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Know what insurance your small business actually needs — before you talk to an agent.

Select your business type, employees, and state. Get a plain-English breakdown of what coverages you likely need, what they typically cost, and a downloadable PDF to take to any agent.

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PDF report included, free

18 business types covered

50 US states + DC

8 coverage categories

Cost data from Insureon

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The estimator

What does your business need?

Fill in your details — results update instantly. Download the PDF to take to an agent.

Your business details

Business type

Number of employees

State

Annual revenue

Risk factors

Check all that apply — they may upgrade your coverage recommendations.

Handles client data / stores customer records

You store personal information, payment data, medical records, or other sensitive customer data.

Operates delivery vehicles or a company van

You or your employees drive vehicles primarily for business purposes (deliveries, client transport, hauling equipment).

Holds physical inventory

You store physical goods — merchandise, materials, or supplies — at a warehouse, store, or home.

Works at client locations with tools or equipment

You or your team travel to client sites with tools, equipment, or materials that could be damaged or stolen.

Serves food, beverages, or alcohol

You prepare, serve, or sell food, beverages, or alcohol — including catering, restaurants, bars, or food trucks.

NAICS code (optional)

If you know your 6-digit NAICS industry code, enter it to auto-select your business type.

Select your business type to get started

Fill in the form on the left and your personalized coverage estimate will appear here.

Coverage guides

What each type of insurance actually covers

Plain-English explanations of the 8 most common small business insurance types — what they cover, when you need them, and typical costs.

General Liability

Covers claims of bodily injury or property damage that your business causes to others — a customer slipping in your shop, or a contractor accidentally breaking a client's window.

When you need it: Almost every business that has customers, clients, or operates outside a home office needs General Liability. Many landlords and clients require it as a contract condition.

Median annual cost: $500–$540 (Insureon, 2024)

Professional Liability / E&O

Covers claims that your professional advice, service, or work product caused a financial loss to a client — also called Errors & Omissions (E&O) or malpractice insurance.

When you need it: Essential for any business where clients rely on your expertise: consultants, accountants, designers, therapists, real estate agents, software developers, and architects.

Median annual cost: $700–$1,051 (Insureon, 2024)

Workers Compensation

Pays for medical expenses and lost wages if an employee is injured or becomes ill because of their job. Also protects your business from employee lawsuits over workplace injuries.

When you need it: Required by law in most states as soon as you hire a W-2 employee. Texas is the notable exception — it does not mandate workers comp (but most clients will require proof of it anyway).

Cost varies by state and job class: $1,200–$8,000+ per $100K payroll (Insureon, 2024)

Commercial Property

Covers your physical business assets — building (if you own it), equipment, inventory, and furniture — against fire, theft, vandalism, and certain weather events.

When you need it: Any business with physical assets worth protecting: retail stores, restaurants, studios, workshops. Also covers business interruption losses if a covered event forces you to close temporarily.

Median annual cost: $970–$1,570 (Insureon, 2024)

Cyber Liability

Covers losses from data breaches, ransomware attacks, and cyber fraud — including notification costs, credit monitoring for affected customers, legal fees, and regulatory fines.

When you need it: Any business that stores customer data, processes credit cards, uses cloud software, or relies on digital systems. Required for healthcare businesses due to HIPAA; increasingly expected by enterprise clients.

Median annual cost: $1,440–$2,160 (Insureon, 2024)

Commercial Auto

Covers vehicles used for business purposes — work trucks, vans, cars driven to client sites — against accidents, liability, and damage. Personal auto policies specifically exclude commercial use.

When you need it: Required if you use a vehicle for business deliveries, client transport, hauling equipment, or as a primary work tool (a food truck, work van, company car).

Median annual cost: $1,760–$2,940 (Insureon, 2024)

Business Owners Policy (BOP)

A Business Owners Policy bundles General Liability and Commercial Property into a single, discounted policy. Often includes business interruption insurance as well.

When you need it: The standard starting point for most small businesses. More cost-effective than buying GL and Property separately. Best for businesses with a physical location and general liability exposure.

Median annual cost: $990 combined (Insureon, 2024)

Commercial Umbrella

Adds an extra layer of liability coverage above your GL, Professional Liability, and/or Auto limits. Pays claims that exceed your primary policy limits.

When you need it: Useful when your clients require higher liability limits ($2M+), when you work in high-risk environments, or when you want affordable additional protection above your standard coverage.

Median annual cost: $1,030 (Insureon, 2024)

Workers comp by state

Workers comp rates vary 5× between states

Premium rates for workers compensation insurance differ dramatically by state — and within each state by job classification. Here's a state-by-state overview.

Workers Comp Rates by State

Workers compensation premiums vary 5× or more between states. Select your state to see the approximate rate.

Select state:

Rate (office/clerical)

$1,800 – $2,800 per $100K payroll

Mandatory?

Yes — required

One of the highest-cost states. Independent state rating; not NCCI. Required for all employers with 1+ employees. State fund (SCIF) available.

Source: https://www.dir.ca.gov/dwc/Workers-Comp-Benefits-Overview.html

Important: Rates shown are for office/clerical workers (NCCI Class Code 8810 equivalent). Actual rates vary significantly by job classification code — construction and trades can be 10–20× higher. This is an estimate, not a binding quote.

A note from the builder

"I built this because shopping for business insurance is confusing and the web is full of lead-gen pages pretending to be tools. This estimator uses real public data from Insureon and state insurance departments. It won't replace a licensed agent — but it should help you walk into that conversation knowing what questions to ask."

Mads Hundahl

Founder, Verto Studios

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