The average, up front
Insureon’s small business customers pay a median of $45 a month ($542 a year) for general liability; 22% pay under $30 and 63% under $60. Professional liability (E&O) has a median of $88 a month ($1,051 a year), with 43% paying under $75 and 71% under $150. A business that carries both, common for anyone paid for advice or services, pays both premiums; no source publishes a combined figure. For comparison, Hiscox advertises general liability from about $29 a month and E&O from $22.50, entry prices that the lowest-risk businesses are most likely to see.
“Liability insurance” covers a family of policies, and the average depends on which one your business needs. This page breaks down the 2026 averages for each liability coverage, shows how the number shifts by profession, and lists the levers that move your own price above or below the benchmark. (Pricing everything, not just liability? Start with the full small business insurance cost guide.)
What would your business pay?Change the answers to fit your business. An estimate, not a quote.
Average liability insurance cost by coverage type
Figures are Insureon’s published medians for its small business customers, most of whom have fewer than 5 employees and under $100k in revenue. General liability is at the standard $1 million per-occurrence / $2 million aggregate limits.
| Liability coverage | Median monthly cost | How prices spread | What it covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| General liability | $45 | 22% under $30, 63% under $60 | Third-party injury, property damage, advertising claims |
| Professional liability (E&O) | $88 | 43% under $75, 71% under $150 | Mistakes and omissions in advice or services |
| Business owner’s policy (BOP) | $83 | 25% under $50, 58% under $100 | General liability bundled with commercial property |
| Cyber liability | $129 | 41% under $100 | Data breaches and cyber incidents |
| Commercial umbrella | Not published | - | Extra limits above your other liability policies |
| Employment practices (EPLI) | Not published | - | Employee claims like discrimination or wrongful termination |
Estimates from Insureon’s published medians for its small business customers. Our sources publish no national figure for umbrella or EPLI. Not quotes.
Most small businesses start with general liability, add E&O if they sell advice or professional services, and only layer on the rest as contracts or growth demand it. Pricing one of them specifically? See the average cost of general liability insurance or the average BOP insurance cost for the full breakdown on each.
Average liability cost by profession
Insurers price the risk of the work itself, so the same $1 million limit costs very different amounts across trades:
| Business type | General liability median, monthly | E&O median, monthly |
|---|---|---|
| Personal trainers | $29 | $42 |
| Massage therapists | $30 | $42 |
| Photographers & videographers | $29 | Not published (national $88) |
| Marketing consultants | $30 | $59 |
| Consultants | $32 | $62 |
| IT & software developers | $37 | $110 |
| Cleaning services | $48 | Not published (national $88) |
| Landscapers & lawn care | $51 | Not published (national $88) |
| Handyman services | $81 | $67 |
| General contractors | $162 | Not published (national $88) |
Estimates from Insureon’s published medians for each business type, national. Where Insureon publishes no E&O figure for a type, the national median applies. Not quotes.
State rules move the number too: see how it plays out in our guides to landscaping insurance in Kansas and professional liability for consultants in Vermont.
What moves your price off the average
- Industry. The biggest single factor. A bookkeeper and a roofer with identical revenue will never pay the same premium.
- Revenue and contracts. More business means more exposure, and client contracts often dictate the limits you must carry.
- Limits and deductible. $1M/$2M is the standard. Higher limits cost more, though doubling coverage costs much less than double, and a higher deductible lowers the premium.
- Location. Rates are set state by state, and litigation-heavy states run higher.
- Claims history. A clean record keeps you in the cheaper tiers; recent claims can raise premiums for three to five years.
How to pay less than the average
- Bundle into a BOP if you have gear or premises: usually cheaper than buying liability and property separately.
- Raise your deductible to take on more of the small-claim risk in exchange for a lower premium.
- Pay annually. Many insurers charge less for one annual payment than twelve monthly ones.
- Match limits to your contracts. Buy the limits your clients require, not more “just in case.”
- Re-quote yearly. Rates change; the only way to know your current price is to run a fresh quote.
Where these numbers come from
The medians on this page are Insureon’s published figures for its small business customers, nationally and for each business type, the same figures our cost estimator starts from. The Hiscox prices are the starting prices it advertises on its own site, last checked July 2026. Treat them as a planning benchmark: the only number that applies to your business is the one on a real quote.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average business liability insurance cost?
Insureon’s small business customers pay a median of $45 a month ($542 a year) for general liability; 22% pay under $30 and 63% under $60. Professional liability (E&O) has a median of $88 a month, and a business carrying both pays both premiums.
How much is a $1 million liability policy for a small business?
The $1 million per-occurrence / $2 million aggregate limit is the small-business standard, and it is what the $45-a-month median describes. Insureon’s published medians for low-risk service businesses such as consultants, photographers and personal trainers run $29 to $32 a month; higher-risk trades pay more.
General liability vs professional liability: what does each average?
General liability has a median of $45 a month among Insureon’s customers and covers third-party injury and property damage. Professional liability (E&O) has a median of $88 a month and covers mistakes in your advice or services. Advice-based businesses often carry both.
How much does liability insurance cost for an LLC with no employees?
Most start with general liability, where Insureon’s customers pay a median of $45 a month, and add E&O (median $88) if they sell advice. Most of those customers have fewer than 5 employees and under $100k in revenue, so these figures fit a small LLC well. With no employees, workers’ comp is generally not required.
How can I pay less than the average?
Raise your deductible, bundle into a BOP, pay annually, keep your claims record clean, match limits to your contracts, and re-quote every year.
Get a real price
These figures are estimates. Only an insurer can give you a real price.
Direct online insurer
Fill in a form and see a price on screen. Best for simple businesses.
Example: Hiscox. Rated A (Excellent) by AM Best. Sold in 49 states and DC.
Hiscox pays us when you get a quote. It does not change your price.
Online broker or marketplace
One form, several insurers compared. Best if you want more than one price.
Local independent agent
Talk it through by phone or in person. Best for higher-risk businesses.
Find an independent agent near you (free directory, no payment to us)
Disclaimer: Informational only, not insurance advice or a substitute for a licensed agent. Coverage descriptions are summaries; policy terms govern. Availability and pricing vary by state and business; all averages and ranges shown are illustrative benchmarks, not quotes or offers. Hiscox is available in 49 states and DC, not Alaska.