Best General Liability Insurance for Small Business
General liability is the foundation coverage for every small business. Here are the top carriers for GL in 2026, ranked by pricing, speed of coverage, and industry fit.
Hiscox
Best for: Small businesses in low-risk industries needing fast online quotes
Coverage: General Liability, Professional Liability / E&O, BOP, Cyber Liability
Typical GL cost: $40–$100/month
Typical BOP cost: $60–$180/month
AM Best rating: A (Excellent)
Notable: Known for fast online quoting (as little as 5 minutes) and low minimum premiums
Next Insurance
Best for: Small businesses and independent contractors wanting instant online purchase
Coverage: General Liability, Professional Liability, Commercial Auto, Workers' Comp, BOP
Typical GL cost: $25–$80/month
Typical BOP cost: $50–$150/month
AM Best rating: A- (Excellent)
Notable: Digital-first, fully online purchase with same-day certificate of insurance
Thimble
Best for: Gig workers, freelancers, and short-term or event-based coverage
Coverage: General Liability, Professional Liability, BOP, Commercial Auto
Typical GL cost: $5/day or $50/month
Typical BOP cost: Varies by project
AM Best rating: A (Excellent) via partner carriers
Notable: Offers short-term 'by-the-job' and 'by-the-month' policies — good for contractors between projects
Simply Business
Best for: Small businesses in low-risk industries wanting a fast quote and instant COI
Coverage: General Liability, BOP, Workers' Comp, Professional Liability
Typical GL cost: $30–$90/month
Typical BOP cost: $55–$170/month
AM Best rating: A (Excellent) via partner carriers
Notable: Comparison-shopping approach — gets quotes from multiple carriers at once
The Hartford
Best for: Businesses with employees needing comprehensive coverage including workers' comp
Coverage: General Liability, BOP, Workers' Comp, Commercial Auto, Cyber
Typical GL cost: $60–$150/month
Typical BOP cost: $80–$250/month
AM Best rating: A+ (Superior)
Notable: One of the largest US commercial carriers — strong for workers' comp and multi-state operations
Side-by-side comparison
| Carrier | Best For | GL Cost | BOP Cost | AM Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hiscox | Small businesses in low-risk industries needing fast online quotes | $40–$100/month | $60–$180/month | A (Excellent) |
| Next Insurance | Small businesses and independent contractors wanting instant online purchase | $25–$80/month | $50–$150/month | A- (Excellent) |
| Thimble | Gig workers, freelancers, and short-term or event-based coverage | $5/day or $50/month | Varies by project | A (Excellent) via partner carriers |
| Simply Business | Small businesses in low-risk industries wanting a fast quote and instant COI | $30–$90/month | $55–$170/month | A (Excellent) via partner carriers |
| The Hartford | Businesses with employees needing comprehensive coverage including workers' comp | $60–$150/month | $80–$250/month | A+ (Superior) |
Which carrier should you choose?
For fast online purchase: Hiscox or Next Insurance. For short-term or project-based work: Thimble. For comparison shopping: Simply Business. For multi-state operations with employees: The Hartford.
Rates for identical coverage vary 20–30% between carriers. Get quotes from at least 3 before deciding.
Estimate your cost first
Before comparing quotes, know what you should expect to pay. Use these free calculators to see benchmarks for your industry and revenue: