There is no single price: the SBA says insurance prices and benefits can vary significantly, so the only real number is a quote for your business. As example budget lines, ProfitDrawer's startup guides plan $100 to $600 for a solo cleaner's first months of general liability and $1,000 to $4,000 for a food truck's commercial auto and liability. These are planning examples, not market prices.
Example insurance lines from ProfitDrawer's startup guides (planning examples, not quotes):
| Business | Budget line | Low | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleaning | General liability (first months) | $100 | $600 |
| Lawn care | Insurance (first months) | $150 | $800 |
| Mobile detailing | Insurance (first months) | $150 | $700 |
| Bookkeeping | Professional liability (first year) | $300 | $1,000 |
| Food truck | Commercial auto and liability (first months) | $1,000 | $4,000 |
| Trucking, one truck | Insurance down payment | $2,000 | $8,000 |
What moves the price is mostly the risk you carry: driving for work, working in clients' homes, handling client data, selling products, or having employees. Employers generally need workers' compensation and state unemployment insurance under state law. Temporary disability insurance is required only in California, Hawaii, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Puerto Rico.
How to get a real number, per the SBA:
- Assess your risks.
- Find a reputable licensed agent.
- Shop around and compare several quotes.
Put the quotes into your startup budget as a monthly cost, not a one time cost. General information, not insurance advice.
Source: Get business insurance (U.S. Small Business Administration) · Updated
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General information, not tax, legal or financial advice. Check the rules for your state and your situation.