Business
Small Business Insurance Cost: What You Should Expect
Published September 24, 2026 · Last updated October 1, 2026
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The short answer
There's no single price for small business insurance. You're really buying one or more separate coverages, and each has its own price. The most common starting points are general liability, at about $45 a month, and a business owner's policy, at about $83 a month.
Add up the coverages you actually need, and you'll see why one shop pays under $50 a month and another pays several hundred.
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Small Business Insurance Cost snapshot
- Most businesses pay
- $40 to $150 a month for their main policy
- General liability
- About $42 a month
- Business owner's policy
- About $83 a month
- Workers' comp
- About $45 a month
- Cyber
- About $129 a month
Source: Insureon, 2026, based on its small business customers.
Not a quote, offer or approval. Your price comes from the provider. Last updated October 2026.
Typical cost by coverage type
| Coverage | Typical monthly cost |
|---|---|
| General liability | About $45 |
| Workers' comp | About $54 |
| Business owner's policy (BOP) | About $83 |
| Commercial umbrella | About $86 |
| Professional liability or E&O | About $88 |
| Commercial property | About $108 |
| Cyber | About $129 |
| Commercial auto | About $245 |
Not a quote or an offer. Your price comes from the insurance company. Source: Insureon, 2026 (median costs for its small business customers, most with fewer than five employees).
What moves your price
- The work you do. A roofer and a web designer aren't priced the same way, even at the same income. Height, tools, vehicles, and customer foot traffic all raise risk.
- Payroll and how many people work for you. This is the main number for workers' comp.
- Your yearly sales. Bigger revenue usually means bigger claims, so it raises most liability prices.
- Where you are. State rules, weather, crime, and local court history all matter.
- Your limits and deductible. A $2 million limit costs more than $1 million. A higher deductible lowers your monthly cost.
- Your claims history. Past claims raise your price. A few clean years lowers it.
Which coverages do you actually need?
Almost every business: general liability, or a BOP if you also have equipment or stock to protect.
If you give advice or professional services: professional liability.
If you have employees: workers' comp, required in most states.
If you drive for work: commercial auto.
If you store customer data or take cards: cyber insurance.
If you carry tools to job sites: inland marine.
Just formed an LLC? See LLC insurance.
How to pay less without dropping the coverage you need
- Bundle it. A business owner's policy puts liability and property in one plan and usually costs less than buying both apart.
- Pay yearly if you can. Many insurers charge a small fee for monthly billing.
- Start with what your contracts require. Clients and landlords often name the exact coverage and limit.
- Ask about your industry class code. A wrong code can put you in a riskier group than your work belongs in.
- Check your deductible. Only raise it if you could cover that amount out of pocket.
What to ask before you buy
- "What exactly is included at this price?" A cheap number often means fewer coverages, not a better deal.
- "Does my defense cost come out of my limit?"
- "What's excluded for my kind of work?" Roofing heights, alcohol service, and pollution are common carve-outs.
- "What happens at audit?" Workers' comp and some liability plans estimate your payroll, then bill the difference later.
- "Will this price change at renewal?"
The catch: the cheapest monthly price is easy to find and easy to regret. Two plans at the same price can pay very different amounts after a claim. Line up the limits, the deductible, and the exclusions before you compare price.
Related pages
Core business insurance: General liability · Workers' comp · Business owner's policy · Professional liability · Commercial auto · Commercial property · Cyber insurance · LLC insurance · General liability vs. a BOP · Home-based business insurance · All business services
Specialty business coverage: Errors and omissions · Commercial truck insurance · Inland marine (tools and equipment) · Builder's risk · Surety bonds · Event insurance · Employment practices liability (EPLI) · Commercial umbrella · All business services
Insurance by trade: Contractor insurance · Builder's risk · Lawn care and landscaping · Cleaning business insurance · Handyman insurance · Food truck insurance · All business services
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