General Liability Insurance for Businesses and Contractors
GL protects your business when something goes wrong with a third party: a customer gets hurt, a subcontractor damages someone’s property, or you get named in a lawsuit. Premier Group Insurance shops across 25+ carriers to find the right rate and issue your certificate of insurance when a job requires it.
What General Liability Insurance Covers
General liability covers claims made against your business by third parties. It protects against the exposures that come from doing business in the world.
| Third-party bodily injury | A customer slips and falls at your location. A visitor is injured on a job site. GL covers medical costs and legal defense if a lawsuit follows. |
| Third-party property damage | Your crew accidentally damages a client's property while on the job. GL covers the cost of repair or replacement. |
| Personal and advertising injury | Claims related to libel, slander, or copyright infringement in your advertising. Less common, but covered under a standard GL policy. |
| Legal defense costs | Even if a claim turns out to be unfounded, defending it costs money. GL covers your legal defense regardless of whether the claim is valid. |
What General Liability Does Not Cover
Understanding what GL does not cover is as important as knowing what it does. GL is not a catch-all business policy.
Employee Injuries
Covered by workers compensation, not GL. If you have employees, you need both.
Your Own Property
Equipment, tools, and inventory require a separate property or inland marine policy.
Professional Mistakes or Bad Advice
Those are covered by professional liability (E&O) insurance.
Vehicle Accidents
Commercial auto insurance handles incidents involving business vehicles.
Intentional Acts:
GL does not cover damages caused on purpose.
Who Needs General Liability Insurance?
Most businesses with any public-facing exposure need GL. For some, it is a legal or contractual requirement before they can operate.
Contractors and Trades
General contractors typically require proof of GL from every subcontractor before work starts. Without it, you cannot get on the job. This is one of the most common urgent requests we get: a contractor who needs a certificate of insurance before a job starts next week.
Retail and Service Businesses
Any business with a physical location where customers visit has slip-and-fall exposure. If you serve customers in person, GL is a basic layer of protection you should not skip.
Home-Based Businesses
Homeowners insurance does not cover business-related liability. If you run any kind of business from your home, a standalone GL policy fills that gap.
Landlord Requirements
Many commercial leases require tenants to carry GL with specific limits. If your landlord requires it, we can match the coverage to those requirements.
Certificates of Insurance
A certificate of insurance (COI) is a document that proves you carry GL coverage. GCs, landlords, and clients request them constantly in the contractor and trades world. Getting one should not be a bottleneck.
When you carry your GL policy through Premier Group Insurance, we can issue certificates of insurance quickly. If you have a job starting soon and need proof of coverage, reach out directly.
Pairing GL With Workers Comp
For most contractors, general liability is only half the required coverage picture. Workers comp is legally required once you have a single employee, and it covers what GL does not: injuries to your own workers on the job.
We quote GL and workers comp together regularly. Bundling them with the same agency simplifies renewals, makes certificate requests easier, and in some cases unlocks better pricing. Tell us about your operation and we will pull both quotes at once.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Limits Should I Carry?
Most standard GL policies start at $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate. Many GC contracts require at least those limits. We can match your limits to whatever the job or lease requires.
Does GL Cover Damage I Cause at a client's Property?
Yes. If your crew damages a client’s property while working, general liability covers the repair or replacement cost. This is one of the most common claims in the contracting world.
How Fast Can I Get Covered?
Once we have your business information and can bind coverage, same-day or next-day certificates are common. If you have a job starting soon, tell us the timeline and we will work around it.
Is GL Required by Law?
Colorado does not universally mandate GL the way it mandates workers comp, but many licensing boards, GC contracts, and commercial leases require it. Practically speaking, most businesses that work with clients or on job sites cannot operate without it.
Get a General Liability Quote
Tell us what you do, where you work, and roughly what your annual revenue looks like. We will shop across our carrier network and come back with the right options.