What Is General Liability Insurance?

General liability insurance (GL) is the foundational coverage every business needs. It protects against claims of bodily injury, property damage, and advertising injury caused by your business operations, products, or employees.

Whether a customer slips in your store, your employee damages a client's property, or a competitor claims your ad copy infringed on their trademark — GL insurance covers the legal defense costs, settlements, and judgments.

Who Needs General Liability Insurance?

Virtually every business needs GL coverage:

Retail stores and restaurants with customer foot traffic
Contractors working on client properties
Professional services firms meeting with clients
E-commerce businesses selling physical products
Home-based businesses with any third-party exposure

Many landlords, clients, and contracts require proof of general liability coverage before you can sign a lease or begin work.

What Does GL Insurance Cover?

Coverage	Example
Bodily injury	Customer slips on wet floor in your store
Property damage	Employee breaks client's equipment during service call
Personal & advertising injury	Competitor sues over similar marketing claims
Medical payments	Covers minor injuries regardless of fault
Products-completed operations	Injury from a product you sold or work you completed

How Much Does General Liability Insurance Cost?

For most small businesses, GL insurance costs between $400–$1,500 per year, depending on:

Your industry and risk profile
Annual revenue and number of employees
Coverage limits (typically $1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate)
Claims history

At Insura, we compare quotes from dozens of carriers to find you the best rate — often saving businesses 20-30% compared to going direct.

Compare Top GL Carriers Side by Side

Not sure which carrier is right for your business? Our detailed comparison guides break down pricing, coverage, and customer reviews:

Hartford vs Chubb — Two A++ carriers compared on GL, BOP, and workers comp
Progressive vs Hartford — Commercial auto and GL coverage head-to-head
Next Insurance vs Hartford — Budget digital vs established carrier
Liberty Mutual vs Hartford — Two full-service carriers compared
Allstate vs Hartford — Agent-based carriers head-to-head
Progressive vs Allstate — Commercial GL and auto rates compared
biBERK vs Next Insurance — Budget direct carriers face off

Looking for the cheapest GL? Next Insurance starts at $19/mo. biBERK starts at $20/mo. Compare all carriers →