Small business insurance, shortlisted
We match carriers to your trade on the things that actually matter — complaint ratios, financial strength, coverage fit, and how fast they issue a COI — scored before any commission. We're not an agent and we don't sell policies; we show source-cited median costs so you know what to expect before you get a real quote.
- Coverage types compared
- 6+
- Trade-by-trade guides
- 29+
- Cost to compare
- $0
General liability
Most contracts require it
Business Owner’s Policy
Bundles GL + property
Workers’ comp
Often mandatory once you hire
Professional liability
For advice-based trades
Research-based comparison from published pricing, carrier coverage descriptions, and expert reviews. Not a licensed agent — general information, not insurance advice.
Match your trade to the right policy
Pick what you do. The bench flags which lines tend to be required, recommended, or optional for that trade — and the illustrative band to expect — before you ever fill out a quote form.
Contractor / handyman
Clients usually demand a certificate of insurance before you start.
- General liabilityRequired
- Tools & equipmentRecommended
- Workers’ comp (once you hire)Recommended
- Commercial autoOptional
Illustrative general liability
~$50–$110+/mo
Illustrative band from public industry averages for a standard $1M/$2M policy — not a quote, binding offer, or insurance advice. Your real premium depends on your revenue, payroll, limits, location, and claims history. Verify current terms with the insurer.
Every line a small business juggles, on one bench
Start with the coverage you know you need — or browse the line you’re unsure about. Each opens a plain-English guide with illustrative costs.
Business Owner's Policy (BOP)
BOP bundles general liability with commercial property — usually the cheapest way to get covered. Compare BOP options, what each insurer includes, and which trades a BOP fits best.
10 guides
Workers' Comp & Employees
Once you hire, workers' compensation is often legally required. Compare carriers, see how cost scales with headcount, and understand what changes at 1, 5, and 10 employees.
3 guides
Marketplaces & Quote Engines
Should you buy direct from one insurer or shop a marketplace that quotes several carriers at once? Compare quote engines, online-quoting speed, and which approach gets the lowest price for your trade.
16 guides
General Liability
Third-party injury and property-damage claims — the line most client contracts demand.
Professional Liability
Third-party injury and property-damage claims — the line most client contracts demand.
Cyber Insurance
Breach response, liability, and recovery costs for businesses that hold customer data.
Where small businesses get covered
The carriers and marketplaces that come up most for small-business cover — compared on what they’re built for, then handed to you for a real quote.
Affiliate disclosure: CoverBench is reader-supported. We may earn a commission via CJ when you get a quote or buy a policy through our links, at no extra cost to you — and it never affects our rankings. These are independent comparisons built from published pricing, carrier coverage descriptions, and expert reviews; we’re not a licensed agent. Partner links may be pending approval, so treat them as where to compare and apply, and check current terms with the insurer.
Hiscox Business Owner's Policy (BOP)
A business owner's policy from Hiscox that bundles key coverages for small companies.
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How we build the bench
Every comparison and cost band on CoverBench is research-based — drawn from published carrier pricing, coverage descriptions, expert reviews, and publicly reported industry averages. We don’t buy or test policies, and nothing here is a quote. We re-check sources as carriers update their terms.
Disclosures
Affiliate: CoverBench may earn a commission via CJ when you quote or buy through our links, at no extra cost to you; it never affects rankings. Not advice: we’re an independent comparison resource, not a licensed insurance agent or broker — verify coverage, terms, and price with the insurer before buying.
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