Florida General Liability Insurance — GL Coverage for Contractors and Small Business
General liability is the foundation policy under every legitimate Florida business. It covers third-party bodily injury, property damage, advertising injury, and the legal defense costs that follow. Whether you are a roofer, a landscaper, a cleaning company, an electrician, a consultant, a retail shop, or a tech startup, a real GL policy is non-negotiable — and most Florida GCs, property managers, and commercial landlords require it before they will work with you or rent to you.
- $1M/$2M GL standard for most trades
- Certificates of insurance same day
- Per-project and blanket additional insureds
- Contractor-friendly carriers for all 20+ trades
GL Quote in 60 Seconds
Same day
COIs to GCs
$1M/$2M
Standard limits
25+
Commercial carriers
A-rated
Carriers only
What general liability actually pays for
A GL policy responds to three categories of claim: somebody gets hurt because of your business operations, you damage somebody else’s property while doing your work, or somebody sues you for advertising injury (defamation, copyright infringement in your marketing). It also pays for the lawyers, which alone can run $30K–$100K on a serious case even if you win.
Bodily Injury (3rd party)
A customer slips and falls in your retail shop, a client trips over your laptop cord in their conference room, a passerby is hit by debris from your work site. GL pays their medical bills, lost wages, and pain-and-suffering — plus your legal defense.
Property Damage (3rd party)
You scratch a client’s hardwood floor, you damage a wall during a remodel, your subcontractor breaks a $10K window. GL pays to repair or replace someone else’s property when your operations are the cause.
Personal & Advertising Injury
Libel, slander, copyright infringement in your marketing, misuse of another company’s likeness. Increasingly relevant for any business with a marketing presence — and almost always included in standard GL.
Coverage details that matter
Products & Completed Operations
A product you sold causes injury, or work you completed fails and damages property after the fact. Critical for contractors, manufacturers, and anyone who sells a physical product or completes installation work.
Medical Payments
Smaller, no-fault medical bills when someone is hurt at your location — usually capped at $5K–$10K. Pays without admitting fault, often resolves a situation before it becomes a lawsuit.
Fire Legal Liability
When you rent commercial space and accidentally cause a fire that damages the landlord’s building. Most Florida commercial leases require this; standard limit is $50K–$300K.
Certificates of insurance — the document that lets you work
Florida general contractors, property managers, municipalities, and many private clients require a Certificate of Insurance (COI) before letting you on the job site. The COI lists your GL limits, names the requesting party as an additional insured, and often must include specific waiver of subrogation language. We issue COIs same day for clients — often within an hour of the request — and we know exactly which language each Florida GC requires.
- Same-day COI delivery for new jobs
- Additional insured endorsements: blanket and per-project
- Waiver of subrogation when contract requires it
- Primary and non-contributory wording for municipal work
Trades and industries we write every week
Florida is a contractor-heavy economy and our office writes a lot of GL for the trades. Roofers, GCs, electricians, plumbers, HVAC techs, landscapers, pool builders, pressure washers, painters, drywallers, tile installers, handymen. Outside the trades we write GL for cleaning companies, retail shops, restaurants, gyms, professional offices, IT consultants, and dozens of other small business types. If you have a Florida business, we have probably written one like it.
- Roofing, GC, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, landscaping
- Cleaning, restoration, pressure washing, pest control
- Retail, restaurants, gyms, salons, spas
- Consultants, IT, marketing, design, professional services
Frequently asked questions
How much general liability insurance do I need in Florida?
Most Florida small businesses carry $1 million per occurrence / $2 million aggregate, which is also the limit most GCs, property managers, and municipalities require on COIs. Higher-risk trades (roofing, large-scale construction, equipment rental) often need $2M/$4M plus an umbrella. We size the policy to your actual contracts and exposure, not a one-size-fits-all default.
How much does general liability cost in Florida?
Most Florida small businesses pay between $400 and $1,800 a year for $1M/$2M GL. Contractors with higher payroll and more exposure (roofers, GCs, large landscapers) run higher. The biggest cost drivers are your industry classification, gross revenue, payroll, prior claims history, and subcontractor usage.
Is general liability the same as workers comp?
No. GL covers third parties (customers, the public, other contractors) when they are injured or their property is damaged. Workers comp covers your own employees when they are injured on the job. Most Florida businesses with employees need both, and many contracts require both.
Can I get GL without employees?
Absolutely. We write GL for thousands of solo operators in Florida — single-truck contractors, solo consultants, independent stylists, freelance creatives, single-location retail. GL is about your business operations, not your headcount.
What is an additional insured?
An additional insured is a third party (typically a general contractor, property owner, or client) listed on your GL policy so they are also covered for claims arising from your work. Florida GCs almost universally require this on subcontractor COIs. We add additional insureds the same day, either project-by-project or with a blanket endorsement.
Do I need GL if I am only doing 1099 work?
If you are providing services to a client, almost certainly yes — most clients now require it. Even a single 1099 contract for a major client typically requires $1M of GL with the client named as additional insured. We have written same-day GL policies for clients who got the contract requirement an hour before signing.
Will my GL cover damage to property I am working on?
Generally no — standard GL excludes damage to property in your “care, custody, or control.” For contractors who handle expensive customer property (jewelers, valet operators, electronics installers, restoration), we add Care, Custody, and Control endorsements or Installation Floater policies to fill that gap.
Can I get GL with prior claims?
Yes. We work with multiple non-standard commercial carriers that specialize in businesses with prior claims, lapses, or insurance company non-renewals. Rates are higher, but coverage is available — and we work to get you back into a preferred carrier as your loss history matures.
Florida general liability — same-day COIs, real coverage
Tell us your trade, revenue, and current contracts. We will shop 25+ commercial carriers and issue your COI within the hour during business hours.