Landscaping + Lawn Care Insurance for Small Businesses

Get the Right Landscaping Business Insurance

This is an excellent time to be in the lawn care and landscaping business. As a lawn care expert, you know how important your work is to the community. Your lawn care services are needed for corporate exteriors, public parks, and private homes.

A major issue lawn care providers face when deciding on the insurance coverage needed is that no two companies do exactly the same type of work in the diverse landscaping industry. Some may do snow removal in the winter. Some may do tree removal and arbor work. Some may do hardscape or serious groundwork. 

No matter what your lawn care business focuses on, it is important to review any types of work accepted when considering lawn care business insurance. This leads to the crucial point of business insurance for lawn care, using a licensed insurance professional every step of the way in designing your lawn care insurance package. 

Whether you’re just starting a new venture, or your existing lawn care business is kicking into high gear, liability insurance for landscapers can help protect your business and giving you the peace of mind.

Having a working knowledge of some types of insurance policies that are commonly needed in landscaping or lawn care businesses might help you understand your insurance agent’s questions, and may also assist you in taking a proactive role in guiding your business’s future.

Who Needs Landscaping Insurance?

It is important to have an insurance policy that will cover your small business for the specific services you provide.

Here are examples of services you may provide:

• Landscape architecture
• Landscape design
• Landscaping maintenance
• Lawn maintenance

So who needs landscapers insurance? 

• Landscaping company
• Tree Trimmer
• Gardeners
• Landscape Architects
• Landscape Designers
• Lawn Irrigation Contractors

Each of these services comes with its own different set of risks. This is why it so important to evaluate your landscaping services before receiving a quote. It is more cost-effective to only be quoted your landscape business needs.

What a Lawn Care + Landscaping Insurance Policy Should Include

Lawn care professionals should consider some—if not all—of these insurance policies:

• General Liability Insurance: General liability insurance is typically the first type of insurance we suggest for any business. General liability will protect lawn care professionals from liability claims for third-party bodily injury, property damage, or lawsuit.
• Commercial Property Insurance: Commercial property insurance will protect your building, furniture, inventory, and business equipment if there is property damage from disasters, theft, or vandalism.
• Business Interruption Insurance: If your business property or equipment is damaged and repair or replacement will be time-consuming, this coverage can help cover lost profits, employee payroll, taxes that are due, and even a temporary business space.
• Business Owner’s Policy: An insurance company typically offers a business Owner's Policy (BOP) to small businesses at a more affordable cost. Bundling general liability insurance, commercial property insurance, and business interruption insurance can often save you money.
• Workers’ Compensation Insurance: Also known as workers’ comp, this is another valuable option for your landscaping business. Most states require workers’ compensation insurance if you hire an employee. This policy will cover your employees if they are injured on the job. This includes helping pay medical bills and lost wages. In many instances in exchange for this coverage employees agree not to sue you if they're injured on the job.
• Professional Liability Insurance: Professional liability is also known as errors and omissions insurance. This liability policy protects small businesses against negligence, civil suits, and professional mistakes. This policy will cover legal fees too.
• Commercial Auto Insurance: Does your small business use a cargo van or truck to haul equipment? If you're using a vehicle for business purposes, it needs to be protected with a commercial auto policy, especially against potential auto accidents.

Other Insurance Coverage Small Business Owners Should Consider

Other supplements to a comprehensive landscaping insurance policy can include:

• Inland Marine Insurance: Landscaping tools and equipment can be expensive—you want to make sure it's protected while you're traveling to and from clients. Inland marine coverage protects tools and equipment that aren't permanently attached to your vehicle and while stored at a customer's home or job site.
• Commercial Umbrella Insurance: If the liability policies you obtain aren't sufficient, sometimes you can purchase affordable umbrella coverage to increase your policy limits.
• Herbicide & Pesticide Application Coverage: If a customer claims they've become ill after being exposed to pesticides or herbicides that you've applied on their property, this coverage will protect your business.

The key to maximizing coverage coupled with affordability is working with your licensed insurance agent every step of the way in creating your lawn care insurance coverages.

Why Landscaping Businesses Need Commercial Insurance

Landscaping insurance coverage is a necessity that many landscapers think is optional. Here's why it's not:

Example #1: Billy is mowing the lawn and a rock flies from the mower and the customer’s windshield is shattered. Even worse, the customer was in the vehicle and got cut by the glass. If you don’t have insurance, the windshield replacement and third-party bodily injury or property damage could drain your accounts. General liability insurance can help you rest easy.

Example #2: Mark is on the clock trimming hedges when he injures himself and needs immediate medical attention. Workers’ compensation will cover the medical expenses from the work-related injury and lost wages if he's unable to immediately return to work.

Example #3: A severe thunderstorm blows through your town and limbs from a tree break your store window and cause significant property damage. Your insurance company will provide coverage to replace the broken window.

Example #4: You provide a recommendation to a client about a specific lawn treatment and, after taking your advice, the customer’s yard dies. If they sue your company, you are covered with professional liability insurance.

Landscaping can be a dangerous business. As the business owner, you want to make sure your business is protected with the best insurance policy to meet the needs of your company.

How Much Does Landscaping Liability Insurance Cost?

How much does business insurance coverage for landscapers cost? Here are some factors that might impact the cost of your lawn care insurance policy:

• The annual profit of your landscaping business
• The number of employees or subcontractors you hire
• Whether or not you offer tree or stump removal
• If you own trucks or other work vehicles
• The deductibles and coverage limits you choose
• The insurance agency you choose to work with

You can expect to pay an average of $29–$59 a month for general liability insurance alone. The addition of other policies will increase the overall cost of insurance for landscaping businesses.

Get a Free Landscaping Insurance Quote

A landscaping or lawn care business can be an incredibly profitable and flexible venture. But if it isn’t properly insured, you risk losing that versatile and potentially lucrative enterprise. You put your personal assets in jeopardy and run the risk of going into debt if you have a claim made against you.

Speaking with an experienced insurance agent who understands your business’s needs is crucial, and it’s also imperative that you answer any questions–truthfully–about what you do or don’t do in your lawn care or landscaping business so that your insurance can truly protect you. To get a free insurance quote for landscaping insurance, complete the form at the top of the page or give us a call at 1-877-907-5267. One of our agents will gladly help you find landscaping insurance with the right company for you!

Related Articles: Workers' Compensation Insurance, Commercial Auto Insurance, Tree Trimming & Tree Service Insurance, General Liability Insurance