What most small businesses actually pay
These are the national medians Insureon publishes for its small business customers, with the band where most of them fall. They are the starting point for every estimate on this site.
| Cover | Median monthly | Where most businesses fall | Median annual | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General liability | $45 | $30–$60 | $542 | Insureon |
| Business owner’s policy | $83 | $50–$100 | $990 | Insureon |
| Workers’ compensation | $54 | $50–$100 | $643 | Insureon |
| Professional liability (E&O) | $88 | $75–$150 | $1,051 | Insureon |
Insureon notes that most of its customers have fewer than five employees and under $100,000 in revenue, so larger businesses should expect to pay more.
Where the numbers come from
Every premium in the estimator is a median that Insureon, an online insurance agency, publishes from the policies its small business customers buy from leading insurers. We use one source throughout so the figures are comparable with each other. Each business type and each state links to the Insureon page its figures come from, in the tables below.
Workers’ comp rules come from Insureon’s state pages and, for Texas and Florida, from the Texas Department of Insurance and the Florida Division of Workers’ Compensation. Rules change, so always confirm with your state.
We review these figures when the sources update them. Last checked September 2026.
How the estimate works
Three steps, and we would rather you saw them than trusted a black box:
- Your business type. We start from Insureon’s published median for your type of business. Where Insureon publishes no figure for a cover, we use its national median and the result says so.
- Your state. We scale liability covers by your state’s published general liability median against the national $45, and workers’ comp by your state’s workers’ comp median against the national $54.
- The range and your size. The low and high ends are the band Insureon’s own price distribution puts around each median (for general liability, 22% of customers pay under $30 a month and 63% under $60). Insureon says more staff and revenue generally mean higher premiums but publishes no figures by size, so size only decides which part of the band we show: the lower half for a one-person business under $100k, the upper half for six or more people or $500k or more in revenue, and the whole band otherwise.
That is all the estimator does. It does not know your claims history, your exact work or the limits a contract asks for, which is why a real quote can differ.
Figures by business type
Median monthly premiums Insureon publishes for each business type. “National” means no figure is published for that type, so the estimator uses the national median.
| Business type | General liability | BOP | Workers’ comp | Professional liability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accountant or bookkeeper | $30 | $60 | national | $45 |
| Auto repair shop | $54 | $149 | $150 | national |
| Beauty salon or barber | $35 | $70 | $66 | $42 |
| Cleaning or janitorial | $48 | $76 | $136 | national |
| Consultant | $32 | $61 | $44 | $62 |
| General contractor | $162 | national | $160 | national |
| Online store (e-commerce) | $42 | $95 | national | national |
| Event planner | $29 | $42 | national | $42 |
| Personal trainer or fitness | $29 | $59 | national | $42 |
| Graphic or web designer | national | national | national | $70 |
| Handyman | $81 | $105 | $108 | $67 |
| IT or software developer | $37 | $46 | $41 | $110 |
| Landscaping or lawn care | $51 | $94 | $169 | national |
| Marketing consultant | $30 | national | national | $59 |
| Massage therapist | $30 | $82 | national | $42 |
| Photographer or videographer | $29 | $47 | national | national |
| Real estate agent | $33 | $58 | national | $68 |
| Restaurant or café | $141 | $251 | $113 | national |
| Retail shop | $42 | $95 | $86 | national |
Figures by state
Median monthly premiums Insureon publishes for its customers in each state. Four states require workers’ comp to be bought from a state fund, so private figures are not published there.
| State | General liability | Workers’ comp |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $53 | $127 |
| Alaska | national | national |
| Arizona | $45 | $59 |
| Arkansas | $42 | $56 |
| California | $42 | $63 |
| Colorado | $54 | $59 |
| Connecticut | $48 | $78 |
| Delaware | $42 | $52 |
| District of Columbia | $46 | $88 |
| Florida | $55 | $65 |
| Georgia | $47 | $61 |
| Hawaii | national | national |
| Idaho | $49 | $36 |
| Illinois | $40 | $56 |
| Indiana | $47 | $62 |
| Iowa | $42 | national |
| Kansas | $44 | national |
| Kentucky | $47 | $49 |
| Louisiana | $49 | $72 |
| Maine | $59 | national |
| Maryland | $42 | $51 |
| Massachusetts | $44 | $40 |
| Michigan | $47 | $53 |
| Minnesota | $41 | $57 |
| Mississippi | $46 | national |
| Missouri | $50 | $86 |
| Montana | $58 | $77 |
| Nebraska | $43 | $54 |
| Nevada | $44 | $53 |
| New Hampshire | $51 | $67 |
| New Jersey | $47 | $47 |
| New Mexico | $46 | $75 |
| New York | $44 | $43 |
| North Carolina | $42 | $60 |
| North Dakota | $49 | state fund |
| Ohio | $42 | state fund |
| Oklahoma | $45 | $75 |
| Oregon | $42 | $60 |
| Pennsylvania | $53 | $64 |
| Rhode Island | $44 | national |
| South Carolina | $46 | $84 |
| South Dakota | national | national |
| Tennessee | $42 | national |
| Texas | $43 | $34 |
| Utah | $45 | $44 |
| Vermont | $42 | $59 |
| Virginia | $42 | $46 |
| Washington | national | state fund |
| West Virginia | $44 | $54 |
| Wisconsin | $49 | $60 |
| Wyoming | $42 | state fund |
Why your real quote may not match the estimate
If the number that comes back from a carrier is well above what the calculator said, one of these is usually why:
- Prior claims. Even one paid claim in the last five years can raise the price noticeably. Several can move you into a different market entirely.
- Revenue. The published figures come mostly from businesses under $100k in revenue. A three-person agency billing $2M is priced like a much larger business.
- Class code. Insurers rate on granular class codes, not the twenty broad business types in this tool. “Contractor” covers both a handyman and a steel erector.
- Subcontractors. Uninsured subs are usually rated as your own payroll. Collecting certificates of insurance from them is the single cheapest way to cut a contractor’s premium.
- Required endorsements. Additional insured, waiver of subrogation, primary and non-contributory: each one a client contract demands adds cost.
- Location specifics. Coastal Florida, wildfire-exposed California and hail-belt Texas are priced well above their own state averages.
If the quote comes back well below the estimate, read the limits and the exclusions before you celebrate: a cheap policy that excludes your main activity is not a bargain.
Six ways to pay less than the estimate
- Bundle into a BOP. General liability plus property in one policy usually costs less than buying them separately. See the BOP cost guide.
- Pay annually. Monthly installments usually carry a financing charge.
- Raise the deductible on property coverage. Going from $500 to $1,000 usually trims the premium, and you were never going to claim $500 anyway.
- Buy the limit your contract requires, not more. Most owners buying $2M are satisfying a contract that asked for $1M.
- Collect certificates from every subcontractor. The biggest single lever for any trade that hires help.
- Quote at least three carriers. The same risk is priced very differently by different underwriters: a wide spread on identical coverage is normal, which is the entire reason this site exists.
Frequently asked questions
How much does small business insurance cost per month?
Insureon’s small business customers pay a median of $45 a month for general liability, $83 for a business owner’s policy, $54 for workers’ comp and $88 for professional liability. Low-risk trades pay less and contractors and restaurants a good deal more: Insureon’s general contractor median for general liability alone is $162 a month. Our full breakdown is in how much small business insurance costs.
Is this calculator a real insurance quote?
No. It is an estimate built from the median premiums Insureon publishes for small businesses. Insurance is individually underwritten, so only an insurer can tell you your actual price. Use the estimate to judge whether a real quote is fair: that is what it is for.
What information do I need to estimate my business insurance cost?
Four things: your business type, your state, how many people work there and your rough yearly revenue. The published figures are mostly for the standard $1M per claim / $2M total limit that most client contracts ask for.
Does the calculator send my details anywhere?
No. It runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you select is transmitted to us or stored, and no email address is required to see your estimate. See our privacy policy.
Why is my quote higher than the calculator’s estimate?
Most often: prior claims, higher revenue than typical for your headcount, a contract requiring higher limits or extra endorsements, uninsured subcontractors counted as your payroll, or a class code the insurer rates more harshly than the broad category here.
How can I lower my small business insurance premium?
Bundle liability and property into a BOP, pay annually rather than monthly, raise your deductible, buy only the limits your contracts require, keep a clean claims history, collect certificates from subcontractors, and get at least three quotes.
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.
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Online broker or marketplace
One form, several insurers compared. Best if you want more than one price.
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Talk it through by phone or in person. Best for higher-risk businesses.
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Figures on this page are estimates built from median premiums published by Insureon, not quotes. Compare Small Business Insurance is an independent comparison and referral service, not an insurance company, agency or broker; we do not underwrite, sell or service insurance. Your actual premium is determined solely by the insurer that underwrites you. This is general information, not insurance advice: see our editorial policy, advertiser disclosure and terms of use.