The average, up front
Insureon’s small business customers pay a median of $45 a month, or $542 a year, for general liability at the standard $1 million per-occurrence / $2 million aggregate limits. 22% pay under $30 and 63% under $60. Low-risk desk businesses sit at the bottom; contractors and trades sit well above it.
General liability is the policy almost every small business buys first: it covers third-party bodily injury, damage you do to someone else’s property, and advertising claims like libel or copyright infringement. It is also the coverage most often demanded by a landlord, a client contract, or a licensing board, which is usually why you are pricing it. Below are the 2026 averages by profession and limit, then the levers that decide where you land. If you already have a quote from an insurer, broker or agent, the tables here show whether it sits in the normal range.
Average general liability cost at a glance
Figures are Insureon’s published medians for its small business customers, most of whom have fewer than 5 employees and under $100k in revenue.
| How you measure it | Average | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Per month | $45 | $30–$60 |
| Per year | $542 | $360–$720 |
| Just you, under $100k revenue | - | $30–$45 |
| 6 or more people, or $500k+ revenue | - | $45–$60, possibly more |
| The Hartford customer average (cross-check) | $68 | - |
| Advertised from (Hiscox) | ~$29/mo | - |
Estimates from Insureon’s published medians at standard $1 million per-occurrence limits: 22% of its customers pay under $30 and 63% under $60. Size only picks the lower or upper half of that band, since no source publishes prices by headcount. The Hartford figure is that insurer’s own customer average. Not quotes.
What a $1 million general liability policy costs
$1M/$2M is the small-business default, and it is the limit the $45 median describes. Buying more coverage costs far less than you would guess, because the expensive part of any policy is the first dollar of risk, not the last. Insureon’s figures show it, though they publish nothing for limits other than these two:
| Coverage limit | Median monthly cost | vs $1M standard |
|---|---|---|
| $500,000 / $1M aggregate | Not published | - |
| $1M / $2M aggregate (standard) | $45 | Chosen by 85% |
| $2M / $4M aggregate | $46 | About $1 more; chosen by 8% |
| $1M plus a $1M umbrella | Not published | - |
Estimates from Insureon’s published medians for its small business customers. No source publishes a price for $500K limits or umbrellas. Not quotes.
Before you buy up, read the contract that prompted the purchase: many name a $1M per-occurrence requirement that your standard policy already meets.
Average general liability cost by profession
Industry is the single biggest input, because insurers are pricing the risk of the work itself: how likely you are to injure someone or damage property in the course of a normal day.
| Business type | Median monthly GL cost | Estimated range, monthly |
|---|---|---|
| Personal trainers | $29 | $19–$39 |
| Photographers & videographers | $29 | $19–$39 |
| Accountants & bookkeepers | $30 | $20–$40 |
| Massage therapists | $30 | $20–$40 |
| Consultants | $32 | $21–$43 |
| Real estate agents | $33 | $22–$44 |
| IT & software developers | $37 | $25–$49 |
| Retail & e-commerce | $42 | $28–$56 |
| Cleaning services | $48 | $32–$64 |
| Landscapers & lawn care | $51 | $34–$68 |
| Handyman services | $81 | $54–$108 |
| Restaurants | $141 | $94–$188 |
| General contractors | $162 | $108–$216 |
Estimates from Insureon’s published general liability medians for each business type, national, business of two to five people, $1 million limits. Not quotes.
State rules and contract norms move these too. Two worked examples: landscaping insurance in Kansas shows a physical trade pricing GL against equipment and property risk, while insurance for web designers in Georgia shows a desk business where GL is the cheap half of the bill and E&O is the important half.
General liability vs the other averages
General liability is rarely the whole bill. Here is how it compares with the coverages most often bought alongside it:
| Policy | Median monthly cost | When you need it |
|---|---|---|
| General liability | $45 | Almost always: injury and property damage to others |
| Professional liability (E&O) | $88 | If clients pay you for advice or expertise |
| Business owner’s policy (BOP) | $83 | If you have gear, inventory, or premises to protect |
| Workers’ compensation | $54 | Required in most states with your first employee |
Estimates from Insureon’s published national medians for its small business customers. Not quotes. See the full picture in our average cost of small business insurance guide.
If you carry equipment or rent space, price the business owner’s policy before you buy standalone GL: bundling liability with property is usually cheaper than buying the two separately. Not sure which coverages apply to you at all? Start with general liability vs professional liability vs BOP.
Hiscox vs. a typical general liability insurer
Price is only part of the comparison: how you get a quote and who stands behind the policy matter too. The table below sets Hiscox, the insurer we have a referral partnership with, against a typical small-business insurer. A direct online insurer suits a simple, low-risk business that knows which cover it wants; a broker or local agent can compare several insurers, which suits businesses with staff, vehicles or higher-risk work.
| What to compare | Hiscox Referral partner | Typical small-business insurer |
|---|---|---|
| Advertised starting price | Shown in the averages table above | Insureon customer median is $45/mo |
| Getting a quote | Online form, price shown on screen | Online, through a broker, or through an agent |
| Certificate of insurance | Issued once the policy is in force | Issued by the insurer or agent on request |
| Financial strength | A (Excellent) from AM Best | Varies by carrier |
| Availability | 49 states + Washington DC (not Alaska) | Varies by state |
Hiscox column reflects its advertised pricing and AM Best rating, last checked August 2026; “typical insurer” column reflects the Insureon median cited on this page. Hiscox is our sponsored partner: see the disclosure at the top of this page.
What moves you off the average
- Industry. The spread above says it plainly: the same $1 million limit costs a bookkeeper a fraction of what it costs a roofer.
- Revenue. General liability is rated largely off revenue: more work in the field means more chances for a claim.
- Employees. Crews raise GL exposure, and your first hire usually triggers a separate workers’ comp requirement.
- Limits and deductible. Going above $1M/$2M raises the premium, though far less than proportionally; a higher deductible lowers it.
- State. Rates are filed state by state, and litigation-heavy states price 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 own equipment or premises: almost always cheaper than liability plus property bought separately.
- Pay annually. Monthly installments usually carry a service charge; the annual payment does not.
- Match limits to your contracts. Buy the limit your client actually requires, not a rounder, larger number.
- Raise the deductible to absorb small claims yourself in exchange for a lower premium.
- Re-quote every year. Rates are refiled constantly, and renewal pricing is rarely your best available price.
Where these numbers come from
The medians and ranges on this page come from Insureon’s published figures for its small business customers. The ranges start from Insureon’s published median for each business type, the same way our cost estimator works. The Hartford figure is that insurer’s own customer average, and the Hiscox price is the starting price it advertises on its own site, last checked August 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 cost of general liability insurance?
Insureon’s small business customers pay a median of $45 a month, or $542 a year, at standard $1 million per-occurrence limits. 22% pay under $30 and 63% under $60.
How much is $1 million general liability insurance?
The $1M/$2M limit is the small-business standard and is exactly what the $45 median describes. Insureon’s published medians are $29 to $32 a month for consultants, photographers and personal trainers, and $162 for general contractors.
How much does general liability cost per year?
Insureon’s customers pay a median of $542 a year. Paying the year up front usually beats twelve monthly installments, since monthly billing often carries a service charge.
Why is my quote higher than the average?
Industry first: physical trades pay several times what desk-based businesses pay. After that: revenue, payroll, limits above $1 million, your state, and any claims in the last three to five years.
Is general liability cheaper than a BOP?
Yes. Insureon’s customers pay a median of $45 a month for general liability against $83 for a BOP, which bundles general liability with commercial property. If you have property to protect, the BOP is still usually cheaper than buying both policies separately.
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.