How to buy lawn care insurance

Commercial property insurance

Commercial property insurance reimburses you for the cost of stolen or damaged items you need to run your company at your business location.

Even if you don’t own or rent a commercial space, this policy can cover assets stored at a designated location, such as your home or a storage unit.

It is important to consider further protecting any equipment that you commonly bring to job sites, as standard property insurance does not cover items in transit outside of your business location.

Contractor’s tools and equipment insurance

This type of insurance covers your business equipment and tools wherever you take them, including on the road or at a job site.

If your work items are lost, stolen, or damaged, contractor’s tools and equipment insurance can pay to repair or replace them. This policy typically provides protection for equipment that is less than five years old. This equipment may include lawnmowers, leaf blowers, and hand tools.

Business owner’s policy (BOP)

A business owner’s policy bundles general liability coverage and commercial property insurance into one policy at a lower premium, allowing you to save more money than if you purchased each policy separately.

Whether an insurance carrier will sell you a BOP depends on a number of things, including your revenue, number of employees, and level of risk.

Commercial auto insurance

Lawn care business owners constantly move from job to job, but personal auto insurance may not cover damages from an accident that happens when you or an employee is driving for work.

To protect yourself, consider commercial auto insurance for your business vehicles or hired and non-owned auto insurance for personal or leased vehicles used for work.

Umbrella insurance

Commercial umbrella insurance backs up your general liability and commercial auto coverage. It kicks in when a claim exceeds those policies’ limits.

Cyber liability insurance

If you accept payments online, cyber liability coverage covers you in the event of a data breach or cyberattack that compromises sensitive customer information.

License and permit bonds

Each state requires licenses and bonds for certain professions. If your state requires a landscaping license, it will likely require a surety bond, also known as a licensing bond.

A bond provides a financial guarantee that you will comply with your state’s laws and the terms of any contracts you sign.

It’s worth noting that some carriers will allow you to name additional insured parties on your policy at no extra cost. For example, this is useful if your lawn care business works for a homeowners’ association that could be held liable because of alleged negligence on your part.

What’s a certificate of liability, and do I need one for my business?

A certificate of liability insurance (COI) is a document from your insurance company that proves you have certain liability coverage for your lawn care business. Many customers and landlords require this before they’ll sign a contract or lease a property.

Some insurers issue these certificates via the post office, which can take several days to receive. With Insureon, you can receive a proof of insurance certificate in a matter of hours.