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Compare Quotes →What to know first
General liability usually addresses third-party claims, while workers compensation focuses on employee work injuries and state-specific requirements. The right answer depends on your business operations, policy wording, contracts, state requirements, and carrier underwriting.
How to compare options
- Define the risk. Decide whether the issue is third-party injury, employee injury, business property, professional errors, vehicles, or cyber exposure.
- Check contracts. Contracts often specify limits, policy types, certificates, and additional insured wording.
- Read exclusions. A lower premium can be misleading if key exposures are excluded.
- Ask for examples. Have the licensed professional explain how common claims would be handled.
Quote preparation checklist
Bring business name, entity type, address, state, services, revenue, payroll, employee count, vehicles, property values, prior claims, and contract requirements. Keeping this information organized makes quote comparison easier and reduces misunderstandings.
Red flags to review
Watch for exclusions that remove the work you actually perform, deductibles that are hard to afford, policy periods that do not match contract dates, limits below contract requirements, missing additional insured wording, and assumptions about subcontractors, vehicles, or employees. Ask the licensed professional to explain how the policy would respond to realistic claim examples.
How this connects to quotes
A quote should be compared as a package, not just a monthly cost. Review carrier name, coverage form, limits, endorsements, exclusions, deductible, payment plan, cancellation terms, certificate timing, and whether the coverage satisfies the reason you requested it in the first place.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between general liability and workers compensation?
General liability covers injuries to third parties (customers, vendors, the public). Workers compensation covers injuries to your own employees that happen on the job and is required by law in nearly every state.
Does general liability cover an employee who gets injured at work?
No. Employee injuries are excluded from general liability under the employer's liability exclusion. Workers compensation is the required coverage for on-the-job employee injuries.
Is workers compensation required by law?
Yes, in 49 states. Texas is the only state where private workers comp is optional, though most Texas employers still carry it because non-subscribers lose key legal defenses against employee injury lawsuits.
Do I need workers comp if I am the only owner with no employees?
In most states, sole proprietors and single-member LLC owners can exempt themselves from workers comp. However, many clients and general contractors still require proof of coverage before allowing you on a jobsite.
What does workers comp cost compared to general liability?
Workers comp is priced per $100 of payroll and varies wildly by class code, from less than $0.30 for office workers to $25+ for roofers. General liability is priced on revenue or square footage and is often a smaller line item.
Can one insurance company write both policies?
Many carriers write both, and bundling can simplify audits and certificate management. In monopolistic states (OH, ND, WA, WY), workers comp must come from the state fund, not a private carrier.
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