policy to a fully staffed production easily using the chat feature of... Read More
Paul Tolle
September 6, 2024I am a professional mobile DJ. I use Insurance Canopy for a policy to cover my equipment and liability. They are easy to do business and the website makes... Read More
Don Kirby
September 6, 2024Best price I have found! Excited to be a customer
Dustin Price
September 6, 2024
-
TLJ's Mobile Mixology, LLC had been insured with Insurance Canopy since it's inception and we have no complaints.
Tenisha J.
February 4, 2025 -
Knowledgeable, kind, attentive and professional. She helped me to feel comfortable, well taken good care of and get the service possible.
Ed Levitt
February 3, 2025 -
As a Massage Therapist, I was not aware until a few years ago that I did not have to be part of an Organization to get my liability insurance! I... Read More
Kristie Williams
January 30, 2025 -
This insurance has helped me secure events with my corporate and local government clients. They have great customer service and are always willing to help.
Tony Felix
January 23, 2025 -
Representative was clear & concise in explaining specifics of the policy. Cost of policy very reasonable.
John B
January 16, 2025 -
I’m very happy with my purchase of liability insurance for a one-off event. I was even able to edit the policy after it had been issued with the help of... Read More
jay gedeon
January 6, 2025 -
Super easy to use and great service; I had a little error from my part and needed to correct it customer service was super helpful they guided me through the... Read More
Ana Zavala
January 6, 2025 -
I needed some liability insurance for my business. The team at Insurance Canopy had great recommendations and the insurance was reasonable for the coverage. Web site and process... Read More
Susan Tedesco
January 6, 2025 -
Was waiting for two other insurance companies to get back to me for over 2 1/2 weeks and losing money every day. Sitting here, frustrated I asked ChatGPT what... Read More
Chad Laibly
January 6, 2025 -
Great coverage, excellent price, terrific customer service. I checked out a lot of different carriers and they had the best reputation and coverage. Since most venues require insurance, it was... Read More
Steve Bryant
January 6, 2025
FAQs About General Liability Insurance for Small Businesses
What Are the Typical Commercial General Liability Insurance Limits?
Most of Insurance Canopy’s general liability policies have an aggregate limit of $2,000,000, meaning they will only pay up to $2,000,000 for all claims made in one policy year.
It’s also typical for general liability policies to have a limit of $1,000,000 per occurrence. A per occurrence limit is the most an insurance company will pay for any one claim.
What Are the Common Exclusions in a General Liability Insurance Policy?
Some common commercial general liability insurance exclusions are:
- Employee injuries
- Damage to property owned by the policyholder
- Product recalls
- Errors, omissions, or negligence regarding the policyholder’s professional services
- Liquor liability
- Losses stemming from data breaches, phishing, or other cyber attacks
Please review your policy for a complete list of exclusions.
How Do I Determine the Right Amount of Coverage for My Business?
Assess the following factors to determine the amount of general liability coverage your business needs:
- Size and annual revenue: Larger businesses and those with higher revenues have more assets to cover and are typically exposed to more risks than smaller businesses.
- Location: It’s common for businesses operating in densely populated urban areas to need more coverage due to higher exposure.
- Risk factors: Depending on your industry, you may be at a higher risk for certain claims. For example, if your business brings in a lot of foot traffic, you are more likely to face slip-and-fall claims.
- Other requirements: You may be required to meet certain limits by other businesses or parties you work with, such as landlords, event organizers, clients, etc.
Our team of U.S.-based, licensed customer service representatives is here to help you identify the right limits for your business and can assist you in purchasing an excess liability policy if needed. Give us a call at 844.520.6993 or email info@insurancecanopy.com.
How Can I File a Claim for General Liability Insurance?
- Log in to your user dashboard
- Navigate to “Manage Policies” and click on “File a Claim”
- Fill out all of the fields with information about your claim and submit
That’s it! Afterward, a claims adjustor will reach out to you to handle your claim and take you through the rest of the process.
Commercial General Liability Resources
Chris Van Leeuwen | VP of Agency Development
Chris Van Leeuwen is the VP of Agency Development for Insurance Canopy. He has held the prestigious Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) designation since 1996.
Because he strongly believes in the importance of helping business owners understand their insurance coverage, Chris uses his wealth of experience to offer insights to small business owners across the country who are looking to navigate business liability insurance.
Chris Van Leeuwen is the VP of Agency Development for Insurance Canopy. He has held the prestigious Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) designation since 1996.
Because he strongly believes in the importance of helping business owners understand their insurance coverage, Chris uses his wealth of experience to offer insights to small business owners across the country who are looking to navigate business liability insurance.
JoAnne Hammer | Program Manager
JoAnne Hammer is the Program Manager for Insurance Canopy. She has held the prestigious Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) designation since July 2004.
JoAnne understands that starting and operating a business takes a tremendous amount of time, dedication, and financial resources. She believes that insurance is the single best way to protect your investment, business, and personal assets.
JoAnne Hammer is the Program Manager for Insurance Canopy. She has held the prestigious Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) designation since July 2004.
JoAnne understands that starting and operating a business takes a tremendous amount of time, dedication, and financial resources. She believes that insurance is the single best way to protect your investment, business, and personal assets.
