What Kind of Insurance Do I Need as a Landscaper?

As a landscaper, you have plenty of risks to consider while on site. From your team, equipment and machinery, and potential property damage - you need the right protection to ensure your business can thrive. But what types of insurance will you need to protect your landscaping business? 

At Berry Insurance, we partner with small businesses every day to guarantee their business is protected for whatever risks are thrown their way. So, if you’re wondering what insurance your landscaping business needs to ensure you’re fully covered on your next job, keep reading to learn our top recommendations and why they’re important. 

Why is insurance important for landscaping businesses? 

Landscaping and lawn care businesses need liability insurance to offer protections for:

• Tools and equipment
• Accidents and property damage
• Worker injury 

Having the proper protections in place will help shield your business from unexpected events or losses, as well as increase client confidence in your company. 

Without having insurance coverage for your business, you open yourself up to severe financial risks that could limit your ability for your business to bloom. 

In fact, many clients may not even work with your business if you don’t have insurance up to their standards and may require you to provide a certificate of insurance.If your client requires your company to provide proof of insurance prior to starting your next project, be sure to contact your insurance agency or provider to receive a certificate of insurance (COI). 

Insurance you’ll need as a landscaper: 

General liability: 

General liability insurance covers claims made against your business from someone who experienced bodily injury or property damage. It can also provide coverage for injuries sustained from your product, claims for libel, slander, or defamation, and claims filed by your employees or 3rd-parties. 

Property insurance: 

Commercial property insurance protects your company’s physical assets – things like buildings, furniture and equipment, supplies, computers, inventory, customer’s goods, signs, fencing, and even lost income. This coverage is crucial for landscapers utilizing specialized machinery and equipment for work. 

Tip: Business owners insurance (BOP) combines both liability and property insurance into a single package, perfect for smaller businesses. 

Commercial auto: 

If you utilize cars, dump trucks, pickups, trailers, or other vehicles for your business, you will need to invest in commercial auto insurance. This policy can be customized with coverages relevant to your business operations, and will help protect your vehicles after an accident or if you are sued as a result of your employees on the road. 

Workers’ Compensation: 

As a business owner, you will be required to have workers’ compensation insurance to cover your employees if they become injured or ill while on the job. To learn more about what workers’ compensation carriers to consider, read our guide on the 4 Best Workers’ Compensation Carriers in Massachusetts.

Cyber:

Even if your landscaping company primarily operates away from an office, you should still get cyber insurance to cover the costs associated with cyber attack or data breach. In the internet age, cyber attacks have become increasingly common - and could be debilitating for a small business. Purchasing cyber insurance helps to cover the costs and legal fees incurred from business losses, investigations, lawsuits, and extortion related to cyber attacks or data breaches. 

How much will insurance cost for landscapers?

The cost of insurance for your landscaping business will be influenced by several factors, such as: 

• Types of coverage
• The services your business provides
• Size of the business
• Number of employees
• Business location 
• Claims history

To learn more about what influences the cost of your insurance, and how to save money, check out this comprehensive guide: How Much Does Business Insurance Cost in Massachusetts?

Letting your business flourish 

Set up your landscaping business for success by having the right liability insurance coverage in place to protect you for any hiccups life throws your way. 

Now that you know what type of policies you need, you can work with your trusted insurance agent or provider to get quotes and begin protecting your landscaping business.. 

Want our recommendations on which insurance carriers you should work with? Read our guide on the 6 best small business insurance carriers in Massachusetts.