General Liability Insurance
General liability insurance is one of the most common types of coverage, and every business needs it. Discover why this policy is critical for your business and what general liability coverage from Insurance Canopy can do for you.
What Is General Liability Insurance?
Commercial general liability insurance protects businesses from third-party bodily injury, property damage, and personal or advertising injury claims. These types of claims can arise from risks related to your business operations, products, or services.
Even a single claim can be financially damaging to your business. Having the proper protection can be a vital tool for safeguarding your business against financial losses.
Is General Liability Insurance Required By Law?
While general liability insurance is not required by law, you may be asked for proof of this coverage before signing a lease, entering into a contract with another business, applying for licenses and permits, or participating in an event.
What Does General Liability Insurance Cover?
General liability insurance covers the following expenses you’re legally required to pay:
- Medical payments
- Legal costs (attorney’s fees, court costs, and settlements)
- Repairing or replacing damaged property
- Lost wages
What Does It Not Cover?
Some common commercial general liability insurance exclusions are:
- Employee injuries or workplace injuries (covered under a workers compensation policy)
- Damage to the business owner’s property (covered under a commercial property or business owner’s policy)
- Intentional and criminal acts
- Product recalls and defective work (covered under a product recall policy)
- Pollution and environmental damage (covered under an environmental insurance policy)
- Auto and vehicle-related accidents (covered under a commercial auto policy)
- Errors, omissions, or negligence regarding the policyholder’s professional services (covered under a professional liability or errors and omissions policy)
- Liquor liability (covered under a liquor liability policy)
- Losses stemming from data breaches, phishing, or other cyber attacks (covered under a cyber liability policy)
- Breach of contract
- Trademark infringement
- Employment-related claims, including wrongful termination, harassment, or discrimination (covered under an employment practices liability policy)
Knowing your policy’s limitations and exploring additional coverages is critical for every business owner. Always refer to your policy for the exact coverages, exclusions, conditions, and limitations.
Who Needs General Liability Insurance?
Every business, no matter the size, needs general liability insurance to protect its assets because claims can happen to anyone.
Insurance Canopy offers comprehensive general liability coverage for all of the following business types:
Don’t see your industry listed here? Learn more about the types of businesses covered by Insurance Canopy.
Examples of General Liability Claims
The following are real claims from policyholders that were covered by Insurance Canopy:
A Florida art vendor was setting up a wooden wall in their booth at a festival. A strong gust of wind blew the wall over onto a neighboring vendor, knocking them to the ground and injuring them ($5,000).
A policyholder in Oklahoma accidentally caused a fire in their rented commercial space. The fire caused smoke damage to the building and destroyed a window ($20,694).
A customer shopping at a policyholder’s booth in Florida tripped and fell over a decorative stone, injuring themselves and accruing expensive medical bills ($48,630).
How Much Does General Liability Insurance Cost?
On average, Insurance Canopy’s general liability coverage costs $20 per month. For about the cost of lunch at your favorite restaurant, general liability protects your business from claims that could rise into the tens of thousands (or even more).
However, the cost of your premium depends on several factors:
- Industry: Some industries have more risk exposures due to the business operations or products sold.
- Limits of insurance: Insurance limits can factor into your insurance coverage’s pricing. Certain contracts may require you to carry higher limits of liability insurance to be compliant with their requirements.
- Annual revenue: More revenue usually means more risk exposure, which increases your chances of a third-party claim.
- Claims history: Businesses with a history of filing insurance claims may pay a higher premium because they are more susceptible to risks.
Additional Coverage You May Need
Most business owners need coverage beyond general liability insurance to properly protect themselves from the claims they’re most likely to face. Insurance Canopy offers several options for additional coverage, including:
How to Get Your Free Quote
You can get a free quote for general liability insurance entirely online with Insurance Canopy by filling out an application.
Make sure to have the following information on hand to get your free quote:
- Your business type
- Your business’s gross annual sales
Why Small Businesses Love Insurance Canopy
We believe insurance doesn’t have to be complicated and that good coverage shouldn’t break the bank. At Insurance Canopy, that means you get an easy online checkout process and comprehensive, affordable coverage from A+ rated carriers. But don’t just take our word for it — see for yourself what our customers have to say about us!
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They provided clarity on the importance of insurance for a first time business owner in the cleaning space and provided clear insight next steps and options for coverage.
Evergreen Multiservices
February 2, 2026Extremely user friendly website, super affordable and very little time needed to apply.
Carl Sari
January 31, 2026Excellent company, Great service, the best!!!
Claudina Adams
January 15, 2026 -
Super affordable insurance for a small business like myself super happy to be able to provide this to my customers really helps of landing more gigs
Alex
January 5, 2026Really went the extra mile to find the appropriate coverage for my business.
Daisy B
January 2, 2026Canopy provided escatly what I neede to book the gig, and at a very affordable price.. Thank You!
Andy Anderson
December 22, 2025 -
Easy. Convenient. Trustworthy. Came thru in a moments notice
Eddie K
December 19, 2025Affordable liability insurance for DJ's. Easy to set up and understand. I've been with them for several years and am happy with their service.
Peter Flessas
December 14, 2025So easy to sign up. I hope I never have to use the insurance portion but most hotels require it for corporate gigs
Yuri Gonzalez
December 11, 2025 -
This company is great. They are very helpful and they have great prices for insurance options that cover what you need!
Jacob Serrano
December 6, 2025Great experience, quick and easy to understand with what I needed for my business. Highly recommend!
FrankLynn Rae
October 28, 2025Very helpful customer service! Prompt, punctual, effective! No bots or long waits to get assistance.
Maria Ciccone
October 19, 2025 -
Canopy insurance has made affordable, band insurance needed for major venues. Thank you for your fast and easy service Stan Zizka's Del Satins
stan zizka
October 5, 2025Getting a vendor policy was quick and fairly priced compared to other quotes.
Kristine Fullerton
October 3, 2025Thank you so much
Steve Monreal
July 11, 2025 -
I needed a portable policy as a yoga instructor. I found this company in an online search. Called and got details from them, was quite surprised at how affordable... Read More
Jamie Calaway
July 4, 2025Very easy & quick experience. We got insurance in no time with no hassle. Thank you!
Robert Earnest
July 4, 2025I am glad I went with them. I needed a last minute policy to cover an event I was doing and they had exactly what I needed at a... Read More
Deloris Pacheco
June 27, 2025 -
Very easy to renew policy
Elyce Nissinoff
June 18, 2025Representative Sarah was very helpful. Walked me through every step and not to mention the price even matched the service! Would recommend to any and everyone.
queenkiam
June 18, 2025Would have 5 starts, but not right now. This is the first time I have ever had to pay for an additional insured ever in 20 year's. They either have... Read More
Anthony Burgess
June 18, 2025 -
Very user friendly platform. Multiple options. Very good pricing. Needed liability insurance in order to secure a very good paying event for my solo tribute show. Was set up within... Read More
Michael Riley
June 18, 2025Needed DJ insurance for Memorial Day weekend & was squared away within an hour for 2 events! Highly recommend
Jay Solis
June 18, 2025What a lovely experience I had with Insurance Canopy! Easy and fast sign up, great policy, matches my needs as a self-employed business owner. Highly recommend!
Masha Rusanov
June 18, 2025 -
great little company, with fair pricing, for entertainers who need occasional coverage. however, they have long hold times to speak to an agent, and their customer service left a little something... Read More
Gretje Angell
June 18, 2025Provides event insurance at a very reasonable price compared to other companies. Easy to purchase and provide proof of insurance.
David Fox
May 18, 2025They can help.you with the right Insurance you need, and the lowest price
Alvaro Baltazar
May 18, 2025 -
everything is excellent
Radames Martinez
May 18, 2025Extremely affordable event insurance and an easy to work with system and team that will advise you every step of the way!
Ishan Arvin
May 18, 2025Affordable for dance & yoga folk. Thumbs up!
Maia Claire
May 18, 2025
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They provided clarity on the importance of insurance for a first time business owner in the cleaning space and provided clear insight next steps and options for coverage.
Evergreen Multiservices
February 2, 2026 -
Extremely user friendly website, super affordable and very little time needed to apply.
Carl Sari
January 31, 2026 -
Excellent company, Great service, the best!!!
Claudina Adams
January 15, 2026 -
Super affordable insurance for a small business like myself super happy to be able to provide this to my customers really helps of landing more gigs
Alex
January 5, 2026 -
Really went the extra mile to find the appropriate coverage for my business.
Daisy B
January 2, 2026 -
Canopy provided escatly what I neede to book the gig, and at a very affordable price.. Thank You!
Andy Anderson
December 22, 2025 -
Easy. Convenient. Trustworthy. Came thru in a moments notice
Eddie K
December 19, 2025 -
Affordable liability insurance for DJ's. Easy to set up and understand. I've been with them for several years and am happy with their service.
Peter Flessas
December 14, 2025 -
So easy to sign up. I hope I never have to use the insurance portion but most hotels require it for corporate gigs
Yuri Gonzalez
December 11, 2025 -
This company is great. They are very helpful and they have great prices for insurance options that cover what you need!
Jacob Serrano
December 6, 2025
FAQs About General Liability Insurance for Small Businesses
What Are the Typical Commercial General Liability Insurance Limits?
General Aggregate Limit
Each Occurrence Limit
$1,000,000
Products & Completed Operations Aggregate Limit
$2,000,000
Personal & Advertising Injury Limit
$1,000,000
Damage to Premises Rented to You
$100,000
Medical Expense
$5,000
How Do I Determine the Right Amount of Coverage for My Business?
Assess the following factors to determine the amount of general liability coverage your business needs:
- Size and annual revenue: Larger businesses and those with higher revenues have more assets to cover and are typically exposed to more risks than smaller businesses.
- Location: It’s common for businesses operating in densely populated urban areas to need more coverage due to higher exposure.
- Risk factors: Depending on your industry, you may be at a higher risk for certain claims. For example, if your business brings in a lot of foot traffic, you are more likely to face slip-and-fall claims.
- Other requirements: You may be required to meet certain limits by other businesses or parties you work with, such as landlords, event organizers, clients, etc.
Our team of U.S.-based, licensed customer service representatives is here to help you identify the right limits for your business. Give us a call at 844.520.6993 or email info@insurancecanopy.com.
How Can I File a Claim for General Liability Insurance?
Log in to your user dashboard
Navigate to “Manage Policies” and click on “File a Claim
Fill out all of the fields with information about your claim and submit
That’s it! Afterward, a claims adjustor will reach out to you to handle your claim and take you through the rest of the process.
Chris Van Leeuwen | VP of Agency Development
Chris Van Leeuwen is the VP of Agency Development for Insurance Canopy. He has held the prestigious Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) designation since 1996.
Because he strongly believes in the importance of helping business owners understand their insurance coverage, Chris uses his wealth of experience to offer insights to small business owners across the country who are looking to navigate business liability insurance.
Chris Van Leeuwen is the VP of Agency Development for Insurance Canopy. He has held the prestigious Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) designation since 1996.
Because he strongly believes in the importance of helping business owners understand their insurance coverage, Chris uses his wealth of experience to offer insights to small business owners across the country who are looking to navigate business liability insurance.
JoAnne Hammer | Program Manager
JoAnne Hammer is the Program Manager for Insurance Canopy. She has held the prestigious Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) designation since July 2004.
JoAnne understands that starting and operating a business takes a tremendous amount of time, dedication, and financial resources. She believes that insurance is the single best way to protect your investment, business, and personal assets.
JoAnne Hammer is the Program Manager for Insurance Canopy. She has held the prestigious Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) designation since July 2004.
JoAnne understands that starting and operating a business takes a tremendous amount of time, dedication, and financial resources. She believes that insurance is the single best way to protect your investment, business, and personal assets.