How Much Does $1 Million in General Liability Coverage Cost?
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Simply Business customers pay a median of about $42 per month for $1 million in general liability coverage, according to our data of General Liability policies sold during the second half of 2025. Your exact cost will depend on your state, industry, revenue, and claims history, among other factors. Many low-risk businesses pay under $50 per month—and some pay under $30.
If it sounds complicated, we’re here to help. Simply Business is a digital insurance platform that matches you with policies from top-rated insurers, so you can compare options and find affordable coverage in about 10 minutes.
What Does it Mean to Have $1 Million in Liability Insurance?
A $1 million insurance policy generally means your insurer will pay covered costs up to $1 million for a single covered incident.
Policies typically use two terms to define coverage:
- $1 million per-occurrence limit: The most your insurer will pay for a single covered incident, such as a slip-and-fall, damage of a customer’s property, or libel claim.
- $2 million aggregate limit: The most your insurer will pay for all incidents combined during the policy term.
To be clear, occurrence and aggregate limits vary by policy, and are not always the amounts above, but many businesses use $1M/$2M as a guideline.
What Does a $1 Million General Liability Policy Cover?
General liability helps cover a variety of common third-party claims, including:
Third-party
property damage
General liability policies can help cover expenses if you accidentally break, damage, or destroy a client’s property.
Third-party injuries
If a customer is injured at your office or work site, a general liability insurance policy can help cover their medical expenses.
Advertising injury
A GL policy can help cover claims and legal expenses if you’re sued for offenses like libel, slander, or copyright infringement arising from your business’s advertising, marketing, or social media activities.
Faulty products
If you sell a faulty product that causes bodily harm or damage to a customer’s property, a general liability can help cover claims and legal costs.
How Much is General Liability Insurance?
Get a quick estimate in just 3 steps.
What Determines the Cost of General Liability Insurance?
The size of your physical location
If you have a large space, especially one that is open to the public, there’s more potential for accidents or damage. This can sometimes lead to a higher insurance cost.
Your type of business
Some businesses, such as construction, have a higher risk of accidents than others, like an office-based business. Insurers consider this risk when determining your premium. The higher the risk, usually the higher the cost.
How much your business earns
Typically, the more revenue your business makes, the higher the cost of your insurance might be. This isn’t always the case, though. It depends on your specific industry. Some industries see only a small increase with more sales, while others might see a bigger jump as a result of the increased activity.
Where your business is located
Location matters. Local laws and the general environment of your area can affect your insurance costs. For example, businesses in high foot traffic areas or regions with higher rates of litigation might require more coverage.
Any claims you’ve had before
If you have a history of claims, some insurance companies might see your business as higher risk, which could affect your insurance cost. A clean claims history can lead to lower premiums.
The average cost1 of $1 million in general liability coverage is $44.44 per month, based on Simply Business General Liability policies sold in the second half of 2025. The table below shows median monthly general liability premiums by profession.
| Profession | Median monthly cost |
| Barber / hair stylist services | $20.83 |
| Beautician / cosmetology services | $20.83 |
| Car detailing | $22.04 |
| Carpentry | $71.58 |
| Catering | $25.00 |
| Cosmetics, toiletries, and personal care stores | $19.92 |
| Craft vendor / crafter | $19.92 |
| Disc jockey | $16.67 |
| Door or window installation and repair | $60.50 |
| E-commerce and online retailers | $27.08 |
| Electrical work | $36.25 |
| Esthetician services | $29.17 |
| Event planning / promotion | $28.92 |
| Floor covering installation | $50.00 |
| Food / beverage cart | $25.00 |
| General contractor | $81.83 |
| Handyperson | $51.25 |
| Home bakery | $22.92 |
| Home inspection | $20.83 |
| Housekeeping | $29.17 |
| Janitorial services | $41.25 |
| Landscaping services | $32.67 |
| Lawn care services | $31.25 |
| Life / career / executive coaching | $25.83 |
| Maid services | $29.25 |
| Management consulting | $25.83 |
| Masonry work | $54.42 |
| Massage therapy | $28.92 |
| Mental health counseling | $28.92 |
| Mobile food truck | $29.17 |
| Nail technician services | $20.83 |
| Painting and wall covering contractors | $45.83 |
| Personal training (health and fitness) | $26.08 |
| Photography | $16.67 |
| Plumbing | $92.38 |
| Professional organizer | $16.67 |
| Remodeling | $85.21 |
| Residential building construction | $106.96 |
| Roofing | $200.50 |
| Siding installation | $83.79 |
| Swimming pool installation, service, or repair | $79.71 |
| Teaching or tutoring | $28.92 |
| Tile, stone, marble, mosaic, or terrazzo work | $48.33 |
| Tree services | $116.67 |
| Trucking & transportation services | $31.08 |
| Videography (freelance) | $16.67 |
| Wedding planner | $20.83 |
| Welding or cutting | $55.92 |
| Yoga / pilates instruction | $20.83 |
1Figures show the median (50th percentile) monthly premium for general liability policies sold by Simply Business to the identified trades/professions from July-December, 2025. Your actual price may vary based on your business type, revenue, and insurer, among other factors.
Can You Get General Liability Insurance for Under $50 a Month?
Yes, depending on your industry and type of work. Most small businesses pay under $50 per month for $1 million in general liability coverage, and many pay under $30. Low-risk businesses—such as consultants, photographers, and professional services—tend to pay the least. Higher-risk trades like construction usually pay more.
How to Get a $1 Million General Liability Insurance Policy
Getting covered can be fast and straightforward. At Simply Business, we help small businesses compare, buy, and manage general liability policies tailored to their needs. To get covered online in less than ten minutes, just:
- Answer a few questions about your business.
- Compare custom quotes from top-rated small business insurers.
- Choose your policy—many come with a same day Certificate of Insurance.
Or talk with one of our friendly pros at 844-654-7272, Monday–Friday, 8am–8pm (ET) to help you evaluate coverage and answer questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Once you choose a policy, you can typically get coverage and a certificate of insurance in minutes. Many Simply Business customers complete the entire process – from applying to choosing a policy to buying and binding – in about 10 minutes.
For many small businesses, $1 million per occurrence with a $2 million aggregate are common limits for their insurance policies, and many clients require at least $1 million before awarding a contract. If you handle larger projects or higher-value clients, you may want higher limits or may need to consider getting umbrella coverage.
General liability costs, in part, reflect local laws, claim trends, and the general risk environment in your area. That’s why a business in Louisiana may pay a different median rate than one in Maryland.
The per-occurrence limit is the most your insurer pays for a single claim. The aggregate limit is the most your insurer pays for all claims combined during the policy term, usually one year.
No. General liability covers third-party bodily injury, property damage, and advertising injury. For claims tied to professional advice or services, you’ll need professional liability insurance (also called errors and omissions insurance).
The Simply Business Difference
Simply Business is a digital insurance brokerage. That means we’re not tied to one insurer. Instead, we partner with a range of top-rated carriers and use smart technology to match you up with policies that fit your specific business, your risks, and your budget.
Maybe you’re just starting out and want solid protection without overspending. Or maybe you’re growing fast and need coverage that can grow with you. Either way, we’re here to help — with a choice of affordable policies and small business expertise to help you get the coverage you need.
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