Mar 31, 2026
Starting a business means taking on exciting opportunities — and real risks. Understanding how to get business insurance coverage is the first step toward fully protecting yourself. Why? Because one unhappy customer can erase the success from 99.9% of your other clients.
The good news? You can secure coverage in as few as five straightforward steps. This article walks you through how to assess your risks, compare quotes, and purchase a small business insurance policy, such as general liability or professional liability, to name a few, that protects both your company and your personal assets — without the insurance jargon or confusion.
Without small business insurance, a single lawsuit could wipe out your business savings and put your personal assets at risk and harm your business’s reputation.
In addition to protecting your finances, insurance often fulfills legal and contractual obligations. Many clients won’t sign contracts without proof of insurance coverage, and some landlords require it before you can lease commercial space.
For example, a coffee shop owner typically needs general liability (GL) coverage to satisfy their lease agreement and protect against customer slip-and-fall incidents, while a graphic designer working with corporate clients might need professional liability insurance to even bid on projects and general liability in case they somehow damage personal property while visiting a client.
Before you start shopping for small business insurance coverage, step one is to think through the specific risks your business faces. For example, a salon owner faces different exposure than a freelance financial planner: one regularly interacts with customers in a high-traffic environment, while the other may not. But a client who receives an unflattering haircut isn’t likely to sue, while one who incurs a hefty tax penalty due to financial negligence very well might.
Consider factors like your industry, number of employees, whether customers visit your location, and whether you handle other people’s property. Your answers will help determine which types of coverage you need.
Which kind of policy you need depends on the kind of business you run and what risks you need covered. Here are the most common policies to consider:
Coverage Type |
What It Protects Against |
|---|---|
| General Liability (GL) Insurance | Third-party claims of bodily injury, property damage, and personal or advertising injury (reputational harm). A third party is someone like a client or visitor; the term does not include you or your employees. |
| Professional Liability Insurance | Claims alleging negligence, mistakes, or failure to perform professional duties. This is also known as errors and omissions (E&O) insurance or malpractice insurance. |
| Workers’ Compensation Insurance | Medical expenses and lost wages for employees injured on the job. |
| Commercial Property Insurance | Damage to your property due to events such as fire, burst pipes, storms, theft, or vandalism. It typically covers the building, your inventory, and any furniture or equipment. Business owners who own their office spaces often choose this type of coverage. |
| Business Personal Property (BPP) Insurance | Damage, loss, or theft of your equipment and inventory. Business owners who lease their space but want to protect their tools and equipment often choose this type of coverage. |
| Product Liability Insurance | Claims arising from products your business makes, sells, or distributes that cause harm. |
| Business Owner’s Policy (BOP) | This bundled policy combines general liability and commercial property insurance. |
Once you know which type of coverage you need, gathering your business information will save you time during the quote process. Insurers need details like the following to assess your risk level and calculate an accurate premium:
The good news is that with online providers like Berxi, this process can take just a few minutes — no lengthy paperwork or back-and-forth with a broker required.
Insurance premiums can vary significantly from one carrier to the next, so it’s worth shopping around before you commit to a policy. You have two main options:
Going direct is often the faster and more affordable route — for example, buying directly from Berxi can save you an average of 15% compared to using a broker. Either way, collecting a few quotes ensures you’re getting the right coverage at the most competitive price.
Not all policies are created equal, so before you commit, review each quote carefully. Pay attention to coverage limits, exclusions, deductibles, and premium costs. Here are a few key terms you’re likely to see:
Once you’ve found the right policy, the last few steps are easy: select your coverage, pay your premium, receive your certificate of insurance, and download your policy. With online providers, the entire process can be completed in minutes — and coverage can begin within 24 hours.
Your certificate of insurance serves as proof of coverage. It’s often required by clients before you can start a project, by landlords before you can sign a lease, or by general contractors before you can work a job site. With Berxi, you can access and share your proof of insurance instantly through our online platform.
The cost of small business insurance coverage varies depending on your coverage needs and business profile. At Berxi, general liability insurance starts around $100 per year for fitness and pet care consultants who work in clients’ homes or offices, and around $350 per year for business owners with employees and office spaces. Several factors influence where your premium falls:
For context, a photographer might pay around $20 per month ($250 per year) for a basic GL policy , while a handyman or hair salon with lots of foot traffic could pay significantly more. Buying direct from a carrier like Berxi can help lower your premium — customers save an average of 15% compared to buying through a broker.
Berxi makes it easy to get the business liability insurance coverage for your small business needs — in minutes and entirely online. As part of Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company, Berxi carries an A++ financial strength rating from AM Best, giving you the confidence that your coverage is backed by one of the most financially stable companies in the industry.
Get a quote today and see how much you could save.
Most businesses start with general liability insurance. Add professional liability if you provide services or advice, and workers’ compensation if you have employees. If you own the company’s office space, you might look into a business owner’s policy.
General liability insurance for small businesses starts at $100 per year with Berxi. For certain industries, monthly installments can be as low as $20 per month, though premiums vary based on your industry, location, and coverage limits.
Yes — providers like Berxi let you get a quote, purchase a policy, and access proof of insurance entirely online in minutes.
Coverage can begin within 24 hours when you purchase a policy online.
Image courtesy of iStock.com/Prostock-Studio
Image courtesy of iStock.com/FG Trade Latin
Image courtesy of iStock.com/FG Trade
Image courtesy of iStock.com/shapecharge
More:
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Berxi™ or Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company. This article (subject to change without notice) is for informational purposes only, and does not constitute professional advice. Click here to read our full disclaimer
The product descriptions provided here are only brief summaries and may be changed without notice. The full coverage terms and details, including limitations and exclusions, are contained in the insurance policy. If you have questions about coverage available under our plans, please review the policy or contact us at 833-242-3794 or support@berxi.com. “20% savings” is based on industry pricing averages.
Berxi™ is a part of Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI). Insurance products are distributed through Berkshire Hathaway Global Insurance Services, California License # 0K09397. BHSI is part of Berkshire Hathaway’s National Indemnity group of insurance companies, consisting of National Indemnity and its affiliates, which hold financial strength ratings of A++ from AM Best and AA+ from Standard & Poor’s. The rating scales can be found at www.ambest.com and www.standardandpoors.com, respectively.
No warranty, guarantee, or representation, either expressed or implied, is made as to the correctness, accuracy, completeness, adequacy, or sufficiency of any representation or information. Any opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice.
The information on this web site is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, and does not purport to establish a standard of care under any circumstances. All content, including text, graphics, images and information, contained on or available through this web site is for general information purposes only based upon the information available at the time of presentation, and does not constitute medical, legal, regulatory, compliance, financial, professional, or any other advice.
BHSI makes no representation and assumes no responsibility or liability for the accuracy of information contained on or available through this web site, and such information is subject to change without notice. You are encouraged to consider and confirm any information obtained from or through this web site with other sources, and review all information regarding any medical condition or treatment with your physician or medical care provider. NEVER DISREGARD PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE OR DELAY SEEKING MEDICAL TREATMENT BECAUSE OF SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE READ ON OR ACCESSED THROUGH THIS WEB SITE.
BHSI is not a medical organization, and does not recommend, endorse or make any representation about the efficacy, appropriateness or suitability of any specific tests, products, procedures, treatments, services, opinions, health care providers or other information contained on or available through this web site. BHSI IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL LIABILITY FOR, ANY ADVICE, COURSE OF TREATMENT, DIAGNOSIS OR ANY OTHER SERVICES OR PRODUCTS THAT YOU OBTAIN AFTER REVIEWING THIS WEB SITE.
Click to collapse disclamerWant Berxi articles delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for our monthly newsletter below!
"*" indicates required fields
Ryan Craggs is a content strategist and journalist with more than a decade of marketing and editorial experience. He helps travel, finance, and tech clients craft compelling narratives that captivate audiences. For more, go to RyanCraggs.com
Tiffanie Drayton Mar 27, 2026
Want Berxi articles delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for our monthly newsletter below!
